St. Louis on the Air

Almost 30 years ago, Chris Kilbride started his career as a teacher at the Ritenour School District. He's spent the last 15 years as the district's superintendent. Next year, his retirement will mark the end of one of the longest serving superintendents in the St. Louis region. In this episode, Kilbride sits down with STLPR education reporter Hiba Ahmad to reflect on his nearly three-decade career as an educator and administrator. He talked about the changing landscape of public school funding and accreditation standards; his experience guiding the district through the COVID-19 pandemic; and what it's like standing by families as they faced increased immigration enforcement.

Prediction markets have become prominent in the last couple years, especially as they enlist sports stars to advertise their products. But greater scrutiny is also coming with the increased notoriety. Many states, including Illinois and Missouri, contend companies like Kalshi are effectively gambling platforms that should be regulated similarly to sportsbooks like DraftKings and FanDuel. Kalshi’s Nicole Kagan joins “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to discuss how she differentiates Kalshi from sports betting platforms.

The U.S. Supreme Court delivered an unambiguous ruling last week: Missouri has to use a congressional map passed in 2022. That decision was a stunning blow to a Donald Trump-backed effort to draw Congressman Emanuel Cleaver out of office before the 2026 midterm elections. STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg analyze the big takeaways over Missouri’s messy redistricting effort on “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.”

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus opens its 71st season Sunday, Oct. 4, with the world premiere of a work by renowned Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds at the 2nd Baptist Church in Richmond Heights. Ešenvalds has written for the chorus three times, but this is his first visit to St. Louis for a premiere. While he’s in St. Louis, Ešenvalds is also visiting the grave of St. Louis native and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Sara Teasdale, whose poetry inspired his new suite, “Oh Day of Fire.”

Last year’s May tornado displaced hundreds of people and destroyed thousands of trees in St. Louis’ north side — an area with predominately Black neighborhoods where the tree canopy is historically thin. The devastation highlighted a disconnect between the Black St. Louisans and trees due to tree-related violence like lynchings, and disinvestment in north St. Louis. Black Healers Collective founder Rebeccah Bennett and Forest ReLeaf’s Kelly Hicks-Holloway have collaborated with other organizations to guide tornado victims through the process of healing tree trauma. They share how they are working with affected community members and what healing from tree trauma can look like.

A three-time losing streak at the U.S. Supreme Court has turned Missouri’s upcoming election into national news — and a disappointment to President Trump. On this Legal Roundtable edition of the show, a panel of expert attorneys discuss the rulings, counter-rulings and controversies — including why so many people are now suing Missouri’s secretary of state.

About half of the school-aged kids in St. Louis don’t attend the city’s public school district. St. Louis parents face an overwhelming number of school options: magnet, neighborhood, gifted, charter, parochial, private or homeschool. In the latest episode of our “Meet Me” podcast, host Luis Antonio Perez walks to school with a family in Ellisville, then sits down with three parents. Each chose different educational paths for their kids: moving to a school district in St. Louis County, sticking with public schools in the city and homeschooling. In a candid conversation they talk about why they love their choices, what they wish they had from the other options, and how people react when they find out. And, STLPR education reporter Hiba Ahmad explains how a new proposal to close 14 schools next year might affect students and families.

Last week, we talked with Amanda Doyle and Cameron Collins, co-authors of the new coffee-table book, “Forest Park: St. Louis’s Gathering Place Since 1876.” Our phone lines were full, so after the show, we kept the conversation going. Hear listeners share their favorite memories of spending time in Forest Park.

You don’t have to go far to experience awe for the beauty and power of nature. That’s what wildlife photographer Noppadol Paothong takes away from his more than 25 years spent in the field. Ahead of his Oct. 9 talk in St. Louis, “Conservation in Focus: Lessons from a Life in Photography,” the Missouri photographer recalls his encounters with prairie chickens, raptors, eastern hellbenders, and the biggest moth in North America. He also shares practical tips for capturing incredible nature and wildlife photos with an everyday smart phone.

St. Louis native and Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer reflects on the people and experiences that have shaped his career in restaurants, from growing up in the St. Louis area to a conversation with his uncle that changed the course of his life. Ahead of his book launch event at St. Louis County Library for “What Could Possibly Go Right?,” Meyer discussed his approach to hospitality, why he believes employees come before customers and what St. Louis taught him about taking care of people. Meyer also shared some of his St. Louis restaurants.