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How Missouri mushroom hunters can help scientists document fungi DNA Jun 13, 2024

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Missouri is going through what some are calling a "shroom boom." We talk to Missouri Mycological Society’s Mike Snyder about why there's so much fungi interest, his journey to loving mushrooms, and how Missourians can help document -- and even discover -- species of fungi through DNA samples. We also meet Indiana mushroom researcher Steve Russell, founder of Mycota Lab. The lab is trying to document all macrofungi in participating states, including a recent expansion to Missouri.

Chef Adjo Honsou brings West African cuisine to St. Louis with Fufu n’ Sauce Jun 13, 2024

Show notes

Food and fashion are common ways people begin acquainting with new cultures. In St. Louis, Adjo Honsou, chef and owner of the food truck Fufu n Sauce, makes both to introduce West African cuisine and her Togolese culture to locals. In just two years, Honsou has garnered a faithful following with traditional homemade meals and handmade clothing. On June 17th, her culinary reach will broaden with the Season 3 premiere of PBS’ reality cooking show “The Great American Recipe.” That same day, she’ll launch her line of spices and curries in collaboration with the St. Louis-based McCarthy Spice & Blends.

Centuries of engineering have altered the Mississippi River. A new book examines its effects Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Spanning more than 2,300 miles, the Mississippi is one of the longest rivers in the world. The waterway has the distinction of being both a significant ecosystem and a commercial navigation route, which often leads to tension and competing visions for its future. In his new book “The Great River: The Making & Unmaking of the Mississippi” journalist Boyce Upholt traces the history of the river and presents deep questions about the consequences of infrastructure and where the boundaries of nature lie.

A St. Louis content creator navigates grief in ‘Let’s Not Rot’ series Jun 11, 2024

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While grieving can get easier over time, it is a lifelong process. St. Louis-based content creator Kait Granger aims to illuminate that truth in her TikTok series, “Let’s Not Rot.” The series was born out of her need for vulnerability and connection after experiencing the traumatic loss of her mother. Granger talks about her journey with loss, misconceptions about grief and how showing up for small, everyday tasks can lead to bigger breakthroughs.

Updated MLB records reflect stats and success of St. Louis’ Negro Leagues players Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

For over a century, numbers for baseball in America were missing a huge piece of history because of racial segregation. That changed when Major League Baseball announced the incorporation of Negro Leagues Baseball statistics into the official MLB record book in May. Ed Wheatley, baseball historian and author, talks about the St. Louis Giants and St. Louis Stars players now included in the statistical database and why recognizing the accomplishments of Negro Leagues players is important on a local and national level.

How a St. Charles bakery owner uses his love for sourdough to connect with millions Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

Timothy Nordmann, owner of Mr. Meowski's Bakery in St. Charles, knows a thing or two about a good loaf of sourdough. Behind each loaf, however, is a story of determination in moments of uncertainty. Nordmann shares his experiences as a bakery owner – and what it took to get there – on social media. One video in particular went viral back in May and has been viewed over one million times. The comment section of the video is filled with sentiments from thousands of viewers who resonate with Nordmann’s story, some of which were compelled to share their own difficult road to achieving their goals. Nordmann talks about how business has grown since and why he decided to share his stories in the first place

Why a drug treatment tool to protect Missouri kids is underutilized in the St. Louis area Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

In our ongoing coverage of issues plaguing the Children’s Division of Missouri’s Department of Social Services, we discuss why a tool aimed at removing children from a home where drug use is evident isn’t being used to a great extent in the St. Louis area. STLPR politics correspondent talks about his reporting on the Temporary Alternative Placement Agreement — or TAPA.

Sarah Parker Pauley reflects on her career caring for Missouri’s great outdoors Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

The longtime head of Missouri’s Department of Conservation has stepped aside after taking the helm of the agency in late 2016. For years, Sarah Parker Pauley managed the state’s incredibly vast expanse of pristine wilderness and outdoor spaces where people hunt, fish and hike. During an in-depth conversation with STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum last week, Pauley spoke about the ongoing challenges of balancing the commitment to preserving Missouri’s natural beauty with the need for economic development in struggling parts of the state.

8 years after her daughter’s murder, Erica Jones is still seeking justice Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

In 2015, Erica Jones’ daughter, Whitney Brown, was killed in a drive-by shooting. Who did it remains unknown. Brown’s case is among the 1,000-plus from 2014 to 2023 that still haven’t been solved, according to a joint investigation by St. Louis Public Radio, APM Reports and the Marshall Project. Jones talks about how grief has changed her family, and why she is still seeking answers — and justice. She also discusses Voice of the Voiceless STL, a nonprofit support group she founded to help fellow St. Louisans who have lost loved ones to gun violence.

How a new vintage thrift store centers the fashion needs of plus-size people Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

From fashion-forward folks to those who couldn’t care less about what they wear, everybody – and every body – needs clothes. The fashion industry, however, is notorious for prioritizing certain figures and excluding others. Ethical Bodies x the Good-Ish, a new vintage thrift store in south St. Louis, is centering people whose fashion needs are often disregarded by offering plus-size pieces exclusively. Store co-founders Maura Hampton and Erica Hallman discuss the mission of the store, their plans for its future, and speculate why the fashion industry is hesitant to make clothes inclusive for all.

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