S2 Ep9: What You Believe Matters - microaggressions and bias
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 add...
22m Sep 21, 2022
22m
S2 Ep8: Trauma-Informed Health Care
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 add...
23m Sep 14, 2022
23m
S2 Ep7: Knitting a cake
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 ...
13m Aug 24, 2022
13m
S2 Ep6: Author finds 'Mercy in the Madness'
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. (https://otter.ai/u/wiRBFGw501g7_K8YOjMbiCkXzJ4)
13m Jul 25, 2022
13m
S2 Ep5: San Isidoro, 2021 - A look at COVID life across in a Spanish school
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 ...
19m Apr 20, 2022
19m
S2 Ep4: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown
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 g...
30m Apr 11, 2022
30m
S2 Ep3: Humor in the workplace
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. (https://otter.ai/u/goZQrb5D_v...
18m Apr 08, 2022
18m
S2 Ep2: 'They got the wrong guy' - Exonerations in Illinois
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. Jo...
29m Apr 04, 2022
29m
S2 Ep1: Being a woman (in Iran)
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. (https://otter.ai/u/tyGv8KTdDdxk2vEKrhyOm1ccjtM)
25m Feb 11, 2022
25m
S1 Ep75: Painting midwestern spaces - artist Douglas Johnson
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 moo...
21m Nov 30, 2021
21m
S1 Ep74: The unlikely lobbyist who created Illinois legislation while attending Pontiac high school
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...
14m Nov 10, 2021
14m
S1 Ep73: My COVID Year - Stitching 'Woolf Words'
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 nove...
15m Sep 28, 2021
15m
S1 Ep72: My COVID Year - Photography and Family
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 ...
17m Sep 21, 2021
17m
S1 Ep71: Main Character Syndrome
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...
18m Aug 04, 2021
18m
S1 Ep70: Conscious Crafting: creative mindfulness for kids
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 u...
14m Jun 23, 2021
14m
S1 Ep69: From the farm to the classroom – Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Justin Rickard
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 ...
16m May 05, 2021
16m
S1 Ep68: Getting up to speed on equity in the workplace
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 emplo...
26m Apr 12, 2021
26m
S1 Ep67: Exercising at Home
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...
19m Mar 30, 2021
19m
S1 Ep66: True Crime podcasters offer tips
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. (https://otter.ai/u/T7EHAKMdEbE4QY3CLK1lnUP1CPM)
20m Feb 02, 2021
20m
S1 Ep65: Intro to Welding: from hobby art to in-demand career
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...
16m Jan 25, 2021
16m
S1 Ep64: Retirement and the pandemic
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 fu...
27m Jan 15, 2021
27m
S1 Ep63: Voter suppression in the past and present
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. ...
31m Oct 26, 2020
31m
S1 Ep62: Mental techniques for runners
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. (https://otter.ai/u/0IjwS0ytUP9-3AeAfTAa7LM2Ztk)
15m Oct 16, 2020
15m
S1 Ep61: Planning for travel during the pandemic (and saving money doing so)
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 vac...
28m Oct 01, 2020
28m
S1 Ep60: Sprucing up for sale - tips for staging a home
Selling a house is a major life event. Any seller wants to get the maximum dollar and get it quickly. What some realtors know is that little things can make a difference when it comes to selling a house. Staging the home for sale can be the best way to help prospective buyers picture the property as their home. Realtor and designer Adrianne Cornejo shares some tips and tricks for sellers to ke...
21m Sep 24, 2020
21m
S1 Ep59: Introduction of Ayurveda
Ayurveda is an ancient practice with historical roots in India. Practitioners of Ayurveda seek a healthy body and mind by finding an internal balance, following the direction of the natural world. Ashlesha Raut is a Vaidya, or Ayurvedic Doctor.  She discusses the basic principles of Ayurveda and how some of the most basic activities like sleep and diet can lead to an imbalance of holistic heal...
26m Sep 18, 2020
26m
S1 Ep58: Seed Science and the Monarch Butterfly
A challenge to the Central Illinois ecosystem has been a dwindling number of Monarch butterflies. These migratory creatures play an important role in the ecosystem. Identifying changes in the local habitat is key to the survival of Monarchs. A large part of restoring the environment for Monarchs to survive is educating the public on the need to cultivate milkweed, a plant that has been demoniz...
27m Sep 14, 2020
27m
S1 Ep57: Spotlight on First Generation College Students
First generation college students often have undertaken a long journey to achieve their educational goals before they even attend their first day of college classes. Even after they take their first step with beginning a college career, first generation students face unique challenges. Two first generation students discuss how the Heartland Community College Project RISE program helped them g...
