Mokena's Front Porch Podcast

By Israel Smith & Matt Galik

Welcome to Mokena’s Front Porch – THE podcast for Mokena history and community!

Nestled in the heart of Chicagoland, Mokena began as a small farming community that flourished after the

... more

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about Mokena's Front Porch Podcast:

How many episodes does Mokena's Front Porch Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 70 episodes available.

Mokena's Front Porch Podcast episodes:

March 21, 2025 Recapping The March 19th Mokena 159 School Board Meeting - The A.I. Front Porch
Send us a text
THIS EPISODE WAS CREATED USING A.I. SOFTWARE AND MAY INCLUDE FACTUAL ERRORS IN THE EPISODE. PLEASE BE SURE TO VERIFY QUESTIONABLE INFORMATION YOURSELF AS WELL.
With the explosion of A.I. (artificial intelligence), there are new tools coming along all the time! We shared the video of the March 19th Mokena 159 School Board meeting on our YouTube channel. Using that video and some amazing AI, I tried out this tool that creates an audio overview that sounds like an old fashioned radio program!
So check out its review of the most recent school board meeting! Besides hearing how real this technology sounds, you will also get 3 hours of school board meeting debriefed down to about 20 minutes!
Let us know what you think! Is this helpful?
Support the show
Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch
Check Out Our YouTube Channel For Some Great Videos

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
[email protected]
...more
19min
March 18, 2025 Kim Huelsman - Candidate For Mokena Village Trustee
Send us a text
Kimberly Huelsman is a teacher at Sandburg High School in Orland Park. This is her first time running for elected office and she is running with the Mokena's Future slate.
Support the show
Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch
Check Out Our YouTube Channel For Some Great Videos

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
[email protected]
...more
47min
March 18, 2025 Dan Gilbert - Candidate for Mokena Village Trustee
Send us a text
Dan Gilbert teaches in Mokena 159 schools and is a Mokena Park District Commissioner. He is running with the Friends of Mokena slate, who's website is www.friendsofmokena.com

Get to know Dan Gilbert and be sure to vote BY April 1st! Early voting starts March 17th!

Please subscribe to our channel!
Support the show
Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch
Check Out Our YouTube Channel For Some Great Videos

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
[email protected]
...more
53min
March 18, 2025 Melissa Fedora - Candidate for Mokena Village Trustee
Send us a text
Melissa Fedora is the Executive Director of the Mokena Chamber of Commerce and a current Village Trustee, running for her second term. She is running with the Friends of Mokena slate, who's website is www.friendsofmokena.com

You can watch all of our candidate interviews, campaign events and election updates on our website and YouTube channel.
Support the show
Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch
Check Out Our YouTube Channel For Some Great Videos

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
[email protected]
...more
1h 36min
March 09, 2025 Colleen Patrick-Lenart: Candidate for Mokena Village Trustee
Send us a text
Colleen is a lifelong Mokenian and a sales professional. This is Colleen's first time running for elected office. She is running for the 2 year term.

Get to know Colleen Patrick-Lenart and be sure to vote on April 1st! Early voting starts March 17th!
She is running with the Friends of Mokena. Their website is FriendsofMokena.com
Support the show
Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch
Check Out Our YouTube Channel For Some Great Videos

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
[email protected]
...more
33min
March 07, 2025 James Roberts - Candidate For Mokena Village Trustee
Send us a text
James Roberts is a retired, having spent his career running grocery stores. He ran for Village Trustee once before back in the early 90's. Get to know James Roberts and be sure to vote BY April 1st! Early voting starts March 17th!
Jim is running with the Mokena's Future Slate. Their website is www.friendsofmokena.com
Support the show
Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch
Check Out Our YouTube Channel For Some Great Videos

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
[email protected]
...more
1h 6min
March 05, 2025 March 4th, 2025 Mokena's Future Meet & Greet
Send us a text
Tuesday, March 4th, the Mokena's Future slate hosted their 3rd meet and greet at Clancy Bros. Coffee. There next meet and greet will be Tuesday March 18th at Clancy Bros.

Early voting starts March 17th and election day is April 1st! Be sure to subscribe to our channel and vote on election day!
Support the show
Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch
Check Out Our YouTube Channel For Some Great Videos

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
[email protected]
...more
34min
March 05, 2025 Nick Clancy - Candidate For Mokena Village Trustee - 2 Year Term
Send us a text
Nick Clancy is a Mokena business owner, having started Clancy Bros. coffee in Mokena. This is Nick's first time running for elected office. Get to know Nick Clancy and be sure to vote on April 1st! Early voting starts March 17th!
Support the show
Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch
Check Out Our YouTube Channel For Some Great Videos

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
[email protected]
...more
47min
March 04, 2025 Berk, Oliphant, Chavez, Petrey, Ryan: Summit Hill 161 School Board Candidates
Send us a text
The Summit Hill 161 School District, serving parts of Mokena, Frankfort, and Tinley Park, has been in the spotlight due to school closings, transportation challenges, and other key issues. With 10 candidates running for the school board, transparency is more important than ever.

Five candidates—Amy Berk, Patrick Oliphant, Adrian Chavez, Ronnie Petrey, and Melissa Ryan—reached out after seeing our candidate interviews to request to share about their campaign. To ensure fairness, I’m extending the same opportunity to all candidates. If you’re running for the Summit Hill 161 School Board and want to be heard, you can email me at [email protected] to set up a conversation.

Your vote matters—let’s make sure it’s an informed one.
Support the show
Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch
Check Out Our YouTube Channel For Some Great Videos

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
[email protected]
...more
1h 22min
February 28, 2025 George Metanias - Candidate For Mokena Mayor
Send us a text
George Metanias has been a Village Trustee since 2005 and is running for Mayor of Mokena for the first time. He is running with the "Friends of Mokena" slate with candidates for Trustee and Clerk. Learn more about Trustee Metanias and his plans for Mokena, should he be elected in the April 1st, 2025 election.

You can watch my other conversation with Trustee Metanias as we took a walk around Main Park on our YouTube channel or our website.

You can view all our candidate interviews and election updates on our website and YouTube channel.

Be sure to vote on April 1st!
Support the show
Be sure to check out our website @ www.MokenasFrontPorch.com

Follow Us On Facebook At Mokena's Front Porch
Check Out Our YouTube Channel For Some Great Videos

Find Matt's Blog here: Matt's Old Mokena
Photo & Artwork Credit: Jennifer Medema & Leslie V. Moore Jr.

Do you have a question, comment or maybe an idea for an episode, you can email us at:
[email protected]
...more
47min

FAQs about Mokena's Front Porch Podcast:

How many episodes does Mokena's Front Porch Podcast have?

The podcast currently has 70 episodes available.