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Joanne Lee Molinaro gained a following by creating videos in which she cooks vegan versions of Korean recipes while sharing personal stories.
The Korean Vegan

The Korean Vegan: Joanne Lee Molinaro talks food and identity

Joanne Lee Molinaro has been sharing her recipes and family stories since 2016, but the Illinois native and graduate of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign never expected her food, and her words, to mean so much to so many people. She joined The 21st to talk about her book "Korean Vegan," as well as the intersection of food and cultural identity. This segment originally aired on September 18, 2021.

Rick Otey and other veterans greet elementary school children after class.
Courtesy of Rick Otey

A cross-generational conversation with Illinois Veterans

There are nearly 800,000 veterans currently living in Illinois, each with a unique story and experience during their service and as transition back into civilian life. Ahead of Veteran’s Day, we spoke with four of those Illinois veterans about why they served, what challenges they face, and misconceptions about veterans and their experiences.

Economist Emily Oster says run your family like a business

Emily Oster is an economist, known for using data to apply rational thinking to everything from COVID risk to family matters, like pregnancy and parenting. She joined The 21st to talk about her latest book, “The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years.” This segment originally aired on September 20, 2021. 

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