The 21st Show

On Halloween, we'll talk with an Illinois couple who've made a former funeral home into their home. The house was among the competitors on the new season of HGTV's “Scariest House in America.” They share what drew them to the home, what it was like being on an HGTV show with Retta, and why they didn't actually want to win the $150,000 grand prize renovation.

Founded in 1968, Red Lobster once had more than 600 locations across the U.S., Canada, and overseas franchises. But last year, the $2 billion revenue company went into bankruptcy, reorganized, and came out with new ownership and new leadership. The company has sought to revamp operations, make changes to its menu, and close a few locations. According to USA Today, five Illinois Red Lobsters have closed — including in Bourbonnais, Danville, and Peoria.  All these changes are being led by the company's 36-year-old CEO: Damola Adamolekun. Born in Nigeria, Adamolekun immigrated to the U.S. when he was nine years old. His father was a neurosurgeon — and moved his family to Springfield, Illinois, in the late 1990's. And that is where Damola says he had his first experience of Red Lobster.

Journalists have captured many striking images of ICE and Border Patrol operations in Illinois — and documented the people demonstrating against them. We'll talk about what it's like covering the chaos through the lens of a camera.

Illinois state Rep. Hoan Huynh, D-Chicago, says a federal agent pointed a gun at him last week. The government says he was interfering in immigration enforcement; he says he was warning constituents about their rights. “We don't have any weapons; we were only recording what they're doing," Hyunh told The 21st Show. "And if what they're doing is actually legal, then they should not be afraid for it to be documented.”

There's trouble for soybean farmers in Illinois and beyond. Drought conditions have made for a faster-than-average harvest, but a big problem remains the ongoing trade war and the lack of places for farmers to sell their beans. We'll talk about that, how what's happening in China and Argentina affects farmers in Illinois, and other headwinds for American agriculture.

Kathi Davis began her career as a flight attendant in the golden age of air travel. Despite a deep fear of flying, she kept with it past 9/11. All that and more are the subject of her new memoir, The Closest Exit May Be Behind You: Memoirs of a Fearful Flight Attendant.

Federal agents are continuing to arrest immigrants in Chicago and fire tear gas at people demonstrating against them. Meanwhile, a state lawmaker says an agent pointed a gun at him. We'll talk about what's happening on the ground and in court.

For generations, gays and lesbians often found community in bars. That's changed in recent years, but political events — and the corporate pullback from pride — have LGBTQ Americans thinking more about separate places they can be themselves.

Here in the Midwest, many of the landscapers who mow our lawns, trim our trees, and rake our leaves are Mexican immigrants. Anthropologist Sergio Lemus writes about his experience with that work, and the stories and struggles of those who come to America seeking a better life. His new book “Los Yarderos: Mexican Yard Workers in Transborder Chicago.”

Canada geese are a fact of life in many parts of Illinois. But the creatures can be a safety risk and a danger to public health. We'll talk with the creator of the Goosinator, a device that aims to get rid of geese (in a humane way), and the head of parks and rec in Moline, Illinois.

John Kokoris, who styles himself online as "Mr. Illinois," has been to all corners of the 21st state. He lectures on his travels at public libraries, and his latest itinerary suggests a grand tour of Illinois cemeteries, from the Dickson Mounds to the place that inspired Edgar Lee Masters' “Spoon River Anthology.”

We continue our series of interviews with higher education leaders with Aondover Tarhule, president of Illinois State University in Normal.

Today we're talking about the weather, with a pair of conversations from “Weather Realness,” a sister podcast produced by Illinois Public Media. Trees across Illinois are turning yellow, orange, red, and other vibrant colors. We'll talk about why that happens, and hear about the coming fall frost.

Today we're talking about the weather, with a pair of conversations from “Weather Realness,” a sister podcast produced by Illinois Public Media. Much of central Illinois is under severe or extreme drought.  We'll hear from the Illinois State Climatologist about how little rain we've gotten, why that's happening, and why it's such a concern, for everyone from farmers to firefighters.

