Shows / The 21st Show
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The 21st ShowAbby Cadabby’s puppeteer is married to a guy from Normal, Illinois. Here’s how they got to Sesame Street.
He's a Normal, Illinois native who went to U. of I. and ended up writing music for Sesame Street. She's the puppeteer behind Abby Cadabby — and she just won an…
The 21st ShowWhat are prediction markets and do they need to be regulated?
Prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket allow people to bet on … pretty much anything … from the future of the Iran war to more offbeat topics, such…
The 21st ShowMemoir recounts multi-faceted life of Walter Braud
Walter Braud had a long career in law spanning 50 years- most of it in Rock Island. Beyond his legal work, Braud's life also included teaching, a business…
The 21st Show‘One Last Dance’: What Ebertfest meant to local film buffs
Champaign's Ebertfest is coming to an end at least in its current form. The co-founder and the director of the famous local film festival discuss its history…
The 21st ShowMove over, Hollywood! Central Illinois gets in on filmmaking action
For the longest time, Los Angeles has been the capital of the filmmaking industry in America. But that’s been changing in recent years. In Illinois, more than…
The 21st ShowUniversity of Illinois Springfield’s faculty strike: What’s at stake?
It’s been 10 days since faculty at the University of Illinois Springfield went on strike. At issue are pay raises, salary minimums, protections against the use…
The 21st Show‘I was an abomination’: Trans lawyer shares difficult coming out experience in new memoir
Sheryl Weikal’s parents were deeply conservative, and for many years she and her sisters were homeschooled. At eight years old, she had never heard the word…
The 21st ShowOne-on-one with award-winning Hamilton actor Jonathan Butler-Duplessis
Actor Jonathan Butler-Duplessis attended high school and college in Champaign. After more than a decade in regional theater, he made his Broadway debut in…
The 21st ShowWhat comes next in the Iran war?
A temporary ceasefire was announced in the U.S.-Israel war against Iran Tuesday night. Developments are happening by the hour and it begs the question if the…
The 21st ShowFrom ‘cool’ to ‘selfie’ to ‘slay’, linguist’s book takes a look at the evolution of language through lens of social media
In his new book, "Algospeak", linguist Adam Aleksic says that we are living through a transitional phase of the english language as social media has a big…
The 21st ShowFive years after January 6 Capitol riot, author explores creation of MAGA
Five years ago today, a mob stormed the United States Capitol committing many violent acts. Laura K. Field has been studying what led up to January 6th — not…
The 21st ShowIllinois State Women’s and Men’s Basketball Teams square off in the NIT Semifinals
We talked about the Illinois State men's and women's basketball teams, which competed in the 2026 National Invitation Tournament.
The 21st ShowWhat you need to know as Illinois appears at NCAA Final Four for the first time in 21 years
For the first time in 21 years, Illinois Men's Basketball is playing in the NCAA Final Four Tournament after beating the Iowa Hawkeyes last weekend.
The 21st ShowConnecting the dots between loneliness, mental health, and social relationships
Is the U.S. facing an “epidemic of loneliness?"
The 21st ShowWhat to know when filing 2026 tax return
Tax season is looking a little different this year, because of new tax policy created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The 21st ShowThe new Food Pyramid and constantly changing dietary guidelines
The Food Pyramid was introduced to the public in 1992 by the federal government to serve as a guide for a healthy and balanced diet. The current Food Pyramid…
The 21st ShowThe penny’s dead. Your credit card might cost more. What now?
The penny is history, and retailers across the country are trying to figure out how to adapt. Meanwhile, a settlement between credit card companies and…
The 21st Show‘Los Yarderos’ explores lives of Mexican yard workers in the Midwest
Here in the Midwest, many of the landscapers who mow our lawns, trim our trees, and rake our leaves are Mexican immigrants. Anthropologist Sergio Lemus writes…
The 21st ShowWhen geese became a menace, Moline turned to the ‘Goosinator’
Canada geese are a fact of life in many parts of Illinois. But the creatures can be a safety risk and a danger to public health. We'll talk with the creator of…
The 21st Show‘Couple of Patels’ on traveling Illinois and beyond
With the weather getting warmer again, it’s time to consider spring and summer travel plans. We’ll talk about popular destinations in the 21st state and beyond…
The 21st ShowWhy did super PACs spend millions lying to Illinois voters?
