Best WQAD Podcasts (2024)

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118: Secret Baby 57:54

2y ago57:54

57:54

Alyssa Gillund pulled a Kylie Jenner and had a "secret baby". After years of infertility and choosing to adopt her daughter Collins, Alyssa (episode 90) saw her very first positive pregnancy test. She's sharing the happy update, while also juggling postpartum emotions and some guilt over her good news. Plus another happy update as mom Jessica McKea…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Could a Justice be a leaker? And other insights about the Supreme Court abortion decision case 14:29

2y ago14:29

14:29

Jim talks with western Illinois University Supreme Court and Constitutional Law professor Dr. Richard Hardy about revelations from the Supreme Court about overturning Roe v. Wade See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Ready to give a little blood for Ukraine? 11:09

2y ago11:09

11:09

Jim talks with ImpactLife's Kirby Winn about a year-long effort to have blood donations turn into cash to help Ukrainians fighting Russian aggression See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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THE CITIES PODCAST: Getting out of prison seldom means you're staying out of prison 13:19

2y ago13:19

13:19

Jim talks with Erica Lee, director of the Safer Foundation Quad Cities as the Biden administration announces expanded plans to stop recidivism among released prison inmates See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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THE CITIES PODCAST: Offering more help to the Quad City's LGBTQ+ population 12:04

2y ago12:04

12:04

Jim talks with Clock, Inc. president Becky Castaneda as the group expands into new facilities in an effort to help more people in the LGBTQ+ community See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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117: 1 in 8 32:44

2y ago32:44

32:44

One in 8 couples struggles to get pregnant or to sustain a pregnancy. That stat is getting our attention during National Infertility Awareness Week (April 24-30). In this episode, Denise welcomes back previous guest (Episode 116) Ebony Ford. Ebony gave birth to her daughter at 26 weeks and shared how birth trauma and an extended NICU stay influence…

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THE CITIES PODCAST: Why Iowa is committed to getting you a better job 11:26

2y ago11:26

11:26

Jim talks with Iowa Workforce Development director Beth Townsend who says workers are in the "driver's seat" in the jobs economy right now See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: The extra help veterans are getting to succeed in college 8:35

2y ago8:35

8:35

Jim talks with Western Illinois University Veterans Resource director Ronald Pettigrew about WIU's commitment to helping military veterans succeed throughout their college career See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: A first-hand look at the refugees escaping Ukraine from a Davenport man in Romania 14:28

2y ago14:28

14:28

Jim talks with Jon Gainer of Davenport, the head of Eastern European operations for KontaktMission, a Christian-based group setting up refugee operations in Romania See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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116: Miracle Mamas 53:55

2y ago53:55

53:55

Ebony Ford's birth plan didn't go according to plan. Her daughter, Reign Victoria, was born at 26 weeks. She weighed 1 pound, 15 ounces. After 3 months in the NICU, Ebony realized that prematurity doesn't end when you take your baby home. It's been a day to day walk in faith that they continue today, as they celebrate Reign's 4th birthday. See Priv…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Illinois budget in the crosshairs of Republicans 9:11

2y ago9:11

9:11

Jim talks with Illinois State Sen. Win Stoller of Peoria about the passage of the state budget See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Public health workers now concentrate on a post-pandemic era 14:14

2+ y ago14:14

14:14

Jim talks with Janet Hill of the Rock Island County Health Department about the current COVID case rates and the programs that lost emphasis in the midst of the pandemic See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
115: The AMPstigator 45:15

2+ y ago45:15

45:15

AMPstigator: An intense person who's bringing about SOMETHING. News anchor Lauren Lowrey is creating conversations about purpose through her podcast, AMPstigator. In this conversation, she shares how her 3rd baby brought her clarity about what she wanted out of her work life. It led her to build this platform focused on deep, meaningful conversatio…

1
114: Kindergarten Roundup 49:17

2+ y ago49:17

49:17

Doesn't the government know I have a kindergartener? And if so, why aren't they sending me letters? Denise welcomes mom of 2 Kellie Ricke on the podcast to share the confusion around getting your kid into real school. Kellie shares the things you never considered about getting your child ready for this next step. Plus, we dive into hot topics like …

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Think Spring! But what can we expect from the skies above us in the weeks ahead of us? 13:19

2+ y ago13:19

13:19

Jim talks with Illinois State Climatologist Dr. Trent Ford about the weather trends for the Spring of 2022 and the long-range impact of climate change in our region See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Help for women and minorities starting a business in the Quad Cities 0:22

2+ y ago0:22

0:22

Jim talks with Western Illinois University's Maria Ramos Aguilar, the new business advisor for the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs and the Small Business Development Center See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Fears about the avian flu has Iowa's Ag Secretary worried about the "devastation" 15:59

