Shows / The 21st Show
Episodes
The 21st ShowThree Illinois teens arrested by ICE
Last week, three teenagers from Collinsville, Illinois were on their way to a job. That’s when they were stopped by local police in Christian County. Before…
The 21st ShowBest of: Sci-fi author Ken Liu on his writing, AI, and sentient toasters
Author Ken Liu was born in China in 1976, and his family emigrated to the U.S. when he was 11. He has published multiple collections of short stories and an…
The 21st ShowBest of: How ‘The Onion’ made modern news satire
The Onion's news satire has become a staple of American culture. It’s come a long way from humble beginnings in the Midwest in 1988, when Christine Wenc was…
The 21st ShowThe significance of LGBTQ spaces in a challenging political climate
Business owners who offer safe spaces to their local LGBTQ communities in downstate Illinois discuss what these spaces mean to people in the current political…
The 21st ShowAbraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum’s new exhibit explores ‘Second American Revolution’
For enslaved people and others of African descent, it would be nearly another century until they were included in the founders’ conception of liberty and women…
The 21st ShowHow did the denial of climate change become popular in America?
David Lipsky’s book, ‘The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial’, tells the story of how American people have lost their trust in science.
The 21st ShowWho are the Illinoisans playing in the 2026 World Cup?
It’s almost time for the World Cup. This year hosting duties are being shared among the U.S, Mexico and Canada. Illinois has fairly strong representation in…
The 21st ShowCould new SNAP requirements lead to a hunger crisis in Illinois?
More than 100,000 Illinois residents are at risk of losing federal food support because of new work requirements. What does that mean and what’s being done…
The 21st ShowIllinois General Assembly: Top Republicans talk taxes, effects of federal policies on state government
Top leaders representing the Republican side of the Illinois House and Senate share their thoughts and criticisms on this year's budget.
The 21st ShowIllinois General Assembly: Top Democrats talk taxes, education and tech
The Democrats who preside over the Illinois House and Senate share their thoughts on this year's $56 billion state budget.
The 21st ShowA sneak peek of the Obama Presidential Center
In just a few weeks, the Barack Obama Presidential Center will be opening in Chicago. We’ll talk about what’s inside with a journalist who got to tour the…
The 21st ShowIllinois General Assembly spring session recap
The Illinois General Assembly has wrapped up its spring session. A statehouse reporter discusses the results of the session.
The 21st ShowHow do location sharing apps impact relationships?
Apps that let people share their locations with friends and loved ones have become quite common. A researcher who’s been studying how they affect relationships…
The 21st ShowRed Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun on cultural significance of the chain and revamping strategies after facing bankruptcy
Red Lobster's CEO Damola Adamolekun talks about his personal life experiences, what made the restaurant chain so iconic, and how it plans to make a comeback…
The 21st ShowThe life-changing magic of working ‘Four Days a Week’
Economist and sociologist Juliet Schor has spent years documenting how Americans are overworked — but her latest research suggests a solution: shaving one day…
The 21st ShowSummer travel with Wolters World
With Memorial Day this past weekend, summer travel season has begun. But have you seen those gas prices? We’ll talk with Illinois-based travel YouTuber Mark…
The 21st ShowBiking 500 miles on the Grand Illinois Trail
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…
The 21st ShowFamily and Fans Remember Illinois Jazz Icon Miles Davis
On what would have been Miles Davis' 94th birthday, The 21st asks family members and musical experts to talk about his childhood in Illinois, his impact on the…
The 21st ShowWhat’s on the table as Illinois spring legislative session winds down?
State lawmakers are in the final days of their spring legislative session — with a Constitutional deadline of May 31. There's a long list of unfinished…
The 21st ShowLost in war, found in time: How America accounts for unknown war dead
On Memorial Day, we learn about the ongoing work to identify missing soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from America’s past wars. That includes Illinoisans…
The 21st ShowBest of: Why do so many people struggle in early adulthood?
