Shows / Along The Rock
Along The Rock
Along the Rock, a video podcast produced by The Radar Free Press. We speak with local people regarding nonprofits, upcoming events, awards and news for the areas of Dixon, Rock Falls and Sterling in northwest Illinois.
Episodes
- Along The Rock
Creating a Path to Independence and A New Start | Cledy's House of Hope
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Star sits down with Gerald Lott and Lauren Metzler from Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery to talk about the…
- Along The Rock
Celebrating Culture and Mental Health | YWCA Cinco De Mayo Wellness Festival
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Jazmin Moore from the YWCA of the Sauk Valley to talk about the return of the 9th Annual…
- Along The Rock
Cash & Coffee | Digital "Pay in 4" Payment Plans, Are They Worth It?
In this episode, hosts Emma Watts and Kayla Tenboer-Sipes break down the growing trend of buy now, pay later services like Klarna and Afterpay. These payment…
- Along The Rock
Tony Danza Talks “Standards & Stories” performance at The Dixon: Historic Theatre
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with legendary performer Tony Danza ahead of his live appearance in Dixon. Known for his iconic…
- Along The Rock
The Arts are for Everyone | Woodlawn Arts Academy
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Christy Zepezauer, Executive Director of Woodlawn Arts Academy, to talk about an important…
- Along The Rock
Dancing, Food and Heritage | Fulton Dutch Days 2026
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Barb Mask to highlight everything you need to know about Fulton Dutch Days, one of the Sauk…
- Along The Rock
Molding the Next Generation of Leaders and Entrepreneurs through the Young Creators Camp
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Dallas Knack to introduce the inaugural Sauk Valley Young Creators Camp, a brand-new…
- Along The Rock
Another Year of Summer Fun with Visit Rock Falls!
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with Melinda Jones from Rock Falls Tourism to break down everything happening this summer in…
- Along The Rock
25th Annual Tri-County (Pew Pew) Club Open House 🔥 Free (Pew Pew Tryout), Food Trucks & Raffles!
Join host Nathan Stahr as he sits down with Dale Hayen and Ana Garcia from the Tri-County Gun Club to talk about their 25th annual Open House Fundraiser. This…
- Along The Rock
Hidden Gems of Northwest Illinois 🌄 | Windmills, Bison & Small-Town Power w/ Visit NW IL
Discover what makes northwest Illinois a hidden gem in this episode of Along the Rock, hosted by Nathan Stahr and featuring Matthew Lenox from Visit Northwest…
- Along The Rock
Cash and Coffee | Snowball vs Avalanche
Welcome to Cash and Coffee, brought to you by the Radar Free Press. In this episode, hosts Emma Watts and Kayla Tenboer-Sipes take a closer look at one of the…
- Along The Rock
Give Back & Get Connected | Sauk Valley Under 40
Join us for this episode of Along the Rock as host Emma Watts sits down with Ethan Harrington, Gracie Young, and Dallas Knack from Sauk Valley Under 40 to talk…
- Along The Rock
Cruisin' for a Bruisin' at Sterling Main Street's Car Show
Join us for another exciting episode of Along the Rock as host Nathan Stahr welcomes Robin Duncan and Janna Groharing from Sterling Main Street to talk about…
- Along The Rock
An Earth Day Celebration at the Twin City Farmers Market! | Crafts, Produce and More!
