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Gracia started out in the Springfield area and was noticed at the Macoupin County Fair by Luke Bryan. From there she competed on The Voice and now records between Springfield and Nashville. Gracia previews her next single, Run, live in the studio.

Angela Holland is the interior designer behind Broad Strokes Home Design in Springfield. She spoke with Community Voices about how remodeling an older home opened the doors to learning about interior design. She also shared how she creatively uses colors, textures and other design elements to tell a story.

The Illinois Stewardship Alliance (ISA) is a non-profit that works to find, connect, train and amplify the leadership of farmers and eaters who use their choices and their voices to shape a more just and regenerative local food and farm system. Communications Director Molly Pickering spoke to Community Voices about the organization and how policy helps bring about the changes ISA hopes to see in agriculture.Originally aired January 10, 2022.

John Freml is an instructor of Women’s and Gender Studies at Lincoln Land Community College. He has a masters degree in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Cincinnati. He spoke to Community Voices about the topic of gender and explained how it is often confused by a person’s sex. He also shared his thoughts on how to be a better advocate for the LGBTQ community and how to talk to children about gender and inclusivity.

Front Row Classics kicks off 2022 with a visit from one of the most renowned and trusted voices in the film community. Brandon is thrilled to welcome Leonard Maltin to the podcast. Mr. Maltin discusses his new book, "Starstruck: My Unlikely Road to Hollywood". The interview covers his many interactions with both legendary and lesser known entertainment figures. We also discuss his early days as a critic and interviewer along with his tenure teaching USC's popular film studies course. This is definitely a conversation that any film lover will enjoy."Starstruck: My Unlikely Road to Hollywood" is available wherever books are sold from GoodKnight Books.

Al Nimpson is a Springfield comedian and half of the two men behind Belly Laffs, an independent comedy group. He spoke to Community Voices about his first time doing standup and how, despite it not going well, it encouraged him to keep trying. He also provided insight into the Springfield comedy scene and gave advice on how to practice standup comedy.

On this week's episode, we speak with Toi Hutchinson, a former state senator who also oversaw the start of recreational marijuana legalization in Illinois. She has now taken a job as CEO of the national Marijuana Policy Project. She talks about what she sees ahead for cannabis laws at the federal level. January is a time when many struggled with seasonal depression and anxiety. A psychologist tells us it's worse during the pandemic. Those stories and more on Statewide.

The City of Chicago has pumped millions of dollars into what's known as street outreach, an effort focused on reducing gun violence. But with gun crimes skyrocketing, has it worked? We also look at the health conditions inside meatpacking plants, where COVID outbreaks have been deadly. Those stories and more on this week's Statewide.

Some big announcements in recent days set the stage for what's expected to be an interesting election year. Longtime Congressman Bobby Rush bows out, likely creating a free-for-all in who will replace him. It also appears a couple of freshmen lawmakers will mount challenges against more established politicians in their party.

The pandemic has placed a strain on the health care system. Nurses have felt the brunt. We hear from an ICU nurse about working during an unprecedented time.Also, coyotes have proven resilient. That's led to more of them, both in urban and rural areas. We find out what some states are doing about it. Those stories and more on this episode of Statewide.