Shows / Life on the Illinois Prairie
Episodes
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Mark and Carol are owners of Unity Chapel-Event Center
Mark and Carol often drove past Unity Church after it had closed due to dwindling membership. They wished they could resurrect the building that held so many…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Bernie is the owner of deBuhr's Feed and Seed Store in Mattoon, Illinois.
Bernie shares his family's rich history in Mattoon, Illinois, beginning with his great-grandfather. We talk about his community involvement and work with…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Jacob returns to the podcast with important information about the recent DO NOT DRINK orders in Mattoon, Illinois.
Jacob returns to the podcast to give updates and information about the recent DO NOT DRINK water crisis in Mattoon, Illinois. He also shares about how the…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Amanda Brennan is a journalist at WCIA.
Amanda returns to discuss her new role on the 4pm show with Meteorologist Kevin Lighty on WCIA Channel 3. She also shares insights into reporting difficult…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Angie Miller gives updates about the newly-opened Arcola Broom Corn Palace and the upcoming Arcola Broom Corn Festival
Angie tells about the new Broom Corn Palace on Main street in Arcola. She also gives updates and insights about the 54th Arcola Broom Corn Festival.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Dr. Kim Livezey is the owner of Animal Health Care Center-Arcola.
Dr. Livezey shares about her veterinary practice at Arcola Animal Health Care Center. Find out what patients Dr. Kim takes care of at Aikman Wildlife Adventure…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Anna Herschberger is the owner of the popular and well-known Yoder's Kitchen in Arthur, Illinois.
Anna Herschberger grew up a few miles down the road from where her thriving business is in Arthur, Illinois. She is not just geographically close to her roots…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Timmy Valentine is a local artist and author living in Sullivan, Illinois.
Timmy Valentine is an accomplished artist, who is also has been a costumer for The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, Illinois. He can now add published…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Martha is the storekeeper at the Oilfield Store in Oilfield Illinois.
Martha Menser grew up in Oilfield, Illinois and moved away for many years. When she returned and the opportunity presented itself to open up a cafe in a…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Ann Winkler Hinrichs is Vice President of the Coles County Genealogical Society.
Ann shares stories from journals that her Aunt Annie wrote fornover 35 years. She also has letters written by her grandmother from her time in nursing school.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Marsha Gude is a Mattoon, Illinois native, now living in Indianapolis IN.
Marsha shares her difficult struggles to find acceptable health care facilities for her husband who suffered from dementia. If you have ever had a loved one in…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Austin Keating is co-owner of the Alamo Steakhouse and Saloon in Mattoon, Illinois.
Austin Keating is co-owner of the Alamo Restaurant and Saloon in Mattoon, Illinois
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Virgil Gingerich is a volunteer firefighter and volunteer EMT with two communities in central Illinois.
Virgil enlightens listeners about the shortage and need for volunteers in our local area as well as towns across the country. He explains the many ways that…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Jamie sheds light on the Orphan Train that used to run to central Illinois.
Jamie shares the interesting history of the orphan trains that ran for an incredible 75 years in the US. There are several surprises in this episode.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Carolyn and Bob discuss the Old York Trail
Carolyn and Bob share much history about the Old York Trail that ran from Crawford County to Macon County in central Illinois. There are fascinating elements…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Shelby tells how the careless behavior of a driver changed the lives of many in her family.
Shelby tells how the careless behavior of a driver changed the lives of many in her family, as we come to the 3rd anniversary of the loss of her mother and…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Tying up loose ends
Stacy returns and we tie up some loose ends from his April 10 episode discussing his long journey in music.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Marcy Woodard is the founder of the Facebook group, I Used to go to Ted's Warehouse.
Marcy tells about how her fond memories of Ted's Warehouse (including meeting her husband) inspired her to start a Facebook group called I Used to go to Ted's…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Kyle Webb is an admin for The Dietrich Prayer Page on Facebook.
Kyle started the Dietrich Prayer Page at the age of 15. After meeting so many on his community paper route who needed prayers, Kyle decided to help. His page…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Becca Dickens along with Jarrod Yantis own Regenerative Life Farm, Findlay, Illinois.
Becca returns to the podcast to give updates about Regenerative Life Farm. She shares new ideas and plans that she and partner, Jarrod have for the farm.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Heather Mumma of Jim Beam's Corner Cattery
Heather Mumma has been passionate about animal rescue for years. Hear about her devotion for rescuing animals, and how a very special person in her life helped…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Stacy shares his musical background.
Stacy tells how he followed in his parent's footsteps to be musically inclined. He tells how a decision made early on in his career, had lasting repercussions…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Meteorologist Seth Bohnhoff shares his passion for weather
Seth shares how he became interested in weather and how others at WCIA became his mentors. We also discuss his new daughter and how her arrival has blessed him…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Matt Metcalf is a former news anchor on WCIA Channel 3 in Champaign.
Matt Metcalf, who currently is seen on WCIA, Channel 3 in Champaign hosting the popular "From The Vault" series, is now a professor in Pennsylvania…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Wilmer gives updates about the Illinois Amish Heritage Center.
Wilmer gives updates about the popular Sheep to Clothing to Quilts event happening April 26. He also tells about the groundbreaking event on April 25 for the…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Setting boundaries and developing an armadillo skin
Setting boundaries and developing an armadillo skin
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Mama's Family
Wendy delves into new found documents that explain more family history on her maternal side. History about her mother, Lucile, grandmother, Grace, and…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Allie is owner of Allie's Gift and Garden
Allie Easter was raised on a farm near Windsor, Illinois. She shares her story of living and working on the East Coast for 10 years before returning to her…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Antisocial media
Wendy shares her thoughts on how the invention of computers and cell phones have made our lives so much easier in many ways. However, the creation of social…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Carolyn Cloyd is president of the Coles County Historical Society.
