Food Road Trips In Midwest; Looking Behind The Game Show Curtain; Chicago Writer Alec Nevala-Lee

Do you have summer road trip plans yet? Because there are great food destinations that aren’t too far from Illinois. And, a Naperville native has racked up nearly $1.7 million on Jeopardy. We’ll talk about what it’s really like to be a contestant on a game show that millions of people watch every night. Plus, Science fiction is everywhere in today’s pop culture. And much of that can be traced back to the 30s and 40s in the form of a pulp magazine called 'Astounding.'

When it comes to deciding where to go on a road trip, maybe you are looking for scenery or historic sites? But if you’re like us, it’s less about where you go than where you’ll eat! And lucky for us, there are a ton of fabulous food spots within a few hours drive from Illinois.

Chicago Magazine recently captured some of their favorite dining and driving destinations in its May issue. Carrie Schedler is the magazine’s dining editor. Jeff Ruby is a dining critic. And John Kessler is a food writer.

"Nobody outside Ohio understands this," @carrieschedler of Cincinnati chili. It does have its roots with Greek immigrants. And you need a month's worth of cheddar cheese. "Always cheddar!" On a hotdog or pasta. pic.twitter.com/bdnogeOyfd

— The 21st (@21stShow) May 9, 2019

And--

If you’re a fan of Jeopardy you know it’s an exciting time in that world. James Holzhauer, a Naperville native (and U of I grad) who lives in Las Vegas, has won nearly $1.7 million as a contestant on the show.

Jeopardy stands out in the world of game shows. It first aired in 1964 and is still going strong even as TV has changed.

But what’s it really like to be a part of it, whether you’re a contestant hoping to win big, or someone behind the scenes trying to make it fun and engaging for the millions of people watching?

Jasmine Leonas lives in Chicago and was a contestant on Jeopardy Monday, April 29. Adam Nedeff also joined us. He’s a game show historian and author whose latest book is called Game Shows FAQ. 

"I would stand with a toilet paper holder actually because it's the same size as a buzzer," says @runflamingo about her preparation. "In my situation, I was playing against one of the best players ever so there was no way to really prepare for it."

— The 21st (@21stShow) May 9, 2019

Plus-- 

Science fiction is everywhere in 2019. Not just in the form of our favorite movies, books, or TV shows but even in the actual technology we use in our daily lives.

But the story of sci-fi goes back decades long before films like Star Wars or 2001: A Space Odyssey. The 1930s and 40s are known as the Golden Age of science fiction. This era, and the people in it, is the subject of Chicago writer Alec Nevala Lee’s latest book.

It’s called 'Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction.'

And what tied all of these men together is the sci-fi magazine called Astounding, which in many ways helped create the genre.

We spoke with Alec last winter from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

We're revisiting our conversation with Chicago writer Alec Nevala-lee (@nevalalee) about his book Astounding, which is a history of the sci-fi genre. pic.twitter.com/FxrY6Q5qil

— The 21st (@21stShow) May 9, 2019