Shows / Area Code: Batavia
Area Code: Batavia
On each episode of Area Code: Batavia, host Richard Clark explores the heart of Batavia, Illinois, and what it means to truly belong in Batavia, IL. Through one-on-one conversations with local small business owners, we uncover the essence of Batavia's community spirit. Produced by Area Code Audio. Tune in every two weeks for new episodes.
Episodes
Area Code: BataviaJoe Erbentraut: Queering the Burbs and Carving Out Space
Just by virtue of being here, Joe Erbentraut knew that he'd be making an impact on Batavia. "When we moved out here, I was like, 'we're going to be queering…
Area Code: BataviaIs Batavia Becoming a Ghost Town? (with Jamie Saam)
Just in time for spooky season, Batavia is facing one of the scariest prospects of all: the possibility of downtown businesses slowly dying. These days, it's…
Area Code: BataviaHow Ward 2's Leah Leman Learned to Trust Her Gut
Most know Leah Leman as a co-owner of Limestone Coffee & Tea. But for six years, she's been balancing that with her role as alderperson for Ward 2, which Leah…
Area Code: BataviaWhat Gambling Costs Batavia (And TAP Talks Back)
This week, Alexa and Richard spend time talking about gambling in Batavia - how it helps small business - and how it hurts. Then, they revisit what has become…
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KIDS THESE DAYS - Shae and Pam: Fostering Lifelong Connections Through Education
Here is the latest episode of Kids These Days, a podcast made in collaboration with Batavia Public Schools that I think listeners to this podcast will love…
Area Code: BataviaFor Distraction-Free Batavia, Belonging Means Speaking Up
It was only two years ago when Megan McDermott moved to Batavia. But when she saw a need, she didn't hesitate to get involved. All it took was a conversation…
Area Code: BataviaNo One Was Asking for TAP. Is It A Good Idea Anyway?
If it seems like we're in your feed a little early, you'd be right. Starting now, Area Code: Batavia is going weekly! Every other week, in between the same one…
Area Code: BataviaArtBar Is Leading Batavia's Unpretentious Art Movement
Every month, Lindsey Roussel and Chris Prunckle host a pop-up art show in downtown Batavia. Initially hosted at Sidecar Supper Club and now taking place…
Area Code: BataviaReVisiting: Daddio's Diner
Recently, Daddio's Diner announced the sad news that they will be closing for good after Wednesday, September 23rd. "With rising costs of goods and an expiring…
Area Code: BataviaLive on the River!
This week, a live episode of Area Code: Batavia recorded on the brand new Sturdy Shelter Deck. On this episode, our cohosts Richard Clark and Alexa Swidenbank…
Area Code: BataviaSidecar Supper Club: A Home for Restless People
Mark your calendars! Area Code: Batavia - Live on the River will take place Thursday, August 27th at 7pm. We'll be podcasting live from the Sturdy Shelter deck…
Area Code: BataviaBeyond Randall Road: Building Community on the West Side
Ward 7 is made up of the west side of Batavia, and contains a lot of the West Side staples we often think about: Engstrom Park, the Mooseheart Corn Fields, the…
Area Code: BataviaThe Fermilab Physicist Saving the World's Oceans in His Free Time
Arden Warner is an accelerator physicist and a self-described "simpleton." His uniquely straightforward way of looking at the world has made him uniquely…
Area Code: BataviaIs Batavia a Strong Town?
