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'Eliza' imagines life of woman enslaved, and freed, by prominent St. Louis family Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

“Eliza” is a new historical short film about Eliza Rone, a woman enslaved – and eventually freed – by a prominent 19th century family in St. Louis. Co-writers and co-directors Delisa Richardson and Dan Steadman discuss their use of historical documents and imagination to craft the story and characters in the film.

Mosaic Pothole Project makes art out of the city's pothole problem Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

Artist Lu Ray Waldemer has first hand experience dealing with and witnessing blown tires due to raggedy St. Louis streets. Waldemer would complain to friends and family until she decided to do something about it by starting the “Mosaic Pothole Project.”

Black residents were denied wealth in STL. A reparations commission is tackling that history Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

St. Louis’ commission on reparations began meeting monthly this summer to confront the vast and layered damage of slavery, segregation and discrimination. Commission members Gwen Moore and Kayla Reed discuss the need for reparations, the challenges presented by historic injustice, and their thoughts on what form reparations may ultimately take in St. Louis.

This local running club invites all to run through the 314 Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

In this encore conversation, Ricky Hughes talks about how he founded St. Louis Run Crew with inclusion in mind — specifically to introduce Black and brown people to running and to create a space where they can be comfortable. While most running clubs are inherently inclusive, Hughes would often find himself the only person of color in local running groups. He says the crew — which meets in Kiener Plaza Park — is “open to all faces, paces and laces.”

Rolla residents pack city council meeting over proposed obscenity ordinance Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

After a Rolla Pride event in June that included a drag performance, people packed a city council meeting wanting to weigh in on a proposed ordinance that would limit public performance content. STLPR Rolla correspondent Jonathan Ahl shares notes about that meeting and the obscenities ordinance under consideration.

Two corpse flowers are expected to bring the funk at Missouri Botanical Garden Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

The Missouri Botanical Garden has drawn crowds wanting to revel in the smell of the aptly named corpse flower, the amorphophallus titanum, since it first bloomed there in 2012. Its offensive odor has been likened to rotting garbage, dirty diapers and, yes… a dead body. Horticulturist Emily Colletti has cared for the garden's collection of corpse flowers for 21 years. She shared what makes the odoriferous plants happy, and how she can predict when this year’s blooming flower Octavia will dazzle and stink.

Missouri’s glades are trapped under trees. Botanists are freeing them by logging Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

Podcast Description: In 2018, writer Robert Langellier and botanist Neal Humke cut down every tree across 19 acres in the Ozarks in Pioneer Forest. Their aim was to restore one of the Ozarks' rarest ecosystems: a glade. While it may seem counterintuitive to cut down trees in a time of climate change, restoring glades helps ensure biodiversity. Langellier discusses his opinion piece in the New York Times about the conservation effort. Humke, Land Stewardship Coordinator for the L-A-D Foundation — which privately owns the land in the Pioneer Forest — discusses the non-profits’ work there and the importance of glades.

Film festival in St. Louis has a supernatural Western and a story of aliens in Forest Park Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

Cinema St. Louis has curated films with a local connection since 2000. Now in its twenty-third iteration, the showcase has grown to include documentary and narrative shorts as well as feature-length films, experimental film and animations, and master classes for anyone interested in filmmaking in the region. Chris Clark, Cinema St. Louis' artistic director, breaks down the upcoming showcase, and discusses what he’s most looking forward to.

Illinois has two months to end cash bail. A judge compares it to ‘turning the Titanic’ Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

A ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court this week opened a path for courts to eliminate the use of cash bail as a condition for release before trial. The decision gives courts two months to prepare for the shift to end cash bail in mid-September. Chief Circuit Court Judge Andrew Gleeson says the time frame is akin to “turning the Titanic,” but he’s also hopeful the change may lead to greater equity in the courts. Community organizer Marie Franklin feels the justice system is “finally moving in a direction that we should be moving in.” Alexa Van Brunt, director of the MacArthur Justice Center’s Illinois office, also joins the discussion to share the challenges this new law may bring, as well as the potential positive effects for public safety and community well being.

Six weeks in, Gabe Gore says St. Louis circuit attorney’s office has stabilized Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Appointed by Gov. Mike Parson, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore has been on the job as the city’s top prosecutor since May 30. He took over after Kim Gardner resigned earlier than expected. In his first six weeks on the job, Gore has increased staffing levels and begun to deal with a backlog of cases. In this extended interview, he discusses that and much more, including how he’s appointed outside counsel to handle the Christopher Dunn innocence case.

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