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Lori VanOosten from the Twin City Farmers Market to talk all about the exciting return of the…
- Along The Rock
Bringing Your Artistic Side to Earth Day | 2026 Pallets in the Park
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts is joined by Ana Smith, Director of the Lowell Park Nature Center, to talk about the exciting return of…
- Along The Rock
Celebrating 60 Years of Sinnissippi Centers | Gathering for Good Fundraiser
Join us for another episode of Along the Rock, brought to you by The Radar Free Press.Host Emma Watts sits down with Andrew Jackson from Sinnissippi Centers to…
- Along The Rock
YWCA Annual Women of Achievement Luncheon | Celebrating the Women in Our Area
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with Rebecca Muñoz-Ripley, Executive Director of the YWCA of Sauk Valley, to talk about the 43rd…
- Along The Rock
Cash and Coffee | Pay off Your House or Invest? Breaking Down the Numbers
Should you invest extra income or pay off your house early? On this episode of Cash and Coffee, Emma Watts and Kayla Tenboer-Sipes break down a real-life…
- Along The Rock
Passing the Torch | Introducing the New President of Sauk Valley Community College
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with leadership from Sauk Valley Community College to discuss a major transition and what it…
- Along The Rock
The History of the Civilian Conservation Corps in the Sauk Valley Area
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with Mark Peterson and Rebecca Anderson from Highland Community College Lifelong Learning to…
- Along The Rock
Spring Gardening Tips with Bruce Black
Spring is here, and that means it’s time to get your hands in the dirt 🌱 On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Bruce Black from the…
- Along The Rock
Gaming For a Good Cause | 2026 D8 Summit Convention
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Connor Self, President of D8 Summit Charities, to talk about the return of the D8 Summit…
- Along The Rock
Fantasy, Storytelling and Fun! | CER LARP and their 2026 Season
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Jake Wallin and Ellen Holder from CER LARP to explore the world of live action roleplay and…
- Along The Rock
Beautiful Scars | Emmanuel Baptist Church Women's Priority Conference 2026
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Ashley Covell from Emmanuel Baptist Church to talk about the upcoming Women’s Priority…
- Along The Rock
Trivia For a Good Cause | Bi-County Cooperative Foundation
Get ready for a night of fun, friendly competition, and community impact. On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with Jim Greer and…
- Along The Rock
Cash and Coffee | Pay Off Debt First or Invest Now? Breaking Down the Numbers
Should you invest while paying off debt, or focus on becoming debt-free first? On this episode of Cash and Coffee, hosts Emma Watts and Kayla Tenboer-Sipes…
- Along The Rock
Housing, Road Construction and City Development | Part Two of a Conversation with Our City Officials
In this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr brings you part two of an in-depth conversation with regional city leadership from across the Sauk Valley…
- Along The Rock
Spring into Summer with Rock River Madness!
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Kelly Howlett of Tortoise Multisport to talk all things Rock River Madness. This…
- Along The Rock
Housing, Road Construction and City Development | A Two-Part Conversation with Our City Officials
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with local leaders from across the Sauk Valley for an in-depth roundtable discussion on some of…
- Along The Rock
Supporting our Community One Meal at a Time | Feed Our People Fundraiser
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with Kassy Wells from the Helping Hands Food Pantry to talk about the growing need for food…
- Along The Rock
Creating Art That Heals | A Conversation with Brian Dixon
Tune in to this powerful episode of Along the Rock as host Nathan Stahr sits down with returning guest Brian Dixon for an inspiring and deeply personal…
- Along The Rock
Cash and Coffee | 15-Year vs 30-Year Mortgage: The $200,000 Mistake That Could Cost You BIG
In this episode of Cash and Coffee, Emma Watts and Kayla Tenboer-Sipes break down one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make—choosing the right…
- Along The Rock
Celebrating 20 Years of Woodlawn Arts Academy | Winner's Circle Fundraiser
Get ready to celebrate 20 years of creativity in the Sauk Valley 🎨 On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Christy Zepezauer…
- Along The Rock
Creativity, Collaboration and Excellence | NFHS Citation Recipient Tim Schlegel
Discover how one local educator is making a national impact on the arts. In this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with Tim Schlegel from…
- Along The Rock
Keeping our Community Clean with Team Up 2 Clean Up | Sterling Main Street
In this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with Anna Garcia and Janna Groharing from Sterling Main Street to talk about how a simple idea…
- Along The Rock
Cash and Coffee | The 2 L's of Budgeting
Thinking about moving? Whether you're dreaming of the suburbs or considering a new city, your budget might change more than you expect. In this episode of Cash…
- Along The Rock
Celebrating One Year of Paws for the Powerless | Paws N' Pearls Fundraiser
Paws, purpose, and a powerful mission take center stage on this episode of Along the Rock. Host Nathan Stahr sits down with Michelle Schwarz and Danny Sward…
- Along The Rock
Swing Into Spring with The Dixon Municipal Band!
