Illinois Public Media

Feature Story

Herb Eaton: Maker of Things

Meet Herb Eaton, Bloomington’s “Maker of Things,” a multidisciplinary artist inspired by the prairie, forests, and rivers of central Illinois. In this Praire Fire segment, Eaton reflects on a life of making across mediums, from painting and sculpture to hands-on objects and storytelling, and on the creative community in downtown Bloomington.

New season of Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. begins January 6 at 7:00 pm Central.

Prairie Performances

Revisiting: A Look Back, Classically Black

This week’s episode, we revisit an homage to Classically Black, a WILL radio program highlighting the contributions of black artists to classical…

Atomic Age Cocktail Party

Rodgers & Hart (152)

On this edition of The Atomic Age Cocktail Party, we feature the songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, the pair behind such classic songs as My Funny Valentine,…

Evening Concert

The Evening Concert on Illinois Classical

Music by Bach, Handel, Brahms, and others

The 21st Show

Author documents attempt to change her own personality in new book

Olga Khazan is a staff writer for the Atlantic. She descibes herself as neurotic. Khazan spent a year writing the book “Me, But Better: The Science and Promise of…

The 21st Show

Journalist explores all facets of roadside Americana in new book

Journalist Rolando Pujol chronicles all the sights, sounds, and experiences of road trips in his new book: "The Great American Retro Road Trip: A Celebration of…

The 21st Show

A look back at the news that marked 2025

We are going to take a moment and listen back to the news and highlights that made 2025 the year that it was. That includes the good, the bad, the inspiring and the tragic,…

Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire: Season 3 - Episode 4 - December 2025

We introduce you to Bloomington artist Herb Eaton, learn the important role the “Illinois Country” played in the American Revolution, and get a special holiday performance…

Mid-American Gardener