Podcasts about Northern Illinois

The Register's Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman get you primed for the Hawkeyes' long-awaited season opener vs. Northern Illinois with our game-preview show, which follows our annual format. First, big-picture topics, including the tea leaves on Kirk Ferentz's quarterback comments Tuesday and whether 9-3 would constitute a successful season. Second, our "Five Big Questions" segment helps preview the Hawkeyes' opponent and other interesting topics surrounding the game. Score predictions and rationale cap our 52-minute show.

Tyler Tachman of the Des Moines Register spoke with NIU interim head coach Rob Harley to preview Iowa’s 2026 season-opener

The IHSA uses Wet Bulb Globe Temperature readings to determine whether games can be played, delayed or postponed because of heatBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/friday-night-drive--3534096/support.

We kick off this episode of the show discussing the emotional shift into “game week mode,” NIL money making college feel more professional, and a long detour into parenting (kids' “zoomies,” sharing cookies, and hiding ice cream to protect bedtime). They rave about how fun high school football is after attending an Ankeny vs. Waukee Northwest game, joke about betting lines, and note Iowa as a 31.5-point favorite with a 45.5 over/under on FanDuel. They share optimism about Iowa's offensive weapons but emphasize winning the line of scrimmage, finding a true starting quarterback, and playing clean, detailed football vs. Northern Illinois. They preview the season-defining Michigan/Ohio State/Washington stretch, react to a teased Hawkeye “Darkness Belongs to the Hunter” reveal, run through NFL roster/cut news for former Hawkeyes, and mention upcoming Fry Fest and Patreon perks. And- what can we really learn from this week 1 game? Who are we most excited to watch play for the Hawks this year? If you love the show and want to show support, tell your friends! And, check out our exclusive content at Patreon.com/washedupwalkons where you can find extra podcast episodes, exclusive merchandise, Merch discounts with every tier, private Walkon discord channel access, and more! Find us on social media @washedupwalkons Visit TheWashedUpWalkons.com for all of our episodes, merchandise, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Talkin' Hawks is back for the 2026 Iowa Football season! Matt and Laura VandeBerg break down the biggest storylines surrounding the Hawkeyes as they prepare to return to Kinnick Stadium, including the questions facing the offense, the expectations surrounding this year's team and what Iowa needs to establish in its season opener.Then, Iowa running back Kamari Moulton joins the show for an in-depth conversation about his journey to Iowa, how he has developed throughout his Hawkeye career and the mindset he is bringing into the new season. Kamari discusses the competition and depth inside the running back room, becoming a leader for the Hawkeyes and what he believes Iowa's offense can accomplish in 2026.Matt and Laura close the episode by previewing Iowa's matchup with Northern Illinois, breaking down the biggest keys to the game and giving their predictions for the season opener. Subscribe to Talkin' Hawks for weekly Iowa Hawkeyes recaps, player interviews, opponent previews and predictions throughout the 2026 season.#IowaHawkeyes #IowaFootball #KamariMoulton #CollegeFootball #BigTen #TalkinHawks

Blue Sea, Black Gold, Red Banner: The South Caucasus and Scandinavia, 1880s–1920s (Northern Illinois University Press, 2026) tells the story of the historical connections between two geographically distant and culturally distinct regions on the edges of Europe: Scandinavia and the South Caucasus. From the late nineteenth century, maritime trade fostered new commercial links and consular relations. Scandinavian merchants, particularly in Batumi and Baku, played key roles. The discovery of oil along the Caspian Sea shores attracted Scandinavian entrepreneurs, notably the Swedish Nobel family, helping to develop Baku into a booming industrial hub. Tom Trier focuses on the years of upheaval surrounding World War I and the collapse of the Russian Empire, when Georgia—along with Armenia and Azerbaijan—briefly emerged as an independent republic. The four-decade relationship ended abruptly during the Bolshevik Red Army's invasion of the South Caucasus from 1920 to 1921. Drawing on both Scandinavian and Georgian perspectives, Blue Sea, Black Gold, Red Banner examines how Nordic merchants, consuls, and diplomats navigated the shifting political landscape and how Georgia's social democratic leadership looked to neutral Scandinavia as a gateway to broader European political, diplomatic, and economic engagement. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Blue Sea, Black Gold, Red Banner: The South Caucasus and Scandinavia, 1880s–1920s (Northern Illinois University Press, 2026) tells the story of the historical connections between two geographically distant and culturally distinct regions on the edges of Europe: Scandinavia and the South Caucasus. From the late nineteenth century, maritime trade fostered new commercial links and consular relations. Scandinavian merchants, particularly in Batumi and Baku, played key roles. The discovery of oil along the Caspian Sea shores attracted Scandinavian entrepreneurs, notably the Swedish Nobel family, helping to develop Baku into a booming industrial hub. Tom Trier focuses on the years of upheaval surrounding World War I and the collapse of the Russian Empire, when Georgia—along with Armenia and Azerbaijan—briefly emerged as an independent republic. The four-decade relationship ended abruptly during the Bolshevik Red Army's invasion of the South Caucasus from 1920 to 1921. Drawing on both Scandinavian and Georgian perspectives, Blue Sea, Black Gold, Red Banner examines how Nordic merchants, consuls, and diplomats navigated the shifting political landscape and how Georgia's social democratic leadership looked to neutral Scandinavia as a gateway to broader European political, diplomatic, and economic engagement. This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda's interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/russian-studies

How many games will Iowa football win in 2026? Chad Leistikow and Scott Dochterman go game by game through the Hawkeyes' entire 2026 schedule, predicting the outcome of every matchup and revealing where they expect Iowa to finish in the Big Ten. The guys break down Northern Illinois, Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, and Nebraska, identifying Iowa's biggest challenges, potential upset opportunities, and the games the Hawkeyes absolutely need to win. How will they fare in a brutal stretch against Michigan, Ohio State, and Washington? They also discuss how the quarterback battle between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown, Iowa's defense, offensive line, and overall roster could affect those game-by-game predictions - and whether Iowa has a realistic path to a double-digit-win season and the College Football Playoff. Legends & Listeners presented by GameDay Men's Health. Only on Iowa Everywhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Iowa turns its attention to the season opener against Northern Illinois, Gary Dolphin takes a look at a Hawkeye roster filled with new faces and new opportunities. Hear from quarterbacks Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski, along with defensive leaders Seth Wallace, Jayden Montgomery, Cam Buffington, Preston Ries and LandynVan Kekerix as Iowa prepares for the 2026 season.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Eliot Clough, Sean Bock and David Eickholt sit down to preview every single one of Iowa's games this fall. From Northern Illinois, to Ohio State, to Nebraska, HawkeyeInsider shares season record predictions, how Kirk Ferentz and Iowa can reach the CFP, their best bet to win one of Michigan/Ohio State/Washington and more.(00:00) Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa (00:39)Iowa State (4:19)at Michigan (9:18)Ohio State (18:55)at Washington (30:52)at Minnesota (38:59)Wisconsin (44:07)at Northwestern (49:52)Purdue (54:51)at Illinois (57:33)Nebraska (1:06:03)