Get ready for an unforgettable night of live music in Dixon! On this episode of Along The Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with Cathy and Jon James from the…
- Along The Rock
Meet the Author of Trying For Home | A Baseball-Themed Romance Novel
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with local author Thomas Nance to talk about his debut sports romance novel Trying for Home…
- Along The Rock
Cash and Coffee | Creating Margin in a Budget
On this episode of Cash and Coffee, hosts Emma Watts and Kayla Tenboer-Sipes talk about a simple but powerful financial concept: margin. Margin is the gap…
- Along The Rock
The Anti-Oscars: Racso Movie Awards 2026 – Best, Worst & Funniest Movie Awards Show
Welcome to The Racso Awards 2026, hosted by Darren Mangler! 🎬🏆 Do we need another movie awards show? Probably not. But do we need one that’s more fun and a lot…
- Along The Rock
Celtic Rock and Midwestern Roots | A Conversation with Michael Tierney from Reilly
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Michael Tierney of the Reilly Celtic Rock Band to talk about the band’s unique sound, their…
- Along The Rock
Cash and Coffee | Knowing When to Use your Emergency Fund
When should you actually use your emergency fund? 💰 On this episode of Cash & Coffee – Along the Rock, hosts Emma Watts and Kayla Tenboer-Sipes break down a…
- Along The Rock
Supporting your Community and Making a Difference | Bee the Difference Volunteer Fair
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Carli Jonet to talk about the upcoming Be the Difference Volunteer Fair organized by…
- Along The Rock
Peace, Love and Irish! Celebrate Saint Patrick's Day with the RRV Shamrock Club!
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the Sauk Valley on this episode of Along the Rock. Host Emma Watts welcomes back Dan Burke from the Rock River Valley Shamrock…
- Along The Rock
Community, Support and Love | MomCo Sauk Valley and What They're All About
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Megan Williams, coordinator of Sauk Valley MomCo, to talk about motherhood, community, and…
- Along The Rock
Cash and Coffee | Needs vs. Wants
Tax refund season is here — but where should that money go? In this Cash and Coffee episode, Emma Watts and Kayla Tenboer-Sipes break down the difference…
- Along The Rock
Fore! The Winter is Over Fundraiser! | Hope Cancer Wellness Center
In this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Cayhla Smart and Eden Nielsen from Hope Cancer Wellness Center to talk about the vital…
- Along The Rock
Spring is Just Around the Corner in Rock Falls, Illinois! | Bingo, Garage Sales... and more!!
In this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with Sam Kersey from the Rock Falls Chamber to break down everything happening this spring and…
- Along The Rock
Cash and Coffee | Side Hustles and Additional Income
Need extra income ideas that fit your lifestyle? 🎙️ On this episode of Cash and Coffee, Emma and Kayla share side hustle suggestions — from turning hobbies…
- Along The Rock
The Future is Bright at RFHS | Introducing New Superintendent Dr. Josh Segura
Get to know the new incoming superintendent of Rock Falls High School in this episode of Along the Rock. Host Nathan Stahr sits down with Dr. Josh Segura to…
- Along The Rock
Dixon YMCA & YMCA of Rock River Valley Announce New Partnership
In this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts is joined by Brent Petenburg of the YMCA of Rock River Valley and Ermir Ramadani, president of the Dixon…
- Along The Rock
More than Tractors and Cows... | What is 4-H?
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts welcomes educator Kathy Book for an eye-opening conversation about what 4-H really is today. Brought to you…
- Along The Rock
From Small Town Illinois... to the Moon?! | A Conversation with NASA Candidate Cameron Jones
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Star speaks with Major Cameron Jones, a NASA Astronaut Candidate and Air Force test pilot from Savanna. Major…
- Along The Rock
Cash and Coffee | Creating a Budget on a Variable Income
Struggling to budget when your income isn’t consistent? ☕💰 In this episode of Cash and Coffee, hosts Emma Watts and Kayla Tenboer-Sipes walk you through a…
- Along The Rock
Tossing For Valor Bags Tournament | Playing with a Purpose
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Nathan Stahr sits down with David DeVries, owner of The Classroom in Nelson, to talk about a powerful community…
- Along The Rock
Battle of the Badges Chili Cookoff | Rock Falls Police vs. Rock Falls Fire
Season 3, Episode 24 Firefighters. Police officers. One chili showdown. Nathan Stahr talks with Cameron Gonzalez and Chief Ryan McKenna about Rock Falls’…
- Along The Rock
Frosty Fun Fair at Northland Mall ❄️ Free Family Event
Season 3, Episode 23 Join host Emma Watts on this on-location episode of Along the Rock as she visits Northland Mall to talk all about winter fun, family…
- Along The Rock
From Page to Stage: Mosaic Theatre Troupe Brings Jane Austen’s Persuasion to Dixon
Season 3, Episode 22 Join host Emma Watts as she sits down with Kaitlin and Ben from the Mosaic Theatre Troupe to talk about their upcoming stage production of…
- Along The Rock
What is United Way? | Upcoming Events, Partnerships & More!
On this episode of Along the Rock, host Emma Watts sits down with Ashley Richter from the Lee and Ogle County United Way and Keri Olson from the Whiteside…