2+ y ago15:59

15:59

Jim talks with Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig about the fears of avian flu spreading in state flocks, the impact of the Ukrainian War on Iowa agriculture, and the future of farming in a high tech world See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: The "Bison Bridge" gets an early endorsement, so what's next? 9:18

2+ y ago9:18

9:18

Jim talks with Bison Bridge Foundation consultant Matthew Hughes about new state support from Illinois lawmakers that could make the unique proposal for an old bridge a possibility See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
113: Journey to Joy 51:50

2+ y ago51:50

51:50

Katie Thompson made the switch from non-profit work to small business owner a few years back. She's the curator of a shop called The Market: A Journey to Joy - a collection of vendors, crafters and creators. She was shoved in a new direction in a way that showed her how to let things flow into her life rather than forcing them. She's the mom of a 4…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: The battle for first as Iowa tries to protect its Presidential Caucus status 11:07

2+ y ago11:07

11:07

Jim talks with Drake University political scientist Dr. Dennis Goldford about the challenges Iowa faces to keep its status as first in Presidential politics See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: An Iowa actress whose support for a cause ruined her life 10:08

2+ y ago10:08

10:08

Jim talks with Kelly Rundle of Fourth Wall Films about the documentary of Iowa-native Jean Seberg who was the target of an FBI smear campaign due to her support for the Black Panthers See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
112: Explant Surgery 48:05

2+ y ago48:05

48:05

This episode is about the new wave of women getting breast implants removed. Though breast augmentation is still the most popular cosmetic procedure, it's estimated there were 110,000 removals performed in 2020. That's double the number from two years ago. Many women get them removed citing what they believe is breast implant illness - with symptom…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: A new Bishop for the Catholic faithful in western and central Illinois 14:56

2+ y ago14:56

14:56

Jim talks with Bishop Louis Tylka, the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, the new leader of the Church upon the retirement of Bishop Daniel Jenky See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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THE CITIES PODCAST: Are we really hurting Russia with the Western sanctions? 14:56

2+ y ago14:56

14:56

Jim talks with Western Illinois University Economics professor Dr. William Polley about the US and European-led sanctions against Russia for its invasion into Ukraine See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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111: Take Care of You 47:13

2+ y ago47:13

47:13

Women are more complex than a 15 minute appointment. More time, more care, more attention are all things Megan Gross believes her patients need. As a certified nurse-midwife, she specializes in hormone balancing and fertility health. In this conversation, she talks about stress hormones, libido, and why you should never take a pee test that costs m…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: The Madigan Fallout as Illinois residents see the indictment as unsurprising news 15:24

2+ y ago15:24

15:24

Jim talk with Western Illinois University political science chairman Dr. Keith Boeckelman about the impact of the 22-count federal indictment against former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: After the surge. How a Quad City hospital is planning for an uncertain future 11:26

2+ y ago11:26

11:26

Jim talks with Genesis Health System chief medical officer Dr. Kurt Andersen as the Omicron variant surge subsides but questions remain about the virus' and the health care industry's future grows See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

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110: A Conversation about Ukraine 55:22

2+ y ago55:22

55:22

You're 22 years old. You live in an apartment with your mom in a beautiful city. You're going to graduate this summer. You're getting your degree in French-English translation, because you love foreign languages. This summer is full of big plans. You're saving up for trips to Italy and France. You work remotely, so you're free to travel. So you pla…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: The politics of an invasion 12:55

2+ y ago12:55

12:55

Jim talks with Monmouth College political scientist Dr. Andre Audette as Ukraine defends itself from a Russian invasion, and the United States feels the economic and political impact of a war that's a world away See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Give a girl a hammer 10:19

2+ y ago10:19

10:19

Jim talks with Stephanie Hintermeister of the Quad City chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction as the group continues its efforts to get more girls and women involved in the construction and trades fields See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-i…

1
109: Four Seasons 42:43

2+ y ago42:43

42:43

Mom of 4 Megan Rempel is in sync with her cycle. She explains what that means in this episode using the analogy of the four season - winter, spring, summer and fall. A registered nurse and wellness coach, Megan is explaining how you can use your body's natural rhythms to feel better day to day and show up differently as a parent, employee and partn…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Is Illinois now better poised to handle homelessness in the state? 12:35

2+ y ago12:35

12:35

Jim talks with Christine Haley, the first-ever Homelessness Chief about her priorities as Illinois comes out of a pandemic-induced housing crisis See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: What could be a contentious year at election polls doesn't worry Iowa's Secretary of State 14:14

2+ y ago14:14

14:14

Jim talks with Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate as the state enters the 2022 election season with new voting rules, changed election laws, more scrutiny of voting, and the need for more poll workers in the state See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: What will $1.2 billion get you? Just ask the Corps 13:33

2+ y ago13:33

13:33

Jim talks with Col. Jesse Curry, commander of the Rock Island District of the US Army Corps of Engineers which has been awarded $1.2 billion in federal funding for 2022 infrastructure projects throughout the region See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: The partnership that feeds people, not landfills 11:11