Hello! This episode is free for everyone, but to get our full catalog of shows this season and beyond, we'd love it if you became a paid subscriber. Paid subscribers (there are thousands of them!) get about twice as many episodes from us during the season, as well as Q&A and chat opportunities and other perks as they come to our minds. Thanks so much. The Mountain West looks very new in 2026. The guts of the league left for the Pac-12, and then the MWC brought in reinforcements. North Dakota State brings FCS' greatest dynasty up a level. NIU is here from the MAC, and UTEP comes aboard from Conference USA. Richard and Alex have a rose, bud, and thorn for all 10 teams:- 4:35: New Mexico- 8:17: UNLV- 14:29: Hawaii- 19:48: Air Force- 23:35: Nevada- 26:56: Wyoming- 32:04: San José State- 37:19: Northern Illinois- 44:29: UTEP- 46:57: North Dakota State- 51:53: Preseason honorsProducer: Anthony Vito This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.splitzoneduo.com/subscribe

Host Jacob Durdan sits down with newly hired Northern Illinois head coach Matt Majkrzak to unpack how he's approaching a major rebuild in DeKalb. Majkrzak shares why he leans into scripted structure on offense, how he evaluates players for fit and winning DNA, and what it takes to build a culture fast when you inherit a program that has struggled for years. In this episode, the conversation focuses on practical coaching ideas, from recruiting familiar players and staff to designing practices that create better decision-making through live play. It's especially useful for coaches who want a clearer way to connect structure, player development, and team identity.Coaches! Plan some personal time and personal development this offseason. Plan to attend the 2026 Hoosier Gym Coaches Clinic in Knightstown, Indiana on September 11 & 12! Sign up here: https://unitedbasketballplus.com/united-basketball-hoosier-gym-coaches-clinic/United Basketball+ is a resource for coaches, teachers, players, and leaders. If you want to improve your knowledge as a coach, teacher, player or leader, join the community today!  https://unitedbasketballplus.com/register/ub-plus-annual-membership/Let's Grow the Game!

As the 2026 football season draws closer, excitement continues to build around Iowa Athletics. The weekend of the Hawkeyes' season opener against Northern Illinois will also celebrate some of the greatest student-athletes in school history as seven Hawkeye legends are inducted into the Iowa Letterwinners Hall of Fame.This week's Fight for Iowa Podcast shines the spotlight on one of the most decorated wrestlers to ever wear the Black and Gold, Matt McDonough. A two-time NCAA Champion at 125 pounds, three-time Big Ten Champion, and four-time All-American, McDonough finished his remarkable career with a 122-9 record while becoming one of the defining competitors of the Tom Brands era.In a candid conversation with Gary Dolphin, McDonough reflects on the work ethic and discipline that fueled his success, the values instilled by his parents, balancing excellence in the classroom with elite competition, and why consistency—not talent—became the foundation of his career. He also shares what it means to be recognized with induction into the Iowa Letterwinners Hall of Fame.Listen as one of Iowa wrestling's all-time greats looks back on the journey that earned him a lasting place in Hawkeye history.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Northern Illinois interim head coach Rob Harley shares his thoughts on the Mountain West, what it was like sliding into the head coaching role in February and what NIU brings on and off the field. How big of a year is it for Lobo football fans? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

