St. Louis on the Air

Latest Episodes:

Ethical Society Of St. Louis Considers Evolving Notions Of The Hero Ahead Of Star Wars Release Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

As another Star Wars movie speeds toward the galaxy this month, fans are eagerly anticipating its arrival — while non-fans may be yawning over the premiere of yet one more big-budget action flick. But regardless of one’s feelings about Star Wars, Marvel or other modern myths that dominate pop culture, self-described “superfan but also a critical fan” James Croft argues that these persistent hero narratives overlap with the real world in powerful ways. “We can learn so much about ourselves and about our culture,” Croft has said, “by exploring how heroism is portrayed in movies like ‘Star Wars’ – including how notions of what heroism is, and who can be considered a hero, have developed over time.” As the outreach director for the Ethical Society of St. Louis, Croft plans to dig into this topic at a free event Thursday evening at the society. In this episode of the talk show, he joins Sarah Fenske in studio alongside Martin Casas, owner of Apotheosis Comics & Lounge, which is sponsoring the hero-focused event.

Photojournalism Prize Contest Showcases Teen Talent Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

The St. Louis Public Radio digital team crafted its first Photojournalism Prize photography contest last month. Host Sarah Fenske talks bout the results and impact of the station's first photo competition for teens. Joining the conversation are St. Louis Public Radio’s visual communications specialist David Kovaluk, McCluer North student Mya Davis and Roosevelt High School teacher Sara Haag.

'High Low' Aims To Become A Literary Hub In Grand Center Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

A newly renovated building is now open Grand Center. It’s called the High Low. And like many other buildings in Grand Center, it’s focused on the arts. But unlike many of the others, it’s not a theater or a performance space. Instead, it calls itself a “venue for freedom of expression through spoken and written word.” In other words, it aims to be a literary hub for a city that’s long had an outsized impact on the world of letters.

Where Did The Moon's Water Come From? WashU Researchers Search For Answers Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

Astrophysicists at Washington University in St. Louis are teaming up to find some answers. The research team has been chosen as one of NASA’s eight new Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institutes. They are part of a five-year cooperative agreement valued at more than $7 million.

NAACP St. Louis Chapter President Makes Case For Airport Privatization Dec 04, 2019

Show notes

The City of St. Louis is considering leasing St. Louis Lambert International Airport to a private company. If such a deal goes through it would bring a cash windfall to the city. Host Sarah Fenske talks with Adolphus Pruitt, president of the NAACP’s St. Louis chapter. Despite skepticism and opposition from others, Pruitt is a vocal supporter of the idea to lease the airport.

Omnimax Theater Undergoes $3.5 Million Renovation, Switches To Digital Projection Dec 03, 2019

Show notes

The Omnimax Theater at the St. Louis Science Center reopened last week after a $3.5 million renovation. Chief among the changes is a switch from film to digital projection. While most theaters have made that transition, the complexities of the Imax format on a domed screen presented challenges.

How Webster University's Nuns Charmed Hotel Magnate Conrad Hilton Into A Big Gift Dec 03, 2019

Show notes

By the mid-1960s, Conrad Hilton’s brief marriage to Zsa Zsa Gabor was decades behind him. The hotel magnate was worth an estimated $100 million. But he was also notoriously cheap — with both his ex-wives and his children. So how did a pair of St. Louis nuns persuade Hilton to give them more than $1.5 million? As Webster University professor emeritus Allen Carl Larson discovered, it took three years of correspondence, a shared faith and a deep mutual respect.

Mo Rocca In Conversation At County Library Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

Host Sarah Fenske talked with Rocca before a sold-out crowd at the library about his new book, “Mobituaries.”

Legal Roundtable Tackles Kroenke’s Phone Records, More Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

Host Sarah Fenske will talk with our Legal Roundtable panelists about several current issues pertaining to the law.

Finding Joy In Gratitude This Thanksgiving Holiday Nov 26, 2019

Show notes

The Thanksgiving holiday is a time to reflect and share the things for which we are grateful.