St. Louis on the Air

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New website aims to make theatre more accessible for artists and enjoyers in St. Louis Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

The St. Louis theatre community is thriving with new companies, shows and events. But in the aftermath of local media closures like the Riverfront Times, the only thing that is missing is a place for both theatre lovers and artists alike to follow what’s happening. That is where the new website St. Louis On Stage comes in. Its founders Carmen Garcia, Julie George, and Troy Schnider join us to discuss the importance of the website’s upcoming show, auditions and company database, their vision for this new online theatre hub and what we can expect in the future.

To understand plastic’s impact on humans, scientists study Forest Park’s turtles Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

This summer, researchers from St. Louis Zoo spent hours in Forest Park studying what the turtles living there eat — and excrete. The work is part of a yearslong mission to understand how plastic affects the natural world. Dr. Sharon Deem, a veterinarian and director of the Institute for Conservation Medicine, talks about why she and her team are focusing on the snapping and box turtles living in St. Louis’ largest park, how to “wrangle” a sample from them, and what the plastics in their bodies could tell us about how plastics are affecting humans, too.

The Grooveliner puts the ‘fun’ in power-funk with their new album ‘Live From Your Mom’s House’ Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

In St. Louis, it’s common practice for bands to merge together and form new acts. The Grooveliner is no different. The nine-piece, powerfunk band — founded by Toby Mechem and Matt Vianello— released their latest album “Live From Your Mom’s House” earlier this year. The tongue-in-cheek title highlights the band’s sense of humor and the music exemplifies their immense talent and collaboration. Mechem and Vianello share the band's journey, wittiness, and pursuit finding the perfect voice to compliment their sound.

These new releases from St. Louis artists offer honesty and openness Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

St. Louis musicians share the power of being open and honest in this month's new music roundup. Darian Wigfall — also known as DJ Whiz — joins producer Miya Norfleet and host Elaine Cha to discuss their favorite recently released tracks, including punk, jazz, pop and atmospheric selections. Check out our new music roundup playlist.

Their art is in a St. Louis gallery. The artists are in prison Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

For the past 13 years, Charles Everett has kept a routine in his prison dorm. He sits at a table in the common room and draws — creating large illustrations full of bold lines, bright, bold colors and tiny details. As time has gone by, others he is incarcerated with have joined him for a daily art class. The group’s work is now being showcased in a St. Louis art gallery. We hear what this means for the artists and their families by talking with Everett and his former attorney, Sharon Turlington, who organized the exhibition.

A legal group fighting to free innocent prisoners avoided closure. Now it's hoping to grow Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Last month, the Midwest Innocence Project alerted its supporters that it was on the brink of closure. The announcement came after the nonprofit had already cut its staff by 25%. The group now says it has raised $400,000 and is on firmer financial footing. Executive director Tahir Atwater said the crisis served as a "wake-up call" for the organization and its clients. Atwater and MIP legal director Rachel Wester talk about the continued need for innocence work, the 900 cases on its waiting list and notable MIP successes like those of Christopher Dunn, Kevin Strickland, and Lamar Johnson.

Acclaimed chef Lona Luo brings Lona’s Lil Eats to Kirkwood — and honors her Chinese roots Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

Three-time James Beard semifinalist chef Lona Luo has opened a second Lona’s Lil Eats location in Kirkwood. Known for her “Asian-soul food,” Luo draws inspiration from her childhood in a hill-tribe village in southwestern China. We talk with the chef about her culinary journey, the story behind her acclaimed restaurant in St. Louis’ Fox Park neighborhood and why she decided to expand to Kirkwood.

In ‘Red Brick Blue Tarp,’ relationships are a force for recovery after St. Louis’ tornado Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The short documentary film “Red Brick Blue Tarp” blends visual poetry and first-person interviews to explore the impact of the May 16, 2025 tornado. The storm tore a path of devastation through much of north St. Louis, an area marked by decades of disinvestment. Filmmaker Cami Thomas, producer and community organizer Jessica Wernli, and 314Oasis co-founder Stephanie Reynolds discuss how the tornado deepened their connections to the community. They also talk about how screenings of the film are contributing to the ongoing work of recovery, rebuilding and resilience.

St. Louis poet Vincent Casaregola embraces life by confronting death Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Suffering, grief and death are inescapable components of human experience. Confronting such hardship, says poet Vincent Casaregola, can be a way to embrace life and find meaning. His 2025 collection, “Vital Signs,” explores the trauma that stems from illness, injury and violence. In this encore episode originally aired in Jan. 2026, Casaregola reflects on lessons from pandemics throughout human history, the need for awareness and empathy to address issues like homelessness and gun violence, and how writing about trauma has helped him navigate his own grief.

WashU professor’s book explores the power and privilege of seeing from above Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

On September 10, 1910, Thomas Scott Baldwin flew over St. Louis, thrilling 200,000 onlookers along the Mississippi River. That moment of early flight — and many others — is at the heart of Edward McPherson’s 2025 book, “Look Out: The Delight and Danger of Taking the Long View.” The Washington University professor writes about aerial photography, long-distance mapping and how seeing from above shapes power, privilege and perspective. In this encore presentation, we talk with McPherson about the book that's rooted in St. Louis and relays stories about the Mississippian people in present-day Collinsville and the aerial surveillance of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

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