Best Teens Affected By Technology Podcasts (2025)

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Schmitt defends Trump immigration crackdown amid widespread protests 20:25

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8h ago20:25

20:25

President Donald Trump’s high-profile immigration raids have sparked protests across the country and even prompted some Republicans to question whether the strategy is misguided. But Missouri U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt says Trump is carrying out a campaign promise to deport people who are in the country without legal status. He also said that critics o…

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Missouri lawmakers reflect on special session that included help for storm victims 30:28

8h ago30:28

30:28

During the just-concluded special session, a bipartisan contingent of Missouri lawmakers were able to get the stadium package across the finish line while also aiding victims of the May 16 tornado. State Sen. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, and House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, discuss the legislative action. STLPR statehouse and politics r…

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CJ Walker is transforming health in Missouri — and just won a $200,000 Spark Prize for it 17:27

1d ago17:27

17:27

Five Missourians are recipients of the Missouri Foundation for Health’s inaugural Spark Prize — a $200,000 grant to individuals for their vision, commitment and promise to improve health and well-being in the state. One recipient is Ciearra “CJ” Walker, the St. Louis-based founder and CEO of the Community Health Worker Coalition. Walker talks about…

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30 years after the Srebrenica massacre, St. Louis remembers the genocide and its victims 32:51

1d ago32:51

32:51

St. Louis’ Bosnian community is observing the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica. A local coalition is leading efforts to commemorate the massacre and its 8,000-plus victims with a series of events and a July 12 walk in downtown St. Louis. The genocide changed the lives of many Bonsians, including Elvir Ahmetovic, who lived through the …

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The Narrow Path: Sam Hammond on AI, Institutions, and the Fragile Future 47:55

1d ago47:55

47:55

The race to develop ever-more-powerful AI is creating an unstable dynamic. It could lead us toward either dystopian centralized control or uncontrollable chaos. But there's a third option: a narrow path where technological power is matched with responsibility at every step. Sam Hammond is the chief economist at the Foundation for American Innovatio…

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Misty Copeland inspired a generation of Black dancers, says St. Louis dance company founder 21:30

2d ago21:30

21:30

In Misty Copeland’s 10 years as the American Ballet Theater’s first Black woman principal dancer, she has inspired others to see themselves in ballet shoes and on stages across the world — and St. Louis is no exception. Erica Hill, founder of the Florissant-based dance company Pointe of Surrender, speaks to Copeland's influence — on herself and the…

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To restore their species, Missouri wolf pups are flown to new wild homes 28:46

2d ago28:46

28:46

On May 6, Missouri's Endangered Wolf Center sent six tiny wolf pups to New Mexico on a rare journey. From that point on, the 10-day-old wolves will grow up wild. The center has raised 289 Mexican wolves since it was founded about 50 years ago by former St. Louis Zoo director — and host of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” — Marlin Perkins. Sarah Hol…

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Newly published books to add to your summer reading list 50:06

3d ago50:06

50:06

Dive into a good beach read this summer with fiction, nonfiction and locally-focused book recommendations from Jennifer Alexander of St. Louis County Library and Ted Reidy of St. Louis Public Library.

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Victims trapped inside a collapsed St. Louis church say 911 calls went to nonemergency line 31:30

4d ago31:30

31:30

The May 16 EF-3 tornado destroyed Centennial Christian Church in the Fountain Park neighborhood in north St. Louis. One person died and two others were trapped beneath the rubble before they were rescued. In this episode, STLPR afternoon newscaster Marissanne Lewis-Thompson talks about their story. She also details how the people trapped below were…

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For the duo behind Passport Bar and Pour Decisions STL, alcohol is an art 17:40

4d ago17:40

17:40

Cultures around alcohol consumption run a range as broad as beverages on a drink menu. For some, drinking culture means afternoons at a vineyard, and for others it’s a night on the town full of raucous fun. In some cases, drinking habits can lead to an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Thankfully, there are bar proprietors who focus on the “art …

