There are now more ways than ever to listen to the Public Radio programs you enjoy, including a variety of podcasts. One of our most acclaimed podcasts is “Cut & Paste,” hosted by arts and culture reporters Nancy Fowler and Willis Ryder Arnold, focusing and reflecting on the arts in and around St. Louis.
Willis had a couple of minutes to chat with us and share some insights about his work, the podcast, and some of his favorite stories.
STLPR: What brought you to St. Louis from Brooklyn?
Willis Ryder Arnold: I worked there for about five to six years, freelancing and working for a radio station dedicated to the arts. I’d always heard rumors and whispers in the public radio community that St. Louis Public Radio was doing really interesting, cross-platform things. It sounded like a good place to focus on radio, but still exercise my skills in photojournalism and multimedia.
STLPR: What’s your official position at STLPR?
WRA: I’m an Arts and Cultural Reporter. I don’t look at it as approaching the rarefied arts as much as seeking out moments of creative expression that comment on cultural movements as a whole. I look at how a piece comments on current events and social issues more than the technical skills of an artist.
STLPR: What are some of your favorite projects you’ve worked on?
WRA: I’ve actually got two. One was an article I wrote about first-year medical students honoring and recognizing the individuals who donated their bodies to be studied as cadavers in their anatomy class. It was a surprisingly touching experience.
Another is an article I wrote about a group of prisoners in a maximum-security prison in Bonne Terre who created a dictionary of prison terms and phrases. They weren’t all vulgar or anything; they were terms that were important to their lives, that got to the heart of their day-to-day incarceration.
STLPR: What’s unique about your podcast you co-host with Nancy Fowler, “Cut & Paste”?
WRA: “Cut & Paste” gives the arts and culture team an opportunity to reflect on St. Louis art trends while highlighting some artistic contributions or interesting stories that aren't tied to a news cycle. It’s a chance to provide more in-depth looks, a chance to provide additional context and important narratives that couldn’t necessarily fit into a normal broadcast.
STLPR: How have you enjoyed working at STLPR so far?
WRA: It’s good! I turn every Friday into Playlist Friday. I’ll send a themed playlist to (Engagement Editor) Kimberly Springer every Friday. This Friday was “Poli. Sci. Rap Class,” so I sent her some Talib Kweli, this local group called M.M.E, and other politically minded rap singles. So yeah, we have a good time.
STLPR: Thanks for your time! How often can we catch “Cut & Paste”?
WRA: No problem! We usually have two per month or so, one is in-depth, and the other is reflective.
You can listen to Willis and reporter Nancy Fowler on “Cut & Paste” by clicking and subscribing here.
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