Money from super PACs flooded into Illinois for the Democratic primary — much of it aimed at defeating progressives by misleading voters about their records…
The 21st ShowThe pitfalls of AI chatbots in customer service
Customer service is increasingly the domain of AI chatbots. What impact is this having on security and how are consumers engaging with this service?
The 21st ShowMeet Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Christian Mitchell
Christian Mitchell served three terms in the Illinois House and four years as Deputy Governor. Now he’s Governor Pritzker’s running mate in the November…
The 21st ShowDo self-driving cars have a future in Illinois?
Self-driving cars were once a vision of the future. Now, the company Waymo is hoping to put its autonomous rideshares on the streets of Illinois. A panel of…
The 21st Show‘Forgotten Souls’ tells the stories of missing Tuskegee Airmen
Roughly 1,000 Black men were trained in Tuskegee, Alabama to serve as Army aviators in World War II. Nearly 100 were killed — and of those, 27 went missing…
The 21st ShowBelleville farm welcomes spring with tulip festival
Spring has officially begun. At Eckert’s Farm in Belleville, visitors can find an upcoming season dedicated to the colorful flower, check out the Tulip Trail…
The 21st ShowWhat to know about sauna wellness
Saunas have always been around in some form, but there’s more and more sauna businesses opening up, and content creators online are sharing all sorts of health…
The 21st ShowWhy an Illinois EPA fraud case is resurfacing after more than a decade
He was sentenced to five years in federal prison — but now he’s back in business and has collected more than $1.5 million from the same state agency he…
The 21st ShowDo humans have a future on Mars?
It’s the official policy of the U.S. government to work toward putting people on Mars. Debates about that usually focus on cost and national priorities. Less…
The 21st ShowSpeedskater Ethan Cepuran on participating in 2026 Winter Olympics
We are talking to some of the athletes that represented Team USA in the 2026 Winter Olympics with ties to the 21st state. Speedskater Ethan Cepuran is…
The 21st ShowHow is the U.S. war with Iran impacting the fertilizer market for Illinois farmers?
There's been a lot of focus on how the ongoing war with Iran has affected gas and oil prices, but fertilizer prices have also severely risen. A market analyst…
The 21st ShowThe push for transparency in small business loans
Small businesses often turn to non-bank lenders to borrow money, but hidden terms mean those businesses often have to pay back more than what they borrowed in…
The 21st ShowIllinois Primary Election 2026 recap
A political writer discusses the results of many big races across the state last night and what they mean for the general election in the fall.
The 21st ShowWhy does everyone hate white liberals?
There are deep divides in American politics, but one thing a lot of people agree on is their distaste for white liberals. Conservatives think they’re left-wing…
The 21st ShowHow AI can play a role in NCAA basketball tournament brackets
The annual NCAA Division 1 Men’s and Women’s Basketball tournament is back. Can AI beat the odds and make a better bracket than humans?
The 21st ShowIllinois Primary Election 2026 preview
Tomorrow is Primary Election Day in Illinois. Voters will decide who will represent the major parties in this fall’s elections, from county boards to the…
The 21st ShowTenth anniversary special
It’s been 10 years since The 21st Show first went on air, on March 14, 2016. We’ll listen back to a decade of the program and reflect on what’s happened in…
The 21st ShowFormer staffer’s book highlights ‘the Onion’s’ contributions to news satire
“The Onion's” news satire has become a staple of American culture. Christine Wenc's book, “Funny Because It’s True: How the Onion Created Modern American News…
The 21st ShowU.S. Senate candidate recap: Part 2
Illinois’ Primary Election Day is less than a week away as voters decide who will represent Democrats and Republicans in the race to succeed retiring U.S…
The 21st ShowU.S. Senate candidate recap: Part 1
Illinois’ Primary Election Day is one week away. In the first of a two-part series, we bring you recaps of our interviews with the candidates.