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As a tornado relief hub closes in north St. Louis, volunteers brace for an aid gap 25:21

7d ago25:21

25:21

The community response to St. Louis' May 16 tornado has involved hundreds of volunteers putting in thousands of hours over the last three weeks. But some volunteer efforts are now entering a different phase. On June 6, the People’s Response Hub closed its location in O’Fallon Park. We explore the current status of this ongoing, unofficial relief ef…

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Mother-daughter librettist team visits St. Louis ahead of ‘This House’ world premiere 24:30

7d ago24:30

24:30

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and her daughter, poet and writer Ruby Aiyo Gerber, talk about co-writing the opera, “This House.” in this encore episode. Taking place in a majestic Harlem brownstone, the opera explores themes of gentrification and losing Black histories. It also delves into what connects – and binds – people to history…

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Kendrick Lamar and SZA sync perfectly on Grand National Tour stop in St. Louis 17:51

8d ago17:51

17:51

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s style, stage presence and sonic expression complement each other perfectly on their double-headlined Grand National Tour. The two have collaborated for much of their careers and their working relationship was evident at the sold-out appearance at the Dome at America’s Center. Host Elaine Cha and producer Miya Norfleet recou…

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How chess empowered Dorsa Derakhshani to become an advocate for freedom of expression 41:28

8d ago41:28

41:28

When Dorsa Derakhshani was banned from playing for Iran's national chess team because she didn't wear a hijab at an international tournament, she left the country to attend St. Louis University. Now a Mizzou medical student, St. Louis Chess Club instructor and U.S. citizen, Derakhshani is passionate about being an advocate for freedom of speech and…

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What safety assessment stickers mean for homeowners and renters affected by the tornado 35:12

9d ago35:12

35:12

More than 10,000 buildings were damaged from the May 16 tornado that tore through St. Louis. Soon after, affected city residents began seeing stickers affixed to their front doors — each signifying the amount of damage to the structure. Red stickers cautioned: “Danger: Entry Prohibited: Violators subject to prosecution.” City building division lead…

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A monster stalks the Big Top in Circus Flora’s new show ‘Urban Legend’ 15:15

9d ago15:15

15:15

Circus Flora is back for its 39th season with a brand-new production starting this week under the Big Top in Grand Center. The new show, “Urban Legend”, is a monster story that features a new collection of talented performers, from acrobats to jugglers and even dogs. Circus Flora artistic and executive director Jack Marsh and St. Louis-native juggl…

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Pacia Elaine Anderson wants to do more for St. Louis as poet laureate 22:42

10d ago22:42

22:42

A city’s poet laureate does more than write and recite original stanzas. Pacia Elaine Anderson, St. Louis’ new Poet Laureate, shares how she looks forward to adding her voice and arts-forward sensibilities to decision-making tables at City Hall and being an advocate for the arts.

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What’s changed in St. Louis restaurants: tornado recovery, openings and closures 27:19

10d ago27:19

27:19

The biggest restaurant news each month usually centers on openings and closings. But the May 16 tornado that tore through St. Louis shifted the focus. We look at how restaurants in the Delmar Maker District were affected, then turn to the latest openings and closures in the St. Louis dining scene. Our guests are STLPR digital editor Jessica Rogen a…

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Missouri coalition helps tornado victims get state-issued IDs to claim disaster aid 18:54

11d ago18:54

18:54

Many St. Louisans impacted by the May 16 tornado have lost their official government issued documents to the storm, and they need those documents to claim aid. Sheree Hickman, director of the Missouri State ID Access Coalition; and Andre Cole, executive director of the nonprofit Urban City Services share how coalition member organizations are helpi…

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Help for St. Louis renters hit by tornado temporarily on hold 7:28

11d ago7:28

7:28

Missouri lawmakers have kicked off a special session focused in part on providing relief for those affected by the May 16 tornado. The region is also waiting to see whether President Trump will approve a major disaster declaration — a move that could unlock additional federal resources. In the meantime, the City of St. Louis is weighing its own res…

