St. Louis On The Air

St. Louis mom Amanda Hausmann knows what it feels like to be overwhelmed with the demands of a career and parenthood. It’s why she left her job as an attorney to create MomMoment. The app connects moms who need support tackling everyday household tasks with other parents who are looking for flexible income. Hausmann discusses the demands of modern parenthood and why she believes labels like “stay at home mom” and “working mom” are divisive and insufficient.

A love of cookbooks inspired Sara Johnson and Stephanie McKinney to found Anchovy Book Co., a bite-sized, brick-and-mortar store on Cherokee Street that's just six feet wide. There are only about 20 cookbook-exclusive stores nationwide. Anchovy, which opened in November, is the first in the Midwest. We explore the store’s origin and the cookbooks that remain beloved by its founders. We also look at cookbook recommendations and local authors with St. Louis Magazine food writer Cheryl Baehr.

Rock music has its roots in Black culture and with his docuseries “They Called Me a Sellout: Being Black in the ‘White’ Rock & Roll Industry”, Chan Maurice Evans explores that history. The series features St. Louis legends like Bernie and Uvee Hayes, Steve Ewing, and rock icons like Ben Kenny of Incubus. The series centers Black artists in the rock genre and their experiences. Evans joins St. Louis on the Air to discuss how, after years of being called a “sellout” for being a Black rock artist, he made it his mission to show Black people that rock is rooted in Black culture.

More than 100 days ago, an EF3 tornado ripped through St. Louis. In the weeks since, volunteers have stepped up, frustrations have grown over slow recovery efforts and many residents are still struggling. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer reflects on the past 15 weeks and shares what her administration is doing to help the city move forward.

GOP leaders across the country are rallying around redistricting efforts at the encouragement of President Donald Trump. Detractors say this move is an attempt to help President Trump avoid accountability and maintain a slim Republican majority. STLPR political correspondent Jason Rosenbaum talked with Representative Bob Onder of Missouri’s third congressional district about the history of redistricting and what redrawing of district lines could mean for Missouri and Onder’s own district in St. Charles.

For the past 24 years, filmmakers from across the world got together for the annual 48Hr Film Project in a race to make the best 5 to 7 minute short film. From amateurs just out for a good time to working professionals in search of a challenge, no one is excluded from the festivities. The event kicked off on August 22nd at Bad Dog Pictures and concluded on Sunday with teams turning in their projects at 7am. The festival’s producer Ria Ruthsatz and 2 time winner Keith Kennedy about the importance of the festival and its global reach.

On August 20, Missouri changed its policies around placing inmates with HIV in solitary confinement. The change stems from a lawsuit filed by Honesty Bishop: In 2015, after she was the target of an attempted sexual assault by her cellmate in a Missouri prison, prison officials deemed Bishop “sexually active” and kept her in isolation for more than 2,000 days. Bishop took her own life before the suit could conclude. Her family took it over after her death. STLPR reporter Kavahn Mansouri and Marshall Project reporter Katie Moore share their insights from reporting on the case, including their interviews with Bishop’s family and analysis of Missouri’s prison policies.

St. Louis comedian Nikki Glaser’s star is on the rise. Her latest comedy special, “Someday You’ll Die,” broke an HBO streaming record, she earned rave reviews for roasting Tom Brady and she made history as the first woman to solo-host the Golden Globes. Glaser joins producer Emily Woodbury to talk about her skyrocketing career, being honored with her own bobblehead at Busch Stadium and why she still calls St. Louis home.

Missouri’s newly appointed Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is stepping into a complicated role that includes baggage of her three predecessors — Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, and Andrew Bailey — who each left for higher office before finishing a full term. On this episode of the Legal Roundtable, our panel of expert attorneys discusses whether Hanaway can break new ground as AG. The roundtable also talks about the latest developments in the felony charges filed against County Executive Sam Page; a series of recent lawsuits targeting St. Louis businesses whose websites are allegedly not accessible to blind people; and a lawyer’s argument that Washington University police are not actually “law enforcement officers.”

