St. Louis on the Air

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.

Ten years ago, an intrepid restaurant critic at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch decided to put a hefty meal on his food-writing plate: Listing, and ranking, the top 100 restaurants in St. Louis. That effort is still running a decade later. Food critic Ian Froeb discusses this year’s picks and shares his insight and reflections on the St. Louis food and restaurant industry in 2025.

St. Louis’ downtown has its share of well-documented challenges: large-scale vacancies, companies moving their offices and streets that can feel devoid of activity. The city has made progress on two prominent vacant buildings in its downtown the past year, but rebounding from what the Wall Street Journal has described as a “real estate nightmare” will take many more years. STLPR economic development reporter Eric Schmid talks about efforts to revitalize downtown and recent successes in bringing business and residency to the neighborhood.

The St. Louis Science Center is nationally recognized among museums and STEM institutions. Its new President and CEO physicist Ray Vandiver shared what he’s most excited for now that he’s at the helm of the Science Center in his hometown. He also reflects on a career dedicated to making science fun and accessible to all.

Over a four year period starting in 2021, St. Louis’ use of electronic monitoring for defendants awaiting trial more than doubled. Advocates say it’s a way to prevent overcrowding in jails and keep people from being imprisoned. But opponents say there have been technological mishaps, privacy concerns, and high costs — and that many people who are forced to wear the devices would have otherwise been out on cash bail. Taylor Tiamoyo Harris, a St. Louis-based journalist and investigative fellow for the New York Times, discusses her story on the topic which was co-published by the New York Times and STLPR.

For renowned fiddle player Liz Knowles of Portland, Maine, St. Louis Tionól is a must attend event each year. “It really parallels events that we've been to in Ireland,” she says. Knowles reflects on the annual festival and St. Louis' Irish music scene in this bonus podcast episode. For more on tionól events happening this weekend, and for a deep dive into St. Louis’ Irish music scene, check out our other recent podcast episode: Why St. Louis is home to one of the nation’s best Irish music scenes.

Teachers and students have spent years clashing over the presence of cellphones in the classroom. This year, schools in the St. Louis region rolled out new bans that restrict how, when, and where students can use their devices during the school day. To learn how cellphones are impacting schools, we turn to the Edwardsville School District: Here student advisors like junior Josie Proctor and senior Amulya Girada helped superintendent Dr. Patrick Shelton craft the district’s new policy — including the consequences for breaking it.

Cara Spencer will become St. Louis’ 48th mayor when she’s inaugurated next Tuesday. Spencer, currently the 8th Ward alderwoman, soundly defeated incumbent Mayor Tishaura Jones by 28 points. STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum and Rachel Lippmann talk about Tuesday’s election results — and Spencer called-in to discuss her victory and next steps.