WEFT 90.1 fm

listener-supported, volunteer operated, community radio since 1981

Smile Politely Radio
Was broadcast Friday's 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm - ceased production in December of 2016.

Passionate, trustworthy, informed points of view on local music, arts, culture, food+drink, sports, politics and news from diverse contributors. Audio/podcast companion to the online magazine. For the entire online magazine, visit the homepage at SmilePolitely.com. Also check out the Smile Politely Radio Facebook page. Smile Politely is also now on iTunes.

Shows are archived in mp3 format at 56kbps for fast downloads.

December 2016 shows

  • December 16, 2016 - This episode of Smile Politely Radio features fiction and poetry by Roya Khatiblou, Michael Murrey, Mary Timmins, and A. Loudermilk. These authors read recently at The Reading Room, which takes place at The Accord.

    • November 2016 shows

    • November 25, 2016 - A re-broadcast of the July 08, 2016 interview - Matt Riggs of Riggs Beer Company talks brewing, beer, and what it was like to get Riggs Beer Company up and running. We apologize for the recording quality.
      • November 18, 2016 - A re-broadcast of the August 12, 2016 interview - Mallory Krieger of The Land Connection discusses the organization's farmer training program and agriculture in and around Champaign County. Then writer John Palen shares some of his work.
      • November 11, 2016 - A re-broadcast of the September 23, 2016 interview - James Tadd Adcox discusses his new novella, Repetition.
      • November 04, 2016 - A re-broadcast of the September 09 interview - Megan Flowers, Communications Director of the University YMCA, talks about the Y's history, space, and programming. Then Xuxa Rodriguez, who read recently at The Accord's Reading Room, shares some of her poems.

        • October 2016 shows

        • October 28, 2016 - A re-broadcast of the June 25 program - Katherine Scott Nelson and Janice Harrington. Nelson, a fiction writer, recently completed an MFA at the U of I, and Harrington is an Associate Professor of English in U of I's MFA program.
        • October 21, 2016 - Sanjay Patel, the CEO and co-founder of Personify, talks about his video tech company and how video technology is changing.
        • October 14, 2016 - Dan Urban, a postdoctoral researcher at the University and public outreach fellow at the Institute for Genomic Biology, talks about his research and the Orpheum Children's Science Museum's Genome Day. Then Lindsey Gates-Markel reads a work of fiction. Gates-Markel read recently at The Accord's Reading Room.
        • October 07, 2016 - Repeat of the August 26 program - Kelley Wegeng of C-U Across the Prairie talks about the event, Prairie Cycle Club, and biking in C-U. Then Dillon Tracy shares some of his poetry. Tracy read recently at The Accord's Reading Room.

          • September 2016 shows

          • September 30, 2016 - Re-broadcast of Jun 25, 2016 interview - Katherine Scott Nelson and Janice Harrington. Nelson, a fiction writer, recently completed an MFA at the U of I, and Harrington is an Associate Professor of English in U of I's MFA program.
          • September 23, 2016 - James Tadd Adcox discusses his new novella, Repetition. Adcox will be reading flash fiction at this year's Pygmalion.
          • September 16, 2016 - Patrick Singer tells us what we need to know about The Pygmalion Festival, which starts this weekend.
          • September 09, 2016 - Megan Flowers, Communications Director of the University YMCA, talks about the Y's history, space, and programming. Then Xuxa Rodriguez, who read recently at The Accord's Reading Room, shares some of her poems.
          • September 02, 2016 - Mindy Brand of Allerton Park and John Milas of The Accord's Reading Room join us on this episode of Smile Politely Radio.

            • August 2016 shows

            • August 26, 2016 - Kelley Wegeng of C-U Across the Prairie talks about the event, Prairie Cycle Club, and biking in C-U. Then Dillon Tracy shares some of his poetry. Tracy read recently at The Accord's Reading Room.
            • August 19, 2016 - A re-broadcast of the June 17 interview - Eric Stanley of Euriah stops by to talk about the band's new album, Passenger, which will be released on Heirship Records in August.
            • August 12, 2016 - Mallory Krieger of The Land Connection discusses the organization's farmer training program and agriculture in and around Champaign County. Then writer John Palen shares some of his work.
            • August 05, 2016 - This week offers an archive show from 2015. Jessica Paris and Brandon Bowersox-Johnson visit from Pixo.

            July 2016 shows

            • July 29, 2016 - A re-broadcast of the June 17 interview - Eric Stanley of Euriah stops by to talk about the band's new album, Passenger, which will be released on Heirship Records in August.
            • July 22, 2016 - Due to technical difficulties no SP program was broadcast this week.
            • July 15, 2016 - This week's episode features two writers who recently shared their work at The Accord's Reading Room: Katherine Scott Nelson and Janice Harrington. Nelson, a fiction writer, recently completed an MFA at the U of I, and Harrington is an Associate Professor of English in U of I's MFA program.
            • July 08, 2016 - Matt Riggs of Riggs Beer Company talks brewing, beer, and what it was like to get Riggs Beer Company up and running.
            • July 01, 2016 - A re-broadcast of the 22 April 2016 program - Karissa McDermott, a member of the PechaKucha organizing committee, and Josh Cooper, a board member of CUDO, stop by to discuss recent changes at CUDO (Champaign-Urbana Design Organization) as well as the fast-paced presentation format of PechaKucha, which has appeared over twenty times in Champaign-Urbana.

