HyperLocal(s)

This Paxton-Buckley-Loda graduate faced a few back-to-back, dream-crushing disappointments that changed the direction he was going each time. A knee injury and something as seemingly benign as not being picked up for an appointment, led Matt where he always wanted to be. After leaving a few steady labor jobs and a downward turn in our nation's overall perception of law enforcement, Matt becam...

These Champaign-adjacent residents of Pesotum were born in Paxton (Dave) and Ivesdale (Heidi). To say this couple has been through it would be an understatement. For much of their married life, Heidi has fought to be understood, heard and taken seriously for a rare health condition which caused her misery. While Heidi fought to be heard, Dave listened, remodeled a basement, took care of the kids a...

This transplant from the Chicago projects and sweet soul meets me at Kitchen Table Studios to tell me his come up story. From childhood instability and addiction coupled with poor choices and rough crowds, Thomas was destined to fall through the cracks.  Listen as Thomas rebounds from getting shot twice in one week, losing jobs, losing relationships, losing kids, selling drugs, abusing booze and s...

Jenna (Yambert) Galli. HyperLocal(s) Podcast episode 71. My dear, sweet fellow classmate from Champaign Central High School 02' shares the haunting and beautiful story of her father's unexpected and unusual death.   Listen as Jenna worries about doing her dad's memory justice within the words of this podcast. Through tears and pure admiration for her late father, Jenna explains her...

This now sweet, small-town guy from Whitehall, IL (yes, I’ve never heard of it either) was once self-admittedly not-so-sweet, living in one of two opposing worlds: having no self-worth whatsoever or the mindset of, “I’m better than everybody else.”  Listen as Terry starts the pod stating his mother gave birth to him, was married and widowed before the age of 16. This premature start and the immedi...

A Mahomet athlete, turned bartender, turned soldier, turned law office personnel, turned Reiki Practitioner, turned sound healer, turned real estate entrepreneur turned wife and mom (and not necessarily in that order) has lived a thousand lives. Amanda uses hard work, serenity and a mindset of evolution as the basis for her personal growth.     Listen as Amanda tells me about carrying crystals in...

An East Coast transplant has landed in our town to change the lives of those struggling with addiction. Passionate, smart and well versed in the complexities of the addict mind, Ozie has trudged through many treatment paths. From his own alcohol-ism to alcohol-wasm, he has educated himself on how to help others and pursued careers that do just that.   Listen as Ozie takes me through the buried tra...

An Atwood-born, Arthur adjacent, former Amish congregant talks candidly about leaving the church at age 11 with her immediate family. Why? In broad terms, her parents wanted to emphasize the family’s relationship with God and worry less about the stringent rules set forth by the church.   Listen as this fearless young woman confidently explains why the rules: using a riding lawnmower, going to a p...

My dad's childhood friend and townie in the truest sense of the word, Steve Flynn, and I talk about his family's involvement in the Deluxe Restaurant. This 1935 billiards and bar establishment is now home to Legends on Green Street in our beloved campustown.   Listen as one generation tells the other about a time when everyone knew your name, neighborhoods were neighborly and safe and fo...

My husband and dog whisperer, Andrew Harrington, and I talk in about our overly anxious and under trained mini-Australian Shepherd, General Heppenheimer Harrington aka Hep.   Listen as two townies tell their revisionist sides of history regarding who wanted to bring a puppy into the fold, who trained or improperly trained the canine, who considers him a comrade and who considers him an enemy, who...

This Malaysian beauty may not look like her neighbors within small town Homer. However, she is fully embedded in the community and close-knit culture of Midwest Americana. From mompreneur to marketing maven, Nicole has been more than busy. This summer she, and many others, have decided to take a step back and slow down.  Listen as Nicole talks about looking different than her childhood classmates,...

A long-ago St. Louis area transplant now has roots deeply embedded in our community. She has seen first hand how coaches, schools, parents and the youth in our area can lift you up when you are down. Share a kind word. Spread a message. Keep one young man's name alive and well so that your biggest fear following the loss of a child isn't realized--that child being forgotten.  Listen as P...