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As Missouri abortion ban returns, Planned Parenthood responds to the legal whiplash 24:31

11d ago24:31

24:31

A Missouri Supreme Court ruling last week has, for now, reinstated the state's ban on abortion. It’s a familiar development for doctors and patients here in Missouri — and, for Planned Parenthood, part of a yearslong fight that has only grown more entrenched. The recently appointed chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, Dr. Marga…

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Bell calls for Trump to quickly approve federal tornado aid for St. Louis area 30:01

14d ago30:01

30:01

U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, D-St. Louis County, discusses his call for President Donald Trump to sign off on Gov. Mike Kehoe’s request for a major disaster declaration, which would provide individual assistance to victims of the May 16 tornado.

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Storm relief, stadium and project funding on docket for Missouri special legislative session 20:24

14d ago20:24

20:24

Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City on Monday to take part in a high-stakes special session. Gov. Mike Kehoe wants legislators to pass state relief for tornado victims, some unfinished capital improvement projects, and an incentive package to keep the Chiefs and the Royals in Missouri. Missouri State Sen. Brian Williams, D-University C…

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People are Lonelier than Ever. Enter AI. 43:34

15d ago43:34

43:34

Over the last few decades, our relationships have become increasingly mediated by technology. Texting has become our dominant form of communication. Social media has replaced gathering places. Dating starts with a swipe on an app, not a tap on the shoulder. And now, AI enters the mix. If the technology of the 2010s was about capturing our attention…

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The legal questions still swirling after St. Louis’ tornado 50:00

15d ago50:00

50:00

Effects of the deadly tornado that hit St. Louis earlier this month are raising legal questions for people impacted by the disaster, from negotiating with insurance companies and landlords to obtaining federal aid. There are also legal implications in the city’s failure to sound its tornado siren as the storm gathered strength on May 16. Those topi…

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Rural Missouri mom taken by ICE at immigration check-in faces deportation to Hong Kong 23:25

16d ago23:25

23:25

In late April, Carol Mayorga -- a resident of Kennett, Missouri, a rural town in the state's Bootheel area -- went to St. Louis to renew her employment authorization documents at a routine check-in with immigration officials. She was detained, and shackled, and is now held at the Greene County jail in Springfield, Missouri. She faces deportation to…

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As St. Louis rebuilds, a warning spreads: ‘Don’t let them come and take your bricks’ 27:08

16d ago27:08

27:08

In the aftermath of the May 16 tornado in St. Louis, social media feeds have been filled with photos of the devastation, lists of ways people can help, and pleas for folks to protect any bricks that may have fallen off their homes and businesses: “Don’t let them come and take your bricks.” And for good reason — a pallet of bricks sells for about $2…

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This north St. Louis educator is proud of his neighbors in the wake of the tornado 18:46

17d ago18:46

18:46

On May 15, 2025, Tenelle Winmore had one of the best days of his life — he had just graduated with his Masters of Art in Teaching from St. Louis University. The next day, he watched a peach tree get pulled out of his backyard from an EF3 tornado. The storm tore through areas of St. Louis County, St. Louis and the Metro East — including the Fountain…

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The return of ‘Hotel Influenza,’ where guests get paid to get sick 31:50

17d ago31:50

31:50

Researchers at Saint Louis University are seeking volunteers for 10-day stays at “Hotel Influenza,” the nickname for an unusual testing facility run by Saint Louis University. The facility is designed to give researchers a rare, controlled look at how viruses affect the human body. Participants will be getting paid close to $3,500 to be infected wi…

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Ish Ensemble brings St. Louis musicians together to play from the heart 24:56

20d ago24:56

24:56

Brit Lockhart started jazz fusion band Ish Ensemble in 2016. Its creation came from love for St. Louis’ local music scene and putting its musicians first. He shares his method of creating music, collaborating with fellow artists and choosing just the right venue for a performance. According to Lockhart, it boils down to doing what feels right. Ish …

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St. Louis rapper Big Boss Vette turns hardship into certified gold 24:01

