Episodes

  • Why 600 pigeons and their fanciers flocked to St. Louis for competition

    Why 600 pigeons and their fanciers flocked to St. Louis for competition
    Jan 12 2026
    Nearly 600 pigeons of dazzling variety competed this weekend at the annual Spirit of St. Louis Winter Pigeon Show. Held at Purina Farms, the competition showcased a flock of some of the finest pigeons in the country, with competitors representing Missouri, Illinois and at least 15 other states. We get to know several competitors and learn about their fanciest pigeons, from the frillbacks to the show rollers. Producer Danny Wicentowski explores the pigeon show and shares details about the judging process that separates champion pigeons from the rest of the flock.
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    13 mins
  • Sunday morning coffee raves in St. Louis offer all-ages, alcohol-free option to dance and connect

    Sunday morning coffee raves in St. Louis offer all-ages, alcohol-free option to dance and connect
    Jan 12 2026
    Lindenwood University senior Juan Beltran knows how to throw a party. That includes coffee raves for people of all ages who want to dance and socialize — minus late hours and alcohol. Beltran talks about co-creating Sunday House Club, a live DJ'ed coffee “rave” series held during Sunday brunch hours at St. Louis area cafés. In addition to describing the series’ beginnings and responses so far, Beltran shares how he hopes to establish these coffee parties as a community staple.
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    20 mins
  • Figure skating put St. Louis in the national spotlight — and lit a spark for the future

    Figure skating put St. Louis in the national spotlight — and lit a spark for the future
    Jan 12 2026
    Over the course of the last week, more than 93,000 fans made their way to Enterprise Center to see some of the best skaters in the world at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Not only were national champions crowned, an Olympic team was named that will compete at the Winter Games in Milan next month. STLPR’s Brian Munoz and Alex Heuer talk about their coverage of the championships — and what they meant to St. Louis.
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    18 mins
  • Missouri developing plan that could boost pay for child abuse and neglect investigators

    Missouri developing plan that could boost pay for child abuse and neglect investigators
    Jan 9 2026
    It’s been more than a year since Gov. Mike Kehoe announced that state government veteran Jessica Bax would lead the Missouri Department of Social Services. It’s arguably the most challenging state governmental department in Missouri that oversees Medicaid, benefits like SNAP and TANF and the state’s Children Division. Bax joined “the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to talk about the big changes ahead for the state’s Medicaid program – and a plan to help retain investigators looking into allegations of child abuse and neglect.
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    29 mins
  • Missouri legislature convenes for 2026 session amid low expectations and high tensions

    Missouri legislature convenes for 2026 session amid low expectations and high tensions
    Jan 9 2026
    The Missouri General Assembly is back in session. And it’s an open question whether lawmakers can overcome low expectations, especially with Democrats in the Senate still upset by how the GOP cut off debate during the 2025 session. STLPR’s Sarah Kellogg previews the big issues ahead on the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.
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    21 mins
  • Planned Parenthood CEO has higher hopes for abortion access in Missouri in 2026

    Planned Parenthood CEO has higher hopes for abortion access in Missouri in 2026
    Jan 8 2026
    Abortion access in Missouri is at a crossroads. Although legalized by a public referendum in 2024, abortion services did not storm back in Missouri in 2025. Now, advocates for reproductive rights are preparing for a major trial starting Monday that could determine the future of abortion in the state. Planned Parenthood Great Rivers CEO Margot Riphagen looks back on the year in abortion access, the status of medication abortions in Missouri, and what she and her organization expect from the trial.
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    19 mins
  • Birthing advocates want medical staff to know: ‘We are experts on our own bodies’

    Birthing advocates want medical staff to know: ‘We are experts on our own bodies’
    Jan 8 2026
    Black mothers are dying due to pregnancy-related causes at a higher rate than their white counterparts. Birthing advocates say that more than training is needed to decrease the disparity. Lora Gulley, Elena Jenkins and LaKisha Redditt discuss the effects of centuries of medical racism, childbirth alternatives like doula services and midwifery, and what work can be done to reduce pregnancy- and birth-related deaths.
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    31 mins
  • How to embrace life by confronting death

    How to embrace life by confronting death
    Jan 7 2026
    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 new collection “Vital Signs” explores the trauma that stems from illness, injury and violence. In this episode, 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.
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    50 mins