This episode, we abandon our assumptions about how great Batavia is and give ourselves over to objectivity. Ward 4 Alderman Dustin Pieper is back to run…
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KIDS THESE DAYS - Kim and Liz: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities
Here is the latest episode of Kids These Days, a podcast made in collaboration with Batavia Public Schools that I think listeners to this podcast will love…
Area Code: BataviaThe Nine Lives of John Dryden
John Dryden has been many things. He's been a historian, a high school teacher, a hot dog vendor, a bartender, an actor, a comedy sketch writer, he ran a…
Area Code: BataviaMaking Room for Everyone in Ward 4
Today on the show, a conversation with the aldermen of Batavia's Ward 4, Tony Malay and Dustin Pieper. Batavia is a place of belonging and acceptance. But this…
Area Code: BataviaThe Man Behind Batavia's Most Controversial Facebook Group
Today on the show, a conversation with the founder of the notorious local Facebook Group, Things to Complain About In Batavia, Joe Runde. My whole life, I've…
Area Code: BataviaBatavia Boardwalk Shops: Bringing Humanity Back to Retail
For this episode, I was given the opportunity to talk to each of the boardwalk shop owners in their own habitat about who they are, what motivates them, and…
Area Code: BataviaHow Batavia MainStreet is Crafting "Good Energy"
Next episode will be our third annual boardwalk shop episode, a conversation with every owner of each Batavia Boardwalk Shop. In the lead up to that episode…
Area Code: BataviaWater Street Studios: The Creative Backbone of Batavia
On this episode of Area Code: Batavia, I'm talking to Bonnie Baumgartner and Jessica Jecmen from Water Street Studios, Batavia's community art center. Batavia…
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KIDS THESE DAYS: Kush and Craig: Then, Now, and What's Next
I'm excited to share with you the first episode of Kids These Days, a podcast we've been working on with Batavia Public Schools that listeners to this podcast…
Area Code: BataviaREVISITING: For Tom Kim, Failure is Not an Option
Hey neighbor! As we prepare to launch a new podcast from Batavia Public Schools, Kids These Days, we're revisiting one of my favorite episodes: a conversation…
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Introducing: Kids These Days
Hi friends, Richard here! I can't wait to show you something I've been working on with Batavia Public Schools that I really think listeners to this podcast…
Area Code: BataviaThe Anxious Voter's Guide to Democracy In Batavia
On this episode, I'm talking to Patti Lackman and Tammy Caltagirone, Co-Presidents of the League of Women Voters of Central Kane County. I'll be honest. I'm…
Area Code: BataviaLIVE: Coziness after Hearth & Hammer | Comfort at Bocaditos
On this episode, a live episode from Sturdy Shelter's Cozy-Fest featuring former writer, poet, and former Hearth & Hammer owner, Annie Scholl, and co-owners of…
Area Code: BataviaFor VSW's Hugo Saltijeral, Work Is a Gift
Today on the show, I’m at the Valley Shelter Workshop—or VSW—talking to their Executive Director, Hugo Saltijeral. The reality is, for the employees Hugo works…
Area Code: BataviaHow Batavia Built a Habit of Justice (And How We Can Keep It)
What makes Batavia "Batavia"? We often talk about our town’s identity as if it’s a permanent fixture—a "vibe" we inherited. But a closer look at our history…
Area Code: BataviaHow Batavia United Way Is Winning an Uphill Battle
It's not easy to make a difference. So often our attempts to make the world a better place are pushing against strong headwinds - there are cultural forces in…
Area Code: Batavia10 Stories That Charged (and Challenged) Our Community in 2025
Welcome to 2026! It's been an eventful year in Batavia. There was a mayoral race, local business transitions, shocking revelations, and some controversial…
Area Code: BataviaIt's a Wonderful Life in Batavia!
For this episode of Area Code: Batavia, former guests share their "George Baileys", people who have made a huge impact on them and their community just by…
Area Code: BataviaHow the Batavia Food Pantry Defines Our Town
Take our listener survey to help shape the future of Area Code: Batavia. (and earn a chance to win $25 in Chamber Bucks!) Is Batavia actually special, or is…
Area Code: BataviaPaula Passes the Torch
Take our listener survey to help shape the future of Area Code: Batavia. (and earn a chance to win $25 in Chamber Bucks!) A few weeks ago, Paula Mueller, the…
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Two Local Icons Share Their Favorite Things About Batavia
Take our listener survey to help shape the future of Area Code: Batavia. (and earn a chance to win $25 in Chamber Bucks!) This week, we're dropping a bonus…
Area Code: BataviaArea Code: Batavia LIVE - A Spooky Season Celebration
Just in time for Bat Fest, it's the live recording of our Spooky Season Celebration hosted at Sturdy Shelter. This episode features: A conversation about Bat…
Area Code: BataviaA Therapist on the Human Cost of ICE in the Fox Valley
Jennifer Orta is on the front lines of a crisis of belonging. As the only Spanish speaking licensed mental health provider at Suicide Prevention Services of…
Area Code: BataviaHow Change Happens in Ward 5
Don't forget! Our 2nd ever live episode, a Batavia Spooky Season Celebration, is happening October 9th, 7pm at Sturdy Shelter. We'll be featuring conversations…
Area Code: BataviaFeeling Seen at the Batavia Popcorn Depot
Heads Up! Our 2nd ever live episode, a Batavia Spooky Season Celebration, is happening October 9th, 7pm at Sturdy Shelter. We'll be featuring conversations…
Area Code: BataviaBatavia’s Ward 1: Where Old Roots Meet New Growth
Today's episode features the second conversation from our City Council series, with Jennifer Baerren and Christopher Solfa, alderpersons from Ward 1. Ward 1 is…
Area Code: BataviaCinco De Mayo Market: Bridging Cultures in Berkeley’s Historic Space
The closing of Berkley Finer Foods left a hole on Batavia's east side. But what seemed like a community loss quickly turned into a win with the arrival of…
Area Code: BataviaArlo.Hendrix: A Batavia Mom Balances Business and Boundaries
This episode is a conversation with Brittany Sabatino, the owner of Arlo.Hendrix. A store that carries children’s clothes, toys, and accessories, Arlo.Hendrix…
Area Code: BataviaWard 3's Alice Lohman and Kevin Malone: In Dialogue with Diversity
This week, we're kicking off a brand new series that we'll be running throughout the year. Every so often I hope to share a new conversation with aldermen and…
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Big News for Area Code: Batavia Listeners!