-Nebraska adds RB Tikey Hayes from Iowa Western last week…what does that tell us if anything about Mekhi Nelson's status?-Do we have any update at all on the 2027 schedule and where Nebraska will play their opening game vs. Northern Illinois at?-Pat Narduzzi said he thinks the ACC is a better conference than the B1G…would anyone in the world believe that?Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The previous post covered my grades on how the strength of today’s four largest college athletic conferences compare with their previous versions twenty years ago in 2006. Here's a brief recap. In my estimation, only the SEC (which expanded from 12 to 16 teams over that 20 year period) has shown an upgrade in competition levels since 2006.  I awarded the SEC a “B” grade. The Big 12 (which lost four of its prominent members to the SEC) received a C+ for their nimble addition of several relevant regional sports schools. A “D” grade was handed down to the Atlantic Coast Conference.  Their nonsensical addition of West Coast newcomers Cal (Berkeley) and Stanford in 2024 crashed the ACC's overall score. Speaking of lousy grades, I awarded a D- to the Big Ten Conference as its recently-annexed properties have resulted in a BIG thud.  From the east (Maryland and Rutgers) to the west (Nebraska, Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington), the Big Ten’s new coast-to-coast configuration has failed to improve this conference for either sports fans or student/athletes. How have the five mid-major conferences fared with recent expansion issues? These other conferences (nicknamed the “Group of Five”) can be quite entertaining but rarely win national championships.  They must compete against the “Big Four” major conferences featuring the wealthiest college sports programs. American Athletic Conference (AAC) The AAC has only been around since the year 2013.  There were 10 initial AAC members and now 14 in 2026. Only Memphis, South Florida, and Temple remain from 2013.  The ACC raided Conference USA to obtain several of its new members. Army and Navy – What's not to like about these two additions?  They bring the focus of the entire college football world to their annual game played in early December.  Grades – A Charlotte – The 49ers have been perpetual cellar dwellers in most sports.  Charlotte, North Carolina sports fans are more likely to follow UNC, Duke, and Clemson.  Yawn.  Grade – D- East Carolina – The Pirates have made the NCAA baseball playoffs ten times since 2013 and have occasionally contended for the AAC title in football.  A hearty fan base makes ECU a fun place to watch sports.  Grade – B Florida Atlantic – A member of the AAC since 2023, this school is best known for its men's basketball team and having a great beach nearby.  Sadly, most local sports fans don’t give a hoot about the FAU Owls yet.  Grade – C- North Texas – The Mean Green had a brilliant 12-2 football season in 2025 in the school's third year as part of the AAC.  The other sports are lagging behind.  Grade – C Rice – Another third year AAC member, the Houston-based Owls have been an athletics flop in their new conference.  Grade – D Tulane – Green Wave football program has rejuvenated Tulane athletics down in the Crescent City.  Unfortunately, the remainder of the school’s sports teams rarely lead the AAC.  Grade – C Tulsa – Golden Hurricane football and men's basketball programs have been on the decline in the past decade.  That's a shame, because Tulsa fans desperately want to get behind the city’s lone major college athletics team.  Grade – C- UAB – Try as I might, I'm having trouble remembering any recent sports successes for the Blazers.  Grade – D- UTSA – Like Tulsa, the Roadrunners have the entire San Antonio market ready for their athletics programs to take off.  Other than some recent success in football, UTSA sports still appear to be taking a siesta.  Grade – C- AAC overall grade for expansion: C- Conference USA (C-USA) I am not going to provide individual grades to Conference USA member schools.  It is not their fault that C-USA management has done such a lousy job of keeping this conference together and relevant in major college sports. The conference has seen a 100% turnover in the past 20 years. Schools being added have generally been former FCS top teams such as Delaware, Sam Houston, and Jacksonville (AL) State. Things have declined so badly in Conference USA (“How badly have they declined?”) that longtime member Louisiana Tech recently agreed to pay a reported $8 million to buy its way out of C-USA.  The Bulldogs’ jubilant athletic department and fans are rejoining the Sun Belt Conference this fall.  Louisiana Tech will save more than $1 million annually in travel costs formerly required to travel to schools within the far-flung Conference USA. Longtime C-USA holdovers Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee State deserve a better fate.  Save your money and call the Sun Belt in a couple of years! C-USA overall grade for expansion –  F- Mid-American Conference (MAC) In contrast to Conference USA, the MAC has remained remarkably stable for the past 20 years. Eleven of the dozen MAC members in 2006 remain a part of the conference today.  Northern Illinois (which had been part of the MAC for 30 years) is leaving this fall to become part of the Mountain West Conference. In a couple of curious moves, the Mid-American Conference has added two new members recently. UMass – The 2025 addition of the University of Massachusetts (which is at least in regional proximity to longtime MAC member Buffalo) was rather questionable.  Athletic success at Umass has been nearly invisible over the past decade.  After just one year in the MAC, the Minutemen have been a net negative in sports for the Mid-American Conference.  Grade: D- Sacramento State – Seriously?  Yes, the Mid-American Conference will add this longtime FCS member from California to its football schedules this fall.  Sacramento (the #20 TV market) is 2,500 miles from the middle of Ohio. The Hornets will be a football-only member of the Mid-American Conference.  For the usually stable MAC, this is a rather bizarre expansion move.  Grade: F MAC overall grade for expansion:  D- Mountain West Conference (Mountain West) The Mountain West has survived a few departure tremors in recent years.  Of the nine Mountain West members 20 years ago, only Air Force, New Mexico, UNLV, and Wyoming remain.  Let’s review the teams which have come aboard since 2006. Hawaii – The Rainbow Warriors (2012) have posted winning football records in just four of their 14 seasons in the Mountain West.  The other athletic squads are nearly invisible in the post-season tournaments.  Hawaii remains a dream road trip destination for visiting teams and their fans, though.  Grade: C- Nevada – At least the men’s basketball team has appeared in the NCAA March Madness event five times over the past nine seasons.  Otherwise, fans of the Nevada Wolfpack (which joined the Mountain West in 2012) haven’t had much to howl about lately.  Grade: C- North Dakota State – This former FCS division powerhouse football program is stepping-up to play against the big boys beginning this fall.  The move is for football only. The Bison are a terrific geographic fit for the Mountain West Conference, too.  This makes sense.  Grade: A Northern Illinois – The Huskies will join the Mountain West this fall after 30 years in the Mid-American Conference.  Northern Illinois’ sports resume has weakened in recent years.  Other than bringing the #3 TV market (Chicago) to the Mountain West, this move makes little sense.  Grade: D San Jose State – The Spartans (members since 2013) have appeared in four bowl games over the past decade.  On the other hand, the men’s basketball team has won just 33% of its conference games over the past 13 years.  Grade: C- UTEP – This longtime Conference USA member joins the Mountain West this fall.  UTEP’s football team has been downright awful in recent years.  Despite a sports slump, UTEP bring strong fan support from the El Paso area.  They should be a fine geographic fit for the Mountain West.  Grade: C Mountain West overall grade for expansion:  C Sun Belt Conference (Sun Belt) The Sun Belt has been nicknamed the “Junior SEC”.  This conference has grown from 10 members in 2006 to 14 today. Only Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, South Alabama, Troy, and UL-Monroe remain from 2006. Appalachian State – The Mountaineers (members since 2014) have been a top football contender in the Sun Belt.  Their enthusiastic fans make road trips to Boone, North Carolina a fun stop.  Grade: B Coastal Carolina – Speaking of fun stops, how about a visit to Myrtle Beach to play Coastal Carolina?  The 2017 Sun Belt addition of the Chanticleers has been a terrific addition for the conference.  Coastal’s football team has played in six straight bowl games.  The baseball team won the men’s College World Series in 2016.  Grade: A Georgia Southern – Would it surprise you to learn that the Golden Eagles from Statesboro, Georgia have played in seven bowl games over the past eight seasons?  The other sports programs at Georgia Southern need to step it up.  Grade: B Georgia State – The 2013 addition of the Panthers from Atlanta has not added a lot of sports notoriety.  However, the men’s basketball program has earned four invitations to March Madness in the past 11 seasons.  Grade: C Louisiana Tech – The Bulldogs paid dearly ($8 million) to escape Conference USA beginning this fall.  Louisiana Tech brings several highly competitive sports teams. They are a perfect geographic addition to the Sun Belt Conference Western division.  Grade: A Marshall – This begins Marshall’s fourth year in the Sun Belt Conference.  The Thundering Herd has been a top football competitor and competes well in other major sports.  Grade: B Old Dominion – ODU came into the Sun Belt in 2022.  The Monarchs from Norfolk, VA posted a nifty 10-3 football record in 2025.  Old Dominion has been relatively quiet in its other sports, though.  Grade: C Southern Miss – The Golden Eagles (Sun Belt members since 2022) have been a dominant team in recent NCAA college baseball post-season tournaments.  Last season’s 2025 football team improved from a miserable 1-11 record in 2024 to a hopeful 7-6 mark.  Grade: B Sun Belt overall grade for expansion:  B+ Bonus Conference!  The newly revived Pac-12 Conference “states” its case in 2026 The most prominent names of the long-time Pac-12 Conference bolted for better TV money into the Big Ten and ACC in 2024.  That left holdovers Oregon State and Washington State “homeless”.  The Beavers and Cougars have bagged a few top teams from the Mountain West Conference to help them rebuild the Pac-12 starting this fall. Boise State is the biggest name coming to the new Pac-12.  The Broncos have fielded a nationally ranked football program several times in the past few decades. Other Mountain West migrants include Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Washington State. Texas State (formerly of the Sun Belt Conference) will also join the Pac-12 this fall. In case you didn’t notice, each of the eight new Pac-12 schools has the last name of “State”! Summary Only the Sun Belt Conference has earned a positive score (B+) from SwampSwami among the “Group of Five” mid-major conferences. The Sun Belt is the only major college athletic conference opting to maintain two divisions (East and West) to minimize travel expenses for its member schools and lessen the travel impact on their student/athletes.  Bravo! The post Grading the Mid-Major Conference expansions – Part 2 appeared first on SwampSwamiSports.com.

