Illinois Public Media

Arts and Culture

A photograph of a bicycle on the Illinois Prairie Path, which is part of the Grand Illinois Trail (inset map).

Biking 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 years of planning, it’s almost done. “The 21st Show” talks with Sara Egan of Openlands, which is pushing to get the project across the finish line.
IPM Newsroom
Black Music Month performance by Certified Organic, June 4, 2026 at the Gallery Art Bar starting at 7:30pm.
Illinois Classical
Illinois Classical 90.9

Your home for Classical and more in Central Illinois.
Atomic Age Cocktail Party
Atomic Age logo with an illustration of small upright organ. Text reads

Hi-Fi Hammond (165)
This week, on The Atomic Age Cocktail Party, it’s Hi-Fi Hammond. Another deep dive into the great organ players of the hi-fi era with a focus on those who played those…
Dialogue
Man at desk, woman at desk, singer profile picture

DeShawn Williams marks a year as mayor; Inside the Lincoln School for Black children; and Mýa releases album with 70’s/80’s vibes
DeShawn Williams talks about his first year as Urbana's mayor; we visit a restored one-room schoolhouse for Black children; and Mýa talks about her new album.
The 21st Show
Damola Adamolekun

Red 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 amid closings…
The 21st Show
a montage including Brian Mackey wearing a plaid button-down shirt in red, gray and navy; Juliet Schor wearing a gray T-shirt; and the book cover of

The 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 off the…
The 21st Show
Screen captures from a video interview include Brian Mackey in a blue shirt and Mark Wolters in a pastel; in the background are a blue Southwest airlines jet and a the sign at a Mobil station in Rockford featuring gas for $5 per gallon

Summer 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 Wolters about…
Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire: Season 3 - Episode 7 - May 2026
For this month's Prairie Fire, students from the University of Illinois’ College of Media spent a semester producing five short documentaries highlighting food, skating,…
News Local/State
man sitting at computer

Behind The Mic:  Newsroom editor Arjun Thakkar thinks public media is integral in combatting information overload
At Illinois Public Media, Arjun Thakkar helps reporters with story pitches, sources, and final editing, and sometimes reports stories himself.
State of Change

Small gestures to make a big difference in preserving our planet
We visit a zero-waste general store, a garden bringing a community together in a Chicago food desert, a program protecting pollinators, and advice to increase sustainability…