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.
Jody Williams was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for her campaign to eradicate landmines. But she wasn’t always an activist. This hour on Focus, we talked with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams about her new memoir, “My Name is Jody Williams.”
Have you been scouring catalogs looking for the perfect plants to get started in your garden this spring? This hour on Focus, we talked with Sherrie Snyder, a master naturalist and the President of Illinois Prairie Wild Ones, about the benefits of incorporating native plants in your yard and garden. Sandy Mason, UI extension horticulture expert, also joins the show.
It’s been 65 years since the US Supreme Court Case McCollum v Board of Education made Vashti McCollum of Champaign one of the most notorious atheists in the country. During this hour, host Jim Meadows talks with filmmaker Jay Rosenstein about his awarding winning documentary “The Lord Is Not On Trial Here Today” and Ken Paulson of the First Amendment Center about the case, it’s continuing implications and the now famous phrase “separation of church and state.”
Military coup, Islamic extremists, human rights violations and political unrest… all these things have been part of life for citizens in Mali for more than a year. During this episode of Focus, we talked with Associate Professor of History at Columbia University Gregory Mann about recent happenings in the country and the role the US should play in its recovery.
Are you intrigued by the past? Do you have a favorite factoid about Champaign-Urbana history? Today on Focus, we talked about curating local history.
Have you ever used writing as an outlet? Today on Focus, we examined stereotypes about Arab women with Professor Miriam Cooke, who studies how Islamic women empower themselves through writing. Then, Mariam Sobh, a native of Champaign and the founder of the fashion blog Hijab Trendz joins the program.
The alternative minimum tax was patched in January. But wait, what’s that again? Today on Focus, talked with John Breen and Marty Verdick of McGladrey LLP in Champaign about the things you need to know to file this year’s income tax return. Find the podcat here.
Will the Pope get a retirement package? With all politics considered, who is his most likely replacement? This hour on Focus, we talked about what’s ahead for the Roman Catholic Church. Host Jim Meadows spoke with Kevin Schultz of the University of Illinois in Chicago and Tom Roberts of the National Catholic Reporter.
Do you experience wanderlust? Or do you have yet to catch the travel bug? This hour on Focus, host Jim Meadows talked with public radio host, TV personality and world-renowned travel writer and broadcaster Rick Steves.
During this episode of Focus, we talked with University of Illinois President Robert Easter and Chancellor Phyllis Wise and addressed concealed carry on campus, unofficial St. Patrick's day and the controversy over Chief Illiniwek.