Yes, this is a NEW episode! Thanks to Eesa, Grace, and Viki for their suggestions this week. (Actual episode starts at 3 minutes 28 seconds.) Find the Backerkit campaign here! Further reading: Nix Illlustration: Esconichthys The southern hognose snake [picture by Caudatejake – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0]: A beach wolf spider [photo by Memer15151 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0]: Oviraptor may have looked kind of like this when alive [art by PaleoNeolitic – Own work, CC BY 4.0]: Two halves of an esconichthys fossil: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. Oh, hi! This is a brand new episode, earlier than I expected! I noticed recently that one of the Patreon episodes I'd scheduled for September is one that I'd already run in the main feed a few years ago. I decided to just make a new episode for this week and move the episode that would have run this week to that September slot, because I have an announcement! For our five-year anniversary I published the book Beyond Bigfoot & Nessie: Lesser-Known Mystery Animals from Around the World, with a lot of the entries taken from episodes but also some new topics added. I always intended to do a follow-up for our ten-year anniversary, and have even done a lot of work on it. It's called Small Mysteries, focusing on smaller mystery animals that don't get a lot of attention. It's about half the length of Beyond Bigfoot, all or almost all chapters taken from the podcast. But at this point, I don't think I have time to finish it. I'm staying very busy and happy, with a part-time job taking care of people's pets while they're on vacation, and I'm also writing fiction again. But since that book is half-done, and a lot of people might want a copy even if I don't add much more to it, I'm going to make it available as an ebook only. Do you remember last time I made a crowdfunding campaign, and the people who backed the campaign got a copy of the book as soon as it was published? I'm doing that again, but NOT for Small Mysteries. It's for a different book, called The Moonhound, a cozy fantasy set in an alternate reality Smoky Mountains. The main character is a rabbit who moves to the mountains and meets a possum, and they have adventures. Even if this doesn't interest you, there's a $1 backer tier and if you click that, you have the option to add the Small Mysteries ebook for $2. That means the book is $3. Does that make sense? I feel like it's confusing. The campaign starts on July 15, 2026 and runs through August 15, 2026. If you're listening to the episode before July 15, 2026, you can click through the link in the show notes and follow the campaign, so that you get an email when it goes live. If it's between July 15 and August 15, 2026, click the link in the show notes and there's the campaign! If it's after August 15, 2026, see if there's a link in the show notes that will take you to a place where you can buy the ebook. Okay, that took way too long, so let's get to this week's episode! We have some suggestions that have come in recently, so we'll cover a few of those animals, and we'll finish up with a small fossil mystery in honor of the book. Thanks to Eesa, Grace, and Viki for their suggestions! A quick shout-out to Remy and Julien, and Dylan, Emily, and Michelle for their suggestions too. I'll get to those in the 500th episode that will run at the end of August. We'll start with Viki's suggestion, the hognose snake. The name hognose is used for various species of snake, most of them in North and South America, but some in Madagascar. It's a common snake in many parts of North America, so since we talked about the eastern hognose back in episode 81, let's talk about the southern hognose in this episode. It's found along the coastal plain of the southeastern United States, including parts of North and South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida, and because it has a restricted range where people like to live too, it's vulnerable to habitat loss. It used to live in other states too but its range has shrunk considerably since it was first described in 1766. The southern hognose grows about two feet long, or 61 cm, and like other hognose snakes, its nose turns up like a little pig's snout. The shape of its nose actually may help it dig into leaf litter and dirt to hide. Some individuals are brown or gray, some are red or yellowish. It has darker blotches on its upper side and adults have white bellies. It has a big head that makes some people believe it's venomous, but it's actually harmless to humans and most animals. The only animals that really need to worry about the hognose are amphibians, like toads, frogs, and salamanders, although it will also eat lizards, small mammals like mice, and even large insects. It especially likes to eat toads, and while some toads are toxic, the hognose snake is resistant to toad toxins. A toad will frequently puff itself up to make it appear larger and make it hard for a snake to swallow, but the hognose has a solution for that too. It has big teeth at the rear of its upper jaws, like fangs in the back of its mouth. It uses those teeth to puncture puffed-up toads so they deflate, just like a horrible balloon. But the most memorable thing about the hognose is what it does when it feels threatened. Phase one is aggression. The snake will flatten its neck to look more threatening, raise its head like a cobra, and hiss and strike—but without biting. It's just trying to scare you away. If that doesn't work, the snake puts phase two into effect. It will flop down and roll onto its back like it's dead, its tongue hanging out of its mouth. It even emits a foul musky smell from its cloaca. If you call its bluff and roll drama queen snake onto its belly, it will turn onto its back again, because it's really insistent that it's dead. Since we've already scared away a lot of people who don't like snakes, let's learn about a spider next. Grace suggested we talk about the wolf spider, and also wonders if wolf spiders live in northern California. Wolf spiders are common throughout the world, and while they look scary, they bite people very rarely and their venom is weak, no worse than a bee sting. The wolf spider with the biggest legspan is Hogna ingens, with a legspan less than 5 inches across, or 12 cm. It lives on one island in the Maderia archipelago, and is a beautiful soft gray with white stripes on the legs. The Carolina wolf spider is the most common one found in North America. A big female can have a legspan of four inches, or 10 cm, but its body is not much more than an inch long, or 35 mm, and the spider actually weighs less than an ounce. That's barely 28 grams, or just a little heavier than five sheets of printer paper. The wolf spider is a hunting spider, mostly solitary, and most species don't spin webs. When a female lays her eggs, she attaches the egg case to the underside of her abdomen so she can take them with her while she hunts insects. When the eggs hatch, the teensy babies ride around on the top of her abdomen for a few weeks until they're big enough to not need their mother's protection. Some species of wolf spider will dig a burrow to rest in, and will jump out and grab any insect that happens by, while other species of wolf spider rest in rock crevices and other small spaces. Males are smaller than females and often have flashier patterns. The Carolina wolf spider is mainly gray or brown with darker and lighter longitudinal stripes down the head and body. Most species of wolf spider won't come into your house, but if you do have a wolf spider in your house, you should actually consider yourself lucky. They love to eat cockroaches and ants, which are house pests. The wolf spider hunts mostly by sight and has good vision, and its eyes will even demonstrate eyeshine of various colors, depending on species, if you shine a flashlight around in the dark. Maybe don't do that if you're afraid of spiders. And yes, there are wolf spiders in northern California, because there are wolf spiders in just about every part of the world except for Antarctica! Northern California actually has at least six species of wolf spider. One species does actually build a web, and there's even a species that lives on the beach. That's the beach wolf spider, which is a pale sandy color with darker and lighter stripes to help it blend in with sand and pebbles. It's quite small but it moves really fast, and it's mostly nocturnal. It lives not just in northern California but throughout beaches in North and Central America. Next, Eesa sent a list of suggested animals, including oviraptor. I could have sworn we already covered oviraptor, but we haven't! It's a really interesting dinosaur, so let's take a look now. Oviraptor is a name that means “egg thief,” and it got this name because it was found near fossilized eggs. It lived in what is now Asia about 75 million years ago, and the first specimen was found in Mongolia (still my favorite country) back in 1923. The partial specimen was found lying across a nest of dinosaur eggs. When the dinosaur was described in 1924, it was given the name egg thief because the paleontologist Henry Fairfield Osborn assumed it died while robbing a nest to eat the eggs. But even Osborn wrote that he might be wrong about the dinosaur, and in the 1990s new discoveries of oviraptor nesting sites proved this was the case. Oviraptor wasn't stealing eggs, it was protecting them, because they were its own eggs. It probably actually ate fruit, seeds, and other plant material, along with small animals like lizards. Oviraptor was a small dinosaur that was a little more than six feet long, or about 2 meters, and was the height of a medium to large dog. It walked on its hind legs. It had feathers on its arms and tail, and probably also had feathers over much of its body. It didn't have teeth but it did have a beak that would have probablylooked a lot like a parrot's beak. Its arms had three small claws but probably looked a lot like a wing in many ways, although scientists don't think oviraptor could fly. In other words, oviraptor probably looked a lot like a big, weird chicken, and like a chicken and many other birds, scientists think it sat on its eggs to keep them warm. When a bird incubates its eggs, it's not like you dropping down to sit on a chair. The bird's feet are typically on either side of the eggs, and the bird squats down carefully so that its underside makes gentle contact with the eggs without crushing them. Female chickens and many other birds have a spot on the lower breast that doesn't have any feathers, called a brood patch, which contains extra blood vessels just under the skin. This helps keep the eggs warm and is a soft part of the hen's body, which helps cushion the eggs. We don't know, but it's possible oviraptor had something similar to a brood patch, and its feathered arms and tail also helped protect the eggs from cold air and rain. We now have numerous specimens that died while sitting on nests, probably buried in sandstorms, so we know that oviraptor basically brooded its nest the way modern birds do. Finally, let's finish with our small mystery fossil. It's called Esconichthys apopyris and it lived about 308 million years ago in what is now the state of Illinois in North America. 308 million years ago, Illinois was a tropical area and partly covered by a warm, shallow sea. In a particular place known as the Mazon Creek formation, for a few million years conditions were just right to preserve dead animals and plants in astounding detail. A river carried dead plant materials and mud into an estuary along the ocean's edge, where it sank and settled to the bottom of the sea floor. When an animal died, if it wasn't eaten by something else, its body sank into this soft muddy mess. The bacteria in the mud produced carbon dioxide that combined with iron also present in the mud, which formed a mineral called siderite. This mineral encased the dead animal and slowed decay long enough for a detailed impression of the body to form in the mud. As the centuries passed and the mud became stone, the fossilized body impression was surrounded by a protective ironstone nodule. That's why we know about the soft-bodied animals from the area, even though soft-bodied animals rarely leave fossil evidence. Mazon Creek is where the Tully monster lived, which we talked about in episode 339, but the Tully monster isn't the only mystery animal discovered there. Another one was Esconichthys. We have lots of Esconichthys fossils, partly because it seems to have been extremely common, but also because it was a vertebrate. That means it had a notochord, a type of backbone. Most of the fossils we have are body impressions, so we do know a lot about what Esconichthys looked like when it was alive. What we don't know is what it actually was. Esconichthys was named for the Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois, ESCONI, and the latter half of its name means fish. But it doesn't actually seem to have been a fish, even a larval fish. It grew up to about 3 inches long, or 8 cm, and had a pair of very obvious eyes, two pairs of feathery external gills, and a single fin on the underside of its tail. It didn't have legs or any other fins. Some individuals had wide-set eyes, others had eyes that are close together, which may indicate two separate species, but we don't know. Esconichthys fossils are sometimes referred to as ghosts, because the limbless body with two dots for eyes does kind of look like a cartoon ghost. Other people call Esconichthys fossils grasshoppers or blades. This is because the animal's gills were quite long and are often preserved pointing away from the rest of the body, or sometimes the rear of the body is folded upward. This can make it look roughly like a grasshopper or a pocket knife with one blade unfolded. Esconichthys has been proposed as a larval lungfish or a larval amphibian, but it doesn't really match either animal group. It's the most common fossil found at the Mazon Creek formation by far, preserved in amazing detail, but scientists still have no idea what it is or what it might be related to. You can find Strange Animals Podcast at strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net. That's blueberry without any E's. Thanks for listening!

