Joseph Gone has spent decades studying Native American moscots — as a psychologist, as a member of the Aaniiih-Gros Ventre Tribal Nation, and as a University of Illinois graduate student who campaigned against Chief Illiniwek in the 1990's. He shares his perspective today.

The Chicago Bears are in the playoffs for the first time since 2020. We’ll talk about their post-season prospects, and how GM Ryan Poles, Head Coach Ben Johnson, and Quarterback Caleb Williams made it happen.

Months of U.S. military pressure on Venezuela culminated in the capture of the country’s president, Nicolas Maduro. We’ll talk with about how we got here and what comes next.

Miscanthus is a type of grass that can grow to be particularly tall. According to a group of researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a form of this grass known has proven to be a good crop for farmers, with a lot of versatile uses. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0... Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Last month, the state Department of Public Health put out a comprehensive report on alcohol use in Illinois. A public health expert and an alcohol researcher discuss the findings and what they mean for our health.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0... Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Illinois' grocery tax officially expired at the start of this year. But many Illinoisans are still paying that tax. The money from the grocery tax went to local governments and many of them have responded by re-imposing the tax through their village boards or city councils.

A new year means new laws are now in effect across Illinois from criminal justice and law enforcement, education and schools to gun control. An Illinois Public Radio reporter highlights several new laws that Illinoisans might see play out in their daily life. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations.   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0... Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Five years ago today, a mob stormed the United States Capitol committing many violent acts. Laura K. Field has been studying what led up to January 6th — not just the rally and the riot, but the ideas behind “stop the steal” in particular and the MAGA movement in general. She discusses her new book, "Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right." The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations.  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0... Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Today, we begin a series of conversations on existential risks to humankind — such as nuclear war, global warming and artificial intelligence. Those dangers are regularly explored by the “Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists”, which was founded 80 years ago in Chicago.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations.  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

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, local, national, and international stories as covered on The 21st Show.  The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations.   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Eighty years ago at a school in Reims, France, German Army Field Marshall Jodl signed a five paragraph “Act of Military Surrender.” The Russians wanted the surrender documents signed again, in Berlin, and that happened the next day, May 8, 1945. It would be known as V-E — Victory in Europe.  A historian and author who has written about World War II joins the program. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations.   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, novelist Shelby Van Pelt now makes her home in Wheaton, Illinois. Her debut novel, "Remarkably Bright Creatures," has been a huge hit, reportedly selling more than two million copies. It's also being made into a movie by Netflix. We'll talk with Van Pelt about her life and work.

Fraud is all around us, from pyramid schemes to spam phone calls. Illinois-based forensic accountant Kelly Richmond Pope writes about why people do it — and how we can better protect ourselves — in her book “Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories and Secrets from the Trillion Dollar Fraud Industry.”

Dick Van Dyke is an accomplished actor, singer, and comedian. He celebrated his 100th birthday over the weekend. Van Dyke also grew up in Danville, Illinois. We discuss his life, career, and legacy. 

As 2025 approches its end, two film critics look back at all the different movies that were released this year. The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations.   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Smartphones have revolutionized our lives and also changed family dynamics as children are more engaged with their screens these days.An expert who specializes in human developement and family studies gives his take on smartphones and families.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations.   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org

SCS Software, the makers of American Truck Simulator, is soon releasing an expansion for the game that highlights several cities across Illinois, including Chicago, Champaign, Peoria, Quincy, Moline, Rockford, several interstates and Davenport, Iowa.   The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations.   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

Last week, President Trump announced a $12 billion payment package for American farmers.The money is meant to offset losses from the ongoing trade war with China — which has hit soybean growers especially hard.    The 21st Show is Illinois' statewide weekday public radio talk show, connecting Illinois and bringing you the news, culture, and stories that matter to the 21st state. Have thoughts on the show or one of our episodes, or want to share an idea for something we should talk about? Send us an email: talk@21stshow.org. If you'd like to have your say as we're planning conversations, join our texting group! Just send the word "TALK" to (217) 803-0730. Subscribe to our podcast and hear our latest conversations.   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PT6pb0 Find past segments, links to our social media and more at our website: 21stshow.org.

U.S. Secretatry of State Marco Rubio says a Biden-era switch to the font Calibri — meant to be more accessible to more readers — was another instance of too much focus on DEI. He has ordered a return to Times New Roman, the old Microsoft Office classic. We’ll talk about that with Ellen Lupton, the author of a definitive, bestselling book on typographic design.

Lloyd Randall has been challenging the authorities in Danville, Illinois over racial disparities in traffic stops. Data from the Illinois Department of Transportation shows that in 2024, although Black motorists represent just 20 percent of Danville's driving population, they were 58 percent of the traffic stops. We’ll talk with Randall, a reporter who’s covered this issue, and an advocate for civil liberties in Illinois. We invited the Danville police and mayor to join the conversation, but did not hear back.