St. Louis on the Air

It’s been more than two years since Missouri voters approved the legalization of cannabis for adult recreational use. We explore the two sides of the growing industry — first by checking with several cannabis chefs competing for the approval of hundreds of weed-loving St. Louisans. Then, Missouri Independent cannabis reporter Rebecca Rivas takes us through the latest twists in the state’s embattled program for cannabis microbusiness licensees and a surprise recall of 6,000 products.

Tower Grove Farmers’ Market is now in its 20th season. Chris Geden, known as its Mayor, has been there since its first Saturday back in 2006. He and general manager Bess Kretsinger Heffernan discuss Tower Grove Farmers’ Market’s rich history and development.

St. Louis went through a major transition this week with the inauguration of Cara Spencer as mayor and Donna Baringer as comptroller. 14th Ward Alderman Rasheen Aldridge discusses the latest elections and what leadership change may mean for the city’s future.

For years, the agency that oversees Missouri’s foster care system and investigates instances of child abuse and neglect has struggled with high turnover, massive caseloads, and inconsistent rollouts of some key legislative initiatives. Missouri Children’s Division Director Sara Smith is in her first month leading the agency. She shares her plan to keep her department on the right track — especially with less funding than in previous years.

Tiny Desk Contest launched in 2014 to give unsigned artists a chance to compete for their very own concert at NPR headquarters — and some musicians have entered several years running. Rich Washington, aka Just Rich, and Jorge Valcárcel of Boxcar share their motivations behind entering in the Tiny Desk Contest seven and 11 years, respectively.

The 2025 NPR’S Tiny Desk Contest had 51 entries from musicians in the St. Louis area. Producer Miya Norfleet and STLPR’s Visuals Editor Brian Munoz discuss the local favorites and share their thoughts on the entries.

The Missouri Historical Society has flung open a vault of artifacts it’s been collecting since the 1860s. A new rotating exhibition at the Missouri History Museum gives visitors a chance to experience dozens of self-contained stories behind these objects — from a massive bird-hunting rifle to adorable kids' clothing from the last century. Museum tour manager Ryan Deloach shares his highlights from “Collected.” Also, the historical society’s president, Jody Sowell, reacts to the news of cancelled grants totaling $250,000 after cuts by the Trump Administration to the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Historical, and cultural barriers have contributed to a disproportionate number of Black Americans’ not knowing how to swim. A 2024 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that more than a third of Black adults – compared to 15% of all adults – reported they could not swim; and only one in three Black adults said they’d ever taken a swimming lesson. Youth on the all-Black Makos Swim Team are learning to compete and pushing their parents to take lessons themselves. Coach Terea Goodwin, and Makos moms Randella Randell and Bradlin Jacob-Simms, discuss their personal experiences around swimming, loss or near-loss of loved ones to drowning, and advocacy work that aims to ensure more Black Americans can find joy safely in the water – and reap its health benefits.

When Michelle Dezember moved to St. Louis five years ago, she assumed that the region would have a significant affinity with the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, the two longest rivers in the U.S. She soon realized that many residents don’t engage with them at all despite their cultural and historical relevance. Dezember — who serves as the Director of Learning and Engagement at the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) — is the co-curator of “Make the River Present,” an exhibit at CAM that explores the relationship between Black Americans, and Native Americans, with the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Interdisciplinary artist Dail Chambers and writer Galen Gritts joined Dezember to share about their art and experiences with these rivers, too.

Amie Lepsky has always loved baking, but her passion for creating cupcake bouquets is what inspired her to start her own business. She shares the inspiration behind Bakery Blooms, the process of crafting the hyper-realistic flower cupcakes, and the enjoyment that baking for others brings her.