In this college football podcast episode, we continue our 2026 Group of Six conference previews by breaking down the resurrected Pac-12, the new-look Mountain West and a wide-open Conference USA. We start with Boise State’s move into the Pac-12 and discuss whether the Broncos are truly a College Football Playoff threat or simply the best team in their new neighborhood. From there, we examine the cases for Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas State and Washington State, along with the conference’s unusual plan to flex matchups during the final week of the regular season. The Mountain West has undergone an even more dramatic transformation, with North Dakota State making the jump to FBS and Northern Illinois and UTEP entering the league. Can NDSU immediately contend with UNLV and New Mexico? Does Hawaii have enough around Micah Alejado to make a run? And can Air Force, Wyoming or one of the conference’s rebuilding programs force its way into the race? We also venture into Conference USA, where Western Kentucky may be the preseason favorite, but Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, Liberty and several recent FBS arrivals give us plenty of reasons to question the established order. Finally, we bolt independent UConn onto the end of the preview and explore Jason Candle’s attempt to rebuild a roster that lost nearly everything from last season. Timestamps:0:00 - Intro5:05 - Pac-12 Conference Preview38:44 - Mountain West Conference Preview1:09:55 - CUSA Conference Preview1:27:24 - UConn Football PreviewSupport the show!: https://www.patreon.com/solidverbalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do principals serve in Northern Illinois? Kevin Becker (Principal of Immanuel Lutheran School in East Dundee, Illinois) and Kate Thoelke (Principal of St. Paul's Lutheran School in Brookfield, Illinois) join Andy and Sarah to talk about their paths to becoming church workers, some of the key figures who encouraged their formation, the schools each of them serve in today and their paths to their current vocations, why it's important to each of them to invest in Lutheran education, and how Lutheran teachers and principals can cultivate a culture of church work formation and recruitment in our Lutheran schools. Christ's church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers. Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations. Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS: 1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers. 2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers. 3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation. To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Cory Brada and Mark Rogers discuss the latest with Iowa Football. Steve Helwick of Underdog Dynasty also joins the show to preview the Hawkeyes' season-opener vs. Northern Illinois.Join Mark Rogers and Cory Brada every Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. CT for Iowa Hawkeyes LIVE on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Iowa at the Voice of CFB channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTube.

​In May 2025, a Dodge Durango reported stolen in Chicago was being tracked via GPS, and was in the parking lot of the Best Buy in Crystal Lake. ​Police say they located the unoccupied vehicle, and when Wayne Mikulski of Ogle County saw the police near the Durango, he ran away, but quickly was apprehended. Crystal Lake Police say Mikulski was carrying methamphetamine, and there were several credit cards in the stolen Durango that belonged to other people. This week, Mikulski was sentenced to nine years in prison.

​In May 2025, a Dodge Durango reported stolen in Chicago was being tracked via GPS, and was in the parking lot of the Best Buy in Crystal Lake. ​Police say they located the unoccupied vehicle, and when Wayne Mikulski of Ogle County saw the police near the Durango, he ran away, but quickly was apprehended. Crystal Lake Police say Mikulski was carrying methamphetamine, and there were several credit cards in the stolen Durango that belonged to other people. This week, Mikulski was sentenced to nine years in prison.

​In May 2025, a Dodge Durango reported stolen in Chicago was being tracked via GPS, and was in the parking lot of the Best Buy in Crystal Lake. ​Police say they located the unoccupied vehicle, and when Wayne Mikulski of Ogle County saw the police near the Durango, he ran away, but quickly was apprehended. Crystal Lake Police say Mikulski was carrying methamphetamine, and there were several credit cards in the stolen Durango that belonged to other people. This week, Mikulski was sentenced to nine years in prison.

-We ask the question as EA Sports once again did not have Memorial Stadium in Lincoln as one of the Top 25 toughest places to play---and based on the record in the stadium the last 10 years, it's valid to not include them-It's a stadium that has seen the likes of Troy, Northern Illinois, several mediocre Northwestern and Purdue teams, plus Maryland win in and help provide average overall records for the Huskers…the stadium is too iconic to fall from these levels of being tough to play inShow sponsored by PINNACLE BANKOur Sponsors:* Check out Hims and use my code hims.com/EARLYBREAK for a great deal: https://www.hims.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kai Moore is a quarterback at Miami Christopher Columbus and committed to Northern Illinois talks about his journey from transferring from Miami Norland. He talks about his time meeting national champion college football QB Fernando Mendoza and so much more. Tony Sands a former running back for the University of Kansas Jayhawks, joins Larry Blustein as they talk all things NIL and having the mindset for football. South Broward High School Head Coach Darryel Bethune Darryel Bethune, the head coach of South Broward High School, joins Larry Blustein to talk about all his programs and what changes he wants to see in the state with athletics. Chris Creighton, the head coach at Eastern Michigan University, joins Larry Blustein to talk about their offseason. Coach talks about the schedule this year before leading into conference play. Derrick Gibson, the head coach of Miami Central, joins Larry Blustein as they talk about what happened last football season. He talks about what the year-to-year difference will be and how it will impact the roster. They talk about the offensive line development from last year to this year and so much more. David Lake from inside the U joins Larry Blustein to talk about the latest news of recruiting for the Miami Hurricanes football team.

Kai Moore is a quarterback at Miami Christopher Columbus and committed to Northern Illinois talks about his journey from transferring from Miami Norland. He talks about his time meeting national champion college football QB Fernando Mendoza and so much more.

