Holstein and Company

Tammy is the Family Sales Counselor for Mount Hope and Roselawn Cemeteries in Champaign. Contact • Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ • Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter • Follow the show on Facebook. Rate and review • In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser

Mike Larson is Associate Director of Utilities Production, Facilities and Services at the University of Illinois. He joins me in this episode to talk about the University's massive solar farms, how they work, how much energy they produce, and the research coming out of them. Links • Solar Farm website • Solar energy output dashboard Contact • Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ • Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter • Follow the show on Facebook. Rate and review • In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser

Mike is a member of four athletic halls of fame and is Director of Advancement for St. John's Catholic Newman Center on the campus of the University of Illinois. Links • St. John's Catholic Newman Center • Greater Illiana Sports Hall of Fame • Hoopeston Area High School Athletic Hall of Fame • Eastern Illinois Hall of Fame Contact • Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ • Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter • Follow the show on Facebook. Rate and review • In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser

Previous guest Ray Cunningham (Episode 7499) hopped a plane to Ukraine to photograph everyday life as the war continues. Ray is the former mayor of Homer, Illinois, whose background is in historical research. He's not only a world traveler who’s been to dozens of countries — including multiple trips to North Korea — he’s a respected photographer who has shot over 1 million photos. Links • Ray's Flickr account Contact • Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ • Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter • Comment on this episode on Facebook.

In this episode I chat with Patrick Pfingsten, publisher of The Illinoize. We talk about the country's infatuation with national politics, why our state politicians probably need a raise, and shoe shining. Patrick was a longtime voice on WDWS radio who transitioned to political consulting. His free newsletter offers a deep dive into Illinois politics. Links • Sign up for The Illinoize Contact • Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ • Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter • Comment on this episode on Facebook.

While the title of this podcast episode might seem like click bait, something to get you to press play, it's not. This is easily the most difficult show I've ever done... on the radio or in podcast form. Contact • Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ • Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter • Comment on this episode on Facebook.

Bill is a Champaign father of four who knows a thing or ten about roads, bridges, and how to connect the research being done at places like the University of Illinois with the engineers and planners in cities around the world. Links • Advanced Research Associates Contact • Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ • Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter • Comment on this episode on Facebook. Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript View the transcript at http://holstein.co/7524-bill-vavrik/

Several years ago Sean Williams learned about a retired FBI agent's quest to discover America's lost apple varieties. This led Sean to begin exploring Champaign County for lost fruits, and to uncover the history of lost orchards, such as the ones now resided on in Savoy, Illinois, where Old Orchard Bowling Lanes and Senator's Inn sit. In this episode we learn how Champaign County was once the home of one of the two largest orchards in the Midwest, and how his quest for lost fruit led Sean to possibly discover a pear that was thought to be lost for 100 years. Links • Email Sean at CUFruitExplorer@gmail.com • Midwest Explorer's article The Lost Fruit Trees of Champaign County (PDF) • Weston's Antique Apples in Wisconsin • Hocking Hills Orchard in Ohio Contact • Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ • Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter • Comment on this episode on Facebook. Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript View the transcript at http://holstein.co/7523-sean-williams/

After a year off, CU Humane Society's Fur Ball is back — and virtual. The online auction will begin at 12 noon on Friday, October 1. Preview auction items and get registration info (it's free) at CUHumane.org.

The world famous Negangard Pumpkin Patch got its start some time in the '70s. Today, people come from communities near and far to pick a perfect, or imperfect, pumpkin just southeast of Philo, Illinois. In this episode we learn the history of the pumpkin patch, go behind the scenes of what it takes to ready it for thousands of annual visitors, and get a front-seat tour of the pumpkin field. Links • Negangard Pumpkin Patch Contact • Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ • Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter • Comment on this episode on Facebook. Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript View the transcript at http://holstein.co/7522-negangard-pumpkin-patch/

The Avon Theater in Decatur, Illinois, has been around for 105 years, and Skip Huston has owned it since 1999. In this episode Skip and I discuss how movie theaters make money, simultaneous releases to streaming, why the Avon's popcorn is best, and what film he's most looking forward to seeing in his theater. Links • Avon Theater Contact • Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ • Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter • Comment on this episode on Facebook. Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript View the transcript at http://holstein.co/7521-skip-huston/