Millions of Americans took to the streets across the country this weekend for the latest No Kings protest. The event happened in cities across Illinois, including Chicago, Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Belleville, and Carbondale. We'll talk about what happened this weekend, and put No Kings in the larger context of American history. Our guest is civil rights lawyer Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, whose new book is “A Protest History of the United States.”

Born and raised in Chicago, Cheryl Whitlow Thompson's career in journalism goes back more than four decades — from her days as a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, to hard-hitting investigative work at the Washington Post and NPR. Thompson is also the daughter of one of the Tuskegee Airmen, William E. Whitlow Jr. Her forthcoming book, Forgotten Souls: The Search for the Lost Tuskegee Airmen, tells the stories of Tuskegee pilots who were killed in action.

Fraud is all around us, from pyramid schemes to spam phone calls. Illinois-based forensic accountant Kelly Richmond Pope writes about why people do it — and how we can better protect ourselves — in her book “Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories and Secrets from the Trillion Dollar Fraud Industry.”

Colleen Shogan was the 11th Archivist of the United States — the head of the National Archives and Records Administration. The agency is responsible for safeguarding America's founding documents, other important government records, and running many of the presidential libraries across the country. Shogan was appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate. But while the job is traditionally seen as non-partisan and previous archivists have spanned administrations, President Donald Trump fired Shogan soon after taking office. We'll talk about that and more.

The sights and sounds of traditional Mexican folk dancing. We'll talk with members of Quad Cities Ballet Folklorico, which has been teaching young people this cultural dance for more than 40 years.

State lawmakers are back in Springfield for the Illinois General Assembly's fall veto session. Some Democrats are exploring their options for putting guardrails on what ICE can do. Also potentially on the agenda is funding for mass transit, home insurance rates, and soaring energy bills.

The Trump administration has expanded the scope of ICE operations in Chicago and its suburbs, but state and local officials — as well as everyday citizens — are pushing back.

A new book and exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum aims to tell the story of our 16th president through objects and documents from his life. Co-written by the ALPLM's chief of acquisitions Ian Hunt and museum director Christina Shutt, the book is called Lincoln: A Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation in 100 Objects (Rizzoli, $50). The related exhibition of some of the objects from the book also marks both the museum's 20th anniversary and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It's called Lincoln: A Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation and it's open through April 26, 2026.

If you have young people in your life, you might've heard them use words such as skibidi (SKIH-bih-dee) or rizz or sigma. Maybe that's mumbo-jumbo to you, as mumbo-jumbo was to someone else in the past. But Adam Aleksic says that's just how language evolves. And as we continue through the internet age — specifically the era of short form video — the rate of change in our language is only going to accelerate. Aleksic, known online as @EtymologyNerd, writes about this in his new book, Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language.

A conversation with retired U.S. Diplomat Eric P. Whitaker. Born in DeKalb and raised there and in North Aurora, Whitaker earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he was also in the Marching Illini. Before joining the Foreign Service, he spent time in the Peace Corps in the Phillipines. His diplomatic postings include South Korea, Sudan, Iraq, Burkina Faso, and Niger, where he was ambassador from 2018 until his retirement in 2021.

We spoke with an archivist for an oral history project and a longtime member of Danville's Jewish community.

The president of Northern Illinois University discusses how her school is responding to challenges in higher education.

We talked with people on the ground after President Trump deployed National Guard troops to Illinois.

Rick Goldsmith is an Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker. His newest film, "Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink," examines how hedge funds and private equity firms are hollowing out America's newspapers. He stopped by our studios to talk about the film and the struggles of American journalism. A version of this interview was originally broadcast April 1, 2025.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, novelist Shelby Van Pelt now makes her home in Wheaton, Illinois. Her debut novel, "Remarkably Bright Creatures," has been a huge hit, reportedly selling more than two million copies. It's also being made into a movie by Netflix. We'll talk with Van Pelt about her life and work.