On this episode of the podcast, we break down a rough 10-day illness and a frightening overnight breathing episode that nearly led to an ER visit. The show shifts to sports news, including Zach Johnson winning the Principal Charity Classic and a discussion of the rarity of golf's Grand Slam. They briefly talk about the Knicks' title drought, fan unrest, a Villanova-to-Knicks storyline, and World Cup chatter sparked by visitors reacting to Buc-ee's and other American staples. The hosts preview FanDuel lines for Iowa football, debating big spreads vs Northern Illinois and Iowa State, roster inexperience, defensive questions, and a reportedly 50/50 QB battle. They then unpack the Brendan Sorsby/Texas Tech sports-betting controversy, contrasting it with Iowa/Iowa State gambling punishments and arguing college football's rules are in a bad place, before closing with Iowa players doing paintball in Kinnick. If you love the show and want to show support, tell your friends! And, check out our exclusive content at Patreon.com/washedupwalkons where you can find extra podcast episodes, exclusive merchandise, Merch discounts with every tier, private Walkon discord channel access, and more! Find us on social media @washedupwalkons Visit TheWashedUpWalkons.com for all of our episodes, merchandise, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

 Fact-Checked: Weather with Enthusiasm – (June 9, 2026)This episode has been independently fact-checked. Here's what held up — and what didn't.**✅ Confirmed Accurate**- St. Louis heat advisory (noon–10 PM CDT) and heat index values for the metro area- Cape Girardeau, MO dew points in the upper 70s and heat index near 108°F- Scott City, MO heat index up to 115°F (consistent with 83°F dew point + 91°F temp); 115°F = 46°C conversion is correct- SPC Enhanced Risk (Level 3 of 5) for the Northern Plains, including Bismarck, Fargo, Minot, Mandan, Jamestown, Devils Lake, and Sioux Falls- 10% hatched tornado risk (EF2+ possible) and 45% damaging wind probability for the Northern Plains- Elevated Mixed Layer (EML), triple point, and CAPE/shear explanations are meteorologically accurate- Portugal's Mora reaching 40.3°C (104.5°F) — confirmed as a national May record by IPMA- Kew Gardens, London hitting 35.1°C on May 26 — confirmed as UK's hottest May day on record- WHO formally flagged extreme heat as a permanent public health crisis in Europe (June 2, 2026)- Heat is the #1 U.S. weather-related killer on a 30-year average — confirmed by NOAA data Minor Notes**- In the intro, "590 decimeters" should be "590 **decameters**" (dam) — the correct unit for 500 mb geopotential heights. The AI-voiced segment uses the right term.- Seville and Córdoba temperatures were forecast at ~36°C; 37°C is at the very top of the range. "Fito, France, 39°C" during the late-May European heat wave could not be confirmed. France's documented peak for that event was ~37.8°C (Angoulême-La Couronne).Podcast Title: Weather with Enthusiasm: Midwest Inferno & Global Heatwave Timestamp Breakdown:00:00 - 00:15: Introduction and current date/time.00:16 - 01:22: Overview of the powerful summer air mass, high dew points, and severe weather outbreak in the Midwest. Specific mentions of high dew points in Texas and Missouri.01:23 - 02:22: Detailed breakdown of specific locations in Missouri and Illinois with extreme temperatures, dew points, and heat indexes (St. Louis, University City, Maconda, Eden Park, Cape Girardeau, Scott City).02:23 - 03:25: Continued extreme heat data for Scott City, Paducah (brief mention), Chicago, and the presence of a heat dome to the south suppressing thunderstorms.03:26 - 04:18: Discussion of the heat dome's impact on thunderstorm development and a transition to the AI-voiced segment covering global heat.04:19 - 05:21: AI voice introduces the dynamic atmospheric setup, brutal Midwest humidity, multi-day severe weather threat, and European heatwave. Explanation of the heat dome and its impact on bringing tropical air north.05:22 - 06:25: Deep dive into the danger of high dew points, specifically in Cape Girardeau and Scott City, Missouri, with heat indexes pushing life-threatening levels. Mentions of model verification.06:26 - 07:26: Official heat advisories and major heat risk levels from NWS Paducah, emphasizing the likelihood of heat illness.07:27 - 08:31: NWS St. Louis and Chicago forecast discussions, including heat advisories, heat index predictions, and the potential extension of advisories.08:32 - 09:32: Explanation of the Elevated Mixed Layer (EML) and its role as a "secret ingredient" for severe weather, capping the atmosphere and providing steep lapse rates for thunderstorm fuel.09:33 - 10:34: Severe weather environment details, including high CAPE values and shear. Discussion of the Storm Prediction Center's outlook for the Northern Plains (enhanced risk, widespread damage, tornado risk).10:35 - 11:48: Location of the "triple point" for severe weather in the Dakotas, dry line, and warm front interaction. Looking ahead to Wednesday's enhanced risk in Northern Illinois (damaging winds, hail, tornado).11:49 - 12:50: NWS St. Louis and Chicago forecasts for Wednesday and Thursday, detailing the evolution of severe weather from supercells to quasi-linear convective systems (QLCF) with various hazards.12:51 - 13:28: Crucial safety reminders for tornado watches and warnings, including seeking shelter and avoiding vehicles/mobile homes. Heat safety advice (hydration, checking on others).13:29 - 14:00: International weather update: Spain's split temperatures with sizzling heat in the south and an upcoming heatwave forecast.14:01 - 15:03: Broader European heat pattern, historic events in May, and the World Health Organization's classification of heat as a public health crisis. UK's upcoming humid heatwave.15:04 - 15:39: US heat dome shifting westward into the desert Southwest.15:40 - 16:16: Relief for the Midwest expected by Friday, with cooler temperatures and lower humidity. A recap of extreme heat index numbers from earlier.16:17 - 17:19: Conclusion: Summary of active weather stretch, brutal humidity, multi-day severe weather, and the persistent heat dome. Call to action for listeners to stay alert, hydrated, and check on loved ones. Podcast outro and supporter club mention.17:20 - 18:33: Bonus segment on extreme heat in the Arctic, including high temperatures, rapid warming, and a heat dome interacting with an atmospheric river. Promotion of another podcast.20 Hashtags:#WeatherWithEnthusiasm#MidwestHeatwave#SevereWeather#HeatDome#DewPointDanger#HeatAdvisory#TornadoRisk#EML#GlobalWarming#EuropeanHeat#ClimateChange#StormPrediction#Meteorology#WeatherPodcast#ClimateCrisis#HeatIndex#StayHydrated#WeatherSafety#ArcticHeat#ExtremeWeatherBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weather-with-enthusiasm--4911017/support.Weather with Enthusiasm is produced by Kol Simcha Productions.New episodes drop daily (B'N)— a morning forecast at 7 AM and historical deep dives Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact: kolsimchaproductions@outlook.comHistorical content is thoroughly researched and factually verified. After it has been factually verified it often will say so in the description. Should you find any mistakes, please email kolsimchaproductions@outlook.com so we can look into it and correct it. Not affiliated with any government agency or academic institution. Presented for educational and entertainment purposes — with meaning.Support the show — exclusive bonus episodes available to subscribers for just $2/month at spreaker.com/organization/kol-simcha

The road to the 2026 college football season begins as the Play The Fight Song CFB Show breaks down the entire Mid-American Conference (MAC)! Join us LIVE as we preview every team in the conference, analyze key returning players, discuss coaching storylines, predict conference standings, and make our official season predictions.Will WMU remain the team to beat? Can Miami (OH), Ohio, Northern Illinois, or another contender rise to the top? Which programs are primed for a breakout season, and who could be this year's surprise team in the MAC?

