Perspectives

Perspectives are commentaries produced by and for WNIJ listeners, from a panel of regular contributors and guests. If you would like to submit your own Perspective for consideration, send us a script that will run about 90 seconds when read -- that's about 250 words -- and email it to NPR@niu.edu, with "Perspectives" in the subject line.

Episodes

Perspective: Freezer Jenga

October 9, 2025 • 1 min

Rosie Klepper plays a game with her freezer. A very dangerous game.

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Perspective: Philanthropy and my father

October 8, 2025 • 1 min

Frances Jaeger shares her dad's umbrella story.

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Perspective: Too much screen time

October 7, 2025 • 1 min

Katie Andraski tries to put her phone down.

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Perspective: The canaries are singing. Who's listening?

October 6, 2025 • 1 min

Bob Evans hears the warning songs: Are we paying attention?

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Perspective: Venting is bad

October 2, 2025 • 1 min

Lonny Cain wants to know how you blow off steam.

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Perspective: Chicago, Trump and solutions

September 17, 2025 • 2 mins

Joseph Flynn says federal troops aren't the answer to Chicago's crime problems.

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Perspective: A place that remembers us

September 10, 2025 • 1 min

Julie Bassett is working with Together for Taft to find a way to save the former NIU Lorado Taft campus in Oregon.

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Perspective: Things left undone

September 6, 2025 • 1 min

Katie Andraski says sometimes it's not what you do...but what you don't do.

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Perspective: Voting by mail is 'a thing.' A good thing!

September 6, 2025 • 1 min

The President wants to kill voting by mail. Bob Evans says that's a mistake.

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Perspective: The grace of lifelong friends --The Sequel

September 4, 2025 • 1 min

How did Marnie O. Mamminga's reunion with friends of a different political persuasion go?

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Perspective: Listen to the seashells

August 26, 2025 • 1 min

She sells sea shells...or did she find them on a beach halfway around the world? No matter. Paula Garrett appreciates their presence in her life.

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Perspective: Who needs a golden ballroom?

August 25, 2025 • 1 min

Sharon Nicola thinks America has better stuff to spend taxpayer money on.

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Perspective: The door to everywhere

August 22, 2025 • 1 min

Lonny Cain has a "wild church" experience.

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Perspective: You gonna eat that?

August 21, 2025 • 1 min

Road-tripping Rosie Klepper tries to balance the joy of gas station cuisine with common sense.

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Perspective: The manufacturing daydreams need a reality check

August 18, 2025 • 1 min

Before we restore our nation's manufacturing glory, Frances Jaeger wants us to look at our past.

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Perspective: My collections

August 15, 2025 • 1 min

Does Francisco Solares-Larrave really need all those watches and pens?

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Perspective: From Rockford, with gratitude

August 14, 2025 • 1 min

Wendy Larson Bennett is grateful for the years Rockford has benefitted from the presence (and hard work) of Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson.

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Perspective: A summertime breather

August 14, 2025 • 1 min

Connie Seraphine highly recommends spending some time with family and friends before summer's over!

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Perspective: A few words of wisdom on marriage

August 12, 2025 • 1 min

Wester Wuori and his wife celebrate more than a quarter century of marriage.

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Perspective: The three foes of human beings

August 12, 2025 • 1 min

Tom McBride says you should cherish and protect your "human-ness."

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Perspectives

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Perspective: Freezer Jenga

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Perspective: Philanthropy and my father

Perspective: Too much screen time

Perspective: The canaries are singing. Who's listening?

Perspective: Venting is bad

Perspective: Chicago, Trump and solutions

Perspective: A place that remembers us

Perspective: Things left undone

Perspective: Voting by mail is 'a thing.' A good thing!

Perspective: The grace of lifelong friends --The Sequel

Perspective: Listen to the seashells

Perspective: Who needs a golden ballroom?

Perspective: The door to everywhere

Perspective: You gonna eat that?

Perspective: The manufacturing daydreams need a reality check

Perspective: My collections

Perspective: From Rockford, with gratitude

Perspective: A summertime breather

Perspective: A few words of wisdom on marriage

Perspective: The three foes of human beings

Popular Podcasts

Perspective: Freezer Jenga

Perspective: Philanthropy and my father