Random Acts of Knowledge

From first-time crushes to enemies-turned-lovers, the stories that populate the world of romance fiction enrapture millions. From a writer's standpoint, there are challenges in creating a compelling work of romance fiction. The art of writing romance combines the balance of sticking to a specific style with just enough originality to engage the reader. Julie Navickas, author of the Trading Heartbe...

If one has not experienced prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping personally, it can be difficult to see an environment that perpetuates bias toward others. The first step toward creating a welcoming and equitable space is to start with self-examination. Angell Howard is an educator and business consultant.  In this episode she discusses identifying cultural biases, understanding and addressi...

Equity across the healthcare industry doesn't end with access.  Patients can be marginalized by practices that don't acknowledge the complete picture of an individual's situation or background. Efforts are being made to educate practitioners to recognize barriers to quality care for vulnerable populations.  In this episode, a health care professional, and a patient advocate discuss gaps in address...

Sculptor Emma Oliver makes knit and crochet techniques to create engaging, and sometimes unlikely works that challenge the viewer to investigate thoughts about boundaries. In the exhibition “Have Your Cake” the artist’s knit and crochet sculptures depict shapes like multi-tiered cakes, which are designed to surprise with their realistic look while remaining inedible.  In this podcast, Oliver discu...

Author and sociology professor Cristina Prestin-Beard discusses her effort to take lessons from her life–warts and all–to help others gain perspective with her unique memoir "Finding Mercy in the Madness." View the transcript here.

The documentary film 'San Isidoro 2021' shows a typical day during the COVID-19 pandemic at a public high school in Seville, Spain.  As staff and students work to simply teach and learn, the pandemic challenges many regular tasks.  Director Carlos Pineda Gonzalez discussed making the film, and what he took away from the simple observation of people trying their best to carry on during a global hea...

Approximately 400,000 individuals are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Perhaps the most famous of those are soldiers whose names are not known. The Tomb of the Unknown Solider is the final resting place for a group of servicemen who remain unidentified. The Tomb is guarded 24-7 by a detail of solders who stand long hours and conduct specific rituals. Matt Kreeb served served as a Tomb guard...

Joking around at work might not sound like it would help with productivity, but members of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor beg to differ. The president of the AATH says that research shows a little humor in the workplace goes a long way.  he key is knowing the right (and wrong) way to inject the funny into the workday. View the transcript here.

Between 1977 and 2011, 298 men and women were sentenced to the Illinois death row. 20 of those individuals were exonerated when new evidence, or a new look with DNA analysis, proved them to be wrongfully convicted. Attorneys with the Illinois Innocence Project discuss how people can become wrongfully convicted, and the efforts made to free those serving time for crimes they did not commit. John Ha...

Artists often use their work to create a conversation about their environment, their innermost feelings, or concerns.  In some places, such attempts at speech are silenced.  An Iranian artist speaks about her work, and the work of other women who face barriers not only of government censorship but even of self-censorship. View the transcript here.

Landscape painter Douglas Johnson's exhibit "A Sense of Place" collects an array of midwestern scenes.  Some of the subject matter may seem modest: autumn farm fields and grain elevators; a laundromat or an abandoned auto repair station. Yet Johnson says the paintings that depict familiar locations near his home town are met with moments when the light plays against the subjects and evokes mood an...

Not many Heartland Community College freshman are veterans of the world of Illinois state politics. But today we talk to one who not only created legislation, but got it passed.  All before finishing high school. HCC student Keagan Hall is studying early childhood education, but as a senior at Pontiac Township High School she and a classmate wrote and lobbied for legislation that would achieve add...

The art exhibit My COVID Year presents work inspired by, and made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Melissa Johnson creates textile-based work in conjunction with her scholarly research on the histories of craft and its intersections with modern and contemporary art.  During the pandemic, Johnson created work that responded to the work of Virginia Woolf, in particular to a section of the 1931 novel “T...

The art exhibit My COVID Year presents work inspired by, and made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Photographer Rashod Taylor spent a year working from home during the COVID pandemic and produced a series of photographs documenting his 6-year old son’s life.  Taylor says the conditions of the pandemic strengthened his bond to his family, influenced his art and prompted reflections on his role as a fa...

Do you know someone who acts like they are the star of their own movie and you and their other friends are just supporting players? This type of behavior has a new name: “Main Character Syndrome,” and it can overwhelm friends and loved ones. It’s not all bad, though. Some degree of self-loving behavior is positive.   In our Random Acts of Knowledge podcast we chat with counselor Jessica Jackson ab...

Even with recycling, everyday products still present us with a lot of disposable waste. How do we teach kids to be mindful of the impact that everyday objects might have on our environment? Conscious crafting is a fun and engaging series of activities that can help teach kids not only how to get creative but also educate a little on the re-usability of materials that can otherwise just take up spa...

Dr. Justin Rickard had little interest in school when he enrolled at Heartland Community College. But finding the right teacher at the right time sparked an interest in continuing his education. Rickard is now an Associate Professor of Animal Science with a teaching and research appointment at Illinois State University.  He discussed his path in academia, how he has never strayed far from his inte...

The success of business is dependent on a workforce that has developed not only job-specific skills but also the soft skills that help with cohesiveness and productivity. Advancing a workplace that promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion is one of the most critical commitments for employers and employees alike. Workshops like the Essential Workplace Skills series can help managers and employees...

During the ebbs and flows of pandemic conditions almost everyone has seen a disruption in their routine. For those who use workout facilities, they’ve had to contend with a lack of access to the gym. For others, staying at home has meant less overall activity and more trips to the refrigerator. One workout devotee offer tips for working out without a gym, for first timers and for those who are loo...

You like listening to podcasts but have you ever thought about making one? Kerry Urquizo and Erika Ingloria, focus on true crime and subcultures with their podcast "Behind the Sugarcane." The pair discuss their inspiration for creating their own podcast and offer tips to those who want to start a podcast themselves. View the transcript here.

Welding is a skill that a farm kids in Central Illinois used to pick up as a necessity. Today, professional welders are in-demand, with a shortage in the workforce. But although the casual practice of welding has dwindled, there is a new application for the skill: artistic expression. A welding pro and instructor is teaching a new group of students with a new type of class: Yard Art. View the tran...

The Coronavirus pandemic has created a great deal of upheaval not only on our personal lives but on the economy and financial markets. Many, who planned to retire in 2020, 2021, or 2022 are a little unsure if they should continue with their retirement plan. In this podcast episode, a financial coach discusses some key elements to consider when looking to retire, in the near and not-so-near future....

The history of voting in the United States doesn’t reflect a lot of inclusion. Even after the passage of the 15th and 19th Amendments were passed, efforts were still made to keep black citizens and female citizens away from the polls. Two panelists discuss how modified voter suppression techniques that date back to the Jim Crow era are still being used to keep people from voicing their vote. View...

Runners are often pushing their bodies to improve their performance. But mental preparation, and even mental “practice,” can help athletes of all stripes to reach a new level. Running coach Ty Wolf discusses how using mental techniques can help runners overcome barriers and achieve new goals. View the transcript here.

It might not seem like it, but when you are stuck at home it might be the perfect time to start planning travel.  The COVID-19 pandemic has put the brakes on excursions both domestic and international. But it also provides an opportunity to re-think where we might go (when we can) and how to plan for the trip. An experienced travel vet explains how some planning ahead can help you take the vacatio...