Illinois: A State Apart – Episode #5 – The Republic of Forgottonia (1973)

Keeping Local News Alive: Interview with Josiah Chatterton of The Forgottonia Times

"It’s tough to quantify what’s been lost as more small-town newspapers disappear... but we’re trying to bring back stories that matter most to the people who live here.” — Josiah Chatterton, The Forgottonia Times In This Episode In this episode of The Forgottonia Project, we sit down with Josiah Chatterton, founder of The Forgottonia Times; … Continue reading "Keeping Local News Alive: Interview with Josiah Chatterton of The Forgottonia Times" [https://forgottoniaproject.wordpress.com/2025/11/26/keeping-local-news-alive-interview-with-josiah-chatterton-of-the-forgottonia-times/]

Designing a Better Rural School with Dr. Cory Steiner

“When we asked the community, they didn’t care if their kids went to Harvard. They cared about the kind of people they were.” -Cory Steiner In This Episode As rural schools prepare to welcome students back this fall, many educators and communities are reflecting on what’s working—and what needs to change. In this episode, we … Continue reading "Designing a Better Rural School with Dr. Cory Steiner" [https://forgottoniaproject.wordpress.com/2025/08/06/designing-a-better-rural-school-with-dr-cory-steiner/]

Illinois: A State Apart – Episode #5 – The Republic of Forgottonia (1973)

“We feel we need all the counties to really lend credence to what we’re trying to say (which is to make and approve a petition to withdraw & form a 51st state)... I feel that Phase Three is about ready to begin, and I can step down as governor of Forgottonia. I think the time … Continue reading "Illinois: A State Apart – Episode #5 – The Republic of Forgottonia (1973)" [https://forgottoniaproject.wordpress.com/2025/07/22/illinois-a-state-apart-episode-5-the-republic-of-forgottonia-1973/]

Childhood on the Farm: Work, Play, and Coming of Age in the Midwest – a Conversation with Author Pamela Riney-Kehrberg

"For rural children, work was at the top of the triangle, followed by school, and only then came play... Play wasn’t a luxury—it was a survival skill. Children turned goats, chickens, and old carts into their playground." -Pamela Riney-Kehrberg On This Episode Historian Dr. Pamela Riney-Kehrberg joins us to discuss her book Childhood on the … Continue reading "Childhood on the Farm: Work, Play, and Coming of Age in the Midwest – a Conversation with Author Pamela Riney-Kehrberg" [https://forgottoniaproject.wordpress.com/2025/07/10/childhood-on-the-farm-work-play-and-coming-of-age-in-the-midwest-a-conversation-with-author-pamela-riney-kehrberg/]

Reimagining History Education in Rural America: A Conversation with Rory Dunn and Dr. Ariel Cornett

"Oftentimes rural places are cast from a deficit perspective, they're portrayed as places where people leave. That can be pretty harmful for students that are growing up in these places. Local history has a real power to draw students in, to help them feel civically engaged and empowered." -Rory Dunn On This Episode Joey Brewer … Continue reading "Reimagining History Education in Rural America: A Conversation with Rory Dunn and Dr. Ariel Cornett" [https://forgottoniaproject.wordpress.com/2025/07/03/reimagining-history-education-in-rural-america-a-conversation-with-rory-dunn-and-ariel-cornett/]