St. Louis on the Air

Country music artist Skylar Finan has been a fan of the genre her entire life. Though she started off as a shy performer, her friends in the scene saw her talent and encouraged her to get on stage. That encouragement eventually led her to create her debut album “Hit the Ground Runnin’” under the name Skylar Townsend. Townsend talks about her love for ‘90s country music stars like Reba McEntire and...

The state of Missouri is suing a Missouri-based manufacturer of the 7-OH variety of kratom. Derived from plants, kratom is drawing increased scrutiny and concern. The products are widely sold in gas stations in St. Louis and across the state. We talk with PreventEd Executive Director Jenny Armbruster about kratom, the difference between kratom and 7-OH, why people are becoming addicted, and what e...

At a ceremony at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Saturday, Gov. JB Pritzker awarded the Order of Lincoln — Illinois’ highest civilian honor — to five recipients, including East St. Louis civil rights activist and historian Reginald Petty. In conversation with STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer, the 90-year-old reflects on his work during the Civil Rights Movement and his ongoing eff...

It’s nesting season for Canada geese, and these protective parents are back to lay eggs, incubate and protect them in urban hotspots — from park pathways to office courtyard planters. During this time, their defensive, territorial behavior can lead to goose-human conflicts. Nancy Schnell, GeesePeace St. Louis founder, talks about how we can share outdoor spaces safely with these native birds durin...

The largest medical respite center in St. Louis will open its doors later this month. The Three Steps Home represents a major step for the groups supporting the city's homeless population. Three Steps Home CEO Sonia Deal talks about why homeless people often fall through cracks of existing medical care and how a respite center can help people recover from living on the streets. She also discusses...

Through a combination of engineering know-how, imagination and dedication to problem-solving, St. Louisan Kay Wells invented the Posie Pot: a 3-D printed, biodegradable and recyclable self-watering plant pot that’s in stores across the region and online for customers across the country. Wells talks about going from idea to prototype to product, support she’s received through major grants and fello...

New research out of St. Louis shows that removing invasive plant species and planting native ones have gone a long way toward boosting bird populations in Forest Park. Lead study author Stella Uiterwaal is particularly excited to see the populations of native bird species on the rise.

Refugee resettlement in the U.S. is at a historic low. At the start of his second term, President Donald Trump set the refugee cap at 7,500 for fiscal year 2026, down from 125,000. That reality adds urgency to Race for Refugees, a 5K and 1-mile fun run that returns to Tower Grove Park this Saturday, April 18. We talked with race founder Heather Huewe and organizer Samson Hillary of the Internation...

Over 40 local artists entered into NPR’s 2026 Tiny Desk Contest. “St. Louis on the Air” producer Miya Norfleet and STLPR reporter Chad Davis talk about some of their favorite St. Louis submissions and the artists behind them.

After decades shaping St. Louis theater, STAGES St. Louis co-founder Jack Lane has stepped into a new spotlight. Following the 2023 death of his husband and creative partner Michael Hamilton, Lane reflects on grief, legacy and what it means to keep moving forward. Now 69, he’s shifting from behind-the-scenes support to lead producer, with four Tony Awards already to his name and a new Olivier Awar...

Woman grandmaster in chess Dorsa Derakhshani came to the U.S. from Iran to attend St. Louis University. Now a Mizzou medical student, St. Louis Chess Club instructor and U.S. citizen, Derakhshani is watching the war from her Missouri home, unable to communicate with her family and friends still living in Iran. She shares how growing up under the Iranian regime influences her perspective on the con...

This year, plant scientist Giles Oldroyd left his previous post at the University of Cambridge to become the new president of the Danforth Plant Science Center. Oldroyd has spent decades studying how plants thrive and communicate with the world around them. He’s now leading a research nonprofit with a mission to use plant science to “improve the human condition.” In conversation with STLPR Senior...

Missouri voters went to the polls Tuesday and weighed in on a slate of municipal races, including St. Louis’ overwhelming renewal of the 1% earnings tax and a closely watched Francis Howell school board race that signaled a rebuke of focusing on culture war issues. STLPR reporters Hiba Ahmad and Rachel Lippmann break down the key results.

