One fateful night in 1996 Kristine Bunch woke to a home full of flames. She struggled to extract her young son from the fire but failed.  Much to her surprise and horror, she was charged with setting the fire that killed her child.  Bunch was convicted on expert testimony which was later held in question. No one would have taken a second look at her case had she not fought from prison to find advocates to examine the testimony and evidence.  After 17 years of incarceration, she was released, and the conviction was dismissed.  Bunch discusses her case and the burdens of wrongful conviction for herself and others. View the transcript here.

No matter their age or background, when students go to college there are new stresses that can tax their mental health. The challenges of COVID-19 put the spotlight on the importance of mental health for college students. But, as in the past, the largest barrier is getting individuals to not attach a stigma to addressing their mental health. Sarah Stalter, Assistant Director of Behavioral Health Coordination for McLean County (IL), and Amy Jeck, Coordinator of Student Wellness at Heartland Community College, discuss efforts to help college students, and others, take the proper care of their mental health. View the transcript here.

Before television captured the attention of the nation, the traveling circus was the most popular form of entertainment in America. During this time, the midwestern city of Bloomington, Illinois became a home for many circus performers and the "birthplace" of famous aerial acts. Maureen Brunsdale, head of Special Collections at Illinois State University's Milner Library, discusses how the purchase of a piece of physical fitness equipment for a Bloomington gymnasium tied the midwestern town to the circus. View the transcript here.

Inspired by photographs of sea birds engorged with plastic waste picked up in the water, fiber artist Ann B. Coddington has created an exhibit that combines the ancient craft of basketry with discarded plastic. The artists discusses her exhibit, 'Albatross,' which offers a literal glimpse inside of hand-made vessels to reveal the leftover pollution that will outlast the life of organic materials. View the transcript here.

The legalization of cannabis for recreational use in Illinois has generated 440 million dollars in tax revenue for the state.  With any growing industry comes the need for a trained workforce. Agriculture instructor Victoria Zamora talks about the relatively new pathway to a job in the industry through the Cannabis Cultivation program at Heartland Community College.  View the transcript here.

The disciplines of communication and theater education are facing new challenges in the post-COVID classroom.  Factors ranging from the impact of remote learning to the introduction of AI technology are creating some new wrinkles for teachers. The Illinois Communication and Theatre Association, comprised of speech, communications, and theater educators, will tackle these topics and others at their annual conference, which is held in 2023 on the campus of Heartland Community College. View the transcript here.

Students learn key skills in the liberal arts and social sciences classes that are required for most 2-year degree programs.  Yet, many students seeking degrees in technical trades and specialized fields don't immediately see how a 100-level course in English or Communications benefits their future. Dr. Wayne Bass at Heartland Community College discusses efforts to create themed humanities courses that connect with students seeking degrees specialized fields. View the transcript here.

The 2020 U.S. general election saw some of the largest voter turnout numbers in decades.  Yet, even with this bump in turnout, voter participation in the U.S. trails 30 other democratic countries. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge strives to empower colleges and universities to cultivate nonpartisan student democratic engagement and to foster a vision of a more inclusive and engaged democracy. ALL IN Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Domagal-Goldman discusses why it is important to engage college students in civic activities, and how students are making an impact with their efforts. View the transcript here.

The Heartland Academy for Learning Opportunities program (HALO) is designed to bridge the educational gap for students aged 18 to 28 with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The program teaches students life skills, technology proficiency, and also fosters social development.  Kori Folkerts, Associate Director of Student Access and Accommodation Services at Heartland Community College discusses how the HALO program offers these students a college experience. View the transcript here.

The documentary film ‘With This Breath I Fly’ tells the story of two women imprisoned for what the state of Afghanistan determined were moral crimes.   The creation of the film was funded by the European Union.  But once officials with the EU saw the footage, they tried to shelve the film and stop the filmmakers from completing the project. Co-Director Sam French discusses the harrowing stories of the two women profiled in the documentary and also the battle to reclaim the project from funders who wanted to shudder the project for political reasons. View the transcript here.