Best WGLT Podcasts (2025)

A new study suggests upward mobility is more difficult in Illinois than many would think. Although educational attainment and career choices have the biggest influence over a person's income potential, the economic class into which they are born also plays a role.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: A fairer approach to redistricting? 50:29

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A bipartisan attempt at changing the process will require a constitutional change.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: Giving more hope to those in need of kidney transplants 50:27

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More than 100,000 patients are on the national kidney transplant list and around 30 people are taken off the lists everyday because they either became too sick for a transplant, or died.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: Electric bill shock 50:29

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For many, this summer brought a surprise in their utility costs.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: Ways to handle news overload 50:29

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The news can be overwhelming. But you still want to be in the know. We have some tips.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: An aging population and the health care industry 50:30

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As dementia rates increase, experts warn hospital emergency rooms are underprepared.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: The cloudy future of weather forecasting 50:35

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Despite developing technology, funding cuts threaten the ability to predict severe weather.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: The life of Mark Twain 50:29

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Biographer Ron Chernow discusses his new book on the Hannibal, Missouri native.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: The future of high speed rail 50:29

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On this episode, we examine how far high speed rail has come in Illinois. With 110 mile per hour trains running between Chicago and St. Louis, advocates are talking about trains going twice as fast.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: Ensuring care for sexual assault victims 50:28

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An APM investigation found some hospitals failing to provide critical care for victims, such as offering sexual assault testing kits and not contacting child or adult protective services. Illinois lawmakers responded by passing legislation this spring.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: New insight into Mary Lincoln's "madness" 50:29

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A new book details correspondence — letters long assumed to have been lost or destroyed -– that shed light on the nature of her illness as well as the nature of her relationships with the few friends and family she had left by that time.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: The people helping to bring down Chicago homicides 50:29

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The city still has problems with violence. But it is on track to have its lowest number of murders in a decade. Many are crediting street outreach.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: The Pope Leo XIV effect 50:29

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At a time when fewer people say they are practicing Catholics, church leaders are hoping an American pope may turn that around.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: Pritzker's big decision 50:29

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The two-term governor has to decide soon if he will seek re-election. He's also rumored to be considering a presidential bid in 2028.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: Armadillos in Illinois 50:35

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They've been in the state for more than 50 years, but they are showing up more often.By Sean Crawford

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Statewide: As outbreaks grow, there is concern about the spread of measles 50:29

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We talk with pediatrician Dr. Allison Croucher of Duly Health and Care on this episode of Statewide.By Sean Crawford

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McHistory: 'King of Swedes' kept Bloomington streets clean 8:20

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Wherever humans gather, there is garbage. And getting rid of it is a challenge. The start of trash removal in Bloomington dates to the start of the 20th century and to a man known in his day as the King of Swedes.By Charlie Schlenker

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Next to Normal Story Slam: Seemed Like A Good Idea With ... Kim Tingley 10:31

2+ y ago10:31

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This story from Kim Tingley was recorded May 5, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “It seemed like a good idea at the time...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.…

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Next to Normal Story Slam: Seemed Like A Good Idea With ... Laura DiMascio 11:26

2+ y ago11:26

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This story from Laura DiMascio was recorded May 5, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “It seemed like a good idea at the time...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.…

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Next to Normal Story Slam: Seemed Like A Good Idea With ... Mollie Huisman 9:40

2+ y ago9:40

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This story from Mollie Huisman was recorded May 5, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “It seemed like a good idea at the time...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.…

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Next to Normal Story Slam: Seemed Like A Good Idea With ... Laurie Bergner 14:52

2+ y ago14:52

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This story from Laurie Bergner was recorded May 5, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “It seemed like a good idea at the time...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.…

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Next to Normal Story Slam: A Brush With ... Storyteller Karla Bailey Smith 11:08

2+ y ago11:08

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This story from Karla Bailey Smith was recorded Feb. 10, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “A brush with...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.By Colin Winkelmann

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Next to Normal Story Slam: A Brush With ... Storyteller Sally Hoffman 5:26

2+ y ago5:26

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This story from Sally Hoffman was recorded Feb. 10, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “A brush with...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.By Colin Winkelmann

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Next to Normal Story Slam: A Brush With ... Storyteller Joe Strupek 7:24

2+ y ago7:24

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This story from Joe Strupek was recorded Feb. 10, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “A brush with...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.By Colin Winkelmann

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Next to Normal Story Slam: A Brush With ... Storyteller Mark Nielson 3:45

2+ y ago3:45

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This story from Mark Nielson was recorded Feb. 10, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “A brush with...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.By Colin Winkelmann

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Next to Normal Story Slam: A Brush With ... Storyteller Lora Passetti 11:23

2+ y ago11:23

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This story from Lora Passetti was recorded Feb. 10, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “A brush with...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.By Colin Winkelmann

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Next to Normal Story Slam: A Brush With ... Storyteller Kathi Davis 8:56

2+ y ago8:56

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This story from Kathi Davis was recorded Feb. 10, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “A brush with...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.By Colin Winkelmann