20m Aug 21, 2020
20m
S1 Ep56: The sometimes-conflicted battle for women's suffrage
The path towards women’s voting rights in the United States was long and entangled with other movements including abolition and prohibition. On the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote in the U.S., we take a look at some of the activists who engaged in the long battle for women’s voting rights. Some of these women were even at odds with each ...
28m Aug 13, 2020
28m
S1 Ep55: Behind the Marvel Method
The characters of Marvel Comics have taken over the big screen. But Spiderman, Iron Man and the Hulk began their journey on the page through some savvy business decisions. The impact that Marvel comics has made on popular culture began with some good timing and some smart business and artistic decisions. View the transcript here. (https://otter.ai/u/6FR0QVJKg3KOQ7aD1kspoxCGnSg)
26m Aug 07, 2020
26m
S1 Ep54: Hair Care and Different Cultures
During the COVID-19 pandemic many things taken for granted, like being able to visit a barber or a hair salon, weren't available. For some the availability of professional hair care is something that is often a problem outside of pandemic times.  Ethnicity can play a role in the availability of good hair care.  Not all hair is the same, and depending on where one lives, finding someone that un...
18m Jul 08, 2020
18m
S1 Ep53: Men and mental health
One in Five American adults experience a mental health problem every year. But not that many seek treatment for mental health problems.  And the reluctance to seek help to maintain mental health is more pronounced in men. Why men are less likely to maintain good mental health practices can have a lot to do with culture, stereotypes and “toxic masculinity.” Social pressures can come even more i...
35m Jun 22, 2020
35m
S1 Ep52: Healthcare barriers and living with HIV
Both healthcare professionals and patients themselves have to surmount communication hurdles when discussing health issues. A long history of discrimination against LGBTQ+ people has created unspoken barriers in our healthcare system. Dion McNeal, Founder of Hopeful in Victory, discusses the stigmas and the issues that LGBTQ+ patients face, including those like himself who are living with HIV...
31m Jun 11, 2020
31m
S1 Ep51: Building coaching skills
Not everyone one reaches their full potential on their own.  We need a little guidance, sometimes in the form of instruction, or mentoring. And then there is coaching. Be it an athletics coach, career coach, or life coach, knowing just the right nudges to give can make the difference between success and a lack of success. Academic advisor Julie Navickas  teaches coaching workshops to help coa...
17m May 26, 2020
17m
S1 Ep50: Better creative writing through quarantine
Creativity can sometimes thrive in adversity.  Isolation can lead to deep thought.  But not always. During the Coronavirus pandemic some people are spending more time alone. Others are looking for quiet time. Either way, it’s a new routine, which might be an opportunity for those looking to kick-start some creative writing. Zeke Jarvis has some tips on tapping into the creative process while ...
18m May 18, 2020
18m
S1 Ep49: Mental health in the age of COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic threatens our bodies with respiratory illness, the measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus also can take a toll on our mental well-being. The prolonged public response to the pandemic has upended the daily routines of nearly everyone in America. Kids are home from school, adults are either sheltering in place or working at a heightened risk as essential emplo...
20m May 11, 2020
20m
S1 Ep48: Helping vets heal through art – Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Richard Casper
Traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress plague a number of veterans returning from war zones. Although progress has been made in how we treat these effects of war, many vets find it hard identify these lingering injuries and aren’t always sure how to seek treatment. This was the case for Richard Casper when he finished his service in Iraq and began to restart his civilian life by go...
31m May 06, 2020
31m
S1 Ep47: From C.N.A. to M.D. - Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Dr. Seshanand Rao
Dr. Seshanand Rao is the co-recipient of the 2020 Heartland Community College Distinguished Alumni Award. When Dr. Rao came to the United States at age 20 he wasn’t on a path to become a medical doctor. His journey to medical school went through the Clinical Nursing Assistant program at Heartland Community College. Dr. Rao discusses his path from the C.N.A. program to becoming an M.D., and ho...
18m May 04, 2020
18m
S1 Ep46: Using vision boards to picture your goals
Getting from point “A” to point “B” is a little easier when you have a map.  But there isn’t a GPS to assist when the path is to attaining college degree or a dream job. That’s where setting SMART goals can help.  SMART stands for Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.  Another tool to navigate the steps of those goals is visualization. Continuing Education workshop instr...