You've heard of a midlife crisis — but what about one during quarterlife? The years between adolescence and middle ages come with their own challenges. We'll…
The 21st ShowCory Haala on the populism that powered Midwest Democrats
In the 1980s, conservatism was on the rise in America, and Democrats were fighting over how best to respond. While the party struggled nationally, here in the…
The 21st ShowThe future of voting rights in Illinois
A Republican politician is mounting a legal challenge to Illinois’ Voting Rights Act. She joins the program to discuss the case along with experts, who weigh…
The 21st ShowWhy are digital books causing a financial headache for Illinois libraries?
Libraries have to pay more for eBooks that can expire after just a few dozen checkouts. We’ll talk about an effort to change that in Illinois.
The 21st ShowNorthwestern Medicine using cutting-edge AI technology that could be game changer for certain surgeries
What if doctors were able to test their treatment plans on a version of their patient before actually trying it on their body?
The 21st ShowNew book gives ‘literary tour of the Midwest’, highlighting writers from America’s Heartland
How has being from the Midwest influenced some of our best writers? A collection of short essays seeks to answer this question.
The 21st ShowWhat to know about Hantavirus outbreak
Hantavirus has been in the news after a fatal outbreak on a cruise ship. Separately, there was an unrelated case in northern Illinois.
The 21st ShowA look at America’s most iconic sandwich through a Midwestern lens
As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, there are few things as American as the hamburger. So how has Illinois and the greater Midwest contributed…
The 21st ShowHow the Iran war is impacting Illinoisans at the gas pump
The Iran war has caused a massive hike in gas prices across the nation.
The 21st ShowFamily planning using natural methods vs. contraceptives
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services is overhauling its family planning programs- prioritizing natural methods over contraceptives. How do the two…
The 21st ShowAbortion care in Illinois four years after Roe v. Wade decision
As the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court approaches four years, what is the status of abortion care in Illinois today?
The 21st ShowMeet the Illinois man behind so many memorable Super Bowl ads
An Illinois man has been part of some of the more memorable Super Bowl commercials of the past 15 years.
The 21st ShowNew video game provides virtual drive to cities across Illinois
SCS Software, the makers of American Truck Simulator, is soon releasing an expansion for the game that highlights several cities across Illinois, including…
The 21st ShowA look into the settlement after Illinois State University workers’ strike
A settlement has been reached between AFSCME Council 31 and Illinois State University following a strike that lasted nearly four weeks.
The 21st ShowBest of: How Lee Hawkins found freedom in exploring traumatic family history
Lee Hawkins is a journalist, a podcast producer, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist. But in his new book, he turns his skills toward telling his own family’s story…
The 21st ShowIllinois doctor recounts life on Mars — in a yearlong NASA simulation
Nathan Jones, an emergency room doctor from Springfield, Illinois, was part of NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog, or CHAPEA. It was the…
The 21st ShowFrom the prairie to the moon, these Illinoisans are connected to the NASA Artemis program
When the four astronauts of Artemis II orbited the moon, it was the culmination of work by countless thousands of people — including some based here in…
The 21st ShowBook takes deep look into evolution of women through lens of the female body
The book "Eve" explores human evolution with a particular focus on the female body and its author joins the program today.
The 21st ShowA look into the nuances of Catholicism and American politics amid President Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo
As President Trump criticizes Pope Leo for his position on the Iran war, it begs the question if religious leaders should be vocal about political issues.
