Kankakee Podcast
A podcast about the people and places of Kankakee County, IL. Hosted by, Jake LaMore.
Episodes
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+ people in the area and the need for a network to connect people. Matt shared his personal history with ...
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 Community Arts Council. She's talking all about the upcoming ...
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 experience as the first woman police officer at KCC...
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 national organization that raises awareness about the POW/MIA...
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.
Darren Westphal is the third generation...
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 a 20 acre island that sits near the State Park, and is home t...
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 insightful historical information about the park and its or...
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 director, Sharla Ronchetto.
I mean, who doesn't lo...
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 the Bradley Village Board is planning on doing w...
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.
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 to our bodies. This is where Kris Calmese enters. Kris is looking to change the narrative of...
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.
Kankakee Violence Prevention Meeting
Last night on Thursday, March 30th, I attended a City of Kankakee Violence Prevention informational meeting at the train depot. I was there representing Milner Media Partners to write a news story for their radio station...
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 92:
It isn't uncommon for the topic of Kankakee's history to come up on the podcast. Today, however, we head deeper than ever into Kankakee County's history with the Kankakee County Museum. Executive Director Veronica Featherston rejoins the podcast...
On Sunday, Kankakee Podcast teamed up with the Kankakee Area LGBTQ Network to host a screening of, “Good Enough: A Modern Musical”, written and directed by Kankakee County native, Mike Spears, at Classic Cinemas Paramount Theater. The film takes place at the fictional Kankakee Illinois University and covers a wide range of topics including sexual orientation, racism, addiction, and more. After the film, I hosted a Q&A with Mike an...
Over the past 17 years, Bill Perakis has helped keep vehicles in the area safe and well. Owner of Meineke Car Care Center in Bourbonnais, Bill has plenty of experience in automotive care, including a certification in auto care from Moraine Valley Community College. Bill joins Kankakee Podcast not only as a guest, but a patron of the podcast as he talks about his life and his eventful journey into the auto industry.
Thank you fo...
KVTA’s Paula Sutter has an impressive history in her 29 years of directing plays. Her newest, Disney's Moana Jr., comes to the Lincoln Cultural Center in Kankakee March 17th, 18th, and 19th. Paula joins me on this episode of Kankakee Podcast to talk about Moana Jr, as well as her history with the KVTA.
Buy tickets now at: https://www.kvta.org/buy-tickets
Much Love,
Jake LaMore
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 87:
Jon, Justin, and Misty of Kankakee's alternative rock band, Carrying Torches, join us on this episode of Kankakee Podcast to give us an early listen to their upcoming new single, "Small Talk".
The new song will be available on all streaming p...
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 86:
Momence resident and two time NFL Super Bowl Champion, Ted Petersen, returns to Kankakee Podcast! This time, I've passed the mic to Ted to guest host and have a conversation with another Kankakee area NFL football legend, Jimmy Smith.
Smith m...
Kankakee Podcast is presented by, Puter Pros, Digital World Design, and Stitch Prints in Bradley. Learn more at myputerpros.com, digitalworlddesign.com, andstitchprints.com.
Episode 85:
Nicole Gavin, the new Executive Director of the Kankakee County Convention & Visitors Bureau, joins us on this episode of Kankakee Podcast to talk about the CTAP Grants.
The Community Tourism Action Plan Grant Program is designed to help touri...
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 84:
988, the new three digit number for suicide prevention and mental health crises, officially launched in Illinois in July of 2022. Here to explain how 988 works here locally in Kankakee County is, Eva Anderson, the Director of Crisis Care Syst...
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