21d ago24:01

24:01

Female rappers are dominating the charts, including St. Louis’ very own Diamond Smith — better known by her stage name Big Boss Vette. The writer and rapper behind hits like “Snatched” and “Pretty Girls Walk” reflects on her St. Louis roots, her fast-growing career and the lessons she’s learned along the way.…

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‘Don't ever try to outrun a tornado’ — and other storm myths busted 25:46

22d ago25:46

25:46

As a tornado swept through St. Louis on Friday, traffic stood still on Interstate 170 near Berkeley after a handful of drivers parked underneath an overpass. Experts have long warned motorists not to do so during storms, but the idea that it’s a safe practice persists. National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Deitsch and AAA spokesperson Nick C…

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A tornado tore St. Louis apart. Community relief efforts are bringing it together 24:33

22d ago24:33

24:33

The tornado that tore a path through St Louis on May 16 has sparked ongoing community relief efforts on the city’s north and west sides. Three organizers of that effort, Kayla Reed, Aaron Williams and Ohun Ashe, share their experience and takeaways as they work with hundreds of volunteers to distribute aid, clear debris, and reach people who are st…

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Local restaurants, World Central Kitchen feed people impacted by St. Louis tornado 25:48

23d ago25:48

25:48

Local restaurants are working with World Central Kitchen to provide thousands of meals to people impacted by the EF3 tornado that hit the St. Louis area on Friday, May 16. Kate Dozier, a St. Louisan and member of the World Central Kitchen Chef Corps, shares how World Central Kitchen assembles and deploys its disaster response teams. Tom Schmidt, co…

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How Missouri teen Ruby Leigh yodeled her way to ‘The Voice’ finale — and rocked with Green Day 25:10

23d ago25:10

25:10

When Ruby Leigh stepped onto “The Voice” stage in 2023, she got all four chairs to turn during her blind audition. Just 17 at the time, Leigh went on to finish as runner-up on the NBC singing competition. But her journey started long before reality TV, in the tiny town of Foley, Missouri, population 100. Leigh talks about her journey as a self-taug…

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A north St. Louis family counts its blessings, and frustrations, in the wake of the tornado 17:58

24d ago17:58

17:58

Gloria Nolan is counting her blessings after an EF3 grade tornado tore through her neighborhood near Fairgrounds Park in north St. Louis. She shares her family’s experience surviving the storm, assessing the damage and securing assistance for the long road to recovery.

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Missouri’s political leaders honor Kit Bond as a bipartisan doer at state funeral 9:58

24d ago9:58

9:58

During a state funeral at the Missouri State Capitol on Tuesday, former U.S. Senator and Governor Kit Bond was remembered as a dedicated public servant who forged bipartisan ties. Bond died last week at the age of 86. STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum talked with people who worked closely with Bond over his more than four decade public service career.…

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It took years to close the Workhouse. Now a $4 million settlement is in sight 23:07

24d ago23:07

23:07

A lawsuit that accused St. Louis running an “unspeakably hellish” jail has ended in a $4 million settlement. Pending a judge’s approval, the settlement would allow at least 16,000 people who were jailed in the now-demolished Workhouse jail to file a claim. ArchCity Defenders Executive Director Blake Strode and Inez Bordeaux, a former Workhouse deta…

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After EF3 tornado wrecks St. Louis neighborhoods, recovery begins 22:06

25d ago22:06

22:06

On Friday afternoon, an EF3 tornado with winds topping out at 152 mph inflicted serious damage on about 4,400 St. Louis-area buildings, including homes, businesses, churches and schools. Dozens of people sustained injuries and five people lost their lives. STLPR reporter Chad Davis shares what he's heard from officials, community leaders and reside…

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Breaking down a productive, but contentious, 2025 Missouri legislative session 28:42

25d ago28:42

28:42

The 2025 session ended last week and lawmakers endorsed many of Gov. Mike Kehoe’s priorities. That included placing a state board in charge of the St. Louis Police Department and sending $50 million to help fund K-12 scholarships that could go toward private schools. The session also included the passing of contentious GOP-led efforts to repeal Pro…

