Enjoy Illinois: Let's Go!

On this episode, host Catie Sheehan heads to Chicago's South Side to go behind the scenes at one of the most talked-about new attractions in the country: the Obama Presidential Center, which opened June 19th in Jackson Park.First, Catie sits down with Paul Schulhof, an architect who spent nearly a decade working alongside founding partners Tod Williams and Billie Tsien on the design of the 19.3-acre campus. Paul explains what makes the OPC unlike any presidential library before it, shares what it was like to collaborate directly with Barack and Michelle Obama, and describes how the campus—from its iconic 225-foot museum tower to its NBA-regulation basketball court—was built to be a place of learning and action.After that, Catie connects with Michael Strautmanis, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of the Obama Foundation and a Chicago native who has been part of the Obama world since the Senate days. Michael reflects on what the OPC means for the South Side community, how it's already changing the map for visitors, and shares some favorite neighborhood haunts.

On this episode, host Catie Sheehan heads to Chicago — the city that invented modern improv and has been exporting comedic innovation to the world ever since.First, Catie sits down with Kelly Leonard, who spent more than 30 years at The Second City, rising from dishwasher to executive producer. Over the years he hired Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Keegan-Michael Key, and many others who would go on to define American comedy. Kelly reflects on what makes Chicago such a singular comedy incubator and shares some favorite haunts, including the Old Town Ale House, Jazz Showcase, and The Golden Apple Grille and Breakfast House.After that, Catie connects with Jennifer Estlin, owner and executive producer of the Annoyance Theater, the Lakeview institution that has been a creative home to Jane Lynch, Andy Richter, Aidy Bryant, and Matt Walsh, among others. Jennifer explains how the Annoyance fits into Chicago's comedy ecosystem alongside Second City and iO, and why visitors can still catch lightning in a bottle there on any given night.

On this episode, host Catie Sheehan ventures into the supernatural side of Illinois, summoning up secrets about the state’s most haunted places—from Alton and Decatur to Springfield, Chicago, and Galena.First, Catie sits down with Troy Taylor, a prolific author of more than 150 books on the paranormal, a podcaster, and a pioneer of the ghost tour movement. Troy got his start as a kid, guided through the darker corners of Decatur by his Irish immigrant great-grandfather. He shares some of Illinois' most spine-tingling tales—including the legend of Resurrection Mary, the vanishing hitchhiker of Archer Avenue who has interacted with multiple people over the years.After that, Catie drills down on Galena with Ted Williams, co-owner of the Haunted Galena Tour Company. A city of just 3,000 people that draws nearly a million visitors a year, Galena's 1850s-era streetscapes are the perfect setting for things that go bump in the night. Ted talks about some of his favorite phantoms, including the mysterious Lady in Black and a ghost cat said to curl up on the beds of the historic Dowling House.

On this episode, host Catie Sheehan takes the show on the road to Casey, Illinois—a town of fewer than 2,500 people that has become home to more record-breaking oversized attractions than any small town has a right to claim.Recorded on location, Catie explores the streets of Casey and sits down with locals to hear the story behind the Big Things: how they came to be, what they mean to the community, and what the future holds for this one-of-a-kind destination. All 34 of Casey's oversized attractions are free and open to the public, making it one of Illinois's most surprising and accessible stops.Come for the World’s Largest Rocking Chair. Stay for the community behind it.

In this episode of the Enjoy Illinois: Let's Go! podcast, host Catie Sheehan sits down with comedian, actor, and podcaster Andy Richter for a wide-ranging conversation about the state where he grew up—and how the Land of Lincoln shaped him.Best known as Conan O'Brien's sidekick and as a breakout fan favorite on Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars, Richter is more than a late-night legend—he's a proud son of Illinois who grew up in Yorkville, spent formative years on the Chicago comedy scene, and carries the Midwest with him everywhere he goes. From his training days at Improv Olympic and The Annoyance Theatre to his many roles on the small screen, Richter reflects on what Illinois gave him. He also offers some fantastic recommendations via the Land of Lincoln Lightning Round.

On this special episode, host Catie Sheehan celebrates the Route 66 Centennial with two guests who know the Mother Road inside and out. The show opens with a word from Governor JB Pritzker on what this milestone year means for Illinois.First up is Amanda Bryden, Registrar of History at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield. Bryden co-led "Miles of Memories," the Route 66 Oral History Project, a remarkable collection of 100 video-recorded interviews with the people who lived, worked, and traveled the road during the pre-interstate era. She shares stories from the archive, including a striking account of what travel looked like for Black families navigating segregation-era Route 66, and offers her picks for must-see stops along Illinois' stretch of the highway.Next, Sheehan sits down with Josh Waldmire, third-generation owner of the Cozy Dog Drive In in Springfield. Waldmire shares the full story behind his grandfather Ed's invention of the Cozy Dog in the 1940s, what keeps the restaurant feeling like a trip back in time, and what's on the horizon for the centennial year, including a Major League Eating contest at the Mother Road Festival this September.

On this episode, host Catie Sheehan takes listeners to one of her favorite parts of the state—Southern Illinois. She kicks things off by interviewing Shawn Gossman, an avid outdoorsman and tour guide who is also the creative force behind the Hiking with Shawn content brand. Catie and Shawn discuss Garden of the Gods, chasing waterfalls in the Shawnee National Forest, Snake Road, and other top attractions in the region. After that, Catie sits down with Brandy Nance, a double-duty wine insider who knows the terroir as well as anyone. Brandy is both Marketing and Event Director at Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda and the Executive Director of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, and she serves up all sorts of useful insights about wine tasting in this up-and-coming region. Great food, fantastic wine, epic outdoor adventures—Southern Illinois is the real deal.

Join host Catie Sheehan as she speaks with Chicago culinary icon Gale Gand. The two-time James Beard Award winner is a Food Network pioneer, the pastry chef behind one of Chicago's most celebrated fine-dining restaurants, and a teacher who has spent decades sharing her love of food—and of Illinois—with everyone from world leaders to first-time pie makers. Beyond sharing insights about her remarkable career, Gand recommends some of her favorite restaurants in the Chicago area and offers statewide suggestions via the Land of Lincoln Lightning Round.