The 21st ShowBlack leaders of 2024 react to Thurgood Marshall’s 1956 visit to the University of Illinois
In March 1956, Thurgood Marshall visited the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. A modern-day civil rights leader and Black Studies professor reacted to…
The 21st ShowDaylight Savings Time: Effects on health and the debate surrounding it
Daylight Savings Time occurs every year. How does this change affect or minds, bodies, and our sleep? Some think that we should get rid of Daylight Savings…
The 21st ShowFormer Archivist of the U.S. Colleen Shogan on preserving historic documents, facing public pressure, and being fired by President Trump
Colleen Shogan was the 11th Archivist of the United States — the head of the National Archives and Records Administration. The agency is responsible for…
The 21st ShowAuthor charts path for revival of Congress
Philip A. Wallach is the author of the book "Why Congress", which was released in 2023 and is still relevant today. In the book, Wallach argues that the future…
The 21st ShowChallenges and triumphs of Jewish communities in central Illinois
We spoke with an archivist for an oral history project and a longtime member of Danville's Jewish community.
The 21st ShowWhy did the U.S. go to war with Iran?
The United States and Israel went to war with Iran in conjunction with Israel early Saturday morning. A panel of political and foreign affairs experts…
The 21st ShowAre we going to war with Iran?
The Trump administration is continuing to ramp up pressure on Iran — with what’s said to be the biggest buildup of American naval power in the region in…
The 21st ShowCandidate Forum: Meet the Republicans running in IL-13 congressional race
Two candidates vying for the GOP nomination in the 1L-13 congressional race discuss many issues surrounding domestic policy including the economy, healthcare…
The 21st ShowDemocratic U.S. Senate candidate Steve Botsford discusses ‘broken system’ in politics, ICE reform, and AI regulation
Steve Botsford is seeking the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race. He’s worked in the world of finance and in government. Botsford shares his views…
The 21st ShowRemembering the life and legacy of Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson was one of the last living connections to the Civil Rights era of the mid-20th century. He died last week at the age of 84 in Chicago. Despite…
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 ShowCentral Illinois zoo helps save Bad Bunny’s favorite toad
If you are among the tens of millions of people who caught Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, you might’ve noticed a moment when the jumbotron featured a…
The 21st ShowMeet the doulas who help at the other end of life
You might’ve heard of doulas — usually women who support other women in getting through the process of childbirth. But there are also doulas whose work focuses…
The 21st ShowDemocratic U.S. Senate candidate Jonathan Dean discusses childhood trauma, solar energy, and raising minimum wage
The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the…
The 21st ShowGovernor Pritzker talks housing affordability, crackdown on junk fees, and education policies in 2026 Budget Address
Governor JB Pritzker addressed a variety of topics in his 2026 State of the State Address. Two policy experts share their takeaways and analysis of the speech.
The 21st ShowPreview of Governor Pritzker’s 2026 Budget Address
Governor JB Pritzker is delivering his annual State of the State address in which he plans to share his vision for taxes and spending in government. It comes…
The 21st ShowGOP Senate candidate Jeannie Evans talks Christian values, antitrust laws, and AI
Jeannie Evans is an antitrust enforcement lawyer and one of the Republicans running in next month’s U.S. Senate primary in Illinois. She talks about her…
The 21st ShowNPR’s Steve Inskeep talks about Abraham Lincoln’s political savviness in newest book
NPR Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep talks about his new book on Abraham Lincoln and how he’s preparing to cover a fraught year in American politics.
The 21st ShowCairo, Illinois, loses its only grocery store — again
Cairo, Illinois, spent seven years as a “food desert” — until 2023, when residents banded together to open a co-op grocery store. But as of January, the store…
The 21st ShowRunning (for office) while trans
Trans people have been much discussed in American politics — from sports to bathrooms to health care. But their representation in elected office has been…