Transportation infrastructure plays a major role in how communities grow, businesses move goods, and regions stay connected. In this episode of the DuPage Business Beat Podcast, Greg Bedalov talks with Manar Nashif about the Illinois Tollway's long-term vision for the future of mobility across Northern Illinois. As Chief Engineering Officer, Nashif oversees the agency's engineering operations, including planning, design, construction, maintenance, and capital improvements across the Tollway system.The conversation highlights key updates from the Illinois Tollway's capital programs, including Move Illinois and Bridging the Future, and explores how these projects are improving mobility, supporting economic development, and strengthening regional connectivity for businesses and communities throughout DuPage County and beyond.To keep up with what's happening in DuPage County and the Chicagoland region, follow Choose DuPage on social media or visit ChooseDuPage.com/Ready. Thank you to our sponsor, Fastener SuperStore, Inc. Visit them at fastenersuperstore.com to easily purchase standard screws, nuts, bolts, rivets, and other fasteners in bulk.

The crew catches up on life updates—DFW golf events, BottleRock, Kevin's Hawaii trip, and dad duties—before diving into sports. They discuss Colorado teams' recent disappointments, Kluver's upcoming CrossFit competition adding combine-style tests (40, 5-10-5, broad and vertical), and Iowa football kickoff times for UNI, Northern Illinois, Iowa State (a night Cy-Hawk game at Kinnick), and Nebraska (11 a.m. on Black Friday). They debate the proposed 24-team College Football Playoff and potential changes like eliminating conference championships, weigh how expansion affects regular-season meaning, and react to a new punt rule restricting motion and formations, including numbering-workaround details. The episode includes sponsor mentions (FanDuel, Grey's Gourmet To Go, Illini Golf, Urology Center of Iowa) and previews upcoming summer episodes and guests. If you love the show and want to show support, tell your friends! And, check out our exclusive content at Patreon.com/washedupwalkons where you can find extra podcast episodes, exclusive merchandise, Merch discounts with every tier, private Walkon discord channel access, and more! Find us on social media @washedupwalkons Visit TheWashedUpWalkons.com for all of our episodes, merchandise, and more! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

226: On this episode, we are back from a week away because of setup and working the 2026 Northern Illinois Section Championship! Springfield offers a stripper version of the Echelon and COA on the Prodigy LSI looks to have a new 2011 grip in the horizon with removable grip panels Jaki shoots her first major in a long time Tony has a HORRENDOUS start to his match! Check Out Our Partners & Affiliates For The Best Deals On Gear:

226: On this episode, we are back from a week away because of setup and working the 2026 Northern Illinois Section Championship!Springfield offers a stripper version of the Echelon and COA on the ProdigyLSI looks to have a new 2011 grip in the horizon with removable grip panelsJaki shoots her first major in a long timeTony has a HORRENDOUS start to his match! Check Out Our Partners & Affiliates For The Best Deals On Gear:

The Grand Illinois Trail aims to connect Northern Illinois by bicycle. It spans more than 500 miles, from Chicago to the Quad Cities and back. And after 30 years of planning, it's almost done. We'll talk with Sara Egan of Openlands, which is pushing to get the project across the finish line.

We are joined by Dr. Kyle Hulsebus, a Health & Human Potential Specialist, author & third-generation chiropractor based in Northern Illinois. Kyle's work redefines health as an internal state & integrates purpose, performance & well-being for longevity & impact. We discuss travel, philosophy, ball room dancing & why purpose may be the missing health metric. An interesting & inspiring conversation with a fascinating man on a mission to spread true health far & wide.

The K-State women's tennis squad stepped it up in the singles matches to take down Northern Illinois on Tuesday to advance!

Opening morning in Northern Illinois kicks off with sky-high expectations, a perfect setup, and gobblers everywhere… but nothing goes as planned. In this episode of Bowhunt or Die, Kurt dives into one of the most frustrating turkey hunts you'll ever see. Birds are everywhere, circling decoys, hanging up just out of range, and busting him at every move. Hunting without a blind proves just how brutal bowhunting turkeys can be. Then a massive Midwest storm rolls through — bringing tornado warnings, heavy rain, and uncertainty about whether the hunt is even still possible. But when the weather finally breaks, everything changes.

Jared (@CFF_Jared) and Chris (@FFChrisB) are splitting up spring games this week! In today's episode, Jared covers the spring games of the Group of 6 schools from this past weekend, covering schools from Boise State to Central Michigan and Northern Illinois to UMass and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jared (@CFF_Jared) and Chris (@FFChrisB) are splitting up spring games this week! In today's episode, Jared covers the spring games of the Group of 6 schools from this past weekend, covering schools from Boise State to Central Michigan and Northern Illinois to UMass and so much more!Join Jared Palmgren and Chris Battistel as we look to analyze the college football landscape and determine how to win your fantasy leagues this fall!Email: ctn.fantasyfootball@gmail.comEmail 2: cffjared@gmail.comFollow us on Twitter:https://twitter.com/CFF_Jaredhttps://twitter.com/FFChrisBhttps://twitter.com/ChasingthenattyFollow us on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3EdFkDN...Follow us on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chasing-the-natty-a-college-football-fantasy-podcast/id1557043581

Rivers across northern Illinois are rising after a stretch of severe storms that produced at least 15 tornadoes and dumped heavy rain across the region, leaving communities dealing with flooding concerns into the new week.

Rivers across northern Illinois are rising after a stretch of severe storms that produced at least 15 tornadoes and dumped heavy rain across the region, leaving communities dealing with flooding concerns into the new week.

Chuck's opening monologue. Chuck and Heath discuss the wait for Northern Illinois players to get access to the transfer portal after a coaching change. Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings previews the NFL Combine that begins Thursday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Maller handicaps the field to buy the Seattle Seahawks as the team begins the sale process, why Thomas Hammock would leave a college head coaching gig at Northern Illinois for a low-level NFL assistant coaching gig, San Francisco being the worst Super Bowl host city, #AskBen, and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

-Northern Illinois has had lots of success over the years in the MAC---remember when they played FSU in the Orange Bowl?---and now is headed to join the Mountain West this year-One slight problem---head coach Thomas Hammock left the school yesterday to take an assistant role with the SeattleSeahawks—that's just dandy!Our Sponsors:* Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

David Haugh and Ruthie Polinsky were joined by college football insider, Matt Fortuna on the latest on Thomas Hammock leaving Northern Illinois as it's football head coach

In the second hour, David Haugh and Ruthie Polinsky discuss the latest on the Bears stadium. Later, David and Ruthie were joined by college football insider, Matt Fortuna on the latest on Thomas Hammock leaving Northern Illinois as it's football head coach

In the final hour, David Haugh and Cassie Carlson were joined by Bob Nightengale of USA Today to discuss the latest MLB, Cubs and White Sox storylines. After that, Haugh and Carlson reacted to Northern Illinois football coach Thomas Hammock leaving DeKalb to join the Super Bowl champion Seahawks' coaching staff.

David Haugh and Cassie Carlson reacted to the breaking news that Northern Illinois football coach Thomas Hammock is leaving the program to join the Super Bowl champion Seahawks' coaching staff.

