Greg & Dan Show Interviews

Greg and Dan talk with Chris Setti of the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council about scalable entrepreneurship and how small businesses with the right resources and opportunities can grow into much larger companies. He discusses why access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges for growing businesses. They’re joined by Jim Cote of Central Illinois Angels, who shares what motivates him to invest his time and experience into helping businesses succeed. He explains how Central Illinois Angels invests in roughly three to four companies each year, discusses recent projects and investments, and talks about helping entrepreneurs turn their visions into opportunities for expansion.

For more information, visit Central Illinois Angels.

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Greg and Dan talk with Dave Johnson of Pearl Technology about Anthropic’s AI research and the use of sandbox environments to safely test powerful AI systems. He explains what a “sandbox” is and how isolated environments have traditionally been used to test potentially harmful software, including viruses, without allowing it to affect outside systems. He also discusses an AI experiment involving open-source code, how the system interacted with its sandbox environment and GitHub, and what experiments like these can teach researchers about the capabilities, behavior, and potential risks of increasingly powerful AI.

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Greg and Yvonne talk with Taylor “TaBoo” and Reema “Honey Suckerpunch” about the Peoria Prowlers Roller Derby team, how it got started, and its welcoming, all-gender approach to the sport. They explain how newcomers can learn to skate and get involved, share what inspired each of them to join the team, and break down the basics and goals of roller derby and the teams they compete against. They also highlight the Prowlers' home games at the Peoria Civic Center, including their next home game on September 26, as well as the upcoming 5K and 1-mile walk on August 15.

For more information about the team and upcoming events, visit Peoria Prowlers Roller Derby.

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Greg and Yvonne talk with Paul “Doc” Watson of TCRC, Tazewell County Resource Centers, about the organization's mission to support individuals with developmental disabilities and visual impairments and help them live lives of greater choice and independence. He also previews the upcoming Amplify the Mission event happening Sunday, August 9, from 1–5 p.m. at Oz’z Bar & Grill in Creve Coeur. He shares what attendees can expect from the event, the importance of supporting TCRC's work throughout the community, and why it should be a fun afternoon for a great cause. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door!

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Greg and Yvonne talk with Brooke and Marcellus Sommerville about their son, Lathan Sommerville, returning to his alma mater, Richwoods High School, on Sunday, August 16, for the Court to the Classroom event. They discuss Lathan's desire to give back to the Peoria community and use his experiences in athletics to teach lessons that extend beyond the court, while sharing what it means to them as parents to watch their son make a positive impact. Brooke also highlights her book, For the Love of the Game: A Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth Sports, and explains how it grew from her experiences helping parents navigate the challenges and opportunities that come with raising young athletes. Marcellus also previews Friendship House of Christian Service's 75th anniversary celebration on September 12, another opportunity to celebrate the organization's longstanding impact on the Peoria community.

For more information about Friendship House and its 75th anniversary, visit Friendship House.

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Greg and Yvonne talk with Mar Sergenti of the Italian-American Society about the 95th Annual Festa Picnic  and Mark Misselhorn about the 100th anniversary of Agatucci's, happening Sunday, August 9, from 12-5 p.m. at Hickory Grove Park. This year's Festa is extra special as it brings together two longtime pieces of Peoria's Italian-American history. She previews the festivities and discusses the importance of celebrating Italian culture, traditions, and heritage, while he highlights the memorabilia, memories, and special activities honoring a century of the iconic Peoria restaurant. Together, they share how the celebration brings generations of the community together through food, history, and plenty of fun!

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Greg and Yvonne talk with Jerry Kolb and Valerie Wolfe of the Friends of Rocky Glen about the importance of preserving Rocky Glen Park and why community support is needed to protect this unique natural treasure. They preview Kickapoo Brew, happening Friday at Pour Bros. Craft Taproom, with festivities beginning at 6:00 p.m. and live music starting at 7:00 p.m. They discuss Rocky Glen's rich natural history, the importance of horticulture and native landscapes, and the growing concern of topsoil loss throughout the Midwest, while encouraging the community to get involved in conservation efforts.

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Greg and Yvonne talk with Taylor Mason about his upcoming performances at the Avanti's Event Center tomorrow night and Mason City Limits Comedy Club on Saturday night. He reflects on how he first got into ventriloquism at a young age and how his passion for entertaining audiences has grown into a successful career. He also shares his connection to the Peoria area, discusses his unique blend of comedy and ventriloquism, and previews what audiences can expect from his family-friendly, laugh-filled performances.

For tickets and more information, visit www.avantisdome.com, www.mclimits.com, and www.taylormason.com.

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Greg and Yvonne talk with Julie Traekenschuh about the upcoming annual Ignite Peoria, happening Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Peoria Civic Center. She explains that Ignite Peoria is a free, community-driven celebration of creativity featuring local artists, musicians, makers, performers, innovators, and hands-on activities for all ages. She discusses ArtsPartners' mission to strengthen the arts throughout Central Illinois, highlights the event's free admission and free parking, and shares why she's passionate about bringing the community together to support local artists and celebrate creativity.

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Greg talks with Gregory Alan Isakov about his upcoming performance with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra on August 18 at the Prairie Home Alliance Theater. He reflects on how he got his start in music, what it's been like to watch his career steadily grow over the years, and why continuing to perform with the same close group of friends has remained so meaningful. He also describes his music as having a sense of mystery, shares how the beauty of nature continually influences his songwriting, and previews what audiences can expect from this unique performance alongside the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. For tickets and more information, visit www.peoriasymphony.org.

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