Podagraph: The Official Pantagraph Podcast The Pantagraph

Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Health Editor Paul Swiech about his breast cancer awareness package in Saturday’s Pantagraph, including a profile of cancer survivor Andrea Kane. Paul discusses risk factors for breast cancer, how Andrea leaned on her workout family during treatment, what anyone can learn from her “quiet strength,” a Monday end-of-life planning event and the latest on vaping. Listen Music by Sappheiros

Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Education and Public Safety Reporter Kelsey Watznauer about McLean County Unit 5 schools, starting with the Normal-based district’s long-standing transportation woes. Kelsey discusses why Unit 5 has so much trouble getting students to school, where those problems originated and what changes may be on the horizon. Plus: the search for a superintendent, adding lacrosse at the high-school level, a WorldSkills finalist and Normal West High’s 25th birthday celebration. Listen Music by Sappheiros

Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Sports Editor Randy Kindred about the Chicago Bears, starting with his Sunday column on Pantagraph alum Will Larkin and the Chicago Tribune’s 100 Best Bears series. Randy discusses how he chose to write about Larkin, his favorite eras of Chicago Bears history, how common Bears fandom is in Central Illinois and the paper’s different approaches to pro, college and high school sports. Listen Music by Sappheiros

Education and Public Safety Reporter Kelsey Watznauer interviews Government Reporter Derek Beigh about his Sunday story on the McLean County Museum of History’s project to preserve early negatives from The Pantagraph, many of which will be published for the first time this week. Derek discusses how these negatives have withstood the test of time, what the museum and its partners have done to bring them back to life and how historians the world over can access them online starting Wednesday. Listen Music by Sappheiros

Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Health Editor Paul Swiech about his Sunday story on the link between mass shootings and mental illness, a national conversation again after August massacres in El Paso and Dayton. Paul discusses how closely the issues are linked; what we lose by stigmatizing mental illness; tips for those who struggle with mental illness or have loved ones who do; and how stereotypes and easy explanations can fall short. Listen Music by Sappheiros

Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Higher Education Reporter Lenore Sobota about the new semester at Illinois State University, kicking off Aug. 19 in Normal. Lenore discusses how to steer clear of move-in days; what’s new with Bone Student Center and other ISU facilities; and the latest ‘Explore with Lenore.’ Music by Sappheiros Listen