One hundred days after an EF3 tornado tore through St. Louis, many residents are still living with boarded up homes, stalled insurance claims and frustration with getting government assistance. Central West End resident Ali Rand and Academy resident Monet Beatty each have damaged homes. They share how they forged an unexpected friendship in the aftermath of the storm.

STLPR reporters Kavahn Mansouri and Hiba Ahmad join the show to share what they’ve learned while covering the aftermath of the May 16 tornado. They discuss recovery efforts, the ripple effects across education and economic development, and where the city still faces major challenges.

Artificial intelligence is reshaping our world — from automating customer service to powering financial decisions — but it also raises urgent questions about ethics, policy, and the environment. Oliver Roberts, co-director of the WashU Law AI Collaborative, explains how policymakers are grappling with regulating AI. Then, STLPR senior environment reporter Kate Grumke talks about AI’s environmental footprint and shares how she recently used the technology in her own reporting.

Congressman Mark Alford, R-Cass County, isn’t shying away from doing town hall meetings while Congress is in recess. He’s planning a four-day swing next week through the 4th Congressional District, which takes in portions of the Kansas City area and Mid-Missouri. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, Alford talks about holding town hall meetings and why he supported defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Harris-Stowe State University provides mentorship and resources to support Black entrepreneurs in overcoming systemic barriers. We talk with Kristy Jackson, the center’s executive director, and Emilia Robertson, CEO of ShotsByEmilia and a 2022 program graduate, about how the center empowers innovators, preserves Black history, and inspires the next generation of leaders.

The reciprocal tariffs President Trump announced in April went into effect this month. It’s too early to tell exactly how these tariff increases for 70 international trading partners will impact St. Louis directly, but economists are looking to history and data for insights into possible effects. Max Dvorkin of the Federal Reserve Bank - St. Louis shared what he and fellow economists are tracking. Global Food Group’s Shayn Prapaislip and Sincerely, the Craft’s Jade Moore provided updates on how their respective businesses are faring as they navigate tariff-related aspects of the changing business landscape.

Citing dumpster contamination and the high cost of providing the service, the City of St. Louis is officially moving away from alleyway recycling. But Jess Watson, executive director of earthday365, is not giving up hope that it could return in the future. She discusses the challenges and costs involved in recycling with host Elaine Cha, and residents share what they think of the city’s decision.

Weeks of high temperatures in St. Louis is raising concerns about heat illness. Clinical assistant professor and community pharmacist Catherine Gilmore joins St. Louis on the Air to discuss the science behind what happens to the body when it fails to regulate heat, and how certain types of medication can increase the risk of heat intolerance.

Ten years ago, the killing of a Black 18-year-old in St. Louis named Mansur Ball-Bey ignited protests and calls for justice. At the center of this killing were competing claims about whether Mansur was armed and why police opened fire. But in January this year, at trial for a wrongful death lawsuit, a federal jury awarded Ball-Bey’s family $19 million. Along with attorneys Javad Khazaeli and Jermaine Wooten, Mansur’s father Dennis Ball-Bey brings us inside the story of that trial, the key evidence that turned the case on its head, and why, instead of paying millions, the City of St. Louis is now fighting for a new trial.

After months of uncertainty following the loss of federal funding, the International Institute of St. Louis’ Festival of Nations is returning to Tower Grove Park this weekend. Terry Bates, director of marketing and communications for the Institute, shares how donors stepped up to make sure the festival would stay on track, and what makes the annual event – a St. Louis staple for decades – important to the Institute’s mission of serving refugee and immigrant families.

Sumner High School students began the year not at their historic north St. Louis campus, but at Stevens Middle School. It’s a temporary home after damage from the May 16 tornado forced their temporary relocation. Alumni turned out in force to welcome them, determined to keep Sumner’s legacy alive. We hear from STLPR reporter Andrea Henderson and alumna Jackie Vanderford, Class of 1963, on the school’s history, traditions and uncertain future.