Blue Ridge School graduate, Retired Sergeant in the U.S. Army, stay-at-home dad turned Community Outreach Coordinator and Student Recruiter for the University of Illinois Chez Veterans Center tells his story of a post-September 11th war with humor and zero regrets.  Listen as Garrett talks about 130-degree days in full body armor, marrying his now wife of 17-plus-years on a whim just days before d...

This Champaign-based father and son (in-law) duo shares much more than business ventures. At the time of this recording, Dan and Greg were celebrating their 2nd year “kidneyversary.” When Greg’s kidneys were poisoned because of an undiagnosed prostate issue, family and friends around the globe stepped up to help in many ways.     Listen as they retell the story of Greg’s dramatic health decline. A...

This townie actually attended middle school and high school at the same time as me! Different paths never intersected our stories, however, until this interview. Larcina hasn’t had an easy road, but she has remained steady and consistent in her choices—putting food, shelter and her two children at the top of her priorities.     Listen as this Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) talks about finding o...

This Centennial grad chose to enlist in the military to gain discipline, direction and to see the world. He got much more than he bargained for after September 11th tested the defensive infrastructure of our nation. Thousands of men and women were sent overseas to fight in a war no one was anticipating or prepared for.     Listen as this United States Army Veteran talks about going from working at...

This Decatur diva moved to the big city of Champaign to accelerate her career in hair design. Tara found that her destructive behavior followed her no matter what her zip code was. She found and partied with “connects” after hours until the party had to stop.  After all, nothing changes if nothing changes.      Listen as this creative, dynamic, outspoken beacon of light explains why she always asp...

My husband returns from the FIRST podcast episode over a year ago to document in real time, rather than reflecting on the past, the latest challenge in his recovery story.   Listen as Andrew, fellow townie, shares the continuation of his battle to live a life free of substances. And not just any life. A life of peace, contentment and calm. As mentioned in the first episode with Andrew, pot has bee...

This Southern Illinois transplant found her talents wasted as an accountant wanting a lucrative career. She turned her focus on education and coaching in order to empower tweens and teens (and their parents) who made need a lesson in confidence and realizing their self-worth.  Listen as this author, coach, speaker and unapologetically authentic lipsticked, top-knotted mom, leaves us with these lit...

This townie tried to escape when touring the country as a traveling nurse. Now married to a farmer, living in the country and mothering to a little boy and girl, she has planted her roots firmly in the Midwest while working as a nurse practitioner.     Listen as this guest (and fellow Franklin Magnet Middle School Knight) reunite to explain how she made friends while moving rapidly from city-to-ci...

This townie turned Golden State golden boy is one of our nearest and dearest, oldest and bestest. He has made a life and a family on the west coast using his charm and knack for sales as a springboard into a new, booming venture with seemingly endless possibilities.   Listen as this guest explains how losing his sales job in an ailing company propelled him into the frenetic world of cannabis sales...

This longtime Champaign resident and neighbor of mine is a kindred spirit. She has created businesses based on her knack for organizing and her ability to disarm those she helps with a non-judgmental, sweet-natured approach.    Listen as this guest explains the cluttered, unsafe and unhygienic environments she has found herself spanning the past 15 years in this business. Karen explains the endles...

If you keep sharing stories and keep listening—I will keep going CU (and beyond). I recorded a storytime after a meeting that was decades in the making. I was waiting and debating about when to put it out. This seemed like the right moment—this milestone episode celebrating the podcast. I’ve also included an opportunity to win a $100 gift card to any of the previous sponsors. Prove that you’ve sha...

This retired City of Champaign employee, owner of Anything Wild Animal Control and rural Urbana resident tells some crazy tails (pun intended) of the most common animals in our area: beaver, coyote, fox, geese, possum, racoon, skunks and more.  Listen as this guest explains the behaviors of area troublemakers with decades of knowledge and field experience behind his encounters. Skunk sprays, subdu...

This honest mama and Villa Grove native talks candidly about body image, mental health, disordered eating and the connection with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and a childhood that caused the need for peace and stability.     Listen as the self-appointed CEO of ACE Homes, workhorse, content creator and full-time working woman, Alyssa, talks about building a 13K social media following while d...