Spilling the Village Tea

Hello Villagers! This episode features Travis Misurell, founder of the Future is Now Coalition (FiNC). Travis has been concerned about issues many Americans are also concerned about and he identifies it thusly: "right now, big money and party gatekeepers control who you are even allowed to vote for. You're stuck choosing between two pre-approved options and hoping one is slightly less bad...

Hello Villagers!  Sitting board member Christopher Espinozaupdates us on his experiences serving on District 99 School Board and dives into why he is now running for the Dupage County Board.  This is your chance to get to know your candidate better!  He references his experience growing up in Downers Grove and how it shapes what he brings to the table.  There will be a link to our previous episode...

You know how people comment that a duck moves so smoothly, like gliding on the surface of the water yet underneath it is paddling madly?  That is how I feel about the forest preserve district.  So much serenity and beauty when out on the trails but there is so much going on under the surface and Forest Preserve District of Dupage County president, Daniel Hebreard covers so many particulars of thes...

Villagers, have I got something for you!  Spilling the VillageTea is thrilled to have Matthew Topic (President of the Downers Grove Public Library Board) tell us all about his new podcast “Disclosure”.  Outside of his service to the community, Matt is a lawyer specializing in AI and FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) and he has partnered with journalist Jason Leopold exploring the world of FOIA for...

You know what, Villagers? It happens. It happens much more than you think. People have strange, unexplained things happen to them. This collection of stories are from people in my social circles, all but one from Downers Grove specifically. No Amityville Horrors by any means, but if you haven't heard stories like this in person, take a listen and consider.....are things happening to you too an...

Hey Villagers! Do you have things that go bump in the night in your house? Are you seeing things when you pass by the cemetery? Why is that doll you placed on the shelf looking at the wall now?! Who you gonna call to help? Paul Schmidt of The Illinois Paranormalist (TIP) of course! You may have watched Ghostbusters or Ghosthunters but TIP is Glen Ellyn's very own "go to" if you want...

It’s spooky season, Villagers!  Halloween is days away as well as the Day of the Dead and then the time change!  Spilling the Village Tea is bringing on the paranormal of it all with guest Deidre Como.  Deidre is a psychic medium and we will bring light to what some deem dark subjects when really it is about those who have passed before us who still have connections with us from the beyond!  Pleas...

I know you want to know, Villagers....I wanted to know! Board President Matt Topic joined Spilling the Village Tea to give us the summary on the conclusions of the ad hoc board studying whether the Downers Grove Public Library should remain as is or convert to a library district. In addition, Topic illuminates other undertakings the board is working on and as always, more enlightenment on AI as th...

Hello Villagers! This episode we continue exploring the Downers Grove Township with Highway Commissioner Tom Chlysek! The Downers Grove Township Highway Commission serves unincorporated roads and more throughout Downers Grove, Darien, Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Woodridge, Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Willowbrook, and parts of Oakbrook, Lisle and the Dupage sections of Lemont. Commissioner Chlysek brings...

Hello Villagers! I know the Downers Grove Public Library is beloved by many and last spring Amanda Recupido from the Downers Grove Library Foundation introduced how it supports our library in an abundant number of ways which you can go back to find out those tasty details in the episode linked below! In this episode, Amanda is back with us along with the library’s Graphic Design and Gallery Coordi...

Hello Villagers! This episode takes a deep dive into the the myriad of services offered through the Downers Grove Township, serving not only Downers Grove but also Darien, Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Woodridge, Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Willowbrook, parts of Oakbrook, Lisle and the Dupage sections of Lemont. Did you know that? Sworn into office this 2025 spring, Kim Savage is the Supervisor and covers...

In this episode we come to the intersection of law and cannabis in action! Maureen Surin is the mom of Ashley of Ashley's Law that allows students who depend on medical marijuana to use it on school grounds. Maureen's story will bring tears to your eyes then empowerment to your heart of what parents do for their kids. Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SBRn02inv8   https://news.wttw.c...

