St. Louis On The Air

Michael Brown Jr. has become a symbol and a gateway for people to talk about racial injustice and policing. St. Louis Public Radio's podcast "We Live Here" returns for a special season 10 years after Brown's killing. In this episode, we explore how people view Brown’s legacy, what young adults today know about his story and how his memory has shaped new conversations about race and justice.

Tuesday’s primaries could be one of the most important elections in Missouri’s modern history. Republicans will choose candidates for five statewide posts — including governor — who will be favored in November. Democratic voters will decide whether to send U.S. Rep. Cori Bush back to Washington and pick their candidates for U.S. Senate and governor. STLPR’s Sarah Kellogg and Jo Mannies join the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to discuss the key races.

Springfield businessman Mike Hamra has never run for office before, but the CEO of a company that franchises restaurants says his private sector experience makes him a compelling choice for Missouri governor. Hamra joins the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to discuss his bid for the Democratic nomination ahead of Tuesday’s primary election.

Before Parkway West graduate Elizabeth Franklin turned 18, she wrote for the school paper as a form of civic action and got named Missouri’s Student Journalist of 2024 along the way. Franklin shares how she uses journalism to challenge stereotypes about St. Louis and why she wants more young people to make their voices heard.

Jeremy Boyer is part of the fabric that makes going to a Cardinals or Blues games special. He’s delighted millions of fans over the years as an organist for both teams. Now, he’s racking up millions of views on TikTok for his in-game renditions of artists like Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift.

It’s been 10 years since Michael Brown Jr. was killed and the Ferguson Uprising that followed. To honor that history and reflect on where St. Louis is today, St. Louis Public Radio is bringing back the podcast “We Live Here” for a special season that reflects on the truths that Ferguson exposed, why there still is an open wound a decade later and how community members continue to push for a better future. “We Live Here” host Chad Davis talks with Elaine Cha about upcoming episodes which drop weekly starting Aug. 1.

Mike Isaacson, executive producer and artistic director for the Muny, talks about the premieres of “Waitress” and “In the Heights” during its 106th season, and what each musical’s directors and lead performers bring to the stage.

When Cheeraz Gormon’s younger brother, John, was murdered in a domestic violence altercation, she turned to writing and poetry to channel her grief. While she sought support and comfort from family and friends, she realized there was a lack of holistic approaches and resources for those mourning the loss of their siblings. Gormon has since founded the Sibling Support Network to foster community with others with similar experiences.

The 2024 election season is unprecedented, and that includes how slang and memes are shaping campaign messages. To break down why people are talking about Kamala Harris falling out of a coconut tree, and how the album “Brat” by pop musician Charli XCX is involved, we hear from Sophie Hurwitz of Mother Jones, SLU professor Keli Jackson, and STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum discuss how memes matter in political discourse.

Historian John C. McManus’ latest book opens with Gen. Douglas MacArthur aboard the USS Boise plunging through the deep blue waters of the South China Sea in January 1945. In this encore conversation, we hear from about the Missouri S&T professor’s book, “To the End of the Earth: The US Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945.” The book completes his trilogy that focuses on the U.S. Army during the Pacific War.

Washington University Professor Ian Bogost says checking email is a source of daily torment. In this encore episode, he makes the case for why it’s time to give up on email entirely. He also digs into the history of email, its evolution, and how we can better use text communication tools in ways that benefit our lives.

Every Wednesday, Peggy Winckowski opens her home to cook and host breakfast for up to 35 teenagers before they head to school. What started as a casual breakfast with her grandsons has turned into a regular gathering — one that’s become particularly special after the loss of Peggy’s grandson, Sam Crowe, who was killed in a vehicle crash in 2022 at age 15. In this encore episode, we join the Wednesday crew for breakfast and learn about Peggy’s wish for a national breakfast day movement.

After four years out of office, former Missouri state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal is trying to make a comeback in the closely-watched 1st Congressional District contest that includes incumbent Cori Bush and St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. Chappelle-Nadal joins "The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air" host Jason Rosenbaum to discuss her campaign.

Since he announced his second bid for the U.S. Senate in early 2023, Independence attorney Lucas Kunce has been the consistent frontrunner in the Democratic race to take on U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley. He joins "The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air" host Jason Rosenbaum to share why he thinks he's the best candidate to take on the role.

Radio personality and media veteran Tammie Holland passed away July 20, 2024 at the age of 53 after a three-year fight against cancer. Her long time friends and former colleagues Arika Parr and Tony Scott reflect on Holland’s legacy, career, and impact on St. Louis.

Christopher Dunn has spent 34 years in prison for what multiple judges have deemed a wrongful conviction. Earlier this week, a St. Louis Circuit judge ordered Dunn’s release — yet he remains behind bars. STLPR reporter Lacretia Wimbley discusses why Dunn is still not free and what comes next. We also listen back to a conversation with Dunn taped earlier this year, just days after St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore announced that his investigation showed evidence Dunn was innocent.

When Parkway School District teachers Mike Steep and Matt Wall aren’t in the classroom, the long-time friends and musicians are playing wide-ranging tunes from the 1990s and early 2000s with their cover band, DadBod. Their shows have become a space to reminisce about the music of their adolescence along with their faithful fans – some of which are fellow teachers and former students. Mike and Matt discuss the origins of DadBod and why seeing former students at their shows isn’t as awkward as one might think.

The Rooted initiative started by Invest STL gives Black and low-income residents of the West End and Visitation Park neighborhoods $20,000 to invest in their homes and community. The program aims to help residents stay in their neighborhoods amidst rising concerns about nearby developments. Invest STL CEO Dara Eskridge explains how the non-profit’s wealth-building program works and why it is getting national attention.

Growing up in St. Louis in the 1950s and 60s, Lee Hendrix was taught to fear the Mississippi River. But the sense of adventure it offered ended up being the seed that became a five decade career of piloting boats on the Mississippi. Hendrix discusses his new book, “Peep Light,” where he shares stories about the dangerous work of starting as a deckhand and later ascending to the pilothouse. He also talks about what it was like to pilot passenger vessels, including the grand American Queen, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ largest towboat, the MV Mississippi.

Yesterday, President Joe Biden announced that he’d no longer seek re-election this November. He also endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as nominee for the Democratic Party. People in the St. Louis region share a broad range of reactions to this historic political moment: relief, disappointment, uncertainty — and even, hopefulness.