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Next to Normal Story Slam: A Brush With ... Storyteller Dennis Mennenga 4:52

2+ y ago4:52

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This story from Dennis Mennenga was recorded Feb. 10, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “A brush with...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.By Colin Winkelmann

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Next to Normal Story Slam: A Brush With ... Storyteller Scott Myers 7:36

2+ y ago7:36

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This story from Scott Myers was recorded Feb. 10, 2023, during the Next to Normal Story Slam at the McLean County Arts Center in Bloomington. The night’s theme was “A brush with...” with all stories centered on that theme. Learn more about upcoming Story Slams at NexttoNormalStorySlam.com.By Colin Winkelmann

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Story Slam: Kevin Lee's story of luck 5:24

3y ago5:24

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The Next To Normal Story Slam is back after its pandemic hiatus with a new schedule. Instead of every month, the Story Slam happens every three months at the McLean County Arts Center.By Ariele Jones

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McHistory: Housekeeper for the affluent and the tawdry 6:43

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The way Black people were treated in Bloomington-Normal got a lot worse in the 20th century than in the years before, and that's saying something. Those conditions produced jarring juxtapositions in people’s lives, such as that of an intelligent churchgoing Black woman who worked for the family of State Farm royalty and in a brothel to make ends me…

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McHistory: Press Butler the great detective 5:54

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One doesn’t think of Bloomington and central Illinois as a lurid hotbed of crime. But it certainly seems it could have been that way during the mid-to-late 1800s as portrayed by the three city newspapers of the day.By Charlie Schlenker

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McHistory: George Hoagland’s 'Oil of Gladness' 6:56

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Coming from nothing, an illiterate Black man from Bloomington-Normal — long before the civil rights movement — found a niche in the national market for cleaning products. In this episode of the WGLT feature McHistory, hear about a floor polish and the man who invented and sold it.By Charlie Schlenker

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McHistory: Multitalented suffrage leader promoted women’s health and the vote 5:14

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Ellen Ferguson was a champion of women and women's suffrage. She made Bloomington-Normal her home in the 1870s.By Charlie Schlenker

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McHistory: A Bloomington huckster's best-selling 'medicine' was Blackberry Balsam 6:02

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Bloomington-Normal has a long and distinguished history of business entrepreneurship. One less than distinguished, but very successful, business, had a continent-wide spread in the late 1800s.By Charlie Schlenker

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McHistory: Noted author Harold Sinclair of Bloomington 5:41

4y ago5:41

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Bloomington-Normal has a tie to famed actor John Wayne and legendary filmmaker John Ford — a hardware store clerk turned noted author, Harold Sinclair.By Charlie Schlenker

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Brett Conlin looks into his rear-view mirror on new full-band EP 8:26

4y ago8:26

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Brett Conlin’s new full-band Americana-rock album is a nostalgic and sometimes wistful look at his youthful days growing up in Kewanee.By Jon Norton

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McHistory: Early Settlers Battled Prairie Fire To Tame The Land 5:32

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There is not much prairie left in Illinois. Once, there was a waving sea of tall perennial flowers and grasses across much of the state. Now there is .01% of the original prairie left in Illinois.By Charlie Schlenker

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WGLT's Grow: Integrated Pest Management 9:15

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By Sarah Nardi

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McHistory: Dr. William Hill, A Man Of Many Contradictions 5:06

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A 19th century Bloomington doctor was a respected physician who was accused of stealing corpses.By Charlie Schlenker, Maritza Navar-Lopez

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WGLT's Grow: Apple & Pear Season 9:15

4y ago9:15

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By Sarah Nardi

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First Backyard Tire Fire Album In A Decade Is A Rootsy Gem 9:12

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Backyard Tire Fire's new album drops Friday. They perform at the Black Dirt Music Festival in Bloomington on Saturday. Wilco headlines the fest.By Jon Norton

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WGLT's Grow: Autumnal Festival 9:15

4y ago9:15

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On this week’s episode of Grow, Sarah is joined by Jessica Chambers, who runs the ISU Horticulture Center. The two talk about the Autumnal Festival.By Sarah Nardi

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McHistory: Sigmund Livingston And The Anti-Defamation League 4:51

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In 1913, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was founded in Bloomington to stop the defamation of Jewish people by appealing to minds, morals, and the law. Sigmund Livingston served as its first director.By Ariele Jones, Charlie Schlenker

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WGLT's Grow: Chocolate & Vanilla 9:15

4y ago9:15

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By Sarah Nardi

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WGLT's Grow: Ken Myszka From Epiphany Farms Talks Fall Gardens 9:15

4y ago9:15

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By Sarah Nardi

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Author Says 'Americana' Is Grown-Up Rock & Roll 6:23

4y ago6:23

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Author John Milward connects American music legends like The Carter Family and Hank Williams with today's big stars including Jason Isbell and Brandi Carlisle.By Jon Norton

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McHistory: Rags the Dog, The Illinois Traction System Mascot 5:05

4y ago5:05

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McHistory is a co-production of WGLT and the McLean County Museum of History.By Ariele Jones