Introducing Area Code: Batavia's new community, The 630. This isn't just about supporting a podcast; it's about becoming part of a community dedicated to…
Area Code: BataviaBoo Boo Days: A Celebration of Downtown Batavia's Imperfections
On the day this episode is released, Batavia kicks off Boo Boo Days. For me, Boo Boo Days is a new concept, a sort of quaint and slightly bizarre throwback…
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Riverside Pizza & Pub's Chris Otepka: Musician and "Utility Man"
Just before the pandemic, Chris Otepka helped open Riverside Pizza and Pub in his hometown of Batavia with a few of his friends. Now he's helping run it. But…
Area Code: BataviaHistory Hits Close to Home At the Depot Museum
It's not easy to live in Batavia while remaining unaware of its historical roots. Around here, it's talked about a lot. But what does this history really mean…
Area Code: BataviaBooks and Belonging at the Batavia Public Library
From landscape to architecture, spaces matter. And for Josephine Tucci, creating spaces that inspire belonging is a lifelong pursuit that started with museums…
Area Code: BataviaDaddio's Diner: A Batavia Fixture That's Paying it Forward
Some, who make grand claims of being self-made, might see their success as being a result of their own hard work. But Scott Beltran openly acknowledges the…
Area Code: Batavia2025 Boardwalk Shop Owners Bet On Batavia
The stakes are high. Every year, an entirely new group of entrepreneurs set up shop on the corner of Wilson and River street, each one with their own idea of…
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Coming This Friday: Boardwalk Shops 2025
There's no new episode in your feed today because we're working fast to turn around a special Opening Day Boardwalk Shops episode. That episode will release…
Area Code: BataviaFor Tom Kim, Failure is Not an Option
Batavia Public School Superintendent Tom Kim was forced to grow up fast. But as a second generation immigrant surrounded by family, teachers, and mentors…
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REVISITING: Hearth & Hammer: Coming Home and Making It Your Own
This episode was first published on March 8, 2024. Building on a successful candle-business, Ariane Scholl wanted to create a space that was welcoming…
Area Code: BataviaZen Loft Collective: Transforming Solitary Struggle Into Solidarity
This episode of Area Code: Batavia is sponsored by Zen Loft Collective, a collection of wellness spaces located in the heart of downtown Batavia. Register now…
Area Code: BataviaPaula's Couture Consignment: From Following to Flourishing
Before Paula Mueller started Paula’s Couture Consignment, she was a stay at home mom, and a self-described 'follower'. But after a painful period in her life…
Area Code: BataviaNew Moon Vegan: From Conviction to Creation
Jo Colagiacomi and Jay Weichun are not afraid to dream. When they moved to the midwest, they brought with them a dream of a vegan bakery that opened its doors…
Area Code: BataviaMayor Jeff Schielke: Living History
This is part two of a pair of conversations with the Batavia Mayoral candidates. You can hear our conversation with mayoral challenger, Tom Connelly, in the…
Area Code: BataviaTom Connelly: From Newcomer to Running for Mayor
For the next two episodes, we'll be featuring a pair of conversations with the Batavia Mayoral candidates. In 2018, Tom Connelly found a home in the community…
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How Your Favorite Episodes Impacted Us in 2024
As we round out our end of the year coverage, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look back at last year and at the podcast since it began one year…
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Recapping The Year's Biggest Batavia Stories (with Tri-Cities Central's Sam Kraft)
In 2024 there were new businesses, a new mayoral challenger, tornadoes, mysterious foam, and unnerving things in the walls. It can be easy to forget how much…
Area Code: BataviaKiss The Sky: Finding Home Between the Grooves
For Steve Warrenfeltz, starting a record store was a lifelong dream. Once he shared that dream with a friend, it became inescapable. And after more than 30…