            June 2016 shows

            • June 24, 2016 - Chelsea Norton and Katherine Hicks of the Champaign Park District tell us about summer programming and how to enjoy the outdoors in Champaign this summer. Then Carey Smith shares some of the poems she read recently at The Accord's Reading Room.
            • June 17, 2016 - Eric Stanley of Euriah stops by to talk about the band's new album, Passenger, which will be released on Heirship Records in August.
            • June 10, 2016 - Andrew Hicks, the director of Soapbox, a stand-up showcase that takes place at The Accord, talks about comedy, turning 28, and cracks a few jokes. This section of the podcast also features the ambient noises of The Accord itself. Later in the program we hear a portion of a new novel by Philip Graham. Graham is the author of seven books and a Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois.
            • June 03, 2016 - Re-broadcast of the 13 May 2016 program - Rebecah visits with Dana Mancuso of the Urbana Park District - they discuss UPD facilities, UPD's activity options, and they discuss UPD's work in the area of restoring some spaces to a more natural state.

            May 2016 shows

            • May 27, 2016 - A replay of the May 6 discussion - Fire up your radios. Roya Khatiblou, Jim O'Brien, and John Dudek stop by Smile Politely Radio to discuss The Accord's literary series The Reading Room. Dudek, voted audience favorite at a recent Reading Room event, also reads some of his poetry.
            • May 20, 2016 - On this episode of SP Radio, we get up close and personal with Opinion Editor, Tara Terra manager, and man of the world Boswell Hutson. We also hear poetry by Eric Sirota about the foreclosure crisis and what people look like.
            • May 13, 2016 - Rebecah visits with Dana Mancuso of the Urbana Park District - they discuss UPD facilities, UPD's activity options, and they discuss UPD's work in the area of restoring some spaces to a more natural state.
            • May 06, 2016 - Fire up your radios. Roya Khatiblou, Jim O'Brien, and John Dudek stop by Smile Politely Radio to discuss The Accord's literary series The Reading Room. Dudek, voted audience favorite at a recent Reading Room event, also reads some of his poetry.

            April 2016 shows

            • April 29, 2016 - In this episode Rebecah of SP Radio speaks with, Tom Ramage, the president of Parkland College. He talks about his career and Parkland College.
            • April 22, 2016 - Karissa McDermott, a member of the PechaKucha organizing committee, and Josh Cooper, a board member of CUDO, stop by to discuss recent changes at CUDO (Champaign-Urbana Design Organization) as well as the fast-paced presentation format of PechaKucha, which has appeared over twenty times in Champaign-Urbana.
            • April 15, 2016 - Members of local "postnewwaveindiepoprock" band Again Is Already stop by Smile Politely Radio to talk music, genre, and what it's like to record their first album.
            • April 08, 2016 - Rebecah talks with Amy Williams of R.A.C.E.S. (Rape Advocacy, Counseling, and Education Services) and they discuss the organization's history, work in Champaign-Urbana, and current budget challenges.
            • April 01, 2016 - Scott Schwartz of the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music discusses some of the rare sights and sounds you can find in the Harding Band Building on U of I's campus.

            March 2016 shows

            • March 25, 2016 - Aaron Short and Carrie Chandler-Harrison of The Bashful Youngens visit Rebecah at WEFT and discuss their new album, folk/Americana, and what it's like to write for an album as it's being recorded.
            • March 18, 2016 - Two members of Kayla and the Moon Lace Band, Kayla DeSouza and Trevor Bush, stop by WEFT to discuss with Rebecah their music and new EP, Eclipse.
            • March 11, 2016 - Dan Linn of Phoenix Botanical stops by WEFT to talk with Rebecah.
            • March 04, 2016 - Rebecah chats with Barbara Wysocki and Kelsey Bourgeois about the local chapter of the League of Wome Voters.

            February 2016 shows

            • February 26, 2016 - Rebecah's guests this week are members of Carnivàle Debauche who stopped by WEFT to discuss the world of burlesque.
            • February 19, 2016 - Artist and professor Ben Grosser stops by WEFT to discuss art, software, and surveillance with Rebecah.
            • February 12, 2016 - Sandra Ahten hosts with guest Alex Ruggieri, a local business person as well as the host of the podcast Central Illinois Business. They discuss the intersections of art and entrepreneurship.
            • February 05, 2016 - This week's Smile Politely Radio covers FirstFollowers, a re-entry program for people who are returning to the community after a period of incarceration.

            January 2016 shows

            • January 29, 2016 - Kristin Walters talks wine at WEFT.
            • January 22, 2016 - In this episode of Smile Politely Radio, Alicia Kozma of the Art Theater Co-op stops by WEFT to discuss the Art Theater and Oscars 2016.
            • January 15, 2016 - Sandra Ahten interviews Lucia Maldonado, a volunteer with the C-U Immigration Forum as well as Urbana School District's Latino Family Liaison, about the unaccompanied minors arriving in Urbana and Champaign as they escape the violence and poverty in Guatemala.
            • January 08, 2016 - Sandra Ahten interviews Ward Gollings about the upcoming "Great Cover Up" and the transformation of the downtown Champaign venue from "The Highdive" to "The Accord".
            • January 01, 2016 - Repeat of Dec 11, 2015 program - Andrew Fell of Andrew Fell Architecture and Design stops by WEFT to talk renovation and design.

            Archives of additional 2015 Smile Politely Shows

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