21m Apr 27, 2020
21m
S1 Ep45: Keeping kids engaged at while sheltering at home
Many parents are finding themselves sheltering in place to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.  Kids are home from school, preschool and daycare.  Adults are working from home. Child Development Specialist Michelle Ruestman discusses ways parents can keep their kids learning and developing while staying at home. View the transcript here. (https://otter.ai/u/kxlmY7yzzcRmsfHtuHRjmsrvyGQ)
13m Apr 08, 2020
13m
S1 Ep44: Work/Life Balance (while working from home)
Maintaining a work/life balance is a struggle even under normal circumstances.  But when working from home, focusing on work – and creating time away from work – is a real challenge. With the COVID-19 pandemic keeping more people inside in Spring of 2020, the home space is turning into the workplace, even if we don’t prefer it that way. Success coach and wellness trainer Lisa Summers shares s...
23m Mar 30, 2020
23m
S1 Ep43: Living organ donors
Living organ donation is one of the most personal choices one can make.  Some become donors to help a loved one. Others make the choice simply because they know that there is a person, somewhere, who might not survive without a volunteer willing to make this donation. In 2019, there was only 1 living donor for every 16 in need of an organ transplant. Four living donors, each who work at Heart...
43m Mar 12, 2020
43m
S1 Ep42: Opening educational doors with braille
Wilma Copeland lost her sight later in life and worried that she'd never be able to achieve her educational goals. Not only did learning braille allow her to study at college, she is now teaching others sighted and non-sighted in the course Braille: Not Just for the Blind. Wilma talks about how she found her way back to education in this interview with Oumaima Bouhlna. View the transcript he...
17m Feb 24, 2020
17m
S1 Ep41: Segregation and education in Festus, Missouri
Douglass High School in Festus, MO, near St. Louis was the first segregated school in the area to offer the 11th and 12th grades to black students. As Douglass gave African American students an opportunity to complete their secondary education, teachers, attorneys and activists used the legal system to seek equity in the area’s schools and colleges. Dewhitt Bingham looks at the civil rights l...
27m Feb 21, 2020
27m
S1 Ep40: Two artists build a wall
With the art installation MURO, two artists are using their backgrounds living and working as global citizens to re-think the idea of walls and tribes. The gallery installation physically separates the viewer from the art. The artists, David Dow and Jim Neeley, discuss what it felt like to build a wall and populate the community on the other side. View the transcript here. (https://otter.ai/...
30m Feb 14, 2020
30m
S1 Ep39: Race, equity and education
Equal access to education has been a struggle that has improved only in fits and starts. Even when schools became integrated there were unaddressed barriers that kept many students separate with only the impression that they were equal. The McLean County History Museum examines the Central Illinois history of equity in their exhibit “Challenges, Choices, and Change: A Community in Conflict.” ...
21m Feb 07, 2020
21m
S1 Ep38: Fat Tuesday food and traditions
Before the pious begin to fast for Lenten season, Fat Tuesday provides one last chance to indulge. And the pious and less observant both love the foods that are associated with the Louisiana home of Mardi Gras: New Orleans. The Big Easy is a melting pot of European and African cultures. As such, the traditional food of Fat Tuesday have origins from around the world. But you don't have to be i...
16m Feb 03, 2020
16m
S1 Ep36: Taking a non-diet approach to health
We all love a quick fix. The popularity of fad diets is one example of our desire to see an easy and rapid solution to the perceived problem of weight. Studies show, however, that most diets don't work in the long run. A dietitian weighs in on how to ditch the diet and still be healthy. One surprising suggestion: don't always avoid junk food. View the transcript here. (https://otter.ai/u/ovR...
19m Dec 16, 2019
19m
S1 Ep35: Handling difficult conversations in the workplace
The workplace is not always a harmonious environment. Not all employees get along. Some issues can be disruptive to individual projects or the whole. Showing up late. Incomplete work. Body odor. From misunderstandings that come from well-meaning co-workers, to recurring performance issues, managers often have to deal with some touchy subjects. How does a manager approach a difficult convers...
30m Dec 09, 2019
30m
Heartland Q&A: Chris Miller
Heartland Community College professor Chris Miller discusses the College’s renewable energy program and the STEM Educator Renewable Energy Institute. The National Science Foundation asked Miller to run a workshop for local and state teachers to help develop materials on renewable energy for the high school classroom. View the transcript here. (https://otter.ai/u/wuF2sHgoeQC9RYNP-BsG2Fmgqdc)
16m Dec 02, 2019
16m