Illinois Public Media

Arts and Culture

A picture of 21st Host Brian Mackey talking to Maggie Hennessy and a photo of her book “The Burger Bible: The Complete Lowdown on the Humble Hamburger.”

A look at America’s most iconic sandwich through a Midwestern lens

 Watch (and listen to) this special episode of The 21st Show in video podcast format. Learn how Illinois and the greater Midwest helped shape America’s favorite hand-held food, the hamburger. Featured guest Maggie Hennessy is a food and drink writer for WBEZ and author of “The Burger Bible: The Complete Lowdown on the Humble Hamburger.”
IPM Newsroom
Photo of Raphael & Whitney, who will be performing for the Illinois Soul Juneteenth celebration on June 18 at 5:30pm.
Illinois Classical
Illinois Classical 90.9

Your home for Classical and more in Central Illinois.
Classic Mornings

Keyboard Racer & Quixote Retracer
The word always captures my attention.
Dialogue
ochestra conductor, man looking at camera

Direct from Champaign: A Hamilton star and a Student Virtuoso talk about raising the bar
Our Dialogue for Teens hosts learn about a ‘Hamilton’ star who rose from Champaign to Broadway and an emerging talent from Centennial High School.
The 21st Show

Cory Haala on the populism that powered Midwest Democrats
In the 1980's, conservatism was on the rise in America, and Democrats were fighting over how best to respond. While the party struggled nationally, here in the Midwest…
News Local/State
man sitting at computer

Behind The Mic:  Newsroom editor Arjun Thakkar thinks public media is integral in combatting information overload
At Illinois Public Media, Arjun Thakkar helps reporters with story pitches, sources, and final editing, and sometimes reports stories himself.
The 21st Show
People in line to vote at Brookens Administrative Center in Urbana during 2024 presidential election

The future of voting rights in Illinois
A Republican politician is mounting a legal challenge to Illinois’ Voting Rights Act. She joins the program to discuss the case along with experts, who weigh in on…
Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire: Season 3 - Episode 7 - May 2026
For this month's Prairie Fire, students from the University of Illinois’ College of Media spent a semester producing five short documentaries highlighting food, skating,…
News Local/State
man sitting at computer

Behind The Mic:  Newsroom editor Arjun Thakkar thinks public media is integral in combatting information overload
At Illinois Public Media, Arjun Thakkar helps reporters with story pitches, sources, and final editing, and sometimes reports stories himself.
State of Change

Small gestures to make a big difference in preserving our planet
We visit a zero-waste general store, a garden bringing a community together in a Chicago food desert, a program protecting pollinators, and advice to increase sustainability…