Launched in 2009, Chambanamoms.com is one of the most valuable online resources for residents in East Central Illinois — and not only for moms. In this episode Laura Bleill and I discuss masks, resilient kids, the behavior of parents in other states, her website's top posts during the pandemic, and more. Links • Chambana Moms • Chambana Seniors Contact Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript View the transcript at http://holstein.co/7520-laura-bleill/

My guest: Jon Moore, Director of the Institute of Aviation One of the best aviation schools in the nation is located here in East Central Illinois. In this episode I talk to Jon about how you can become a pilot, the industry's pilot shortage, flight simulators (professional and Microsoft), turbulence, and more. Links • Parkland College Institute of Aviation • Institute of Aviation on Facebook Contact Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript View the transcript at http://holstein.co/7519-jon-moore

My guest: Professor Nicholas Grossman Nicholas Grossman is a University of Illinois political scientist and international relations expert, and author of "Drones and Terrorism: Asymmetric Warfare and the Threat to Global Security". Professor Grossman is also the Senior Editor of Arc Digital. In this episode we discuss the United States' exit from Afghanistan and whether or not it was the best option. Episode links • Drones and Terrorism: Asymmetric Warfare and the Threat to Global Security • Arc Digital Contact Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript View the transcript at http://holstein.co/7518-nicholas-grossman

My guest: Kaci Abolt Kaci is Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment in Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois and we're talking about the process of coming into C-U, getting moved in, and getting through the first week as a new student. Contact Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript View the transcript at http://holstein.co/7517-kaci-abolt/

My guest: Chris Sokolowski Chris is the Assistant City Engineer for the City of Champaign. In this conversation he answers every question I've ever had about traffic signals: How many are there? Who decides when it's time for a new one? Can lights be changed from a central location? Will we see more roundabouts any time? Contact Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript View the transcript at http://holstein.co/7516-chris-sokolowski/

My guest: Jeff Kohmstedt You've probably seen Jeff run as Abe Lincoln in the Illinois Marathon. Jeff and I talk about our connections — through running, an old house, and a lost diamond ring. And he shares a bit of what it was like being in Washington D.C. on and after September 11. Episode links Run to Remember: https://illinoismarathon.com/races/run-to-remember/ Contact Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript View the transcript at http://holstein.co/7515-jeff-kohmstedt/

My guest: Jennifer Wayland You're ready to travel, but where can you travel? The industry was hammered by the pandemic but Urbana's Island Travel Group used the disruption and downtime to create new procedures and improve the planning experience. Episode links Island Travel Group: https://www.islandtravelgroup.com Contact Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Transcript Steve Holstein: You really are a world traveling travel agent because you know, we're talking about Antiga and New Zealand, Australia, but then also the hotel that's made from an old jail over in Indiana. Jennifer Wayland: Yeah. I try, I, people will say, oh, she's been everywhere. I'm like, oh, I haven't even put a dent in this earth, but I'm trying, I'm working on getting everywhere. Full transcript available here: http://holstein.co/7514-jennifer-wayland/

Contact Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter My guest: Angie Hatfield Marker Angie went from selling vehicles at O'Brien Auto Park in Urbana to the CEO spot with The Community Foundation. In this episode we talk about reality TV, hot yoga, preparing for runs and triathlons, and how The Community Foundation is different from other charitable organizations. Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Episode links The Community Foundation: https://cfeci.org Transcript Please visit the episode page at holstein.co.

In this episode I speak with Brennon Breymeyer, a farmer and John Deere equipment salesman for AHW. We'll talk ag technology, the future of truly autonomous farming, and COVID-19's impact on farmers. Rate and review this podcast In Apple podcasts please give it a bunch of stars and leave a review. On other devices please visit https://bit.ly/HoCoPodchaser Contact Email Steve at steve@holstein.co or visit holstein.co/contact/ Get the newsletter at holstein.co/newsletter