Sidetrack with Jason Croft

WILL - Sidetrack with Jason Croft - August 07, 2010

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This mont, we talk to an Urbana children's author who new book was inspired by the Thorne Miniature Rooms at the Art Institute of Chicago. We search out the self-described "Elvisologist" known as Blelvis. And we hear from the author of "Creepiosity: A Hilarious Guide to the Unintentionally Creepy" and learn what really creeps him out. We'll have those stories and more, this time on Sidetrack!

The 68 Rooms

Adult Double Dutch

Ukulele Festival

Wall Dogs

http://will.uiuc.edu/media/WDproject/small.html

Powered By Laughter

Creepiosity

http://www.creepiosity.com/

Flarf Poetry

Blelvis, the self-described "Elvisologist

WILL - Sidetrack with Jason Croft - July 03, 2010

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On the program this month, we talk to a U of I professor who's spearheading an effort to preserve the "virtual words" of old video games. We hear about a performance troupe who dress up like shrubbery, yes shrubbery, to create truly unique impromptu performancea. And we learn about the two-fisted liquor known as Malort and a group of Chicagoans who are obsessed with it. We'll have those stories and more, this time on Sidetrack!

Ambush Theater

Once Upon A Crow

How to Survive the Strange

Close the Bible, Open the Bar

Vanishing Craftsmen: Clockmaker

Preserving virtual worlds of video games

http://pvw.illinois.edu/pvw/

The Man You Can't Ignore

Marlot: Chicago's two-fisted liquor

WILL - Sidetrack with Jason Croft - June 05, 2010

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This time around, we talk to the man behind the site Jim's Pancakes-a blog that chronicles one man's quest to make cool and unusual pancakes for his daughter. We find out about the upcoming annual Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois. And we hear from comedy duo Rhett and Link, who make a living making on-line commercials and songs. We'll have those stories and more, this time on Sidetrack!

Jim's Pancakes

http://www.jimspancakes.com/

Comedy Duo Rhett & Link

http://rhettandlink.com/

Memory Palace: nee Weinberg

http://www.thememorypalace.us

Essay: Americans Hate Money

Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois

http://www.supermancelebration.net/

Mundane Superpowers

http://mateotambien.posterous.com/

WILL - Sidetrack with Jason Croft - May 03, 2010

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This month, we learn the history of Confidential magazine-the 1950's scandal magazine who's mission was to "tell the facts and name the names." We also talk with Chicago Tribune columnist Maureen Ryan about the end of the television series "Lost" and how TV watching has changed in the 21st century. And we hear about a man who ran the Boston Marathon barefoot. We'll have those stories and more, this time on Sidetrack!

Barefoot Boston Marathon

Have Skills; Will Barter

Chicago Tribune TV columnist Maureen Ryan/end of "Lost"

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/

Memory Palace: Babysitting

Memory Palace: Babysitting

Diagnosing Lit

Shocking True Story: The Rise and Fall of Confidential, 'America's Most Scandalous Scandal Magazine

WILL - Sidetrack with Jason Croft - April 03, 2010

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This month, we talk to character actor Stephen Tobolowsky, known for his work in the movie Groundhog Day and the TV show Glee. We learn about roller derby in Champaign-Urbana. Find out how the recession has affected comedy clubs. And we hear about a popular music website based in the Quad Cities. All that, tonight on Sidetrack!

Daytrotter music website

http://www.daytrotter.com/

CU Rollers

http://www.myspace.com/505387703

Comedy in the recession

Interview with character actor Stephen Tobolowsky

http://www.slashfilm.com/category/features/slashfilmcast/the-tobolowsky-files/

WILL - Sidetrack with Jason Croft - March 06, 2010

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This time around, we profile Chatterbox Audio Theater, a Memphis-based group of actors that has moved the thrill of stage plays to the internet. We hear the story of a purple stuffed rabbit named Grape Jelly. We have an interview with a historian who has created a blog focusing on newspaper personal ads of the 19th century. And we learn the strange history of the marathon run at the 1904 Olympic games in St. Louis. Those stories and more, this time on Sidetrack.

I, Avatar

Addicted to Junk

http://www.bsideradio.org/

Memory Palace: 1904 Olympic Marathon

http://thememorypalace.us/

My Best Friend is Purple

http://www.cityhighschool.org/

Advertising For Love

http://www.advertisingforlove.com/

Our Town for a new generation

Chatterbox Audio Theater

http://www.chatterboxtheater.org/

WILL - Sidetrack with Jason Croft - February 06, 2010

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This month, we talk to an Illinois school teacher who has made it her mission this year to eat the same school lunches her students eat and blog about it. We hear about how butchery classes are becoming popular. We chat with the widow of Western writer Louie L'Amour. And we learn about two men who build musical instruments that run on solar power. Those stories and more, this time on Sidetrack.

Making music with solar power

Fed Up: School Lunch Project

http://fedupwithschoollunch.blogspot.com/

Butchery classes

http://northwestfoodnews.com

Memory Palace: John Paul Jones

http://thememorypalace.us/

Essay: TI-99/4A

The American Archive Project: Langston Hughes

A chat with western writer Louis L'Amour's widow

http://www.louislamour.com/

WILL - Sidetrack with Jason Croft - January 02, 2010

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We start off the New Year talking to the author of "Badass: A Relentless Onslaught of the Toughest Warlords, Vikings, Samurai, Pirates, Gunfighters, and Military Commanders to Ever Live." We find out why people are paying real money for virtual goods, and hear about a musical team-up between the rock band Kansas and Western Illinois University's Symphony Orchestra. We'll have those stories and more, this time on Sidetrack.

Art from garbage

Real money for virtual goods

Sarah's Hat Boxes

Badass: A Relentless Onslaught of the Toughest Warlords, Vikings, Samurai, Pirates, Gunfighters, and Military Commanders to Ever Live

http://badassoftheweek.com/

Memory Palace: Minik Wallace

http://thememorypalace.us/

Following Phish

Kansas plays with Western Illinois University's Symphony Orchestra

Blue Collar Babysitter

WILL - Sidetrack with Jason Croft - December 05, 2009

sidetrackdec09

On the program this time, we find out the secrets Santa uses to make his Christmas round from the author of the book "The Truth About Santa: Wormholes, Robots, and What Really Happens on Christmas Eve." We hear about a cheerleading squad that has formed at a famed women's college. And we learn that when you look like Santa, it's Christmas all year around. Those stories and more, this time on Sidetrack.

Lost Boys of Monmouth

Smith College cheerleaders

Memory Palace: Hoover Dam

http://thememorypalace.us/

Going Rogue as political theater

Music and the Mouse: How the Walt Disney Company used music to build its empire

Book interview: "The Truth About Santa"

Essay: "My Favorite Things"

It's Always Christmas

WILL - Sidetrack with Jason Croft - November 07, 2009

sidetracknov09

This month, we interview cult filmmaker Jeff Krulik, a director known for his rock fan documentary "Heavy Metal Parking Lot." We also talk to one of the authors of the blog "This Is Why You're Fat"--a collection of culinary monstrosities. Plus, Three Card Monte and crossword editor Merl Reagletalking about a puzzle he recently published featuring the call letters of this radio station. That and more, this time on Sidetrack!

Three card monte as street theater

Crossword puzzle editor Merl Reagel

http://www.sundaycrosswords.com/ccpuz/MPuz.php

"Freaks Like Us"

Jessica Amason, co-founder of the blog "This Is Why You're Fat"

http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

Cult documentary filmmaker Jeff Krulik, director of "Heavy Metal Parking Lot"

http://jeffkrulik.com/