St. Louis On The Air

The HBO series "Chimp Crazy" has brought international attention to U.S. roadside zoos that offer exotic animal encounters. It also brought renewed attention to Missouri resident Tonia Haddix, who kidnapped a chimpanzee named Tonka in 2021 and lied about his death in court. PETA lawyer Brittany Peet shares insights on “Chimp Crazy” and the legal issues that Haddix now faces. Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation executive director Bob Baker also joins the conversation to discuss how Missouri exotic animal laws have allowed facilities like Haddix’s to sell chimpanzees in the entertainment industry and the exotic pet trade.

Math can be a dry and daunting subject for many students. Educator and author Kendall Ware decided to change it up with his math textbook, “Solving for Freedom,” which teaches the principles of algebra and features portraits of Black history makers. Ware talks about why making math relatable helps students succeed.

Eden Theological Seminary’s Praxis Cohorts program focuses on bringing people of faith together around locally-anchored community work and fostering relationships during the contentious 2024 election season. Steve Lawler, founding director of the Walker Institute of Leadership, shares anecdotes about Praxis Cohorts’ impact and details about its “Faithful Responses to the 2024 Election” breakfast panel on September 5.

A social media trend about what it means to be “demure and mindful” is playing out against the background of Society of Human Resource Management March 2024 findings that two-thirds of workers have experienced or witnessed incivility at the workplace within the last month of that spring study. The Modern School of Manners founder Asha Hornaday and WashU professor of organizational behavior Hillary Anger Elfenbein discuss why folks are ruder and how to manage poor manners and low emotional intelligence.

For many years, the U.S. Postal Service has worked with hatcheries to ship live birds across the country. Special handling and priority mail designed to meet specific timing standards are required — but delays are resulting in the delivery of dead birds. Investigative reporter Kavahn Mansouri of NPR’s Midwest Newsroom reports on the problems and their impacts.

Whether you love exploring regional delicacies, or tearing into a long-marinated rotisserie chicken, the latest issue of Sauce Magazine has something for you. We talk to Sauce Magazine managing editor Iain Shaw about Brasas, a new Peruvian rotisserie chicken restaurant and the latest project from Jalea chef/owner Andrew Cisneros. Meanwhile, Sauce Magazine writer Ileana Martinez has continued her culinary journey through Central American cuisine, highlighting dishes from Honduras and Nicaragua served at Sbor K-Trancho, Merendero Las Catrachitas, and Fritanga Nicaraguan Cuisine.

A visit to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard is a quintessential St. Louis experience on par with visiting the St. Louis Zoo or Muny – or going to a Cardinals game. The custard shop – with one on Chippewa and one on South Grand – has been in business for nearly 100 years and running the business for much of it was Ted Drewes Jr. He died earlier this week at the age of 96. St. Louis Magazine food writer Cheryl Baehr and listeners share their memories.

In St. Louis, trivia is no trivial thing. It’s ingrained in the region’s culture, from school gyms to neighborhood bars. Dan Dillon, long-time trivia emcee and author of “The Ultimate St. Louis Trivia Quiz” talks about the origins of trivia and its enduring popularity. Andi Barrett, a former bar trivia host and current player, shares how St. Louis’ bar trivia scene has grown, especially post-pandemic.

The Mark Twain National Forest encompasses more than 1.5 million acres in central and southern Missouri. Managing that vast wilderness for both conservation and recreation is a large task that takes a team of U.S. Forest Service employees in seven district offices. Vince Keeler was recently appointed as the supervisor and discusses his background, goals for the forest, and how he intends to make Missouri home.

St. Louis University assistant professor Sarah Adam is the first woman to make the USA's Paralympics wheelchair rugby team. Adams shares what it means to represent her country, and women, as an elite athlete at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris — and one of her biggest fans explains why Adam’s story embodies the spirit of the Olympics and her chosen profession: occupational therapy.

Missouri anti-abortion group Coalition Life calls itself “America’s largest professional sidewalk counseling organization" — and it's benefitting from millions in public funds while also taking its message outside the state. ProPublica's Jeremy Kohler shares his latest investigation into how Missouri is subsidizing anti-abortion groups and pregnancy centers through tax credits, and what that means for Missourians when abortion is almost completely banned under state law.

A panel of attorneys discuss local and regional legal issues, including the latest attempts by death row inmate Marcellus Williams to make his case for innocence, and an update on a $495 million verdict against the manufacturers of Similac baby formula.

In 1993, a turtle whose shell grew around a discarded plastic 6-pack ring was found in the St. Louis region. She was named Peanut, and she’s become one of the best-known animal ambassadors for litter awareness ever since. We celebrate Peanut’s 40th birthday and talk about her story with her caretaker, Missouri Department of Conservation naturalist Matthew Cavanaugh. Tierra Curry of the Center for Biological Diversity and David Mizejewskiv of the National Wildlife Federation also join the conversation to discuss the power of individual animals’ stories, like Peanut’s, to promote social change.

Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel, who heads the state's umbrella organization for most unions, said organized labor wants to see candidates who protect workers. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, Hummel discusses the state of labor in Missouri and its relevance in local and state politics.

Third-party candidates often struggle to gain traction in a political system dominated by Republicans and Democrats. Jared Young, a businessman from Webb City, is seeking Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat as a member of the newly formed Better Party. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air we hear why, and talk with St. Louis University political science professor Christopher Duncan about the role and relevance of third parties.

Reporters from Reuters investigating the impact of radioactive waste near West Lake Landfill tracked down dozens of former and current residents of Spanish Village in Bridgeton, finding more than 30 people diagnosed “with types of cancer that have been linked to radiation.” Two members of the team that produced it, reporters Michelle Conlin and Mike Pell, discuss their findings, and how a little-known federal agency is has become “a shield for polluters.”

Museums only show about 2% of their collections to the public. Archivist and entrepreneur Emma Prince deals with the other 98%. Prince talks about founding the St. Louis-based company Backlog, and describes its work building archives for libraries, schools and other organizations, and helping individuals learn about their family history.

Self-care is often marketed as an individual, consumption-driven activity. Soul Spa Collective, a new wellness group in St. Louis, is challenging that. Collective co-founders Jessica Wernli and Steven Hunt talk about the group’s Self Care Sunday series, and its focus on promoting self-care practices that prioritize community connection.

Music at the Intersection is back for its third year — and they are bringing living legends and beloved local acts on stage together. Acts include Chaka Khan, Black Pumas, Chingy and Keyon Harrold. Kranzberg Arts Foundation’s Chris Hansen, executive director, and Larry Morris, director of programs and partnerships, shared what audiences can expect during the festival.

Many educators say their districts aren’t supplying everything their students need. Non-profit groups, community organizations and even the courts are stepping in to help meet needs across the Midwest, but education advocates say it’s not a long-term solution.