Kankakee Podcast

Recent Episodes

  • #107: Theodis Pace, Kankakee NAACP – A Community For Change

    Theodis Pace sits down with Jake in this episode of the Kankakee Podcast to discuss a wide range of topics. Theodis takes us on a journey through his life, beginning in Georgia, moving to Indiana, before heading back to Georgia for college. Pace says this experience across the country forms the bedrock of his perspective…

  • #106: Jeff Williamson – A Refreshing Approach To Leadership

    On this episode of Kankakee Podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Jeff Williamson of Converge, one of the subsidiary companies of Pathfinder. Jeff walks us through his life story, which starts in the artistic town of Nashville, IN, how he became at Tiger at Olivet Nazarene University, and discovered his love for coaching people. I…

  • #105: Lincoln and Kankakee – Shocking New Discoveries with Tom George and the Kankakee County Museum

    Abraham Lincoln paid a visit to Kalamazoo, MI only one time in his life. This once in a lifetime visit actually has a connection to Kankakee, IL.  On this episode with the Kankakee County Museum, Tom George, Vice President of the Kalamazoo Abraham Lincoln Institute, shares his passion for local history and his research on…

  • #104: Steve Case – Science Fiction Writer

    I am pleased to welcome, Steve Case, a science professor at Olivet Nazarene University, back to Kankakee Podcast! If you remember, Steve was on the podcast about a year ago to talk about the Strickler Planetarium at ONU. If you don’t recall, you can listen to that episode here: https://www.kankakeepodcast.com/episodes/53-strickler-planetarium-jeri-lamont-steve-case/ However, on this particular episode,…

  • #103: Meet Pathfinder

    Kankakee Podcast is now a part of Pathfinder! In this episode, Jake sits down with Katherine Henson, Brian Prairie, Logan Miller, and Jesse Erickson to discuss Kankakee Podcast’s acquisition by Pathfinder. Each member of the Pathfinder team outlines their respective role and explains how they apply to the growth of The Kankakee Podcast. With this…

  • #102: Kankakee Area LGBTQ Network with Matt Hedding-Hess

    In this episode of the Kankakee Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Matt Hedding-Hess, who is the head of the Kankakee Area LGBTQ Network. We talked about Pride Month and the history of LGBTQ+ organizations in the Kankakee area. During our conversation, we discussed the lack of formal services and resources for LGBTQ+…

  • #101: Strawberry Jazz Festival 2023 with Bonnie Brewer

    Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode #101: Hey there! I’m excited to tell you about the latest episode of Kankakee Podcast. It’s a special bonus episode with our guest Bonnie Brewer, who’s a member of the Kankakee County…

  • #100: Meet the Mayor of Grant Park – Jamie Hawkins

    Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode 100: In this episode of Kankakee Podcast’s “Meet the Mayor” series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jamie Hawkins, the first woman mayor of Grant Park. We discussed her background, including her…

  • #99: Honoring Local POW/MIA – Kankakee County Museum

    Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode 99: I’m excited to share with you a special episode of the Kankakee Podcast that I recorded in collaboration with the Kankakee County Museum. The episode is all about Rolling Thunder, a…

  • #98: Darren Westphal – D. Westphal Jewelers

    Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode 98: If our information is correct, D. Westphal Jewelers on Broadway in Bradley now stands as the Kankakee area’s oldest independent jewelry store since the unfortunate closing of Volkmann Diamonds in 2016.…

  • #97: Friends of Langham Island

    Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode 97: The Kankakee River is known to every resident of the county, however not too many people know that the river itself contains a hidden gem called, Langham Island. ‌ Langham Island is…

  • #96: Perry Farm – Kankakee County Museum

    Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode 96:  In this episode of the Kankakee Podcast, I sit down with Jorie Walters, the Research Coordinator at Kankakee County Museum, to delve into the history of Perry Farm Park. Jorie shares…

  • #95: KVTA’s In The Heights with Director Sharla Ronchetto

    Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode 95:  Hey there! This latest episode of Kankakee Podcast is all about the upcoming production of “In the Heights” by the Kankakee Valley Theatre Association, and it features an interview with the…

  • #94: Meet the Mayor of Bradley – Mike Watson

    Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode 94: Our Meet the Mayor series continues on Kankakee Podcast with Bradley Mayor, Mike Watson! It was fascinating to learn how Mayor Watson started his own waste removal company, United Disposal, what…

  • #93: Kris Calmese – Beng

    Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, and stitchprints.com. Episode 93: How often do we think about the fuel we put into our bodies? Most of the time, people just eat, without thinking about what the consequences of these foods could do…