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A Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist tested AI. What he found troubled him 24:49

28d ago24:49

24:49

As a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist for the last 25 years at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, David Carson knows what makes an excellent photograph. But AI is getting better and better at that, too. Carson, a 2025 John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University, has spent much of the past year on leave from the paper studying the collis…

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Be.Be the Neosoul and her CVPA students unite for a benefit concert 23:35

28d ago23:35

23:35

Vocalist and songwriter Brianna Brown — known on stage as Be.Be the Neosoul, has performed on many St. Louis stages during her singing career. By day, she’s the artistic director at her alma mater Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. Next Tuesday, she’s hitting the stage at the Sheldon Concert Hall for something of a full circle moment. …

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The Focal Point celebrates 50 years as a gathering space for traditional music, dance 30:13

29d ago30:13

30:13

Since 1975, the Focal Point has played a critical role in promoting and shaping St. Louis’ folk, roots, jazz, blues and world music scene. As the nonprofit celebrates its 50th anniversary with a year-long series of special concerts, we hear from musicians, volunteers and fans who have supported the organization from its humble beginnings — operatin…

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Historic Illinois places are in danger of demolition or collapse. Here’s the case to save them 20:06

29d ago20:06

20:06

Dilapidated and vacant buildings are more than eyesores for the community. They can lower property value and impact safety. But before starting up the bulldozers, Landmarks Illinois wants property owners and city governments to consider renovation and restoration. Their latest list of endangered historic places includes the Spivey Building in East …

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Improv team ‘Some Black People’ wins 2024 Cagematch Tournament in St. Louis 9:37

29d ago9:37

9:37

Just a year and a half after forming, the St. Louis-based improv team Some Black People took the championship belt in the Improv Shop’s 2024 Cagematch Tournament. Jessica Nicole, founder of Some Black People, shares what clinched it for them, and how far they’ve come in their goal to encourage more Black folks to get into improv as performers and f…

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Echo Chambers of One: Companion AI and the Future of Human Connection 42:17

30d ago42:17

42:17

AI companion chatbots are here. Everyday, millions of people log on to AI platforms and talk to them like they would a person. These bots will ask you about your day, talk about your feelings, even give you life advice. It’s no surprise that people have started to form deep connections with these AI systems. We are inherently relational beings, we …

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Black baseball players shaped America’s pastime. A new book tells their stories 49:24

1M ago49:24

49:24

In the new book “Play Harder: The Triumph of Black Baseball in America,” Washington University professor Gerald Early traces the powerful impact of Black Americans on the game from the post-Civil War era to today. Written in collaboration with the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the book highlights pivotal figures, defining moments, and the lasting…

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A researcher traced the music of her Filipino ancestors. It led to St. Louis, and a story of exploitation 28:16

1M ago28:16

28:16

The 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis highlighted the nation's triumphs but it also reveled in public exploitation of indigenous Filipinos, who were put on display to demonstrate the "savagery" of other cultures. In addition to the 47-acre "Philippine Village," the Philippine Constabulary Band was also a popular attraction. Piccolo player Pedro B. Nav…

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Robert Cohen captured St. Louis in photos. He reflects on 30+ years behind the lens 20:12

1M ago20:12

20:12

Robert Cohen recently retired after a 38-year career, the last 25 years spent at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Cohen was part of a team of Post photographers who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2015 for their work covering the Ferguson protests. Cohen reflects on his famous photo of Edward ‘Skeeda’ Crawford throwing a tear gas canister during the protests, …

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Fairview Heights woman rediscovers her passion for painting after rare diagnosis 21:07

1M ago21:07

21:07

Essence Anthony’s passion for art started when she was a kid, but she stopped painting as she grew older. She was recently diagnosed with functional neurological disorder, which brought her back to her love of painting. She shares what it’s like to live with the disorder, how she navigates her challenges through a creative outlet and how she uses h…