2+ y ago11:11

11:11

Jim talks with Christina McDonough, the coordinator of the Food Rescue Partnership, the Quad City coalition that is trying to divert food discarded by restaurants and grocery stores to needy families and others See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
108: Henry's Ripple 1:09:49

2+ y ago1:09:49

1:09:49

Henry's life on Earth was short - just 30 precious hours. But he lives on through his mother Courtney and the effort known as Henry's Ripple. A first time mom, Courtney went into labor right on time, on Henry's due date. When a nurse couldn't find his heartbeat, doctors rushed Courtney into emergency surgery. She's been in survival mode ever since.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: A Republican view of a Democratic budget in Illinois 14:24

2+ y ago14:24

14:24

Jim talks with State Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) about Gov. JB Pritzker's budget plan and the impact it could have on higher education See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Western Illinois University is facing the crisis of early childhood education head-on 11:20

2+ y ago11:20

11:20

Jim talks with Western Illinois University School of Education's Dr. Lindsay Meeker as the school joins a unique partnership that focuses on "child care deserts" and career-driven students See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

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107: Cows, Kids & Chaos 1:14:34

2+ y ago1:14:34

1:14:34

Mary Thormahlen named her crafting business Cows, Kids & Chaos for a reason. A mom of 2 and a farm wife, Mary realized she was struggling with something more serious than postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter. It took trial and error, long drives to see doctors and a panicked visit to the ER to confirm she has bipolar disorder. The …

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Illinois' top health official speaks out as we reach COVID's third year 12:35

2+ y ago12:35

12:35

Jim talks with Illinois Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike about the future of mandates, the next big breakthrough, and the public that doesn't believe her as Illinois marks the start of the third year of the COVID pandemic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Iowa Gov. Reynolds banks on proposed tax overhaul as a lynchpin for economic growth 12:19

2+ y ago12:19

12:19

Jim talks with iowa Gv. Kim Reynolds who proposed a 4% flat tax, repeal of retirement income taxes, reduction in unemployment compensation for jobless workers, and a full agenda for the state legislature to consider. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
106: Name Your Baby 45:59

2+ y ago45:59

45:59

Jenna Panicucci has some big news to share in this episode. But with her joy, she also carries some fear after having a miscarriage in 2020. She talks about why she named her baby, mourning in her own way and how she learned to drop the guilt surrounding her grief. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at htt…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Taxes, books, and other Iowa priorities from State Sen. Chris Cournoyer 11:08

2+ y ago11:08

11:08

Jim talks with Iowa State Sen. Chris Cournoyer (R-LeClaire, Iowa) about taxes, "obscene" books in school, and her priorities as the 2022 Legislative Session begins See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: The future of farming and Western's role in growing a new crop of Ag specialists 11:17

2+ y ago11:17

11:17

Jim talks with Western Illinois University School of Agriculture director Dr. Andy Baker as the department gets national attention for the work it's doing with the next generation of farming See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Better protecting the future of Western Illinois University 13:38

2+ y ago13:38

13:38

Jim talks with Western Illinois University assistant vice president Dr. Kristi Mindrup about the second half of the 2021-22 school year as students face COVID, new school programs, and efforts to increase enrollment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
105: Best Year Ever 44:53

2+ y ago44:53

44:53

You can have your best year ever! Lori Oberbroeckling from Secrets of Supermom is here with ways to bring your goals for the year within reach. Mom of 4, Lori is a clinical researcher, author, podcaster and overall SUPERMOM. A jam-packed schedule is what gives her happiness, but being a Supermom can mean something different for you. In this episode…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Taking out your COVID frustrations on doctors and nurses 13:57

2+ y ago13:57

13:57

Jim talks with the President-Elect of the Illinois State Medical Society, Dr. Clarence Brown, about the challenges in health care as we enter Year 3 of the COVID pandemic See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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104: Teacher Burnout 40:48

2+ y ago40:48

40:48

Sara Kershaw is a return guest to give her take on how teachers are handling the second year of pandemic rules in the classroom. She says teacher burnout is nothing new, but parents are contributing to the problem. Mom of 3 daughters, Sara talks about how she makes positive role models present in her daughter's lives and questions whether we are do…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Enough with the spike in cases! 2022, COVID, and the Quad Cities 13:50

2+ y ago13:50

13:50

Jim talks with Rock Island County Health Department's Janet Hill about the spike in cases as we head into 2022, the on-going vaccination push, and what the new year may look like for public health here at home See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.…

1
THE CITIES PODCAST: Veterans, have we got a deal for you! 9:53

2+ y ago9:53

9:53

Jim talks with Emily Codling, talent manager at the Quad Cities Chamber, about the effort to bring veterans to Scott County with the lure of jobs, housing, and tax breaks See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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WQAD Podcasts

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