St. Louis on the Air

Halloween conjures images of ghouls, ghosts and other spooky creatures. But for Jade Moore, the owner of Sincerely, the Craft, mysticism is more than a trend — it’s a connection to heritage. In this encore episode, producers Miya Norfleet and Emily Woodbury speak with Moore about the beliefs, faiths and ritual practices that are generally categorized as “witchy.”

Published nearly 180 years ago, Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” endures. The poem tells the story of the narrator’s descent into madness as they deal with the grief of losing their beloved Lenore. In this encore episode, we listen to historical interpreter Anne Williams’ recording of “The Raven,” featuring original sound design by producer Avery Rogers.

St. Louis native Chaz Littlejohn is serving five years in federal prison for the theft and leak of Donald Trump's tax returns. St. Louis Magazine senior editor Nick Phillips explored the mystery of Littlejohn's crimes, chronicling how the former government contractor decided to break the law for what he believed were the right reasons. Phillips takes us into Littlejohn’s world — and what happened...

After more than two years of work, the Tiny House project in St. Louis’ Benton Park West neighborhood is complete. We hear from Dwayne Tiggs, the architect and craftsman behind the Tiny House, and his partner and project gardener Rikki Watts. They share their story of the home's completion and what it means to build a home while also building community.

At 100,000 verses, the ancient Indian epic ‘The Mahabharata’ is the longest epic poem ever written. Due to its focus on conflict amongst family — and its explorations of illusion, reality and truth — Nartana Premachandra felt it fitting inspiration for Dances of India St. Louis’ 2024 annual performance, which falls just after the Nov. 5 elections. She discusses her original play script “Dreams of...

While Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District is GOP-leaning thanks to Franklin and Warren Counties, the St. Louis County portion is shifting leftward. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum reports from Chesterfield on how Democrats have gained ground and are bullish that a backlash over Trump and restrictive abortion policies could help the state party gain strength for future elections. But...

While odds of becoming a victim of a school shooting are statistically low, the looming threat of violence in what’s supposed to be a safe space for students and educators negatively affects young people’s mental health. Bart Andrews, Chief Clinical Officer at Behavioral Health Response, shares how adults can support the youth in their lives at a time when school shootings regularly make headlines...

Craft beer has experienced explosive growth in the last 15 years, but more recently those good times may have ended, with craft breweries across the country now hurting, or even closing. In recent months, Urban Chestnut Brewing Company filed for bankruptcy protection, O’Fallon Brewery closed, and Earthbound Beer announced it will shutter later this year after 10 years in business. We talk with Ear...

A lawsuit from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey seeking to restrict the abortion pill is drawing attention to an unusual take on the decrease in teen pregnancy in Missouri. The Legal Roundtable discusses the significance of the lawsuit’s argument that access to the abortion pill “is depressing expected birth rates for teenaged mothers” — something the suit calls a “sovereign injury” to Miss...

A proposed 3% fee on short-term rental rates on the November ballot would help fund affordable housing in St. Louis. St. Louis Public Radio reporter Rachel Lippmann talks about Proposition S, as well as several other propositions city voters will see on the ballot on Election Day.

Conductor Leonard Slatkin took the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to new heights during his 18 years at the helm. He talks about a weekend of concerts and events celebrating his 80th birthday, and his favorite moments conducting works by Gershwin and Tchaikovsky. Along with Slatkin, we get to know composer Cindy McTee, whose work “Timepiece” will be part of the program at the Touhill.

Charlie Peete was a highly-touted prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals who played 23 games with the big league club in 1956. He was expected to compete heavily for the starting center field job the next season, but he didn’t get that chance because he, his wife and three young children died in a plane crash. Had Peete lived, he likely would have become the first Black position player in franchise...

The traumatic experience of being shot is often just the beginning of the challenges facing those with bullet-related injuries. Keisha Blanchard was shot in the back by an unidentified person in January 2024. Keisha tells the story of what happened next, and the painful, confusing experience of being told by a physician that, “We are not in the business of removing bullets.” Along with Keisha, we...

A survey from The Midwest Newsroom and Emerson College Polling Center asked registered voters in several Midwest states, including Missouri, about measures on the Nov. 5 ballot as well as a variety of political, social and economic subjects. Daniel Wheaton, data reporter for the Midwest Newsroom, discusses the poll’s findings on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.

After years of legislative inaction, popular sports betting apps FanDuel and DraftKings are funding a ballot initiative that would allow for Missourians to place bets on their phones, in casinos and at sporting venues. But they are facing well-funded opposition: Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment. Brooke Foster, a spokeswoman for the group, says the measure known as Amendm...

Missouri was one the first states to ban most abortions after Roe v. Wade fell in 2022, but now abortion rights opponents are facing a serious challenge in November. Amendment 3 would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. Stephanie Bell of Missouri Stands With Women explains why her group is opposed to the amendment. A previous edition of this show featured supporters of Amendment 3.

Black Americans are more likely to start menopause early and gain less treatment to manage symptoms — that’s according to a recent review of menopause literature. In this encore presentation, Dr. Makeba Williams, an associate professor and vice chair of professional development and wellness in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University, encourages more doctors to recogniz...

Greenwood Cemetery has been through a major transformation in recent years — due in large part to a married couple who grew up in the area and felt called to restore the cemetery after it fell into disrepair. Raphael and Shelley Morris of the Greenwood Cemetery Preservation Association join to talk about the 150-year-old cemetery’s history, its restoration over the last nine years, and how they’ve...

Over the past three decades, Club Viva has become the go-to destination for Latin dance beginners and veterans alike. In this episode, owner Cesar Cardona shares his journey from Colombia to the U.S., how he came to own the nightclub, and its significance in the St. Louis community.

Tiffany Robertson started Touchy Topics Tuesday after the killings of Michael Brown, Jr. and VonDerrit Myers, Jr. in 2014. The diverse group meets weekly to have difficult conversations about race, politics, and culture. Ten years after those initial weekly meetups, Robertson’s current goals are to help people and organizations “intentionally integrate.” Robertson, along with Touchy Topics Tuesday...

Indian immigrants are the fastest-growing foreign-born population in the St. Louis region. That momentum is happening at a pivotal time as in American politics. Three Indian Americans with longtime Midwest roots – attorney Arindam Kar, journalist Meera Nagarajan, and higher ed professional Jacob Chacko – share perspectives on what compels Indian Americans to engage with U.S. politics, why there’s...

St. Louis rapper and educator Zeus Rebel Waters discusses the inspiration behind the creation of the Reading with Rappers program, and how he plans to promote literacy to children in the St. Louis area.

Wes Hoffman, lead singer of pop-punk band Wes Hoffman and Friends, talks about his music, St. Louis’ vibrant St. Louis punk scene and his efforts to promote it through his Instagram account 314 Punk.

Producer Miya Norfleet and DJ and rapper Ryan “Big Esco” Brown shed light on St. Louis’ robust and diverse music scene and discuss some of their favorite new songs.

Many of Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center’s 80,000 annual visitors may be surprised to know they are walking amongst Missouri’s most common venomous reptile on the trails: the copperhead snake. The results of a six year study on copperheads in Powder Valley’s oak hickory forest lends new insight on their population size, how they survive the extreme heat and cold, and their movement through...