In the midst of economic uncertainty, job seeks are struggling to find work and competing with thousands of applicants at times. Labor and economic experts weigh in on what's happening and where the labor market goes from here.     The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

The government has shut down for the first time in nearly seven years after not being able to reach a funding deal by midnight. How will this move impact federal workers in Illinois and the many people in the state, who rely on federal benefits? The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

As the government officially shuts down, Congressman Sean Casten shares his thoughts on what could have been done to prevent this situation and what this means for Illinoisans.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

The head of Illinois' public health department discusses how the state is responding to all of the changes coming from the federal government-from guidance on vaccines to taking acetaphamine.     The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Ocean explorer Annie Crawley is an underwater photographer, filmaker, writer, and scuba diver. She was in Urbana last week for a screening of her new documentary. In a taped conversation, she talks about the project as well as her career, and her lifelong love of water.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Darren Bailey has announced another run for governor of Illinois. The downstate farmer easily won the Republican primary in 2022, but went on to lose to Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker by 13 points. Bailey's quick rise raises a question: How did a relatively obscure state lawmaker from rural Illinois end up with his party's nomination? A new book argues the mainstream media bears much of the responsibility for giving Bailey the platform from which to launch his campaign. It's called, “Amplifying Extremism: Small Town Politicians, Media Storms, and American Journalism.” We'll talk about it with co-author and communications professor Nik Usher.

A longtime journalist from the Bloomington-Normal area recounts his earlly life and highlights of his career is his new memoir “Broadcast Live: 71 True Stories, Including Some I’d Just as Soon Forget.”   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

The book "Eve" explores human evolution with a particular focus on the female body and its author joins the program today.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Bloomington-Normal's Nomad Theatre Company breaks out of the walls of a traditional theater -bringing its plays to places that fit the performances.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

A few years ago, a group of researchers asked thousands of Illinois workers how they feel about their jobs as part of a study for the Project for Middle Class Renewal, which is part of the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. One of the researchers joins the program to discuss some of the findings.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

The small town of Beardstown in west-central Illinois has been revived in the past few decades because so many immigrants have come there to work, but now the city faces an uncertain future as the Trump administration makes changes to immigration policies.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org. 

Today marks 40 years since the first Farm Aid concert took place in Champaign in 1985. The Spurlock Musuem of World Cultures in Urbana is presenting an exhibit on both the event and the ongoing Farm Aid organization.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org. 

The 21st took a look back at one of the biggest concerts in Illinois history. September 22, 2020 marked the 35 year anniversary of the first annual Farm Aid concert which happened in Champaign. It was organized by musicians Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, and Neil Young, and featured some of the biggest names in music of the day.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org. 

Today is the 40th anniversary of Farm Aid, the mega-concert that took over Champaign, Illinois’ Memorial Stadium in 1985.  Farm Aid was prompted by a crisis in American farming, in the 1980's. There are some who say our agricultural economy today could be heading for similar trouble as farmers faced back in the day. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org. 

John McShane is an engineer who grew up in Illinois. He’s also an outdoor enthusiast. Now he’s working to merge his knowledge with his passion … inventing a device aimed at making it easier to clean up trash in natural areas.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Two educators from northern Illinois authored a book together called "Your Words are Fire: 10 culturally-responsive teaching strategies to speak the language of belonging and help students learn, express ideas, and solve problems." The books goes over ways teachers can implement certain methods to help students from diverse backgrounds learn.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen discusses working with the federal government including threats to revoke the visas of internation students and losing funding for research. He also gives his take on academic freedom and the value of a university education in this day and age.      The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

The Pygmalion Festival is back in Urbana. We spoke with artist Ryan Brewer, AKA Tuskola, about his origins in Tuscola, Illinois. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

A program meant to help SNAP recipients make healthier choices and stretch their dollars further is losing federal funding. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Harvest season has arrived in central Illinois. It's shaping up to be a good year for corn, but there's still a chance that disease might affect crop yield. That's because fungi such as Tar Spot and Southern Rust are making appearances much later in the year than usual.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 F ind past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

The Department of Homeland Security has launched “Operation Midway Blitz" in Illinois. Officials say the mission of the operation is to target criminals, who are not authorized to be in the U.S. However, critics say the ICE raids are not targeting criminals, but latino communities as a whole.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group. Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.