St. Louis on the Air

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Tips on taking photos of wildlife from a Missouri nature photographer Sep 28, 2026

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You don’t have to go far to experience awe for the beauty and power of nature. That’s what wildlife photographer Noppadol Paothong takes away from his more than 25 years spent in the field. Ahead of his Oct. 9 talk in St. Louis, “Conservation in Focus: Lessons from a Life in Photography,” the Missouri photographer recalls his encounters with prairie chickens, raptors, eastern hellbenders, and the biggest moth in North America. He also shares practical tips for capturing incredible nature and wildlife photos with an everyday smart phone.

Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer draws on his St. Louis roots in new book Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

St. Louis native and Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer reflects on the people and experiences that have shaped his career in restaurants, from growing up in the St. Louis area to a conversation with his uncle that changed the course of his life. Ahead of his book launch event at St. Louis County Library for “What Could Possibly Go Right?,” Meyer discussed his approach to hospitality, why he believes employees come before customers and what St. Louis taught him about taking care of people. Meyer also shared some of his St. Louis restaurants.

New book traces the 150-year history of Forest Park as St. Louis’ crown jewel Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

For 150 years, Forest Park has been many things to many St. Louisans: a place to walk, play, gather, escape the heat, visit a museum, see an animal at the zoo or simply find a quiet place to read. But the history of the park also tells a larger story about the city itself. Amanda Doyle and Cameron Collins talk about their new coffee table book, “Forest Park: St. Louis’s Gathering Place Since 1876,” that traces the park's history from its origins through the present day.

How MidAmerica Clean Future Alliance works with communities to rid waterways of plastic waste Sep 23, 2026

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The St. Louis-based nonprofit MidAmerica Clean Future Alliance aims to reduce plastic pollution — from food and beverage containers to tires — along the Mississippi River. Executive director Jennifer Wendt and community engagement specialist Caran Hanks talk about their community-driven approach to reduce plastic waste in local neighborhoods and waterways from St. Paul, Minnesota down to the Mississippi Delta.

Redistricting saga continues as the US Supreme Court considers Missouri’s congressional maps Sep 23, 2026

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A federal appeals court ruled on Monday that Missouri must use a congressional map passed last year for this November’s election. That order goes against what the Missouri and U.S. Supreme Courts ordered earlier this month. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum shares the various legal issues at play and what may happen next.

An attempt to stop water from going to homeless people sparks protest, reflection and action Sep 22, 2026

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A now-retracted letter asking some St. Louis businesses to stop giving water to homeless people elicited significant backlash last week. The letter highlighted ongoing gaps in the region’s shelter and social safety support system. To explore what happened on South Grand, why the letter drew outrage, and how city officials and advocates are responding, we talk with the director of the continuum of care at Peter and Paul Community Services, an Arch City Defenders attorney, and the director of the Department of Human Services for the City of St. Louis.

Why workers at Union Loafers and Alamo Drafthouse want to unionize Sep 21, 2026

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Service industry professionals across St. Louis are fighting to make their voices heard by filing for unionization. In 2022, local Starbucks workers filed to form a union. Now two more groups of employees have joined their ranks. Within days of each other, workers at Alamo Drafthouse and Union Loafers announced they’re intent to file for unionization in a growing effort for transparency, fair wages and, above all, consistency. Logan Allgood from Alamo Drafthouse and Nelle Kate McPherson from Union Loafers discuss the intent behind their filing and why their efforts shouldn’t be seen as detrimental to a company.

Proposal to provide subsidies to at-home parents misses the mark, St. Louis sociologist says Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

The Trump administration is weighing a policy change that would redirect federal childcare funds from low-income, working parents to married couples with a stay-at-home parent. Washington University sociologist Caitlyn Collins says the move doesn’t reflect the will or needs of the American people. Collins, who authored the book “Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving,” shares insight on public policies that are proven to support both working parents and stay-at-home parents and discusses her latest research on how families in the St. Louis area navigate the childcare market.

New poll shows Donald Trump’s popularity taking a hit throughout Missouri Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

For nearly a decade, President Donald Trump’s popularity in Missouri was a boon for the state’s Republican Party. But new poll numbers from St. Louis University and YouGov show that the GOP chief executive is on shaky ground, especially as concerns about the economy and the Iran War are on voters’ minds. St. Louis University’s Steven Rogers joins “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to talk about the poll results and what they could mean for the Nov. 3 elections.

Missourians mobilizing again for fight over future of abortion rights Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Two years ago, Missourians legalized abortion — and repealed one of the strictest bans on the procedure in the country. Now, Missouri Republicans who oppose abortion rights are hoping voters will take to a proposal, known as Amendment 3, that places a near-total ban into the constitution. Abortion rights proponents say that the proposal is misreading what voters want. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum dives into the Amendment 3 battle on “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.”

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