Carolyn wears many hats and has many passions. Her enthusiasm for history is infectious. On this episode, Carolyn returns to the show and shares the riveting…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
John Stephens is the Executive Producer at The Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, Illinois
John shares many wonderful stories about the history and future of The Little Theatre. His stories about the many actors and performances at The Little Theatre…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Chris Martin is a producer, director and YouTube creator who is a native of Charleston, Illinois.
Chris Martin lives in Poland, but returns to his roots periodically to breathe life into the former Brown Shoe building in the town where he grew up. He is…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Choices and Consequences
Wendy reminisces about simpler times in her childhood and contrasts those with the way people are distanced from one another by social media in today's world.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Recap of 2024 guests
Wendy recounts all of the wonderful guests that have been on the podcast in 2024.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Becca Dickens is co-owner of Regenerative Life Farm
Becca Dickens shares insight about how she and Jarrod Yantis formed a partnership over shared beliefs in growing and consuming nutrient dense food. She tells…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Becca Dickens is co-owner of Regenerative Life Farm
Becca Dickens shares insight about how she and Jarrod Yantis formed a partnership over shared beliefs in growing and consuming nutrient dense food. She tells…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Chris Suerdieck is the curator of the Mattoon History Center
Chris Suerdieck gives updates on recent events at the Mattoon History Center, which is in the basement of the Mattoon Public Library. He also shares…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Jeff Owens, WEIU TV/FM General Manager
Mattoon native and long-time media personality, Jeff explains about local broadcasting and the future for local media. We also discuss Mattoon's history and…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Allan Shonk is the owner of Main Street Shirt Company in Arcola, Illinois.
Allan explains the ever-changing nature of his successful business. He shares how the business of printing on clothing has changed. He also shares how…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Amanda Perdomo, owner of La Luna Mexican Restaurant in Mattoon
Amanda Perdomo shares the rewards and challenges of owning and operating a very busy and popular restaurant in Mattoon, Illinois. She and her husband Rene also…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Kevin Schultz, owner of Pinky's
Kevin Schultz gives insight to how he and his wife, Carrie, operate the very successful bar/restaurant on Lake Sara in Effingham, Illinois. They started as a…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Teri and Ambrosia talk about the rollout of a new program called Circle of Care.
Teri Moore and Ambrosia Branson share about an important new program for the State of Illinois. The program will help children throughout the state who have…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Ramblin' Rose
Meet 15-year-old performer and business owner, Emmerson Rose Henson, from Effingham, Illinois. Learn how she has been performing live since the age of 5 and…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Facebook, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Wendy shares tips that she and Stacy learned about regaining control of her Facebook pages after they were stolen from her. She recounts the frustration in…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Entertainer Nancy Hays, Part 2
Champaign, Illinois native, Nancy Hays, shares her music and her determination to tell the story of early Kentucky Derby Black jockey, Isaac Burns Murphy…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Entertainer, Nancy Hays, Part 1
Champaign, Illinois native, Nancy Hays has been deeply involved in all aspects of entertaining since she was a young girl.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Amanda Brennan, Journalist, WCIA
Amanda shares about her move from Naperville, Illinois to attend school at the University of Illinois College of Media in 2018. We discuss the challenges of…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
The Unknown Sister, Part 19
Wendy shares the recently discovered psychiatrist evaluation of her mother.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Wendy shares more about the Unknown Sister story.
Wendy shares recently rediscovered letters purportedly written by her mother, but clearly written by Mike Ahmed.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
WCIA Meteorologist Jacob Dickey returns to the show.
Meteorologist Jacob Dickey talks about his community involvement, the unusual weather events for 2024, and the saga of Lady Emu.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Mayor Jesus Garza gives updates about Arcola, Illinois.
Mayor Jesus Garza returns to discuss upcoming events that are happening in Arcola.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Larry Smith, Mattoon, Illinois native, shares stories from his broadcasting career.
Sports broadcaster and news anchor, Larry Smith, shares stories about growing up in Mattoon,Illinois and discusses the people and experiences that were…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
The Unknown Sister, Part 17
Wendy discovers more letters and notes written in her mother's hand. She reads these letters to share how Mike Ahmed had brainwashed her mother in such a short…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
The Pringles local authors, photographers, and videographers.
The Pringles are incredibly busy with monarch conservation and promoting conservation in general. They have published books and are both award-winning…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Part 2 The Ten Commitments
Wendy discusses The Ten Commitments and how our current social climate affects our interactions with others. She also delves into the importance of…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Part 1 The Ten Commitments
Wendy discusses The Ten Commitments and how they affect our daily lives. She discusses her observations about how many people fail to treat others with…
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Good Times with Mrs. P
Wendy shares more stories about her 40 year friendship with her best friend.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Jim Hilgenberg is the Director of the Coles County Emergency Management Agency
Jim Hilgenberg shares insights into the functions of the Coles County Emergency Management Agency and also explains the importance of volunteers.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
Chosen Family
Wendy shares her feelings about chosen family replacing blood family. She discusses her 40 year friendship and loss of her best friend.
- Life on the Illinois Prairie
The Unknown Sister: How I Found My Voice And Lost My Family, Part 16
Wendy wraps up the series by explaining about the repercussions within her nuclear family after finding her voice.