Focus, or Focus 580, was WILL Radio's flagship talk program from 1981 until 2014. David Inge was the host from 1981 until his retirement in 2012. Always engaging, the program acted as a resource for citizens to directly question politicians and candidates as well as keep up on the arts, science, health, and even the latest from well-known novelists.
The Focus archive below offers thousands of great interviews and serves as a time capsule and a great resource for researchers and those just curious about how influential people spoke of important topics as they were happening.
What comes to mind when you hear the word “circus?” Probably not a college campus… During this hour on Focus, Lindsey Moon talks with Marcus Alouan of Gamma Phi Circus at Illinois State University about collegiate circus and circus summer camps.
The history of food, where email “spam” comes from, getting ready for Illinois health care exchanges....and more!
University of Illinois graduate and paralymian Ryan Chalmers recently wrapped up his Push Across America tour, where he pushed himself across the country in his racing wheelchair in just over two months. This hour on Focus, we’ll talk with Ryan now that he’s done with the push.
Airline travel has never been safer… but what exactly does that mean? This hour on Focus, Chris Berube talks with Mark Gerchick, author of the new book “Full Upright and Locked Position: Not So Comfortable Truths About Air Travel Today.”
Do you use ketchup? Maybe you prefer mustard or a more flashy Chicago style? This hour on Focus, Jeff Bossert talks with Bruce Kraig about the hot dog, where it came from, and why it’s such an integral part of summertime in the US.
This hour on Focus, we’ll listen back to a conversation we had this spring about what it would be like to live in a cashless society.
This hour on Focus, host Jim Meadows talked with horticulture expert Sandy Mason and entomologist Phil Nixon. We welcome your lawn and garden questions today!
Monticello been called “the patent medicine capital of the world,” and is home to the famous Allerton Park. This hour on Focus, we’ll talk with author Maureen Holtz about the town’s history…in pictures. Then, we’ll talk with former Mayor Dannel McCollum about his book “Remembering Champaign County.”
The weeding of thousands of non-fiction books at the Urbana Free Library has created controversy over transparency in libraries. This hour on Focus, we’ll talk about how libraries are curated, what role they play in community and some of the challenges they face due to strained government budgets.