Go to www.LearningLeader.com This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader My guest: PJ Fleck is the head football coach at the University of Minnesota. Before that, he transformed Western Michigan from one win to 13 wins and a Cotton Bowl appearance. Before his coaching days, PJ was a stud receiver at Northern Illinois and was a guy I played against in college. Coach Fleck has built one of college football's most distinctive culture-driven programs. You'll hear why he maintains an 80-20 split favoring high school recruiting over the transfer portal, how he runs practice with a 32-second clock to make it harder than games, and why he sees himself as a cultural driver rather than a motivational coach. This is a conversation recorded with all of our coaches inside "The Arena." That is our mastermind group for coaches in all sports. And it did not disappoint. Notes: Stop recruiting, start selecting. PJ doesn't chase the highest-rated players... He looks for fit and alignment with his values. Ask yourself: Are you trying to convince people to join your team, or are you selecting people who already want what you're building? Efficiency beats duration. PJ runs 95-minute practices with a 32-second play clock, always moving, always intense. The principle: Make practice harder than the game. Where in your work are you confusing time spent with intensity and focus? Internal drive trumps external motivation. PJ calls his ideal players "Nektons," always attacking, never satisfied. He's looking for people who prove their worth to themselves, not to others. If you need constant external motivation, you're not ready for elite teams. A leader must teach and demand. A team member must prepare and perform. These aren't opposing forces—they're two sides of the same commitment to excellence. My junior year at Ohio University. I was the quarterback of the Ohio football team. We lost to No. 17 Northern Illinois 30-23 in overtime on a Saturday night. P.J. Fleck caught the game-tying 15-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter. PJ finished with 14 catches for 235 yards and a touchdown. (I threw a 30-yard TD pass to Anthony Hackett to put us up a TD right before halftime). Let your team see you played. They do"Guess that Gopher" before team meetings, where players guess which coach's highlights they're watching. Give them a peek behind the curtain. It builds credibility and connection. PJ honors his mentor, Jim Tressel, by wearing a tie while coaching. Who are you honoring through your daily practices? Keep your door open. PJ has no secretary. Players can walk into his office at any moment. Create fluidity between you and your team. Transparency after tragedy is a choice. When PJ's son died from a heart condition, he had two options: never talk about it again, or let it shape him. He chose radical transparency, knowing it would get scrutinized. That's where "Row the Boat" comes from. A losing season reveals what you actually need. After going 1-11 at Western Michigan while also getting divorced, PJ says every coach should experience a losing season. It forces you to identify what you actually need versus what you don't need. Choose what scares you. When deciding on Minnesota, Heather asked him, "Does this scare you?" He said, "Hell yeah, it scares me." His response: "Well then, that's where we're going." Life versus living. Living is the salary and contract. Life is about moments and memory. If you can't stay in the moment and reflect on great moments or hard moments, life will be like mashed potatoes to you. Your expectations should match your resources. The gap between expectations and resources is called frustration. The bigger the gap, the more frustration from everyone around you. Maintain an 80/20 model if you can. 80% high school players, 20% transfer portal. PJ has one of the highest retention rates in the country because of selection and fit, not recruiting. "It's not about the money until it's about the money." The kids' PJ gets value for other things before the money talk. They enjoy the experience of being a college athlete. PJ leads with "I'm really difficult to play for." PJ's opening line to recruits. He asks for a lot. This makes people who are lazy, complacent, or fraudulent run like hell. "This is going to expose me." Start with good people, not good players. Out of 500 kids, who are the best 25 young men? PJ doesn't get five stars. He gets two and three stars who believe they can be five stars. A chip versus a crack on your shoulder. Once you do something the media says you couldn't do, they'll set a new bar. All PJ wants is kids who want to prove to themselves that they can do what people say they couldn't. You don't need PJ's personality. You need the internal drive to be the best version of yourself. That's what he's selecting for. "I'm not a motivational coach. I'm a cultural driver." PJ picks their "how." He picks their journey. If someone needs constant motivation, they're not ready. Peel back the Instagram filter. Everything you see on social media is filtered. You have to dig deeper with this generation to find out who they really are. Hire former players back. PJ's staff has more former players who played for him than ever before. They cut their teeth in the building. In this transactional era, former players help you stay transformational. The HYPRR System. This is PJ's hyperculture framework he created after going 1-11: H (How): The people. Nektons who always attack. How you do one thing is how you do everything. Consistency matters. Y (Yours): Your vision. It's YOUR life, not anyone else's vision. Players are the builders. Don't tell me you want an extravagant home and then hire bad builders. P (Process): The work. The who, what, when, where, and why. Anyone should be able to ask those questions at any point. R (Result): Focus on the HYP. It's not the officials' fault. It's not the other team's fault. R (Response): How will you respond to the result? Don't believe the hype. Everything about hype is before the result happens. Focus on How, Yours, and Process instead. Someone will take what you were taught was horrible and create a business model. PJ uses Uber and Airbnb as examples. We were taught "stranger danger" as kids. Now we get in cars with strangers while drunk and sleep in their homes. The right people plugged into crazy visions can change everything. Define success as peace of mind. That's how PJ's program defines success. Not wins and losses. Train body language. "Big chest" means standing up straight. Players are not allowed to put their hands on their knees or their heads. If you can't hold yourself up, trainers need to check on you. Teach response, not reaction. You can have emotions, but train to not be emotional. The real world wants to see you react. Train to respond properly in every situation. Your words have power. PJ's players know the definitions of 150 words that will help them for the rest of their lives. Give substance to the filters. That's your job as an educator. Cut all the fat off practice. PJ was from the era of 3.5-hour practices. He has ADD and needs to move. He got bored as a player, so he vowed to run practice differently. Run a 32-second play clock constantly. Every 32 seconds, you run a play. You are always under the two-minute warning in practice. This trains your team to operate under pressure. Never practice longer than 95 minutes. It's one thing to watch as a recruit. It's another to experience it as a player. Kids puke during dynamic warmup in the first week because it's that intense. Make practice harder than the game. The game will eventually slow down for your players if practice is legitimately harder. Nektons flow through water currents without being affected. Don't let circumstances dictate behavior. Train this mindset daily. The biggest jump in sports is from high school to college. 17-year-olds playing against 24-year-olds. It's not just talent. It's experience, development, strength, and confidence all at once. Never let any environment be too big for your coaches. Train your staff to be comfortable in all situations, not just your players. Always be learning outside your field. PJ attends leadership seminars with SEALs and Green Berets. At one dinner, a retired military officer who looked like Sean Connery scanned the room quietly, then said: "I'm taking in all the good in the room. I'm also coming up with a plan to kill every one of you, in case I need to." He never came back to the table because he got called to active duty and left for Afghanistan. Always be ready. That's what makes you special. Watch to learn. PJ watched "Landman" and took notes on how to run the next team meeting. His wife hates that he can never relax. Find teaching and education in everything you do. When you stop, you stop growing. Get better at celebrating. PJ has a great bourbon and champagne collection. He celebrates more than he ever has. Balance the intensity with moments of joy. Make transformational programs real. Gopher for Life program. Monthly educational courses. Monthly date nights where players bring their dates and learn dinner etiquette. Monthly racial education class. Weekly coach development on Thursdays, where coaches speak on any topic to advance their careers. Don't let important things stop when the news cycle moves on. COVID and racism got put in the same bracket. When COVID stopped, racism education stopped everywhere. Not at Minnesota. Keep going. Bring back the fun. After wins, players can't wait to pick the design for the next team shirt. PJ gives them five options, and they get into it. People are losing the fun connection that made elementary school great. A coach's job is to teach and demand. A player's job is to prepare and perform. If you're a coach, you better be teaching things: life, sport, relationships. Elite teams are led by players. Your job is to get as many elite people to the front of the bus as possible. More Learning #226 - Steve Wojciechowski: How to Win Every Day #281 - George Raveling: Wisdom from MLK Jr to Michael Jordan #637 - Tom Ryan: Chosen Suffering: Become Elite in Life & Leadership