The 21st ShowCardinal Blase Cupich reflects on Pope Leo’s first year in papacy, emphasizes peace and empathy
Cardinal Blaise Cupich discusses Pope Leo's first year at the Vatican, how it feels for Illinoisans and Americans to see a pope speaking their language in a…
The 21st ShowOral history project to explore ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ through lens of Illinoisans
The United States is celebrating 250 years since the Declaration of Independence. There’s an oral history project underway in connection with that milestone…
The 21st ShowThe latest on legal cases in Illinois
From immigration enforcement to investigations by the Trump administration, a number of legal cases are currently going on in Illinois. A reporter who covers…
The 21st ShowCongressman Raja Krishnamoorthi on Iran war, funding ICE, and redistricting
Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi discusses the Iran war, the U.S. House of Representatives voting to pass a funding bill for the Department of Homeland…
The 21st ShowProper etiquette classes to improve table manners, chivalry, and communication skills
If you're lacking manners, you're in luck. A Certified Etiquette Consultant, who runs the Royal Purpose School of Etiquette joins the program.
The 21st ShowWhy smaller Illinois universities want changes to state higher education funding
Many of Illinois' public universities say they are underfunded. Some state lawmakers are hoping to change that – directing more money to smaller state schools…
The 21st Show‘Jesus and John Wayne’ author Kristin Du Mez on how white evangelicals came to embrace Donald Trump
How did Evangelical Christians come to not only vote for Donald Trump, but embrace him as a heroic figure? Historian Kristin Kobes Du Mez says it was a long…
The 21st ShowA deep look into the past and future of Native American mascots
Joseph Gone has spent decades studying Native American mascots — as a psychologist, as a member of the Aaniiih-Gros Ventre Tribal Nation, and as a University…
The 21st ShowFilmmaker and journalist team up on new crime thriller novel set in Illinois
"Disturbing the Bones” is the name of a new novel set in Illinois. It’s part crime story and part geopolitical thriller. The book is a collaboration between…
The 21st ShowNew book explores apples in Midwestern history and culture
A new book “Sweet, Tart and Golden: Apples in the Midwestern Imagination" explores the historic connection between apples, Americana, and Midwestern values.
The 21st ShowThe latest on the Bears stadium, voting rights in Illinois and Madigan appeal
What's the latest update on the new Chicago Bears stadium? Also, lawmakers approved language for a potential amendment to the Illinois constitution around…
The 21st ShowCollege student’s documentary on Quad Cities small business debuts on streaming platform
Many students go to college hoping to become filmmakers, but not many get firsthand experience with professional filmmaking that early in their career. Sawyer…
The 21st ShowNight fishing, a shotgun, and a call to 911. What led to hate crime charges in Paris, Illinois?
A Danville alderman and his cousins went night fishing at a park in Paris, Illinois. White men approached them, used racial slurs, and opened fire. Three are…
The 21st ShowWhy some people run toward the storm
Illinois has already seen significant tornado activity this year. Most people head for shelter when severe weather hits, but others run toward the storm. Our…
The 21st ShowHow a 3D-printed housing project failed Cairo, Illinois — and who’s investigating
The city of Cairo, at the southern tip of Illinois, has a housing crisis that goes back decades. Not long ago, an outside developer promised 3D-printed homes…
The 21st ShowTwo friends channel grief into advocating for peace in Holy Land
Palestinian Aziz Abu Sarah and Israeli Maoz Inon have written a new book called “The Future is Peace: A Shared Journey Across the Holy Land.” They discuss why…
The 21st ShowHow balloon releases impact the environment
Balloon releases can be problematic for the environment. A Girl Scout in the Chicago Suburbs is looking to change that.
The 21st ShowCommemorating Earth Day amid battle to protect environmental regulations and policies
For a long time, protecting the environment was something Democrats and Republicans agreed upon. In the present age, the Trump administration has moved to…
The 21st ShowThe rise of socialism in Illinois and beyond
In recent years, the idea of “socialism” has been gaining ground in American politics. The most prominent and successful avatar of that is Zohran Mamdani, who…
The 21st ShowA look into the debate surrounding Data Centers in Illinois
Where does your municipality fall on the data center debate? Is it interested in adding one or is it looking to ban them all together?
The 21st ShowMeet Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor Aaron Del Mar
Aaron Del Mar chairs the Cook County Republican Party. Now, he’s Darren Bailey’s running mate in the November election. He gives his take on taxes, criminal…