We are back at it, Villagers, bringing you the tea on cannabis law! This episodes features Kate Cholewa, a cannabis lobbyist for decades in the state of Montana. The Montana history differs quite a bit from the Illinois history and is truncated into this one episode. You may have listened and learned much from Eric Berlin's episodes but you will find new perspectives in this episode from Kate....

So Villagers, I wanted to demonstrate to my rising senior at University of Vermont what it is like to do the podcast. So we sat down in the media lab and recorded. Her UVM experience has been wonderful so I posed that as the topic and it was so good and so much fun, I am sharing it with you all! I am proud to introduce to all you listeners my daughter Kat Rutkowski, Downers Grove North alum 2022....

Hello Villagers and we are back to introducing you more personally to your elected officials after a bit of a hiatus! In this episode, Liz Chaplin explains what a county recorder does and what she is bringing to this office after being elected in the November 2024 election. I had no idea the vastness of the records included and know you will feel much better versed on your civics as well. Links: h...

Welcome back to the Cannabis Law Series, Episode 5 on Spilling the Village Tea. Eric Berlin, team leader for US and Global Cannabis for world's largest law firm Denton's, continues spilling the tea on the Federal history of cannabis, scheduling and the shift from helping patients to assuring shareholder happiness. Make sure you listen to the previous episodes in the Cannabis Law Series to...

We are still in the weeds here at Spilling the Village Tea as we welcome you back to episode 4 of the Illinois cannabis law series and pouring yet another cup with Eric Berlin of Denton’s where he is the leader on the US and Global Cannabis team.  Eric is gonna start crossing some state lines a bit as we expand into discussions on interstate commerce, the Cole Memo, drug rescheduling, emerging can...

We are continuing the deep dive into Illinois Cannabis Lawwith Eric Berlin, US and Global Team leader on Cannabis for the world’s largest law firm, Dentons. I am still slicing up this giant tray of brownies into easily consumable portions, or at least doing my best to try to do so.  Eric has taken us through his personal and professional journey on the path to legalizing medical cannabis in episod...

Attorney Eric Berlin of the worlds largest law firm Dentons continues to share his journey and his expertise as a US and Global Team leader on Cannabis.  We are jumping in right where we left off in episode 1 so it will sound a bit like coming into the middle of a conversation because, that is exactly what it is!  We last were discussing how communities considering allowing cannabis businesses to...

Hey Villagers! My guest for the next few episodes is Eric Berlin who leads the US and global cannabis teams at Dentons, the world’s largest law firm.  I was fortunate enough to be introduced to Eric through a friend and since I couldlisten to his encyclopedic knowledge on the topic, I figured many others would also be as interested as I am.  In Episode 1 of the series, Eric is going to give us his...

If you are tuned into the Downers Grove Village Council meetings, you have probably heard of GreenerGrove. Steve Ruffalo and Michelle Libby discuss how Greener Grove has provided information as our village worked on the environmental and sustainability plans as well as what the organization offers individuals in ours and greater regional communities. Make sure you check out Greener Grove Earth Wee...

If you are tuned into the Downers Grove Village Council meetings, you have probably heard of Greener Grove. Louise Kelly is a founding member and provides the story of this group which promotes personal and community sustainability. Make sure you follow with part 2 of the series to learn more about Greener Grove and the events for Earth Week. Links: www.greenergrove.org Featured artist: Louise Kel...

Amanda Recupido, President of the Downers Grove PublicLibrary Foundation joins Spilling the Village Tea to expound on how the DGPL Foundation supports the beloved Downers Grove Public Library.  She will explain the intersection of the DGPL Foundation, the library itself and the local governing bodies.  You will learn about the programs that were funded by the DGPL Foundation and the wide expanse t...

Meet Michael Riske, candidate for District 99 School Board. www.togetherforlearning99.com Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove Public Library. Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications. Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by Robin Rutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa. You can email us at SpillingTheVillageTea@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea and Ins...

Meet Christopher Espinoza, candidate for District 99 School Board. www.togetherforlearning99.com Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove Public Library. Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications. Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by Robin Rutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa. You can email us at SpillingTheVillageTea@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea...