Heartland Community College presents Random Acts of Knowledge, a podcast where we explore the worlds of continuing education. The goal of each episode is to learn something new. No matter the topic, we'll pick up some random knowledge from experts who can give us a short and interesting lesson about their field.
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Commercial trucking drivers remain remains a booming industry in the U.S. Brendon Nussbaum with Nussbaum Transportation talks about the modern state of the trucking industry and what individuals interested in gaining their license to drive a big rig should know. View the transcript here.
Individuals forced to flee their homes due to war, famine, crime, or natural disaster often struggle long after they have found a new place to live. Dr. Wendy Pearlman has interviewed hundreds of Syrian refugees and shared their stories in three books and a recent lecture at Heartland Community College. Dr. Pearlman discusses the impact that displacement has on individuals and the communities that…
Oksana Perestoronina and her husband fled their home of Ukraine in 2022 when war came to their doorstep. Her search to start a new life led her to Heartland Community College, where she took English as a Second Language Courses. After gaining some confidence with language Oksana took the next steps toward a new career: nursing. View the transcript here.
Getting kids interested in biology can start from the inside out. Instructor Jacinda Shoot discusses the STEM Anatomy Workshops that bring middle and high school kids into a Heartland Community College lab. Jacinda also talks about an interesting hobby that requires some heavy lifting. View the transcript here.
The impact of a tornado can extend far beyond the damage done to persons and property. In his documentary "A Brief History of Chasing Storms," filmmaker Curtis Miller travels to towns defined by tornadoes in one form or another. The film will kick off the Heartland Hawk Film Festival on May 6, 2026 at the Normal Theater. View the transcript here.
Clinical services for substance abuse and mental health disorders are an important part of every community healthcare system. Yet, even in a clinical environment, individuals might struggle to engage in recovery. Clinical psychologist Charles Drebing, PhD, discusses the value that Peer Support Specialists -- individuals with lived experience in mental health or substance use recovery who are…
Was 3-year-old Christina McNeil killed by her own father or, instead, by a suspect who later would be convicted of another murder? Barton McNeil is serving a 100-year sentence for the killing of his daughter. He has long claimed that the murder was committed by an estranged girlfriend, Misook Nowlin, who would later be convicted of killing her mother-in-law. With the help of the Illinois Innocence…
Resources for individuals who are leaving prison are available but many incarcerated people have no idea what is really waiting for them on the other side. Support for formerly incarcerated people extends beyond just navigating the rules of release but also includes a change of mindset, according to Toy Beasley, with the Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments. View the transcript here.
Whitney Rapp is Director of the Electric Vehicle Career Pathway Program at Heartland Community College. One of the projects Whitney works on is to promote the Certified Manufacturing Associate Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program. This program consists of students completing modules that are set to be completed throughout a 5-week time span. During this time, students learn the basic skills needed…
Jamie Snow is in prison, convicted in 2001 for the 1991 shooting of a gas station attendant, William Little, in Bloomington, IL. For the last several years, a diverse group of people who learned the details of Snow’s case and found troubling elements in his trial have been advocating for his release. In this episode, Snow’s daughter and a former juror on the trial of a co-defendant are joined by…
