14. Wendell details some artists and venues from the history of the Peoria, Illinois underground punk music scene including Bloody F. Mess."Middle America" is a podcast using history, storytelling, and music to talk about all of the issues and

Distilling - Almiran Cole and Ownership

May 12th, 2021 25m

13. Wendell remembers the man who pioneered whiskey distilling in Peoria, starting the trend that would create "The Whiskey Capital of the World" in the late 1800s. Wendell also discusses a painful creative split."Middle America" is a podcast u

Domesticity - Betty Friedan and the Problem That Has No Name

Apr 14th, 2021 25m 14s

12. Wendell discusses the woman who sparked the second wave of American feminism, Betty Friedan along with his own domestic depression during a pandemic."Middle America" is a podcast using history, storytelling, and music to talk about all of t

Toxic - Matt Hale and Cultural Poison

Mar 17th, 2021 25m 16s

11. Wendell discusses Central Illinois's ugly history of white supremacists through the story of Matt Hale and World Church of the Creator."Middle America" is a podcast using history, storytelling, and music to talk about all of the issues and

Seeker - Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, Becoming, and Unbecoming

Feb 17th, 2021 25m 8s

10. Wendell discusses the life of the first non-indigenous permanent resident of Chicago, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, as well as the events leading to his own life inside and outside of Chicago."Middle America" is a podcast using history, st

On End - John Kinzie, Thomas Forsyth, and War's Cry

Jan 13th, 2021 24m 46s

9. Wendell recounts his life events on September 11, 2001 while also discussing the destruction of French Peoria (La Ville de Maillet) during the War of 1812."Middle America" is a podcast using history, storytelling, and music to talk about all

Sermon – Robert Ingersoll and Good, Free Days

Dec 9th, 2020 22m 33s

8. Wendell discusses winter holidays as humanist and atheist while reading pieces by famous 19th century orator Robert Ingersoll."Middle America" is a podcast using history, storytelling, and music to talk about all of the issues and feelings b

Leap – Richard Pryor and the Power of Belief

Mar 5th, 2020 29m 7s

7. Wendell tells the story of Richard Pryor's comedic coming-of-age in Peoria and his leap of faith in heading to NYC. Wendell also discusses his early attempts to tour full time with his college band."Middle America" is a podcast using history

Monuments - Lydia Moss Bradley and What We Make of Loss

Oct 22nd, 2019 28m 37s

6. Wendell tells the story of how Lydia Moss Bradley built monuments to her lost loved ones, providing Peoria with a park system, a university, a hospital, and more. Wendell also builds a monument of his own for a lost fellow musician."Middle A

Names – Le Rocher Saint-Louis and Shadows Cast

Oct 6th, 2019 25m 36s

5. The narrator, Wendell Bauer, continues the story of the early French in Illinois, picking up from episode 1. He also discusses how the names we give to people and things affect what they are."Middle America" is a podcast using history, story

Versions – Simon Trefzger Jr. and Rising Sons

Apr 28th, 2019 32m 19s

4. Simon Trefzger, Jr.'s journey to America is recalled along with the early happenings at Peoria's Trefzger's Bakery. The narrator discusses the journey a son makes in outgrowing his father's shadow."Middle America" is a podcast using history,

Underworld – Bernie Shelton and Loss of Innocence

Mar 27th, 2019 26m 1s

3. The Shelton Brothers' Gang is introduced, with a focus on the youngest brother and muscle of the gang, Bernie Shelton. The narrator discusses the differences between fantasy and reality."Middle America" is a podcast using history, storytelli

Larger Love - Mary Brown Davis and Devotion

Feb 13th, 2019 26m 7s

2. This episode starts to look at historic race and gender relations in Central Illinois through the life and work of the abolitionist Mary Brown Davis. Nat Turner's slave rebellion is discussed to give context (for more consider viewing the 20

Middle America - Fort Crevecoeur and Where I Began

Jan 14th, 2019 24m 4s

1. This first full episode of "Middle America" on January 15, 2019 marks the 339th anniversary of Fort Crevecoeur, one of the earliest European settlements in the American Midwest. Elements of this story set in a seemingly inconsequential small

Trailer

Middle America Trailer - Episodes Begin Jan. 15, 2019

Jan 11th, 2019 55s

Jared Grabb vinyl LP Kickstarter through 6/3/21! Please show your support.https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jaredgrabb/jared-grabbs-ex-scouts-honor-6th-solo-lp"Middle America" is a podcast using history, storytelling, and music to talk about

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