Diadie Bathily is on a mission to share his culture. Born in Ivory Coast, he’s taken his knowledge of traditional West African dance around the world. That love for dance and culture led him to call St. Louis home and thrusted him into the spotlight at the 98th Academy Awards, alongside ballet star Misty Copeland, for a performance of “I Lied to You” from the “Sinners” soundtrack. Bathily shares w...

Laumeier Sculpture Park kicks off its half-century anniversary with “Begin Again: 50 Years and Counting.” The exhibition reflects on five decades of artistic milestones, rare archival materials and ephemeral works that have defined the park’s legacy. Curated by Dana Turkovic, it offers a look into the intersection of art, nature and public engagement that has made Laumeier a cultural gem in St. Lo...

St. Louis is a premiere destination for traditional Irish musicians from across the pond and throughout the U.S. In this encore episode, we explore the people and institutions that have fostered the region’s Irish music scene since the 1970s. We also get a preview of this year’s St. Louis Tionól — an annual, four-day Irish arts and culture festival featuring music, dancing and community.

Municipal elections often don’t get as much round-the-clock attention as hotly contested congressional elections. But some decisions voters could make this Tuesday could have a profound impact on how St. Louis area cities are governed and financed. We talk with STLPR education reporter Hiba Ahmad on "The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air" about the closely-watched election in St. C...

Roughly three weeks ago, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page caused a stir throughout the region when he broached the subject of bringing St. Louis and St. Louis County back together. To gain a deeper understanding, we talk with Jefferson County attorney Joseph Blanner, who was Gov. Mike Parson’s appointee to the Board of Freeholders in 2019, about the renewed attention around St. Louis city reent...

Jhumpa Lahiri, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning short story collection “Interpreter of Maladies,” grew up in a Bengali immigrant family in New England and fell in love with literature at a young age. That early passion led her to writing. In this episode, Lahiri talks about the trajectory of her career, including her decision to move to Rome in 2012. She also discusses how translation continue...

With springtime comes insects emerging from their winter dormancy. That includes the often-feared wasp, which plays an important role in the predation of garden pests and pollination of plants. Entomologist Tad Yankoski of the Missouri Botanical Garden makes the case for appreciating wasps and shares advice on how to humanely evict them from our homes. He also shares insight on other insects we’re...

St. Louis native Bobby Carter is at the helm of two Tiny Desk entities: the Tiny Desk contest and Tiny Desk concerts. He shares tips and an insider’s view of what makes for a great contest entry, how Tiny Desk concerts have been shaped by audience feedback, and what he’s looking forward to when he visits his hometown May 1 to celebrate St. Louis Public Radio at the “Hear the Future” annual celebra...

This weekend, for the first time in two years, the Granite City Works activated a blast furnace. STLPR Metro East Reporter Will Bauer shares what this means for the mill's employees and why he called this “the latest chapter in a story of uncertainty.” We also hear from Craig McKey, president of United Steelworkers Local 1899, who believes the mill’s activation will help its hundreds of employees...

The STLPR food crew convenes to discuss what’s new in the dining scene, including the return of Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, Vincent Van Doughnut and Truck Norris Twisted Eats. They also discuss their favorite patios for outdoor dining and the St. Louis chefs and restaurants named as James Beard Award nominees.

Missouri’s new congressional map, drawn in 2025 and aimed at giving Republicans an additional seat, is now in effect after a Cole County judge’s ruling. The decision comes amid ongoing legal challenges, questions about precedent and a looming referendum that would let voters weigh in this November. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum breaks down what this ruling means for Democrats and Re...

A century ago, Missouri's black bear population was believed to be nearly wiped out. Today, the state’s population of bears is around 1,000. The revival of Missouri's bears is the result of years of dedicated work. These animals have been carefully monitored and tracked — and sometimes, that’s meant going into the den of a new mama bear to scoop out her cubs for a quick checkup. In this episode, w...