Greg & Dan Show Interviews

Greg and Dan talk with Brian Carroll, the 2026 Pekin Marigold Festival, about Roots & Boots Dragon Jam, kicking off the Pekin Marigold Festival weekend on Friday, September 11 from 5-11 p.m. at the Avanti’s Event Center Fields in Pekin. He discusses how Dragon Jam celebrates Pekin’s musical past while embracing this year’s “Marigold Roots & Country Boots” country-western theme. 

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Greg and Dan talk with Eureka College Head Football Coach Dion Jordan about the inaugural Berlin Wall Bowl, happening Saturday, September 12 at McKinzie Field at Eureka College. The day begins with a tailgate at 11 a.m., followed by a special pregame ceremony at 4:30 p.m. and kickoff at 5 p.m. between the Eureka College Red Devils and Westminster College Blue Jays. He discusses the opportunity to use football as a way to help players and fans learn about and understand history, while also sharing how his own life experiences influence the way he coaches. He reflects on his personal journey through football, lessons he’s learned along the way, and how those experiences have shaped the coach and mentor he is today.

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Greg and Dan talk with Brian Alwan of Alwan & Sons Meat Company about the 20th Anniversary St. Jude Peoria to Memphis Ride, which takes off this morning from Walters Brothers Harley-Davidson. This year, 145 riders are making the 465-mile journey from Peoria toward Memphis, traveling first to Dyersburg, Tennessee, before joining other St. Jude riders and continuing to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campus, where they’ll celebrate their fundraising efforts and present a check to St. Jude. Brian discusses the incredible support behind the ride, the number of people participating this year, and the commitment to making sure the money raised benefits the kids and families of St. Jude. Since the ride began in 2007, St. Jude Rides has raised more than $13.2 million, with last year alone bringing in approximately $1.4 million.

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Greg and Dan talk with Alex Chan, Director of Volunteer Outreach for the Peoria Area Young Adult Social Meetup (YASM), about the 4th Annual East Peoria Riverfront Clean-Up, happening Sunday, September 20 from noon–4 p.m., with volunteers meeting at the East Peoria Target parking lot near Panera Bread. He also explains the mission behind Peoria Area YASM and discusses how the cleanup works, what volunteers can bring, and why keeping local waterways clean is an important way for the group to make a positive impact on the community.

For more information or to get involved, visit Peoria Area Young Adult Social Meetup.

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Greg and Dan talk with David Commanday, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Heartland Festival Orchestra, about kicking off the orchestra’s 2026–27 season with “Mozart & Bruch.” The concert takes place Friday, September 11 from 7:30–9:30 p.m. at Crossroads Global Methodist Church, 1420 N. Main St. in Washington. He dives into the backgrounds of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Max Bruch, their individual approaches to music, and the passion and personality that come through in their work.

For more information and tickets, visit www.heartlandfestivalorchestra.org  

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Greg and Dan talk with Jen Grogan of Rekindle Health about some of the biggest frustrations women face when it comes to understanding their health, emotions, and the changes their bodies experience throughout different seasons of life. She also previews “Rekindle the Shift: Understanding Your Emotions, Your Body, and Your Season,” happening Saturday, September 12 at 3:30 p.m. at Quail Meadows Banquet Center in Washington. She breaks down what the event’s title represents, what women can expect from the experience, and how gaining a better understanding of the connection between emotional and physical health can help women feel more informed and empowered in their own lives.

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Greg and Dan talk with Brent Bixby, Vice President of the Greater Peoria Honor Flight, about the organization’s 40th Honor Flight taking place today, Tuesday, September 8. Veterans are returning to Peoria for a welcome home at approximately 9:30 p.m. He discusses the powerful opportunity Honor Flight gives veterans to share their stories, connect with one another, and receive recognition for their service. He also reflects on how every veteran responds to the experience differently, the special connections formed throughout the day, and why being involved with the Greater Peoria Honor Flight mission is so meaningful to him.

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Greg and Dan talk with John Heller, founder of the Heller Center for Kids, about how the program began at OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois and how its mission has grown over the years. He explains how the program works, shares some of the experiences and challenges children and families have faced, and discusses why those needs led the Heller Center to evolve beyond traditional medical care. He also highlights how the Center is expanding its model of critical non-medical support to reach children and families across additional specialty areas at OSF Children’s Hospital.

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Greg and Dan talk with Steve Bortolotti about Peoria Players Theatre’s upcoming production of Come From Away, opening Friday, September 11—the 25th anniversary of 9/11—and running through September 20. He discusses the powerful true story behind the musical and shares what audiences can expect from Peoria Players’ production, highlights members of the cast, and talks about the significance of telling this story of compassion, humanity, and connection as the country marks 25 years since 9/11.

For tickets and more information, visit Peoria Players Theatre.

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Greg and Dan talk with Tre Thompson, founder of Boys to Men Empowerment, about the organization’s mission to mentor young men in Peoria and provide them with positive role models, life skills, and opportunities that can help set them on a successful path. He also highlights Boys to Builders Academy, an initiative within Boys to Men Empowerment that teaches young men hands-on building and trade skills while also introducing entrepreneurship and the possibility of building careers or businesses of their own. He discusses the important role that men already working in the trades, construction, and other areas of the community can play by sharing their experience, skills, and guidance with the next generation.

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