Lara Hamdan
“St. Louis on the Air” ProducerLara Hamdan joined St. Louis Public Radio as the news intern in 2017. A year later, she became a producer for St. Louis on the Air. A St. Louis native, Lara studied journalism and international relations at Webster University. She's fluent in English and Arabic – and in eating falafel sandwiches and veggie burgers. She enjoys discovering new people and gems in the city throughout her work at St. Louis Public Radio.
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As a frontline worker, Dr. Tiffany Osborn lived in an RV for the past year to protect her family from the coronavirus. She's fully back home now and joins the talk show to share reflections she’s had throughout the year — and the fate of the RV trailer. -
KnowInk founder Scott Leiendecker shares how he developed the Poll Pad and how his voter registration company is becoming one of the fastest-growing companies in the region.
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After starting in pageants at age 14, 57-year-old Wauneen Rucker became the second-ever Black Mrs. Missouri. She is also the first to win the title over age 50. She discussed her journey on St. Louis on the Air.
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What’s it like growing up in a Black and white city when you don’t fit neatly in either category? A Chinese American and Thai American share their perspective on life in St. Louis — and the deadly attacks in Atlanta that have galvanized Asian American communities across the U.S.
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The "In the City: Memories of Black Presence" exhibit debuts March 26 at the Griot Museum of Black History and Culture. It showcases the works of St. Louis artists examining the city as part of a fellowship at Harvard University.
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Valerie Liddell hopes to build Grind + Growth into the state’s first Black-owned business incubator. The two-year-old south St. Louis nonprofit features co-working space and resources to promote minority entrepreneurship.
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The Sinkhole owner Matt Stuttler and Arch City Audio Visual Services event producer Chris Keith share about how the pandemic impacted their services, and discuss details about their virtual concert series, “I Watched Music On The Internet.”
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The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis' first podcast, “Radio Resistance,” is an 11-episode production that features conversations among exhibiting artists, local activists, scholars and politicians delving into St. Louis’ role in activism. Selections of “Radio Resistance” will air on our program biweekly on Wednesdays starting March 24, with the full episode being released the following day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.
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For the second year in a row, the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is highlighting the state’s diverse manufacturing sector with a bracket-style tournament. The Makers Madness contest started with 311 nominees. After nearly 140,000 votes, eight products are now vying to be declared the state’s coolest.
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Edison Agrosciences is the St. Louis based agricultural biotechnology company working to develop alternative rubber crops. It’s found a product that it believes can become a source of homegrown rubber: sunflowers.
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Republican lawmakers in Jefferson City are seeking to change some of the state’s photo ID laws as they pertain to elections. Rep. John Simmons, R-Washington, sponsored the bill — which passed the House on Feb. 24 and is on its way to the Senate for consideration.
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Marian Middle School is the city's only all-girls Catholic middle school. School administrators describe it as a “school beyond walls” because its students are equipped with resources that help them, and their families, overcome societal and financial obstacles.
