St. Louis on the Air

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Mike Bush looks back on a 41-year career at KSDK Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

When Mike Bush came to St. Louis in 1985, he thought it would be a stop on the way to working in his hometown of Chicago. Instead, St. Louis became home, and Bush spent the next 41 years at KSDK Channel 5. He started in sports coverage, but spent most of his career as a news anchor. Along the way, he found a niche in telling positive stories about people making a difference though his “Making A Difference” segments and as host of the Musial Awards. Nearly two weeks into his retirement, Bush shares reflections and highlights from his career — and discusses what’s next.

Missouri Republicans regroup at State Fair after a primary shellacking Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

After the abysmal failure of two constitutional amendments on the August primary ballot, Missouri Republicans gathered at the Missouri State Fair this week and it marked the unofficial kickoff of the state’s general election season. STLPR’s Sarah Kellogg joins “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to talk about how the GOP plans to move forward, especially with a favorable environment nationally for Democrats.

America’s campaign finance system is a farce. A Michigan senator wants to change that Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Republicans and Democrats agree that the federal campaign finance system is a failure. The limits on contributions to candidates can be easily circumvented and it’s difficult to track how money is influencing politics. One of the Democrats who agrees with this assessment is U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, who was in St. Louis last week to talk about, among other things, a national ethics overhaul. Slotkin provides her ideas on “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.”

Missouri child abuse investigators are overwhelmed again as backlogs return Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Missouri’s Children’s Division is on the verge of a major overhaul. Workers who look into alleged child abuse and neglect will transition into more specialized roles on Sept. 1 with the goal of reducing a traditionally high caseload. But the workload for investigators has risen, sparking concern among some who work for the agency. Reporter Steph Quinn with the Missouri Independent joins “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to discuss her latest article about the agency.

St. Louis man leads the charge to bring suicide ‘postvention’ to the construction industry Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

A single suicide affects about 135 people on average. A new study on the construction industry, which sees disproportionately high rates of suicide, shows how employers and peers can play a powerful role in the aftermath of such a tragedy. The St. Louis advocate behind that research shares how its findings could improve on current practices. (Producer’s note: While we don’t go into graphic detail, our guest does discuss his personal connection to suicide during this conversation. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 9-8-8 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.)

The 40th anniversary of ‘Harp Attack!’ shines a light on St. Louis’s rich harmonica history Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Also known as the “mouth harp,” the harmonica has deep roots in St. Louis. Those roots run so deep that 40 years ago it inspired the creation of a harmonica review called “Harp Attack!” Jon “Johnny Diamond” Erblich talks about the event’s history, the connections between the harmonica and ST. Louis, and why the underrated, versatile instrument has persisted for so many years in jazz, blues and folk music.

This Saturday marks the 150th anniversary of the Great Divorce — when St. Louis split in two Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

This Saturday, Aug. 22, marks the 150th anniversary of when St. Louis chose to split itself in two. The decision, now known as the Great Divorce, created an enduring divide that still shapes the region today. In this encore of the first episode of STLPR’s podcast, “Meet Me,” host Luis Antonio Perez visits a family whose home sits right on the city-county line and explores the origin of the split with Missouri Historical Society historian Andrew Wanko.

Colleges and international students in Missouri grapple with new visa policies Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

For international students heading to college this fall, the usual questions about housing, classes and finding community come with an added layer of uncertainty: changing federal immigration policies. New reporting from the Midwest Newsroom examines how those policies are affecting international enrollment — and the bottom line of colleges and universities across the region, including in Missouri. We talk with Midwest Newsroom reporting fellow Steph Conquest-Ware about what they found.

Foodies Eat First and Tenacious Eats join forces for a ‘Sinners’ themed dining experience Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

The critically acclaimed 2025 box office hit “Sinners” continues to captivate cinephiles — and foodies. Tenacious Eats owner and executive chef Liz Schuster and Foodies Eat First Fest founder Braden Tewolde have curated a “Sinners” experience complete with themed dishes and a mojo bag crafting station. They share the motivations behind their collaboration, the chefs and plates attendees can expect, and St. Louis’ diverse dining culture.

St. Louis women on ‘Double Lives’ push back on stigma around sex work Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

St. Louis passed the Social Evil Ordinance in 1870, making it the first U.S. city to legally regulate and license sex work. Today, the region’s adult entertainment footprint is back in the spotlight thanks to “Double Lives of Suburban Wives,” a TLC reality series featuring St. Louis-area creators. We talk with cast member Tammy Thompson about her adult-content journey and the show. With Dr. Heather Berg, a UCLA Associate Professor of Gender Studies and Labor Studies and former WashU faculty member, we also discuss the complexities of the job and the broader implications of sex work.

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