Illinois Policy Unpacked, presented by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois System, brings expert insights into the pressing public policy issues shaping Illinois and beyond. Each episode features faculty from one of our three universities who break down complex topics, offering informed analysis to elevate the policy conversation.
20 Minutes to Improve Wellbeing: School Mindfulness (with Jacinda Dariotis)
On this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Jacinda Dariotis, professor of human development and family studies at Illinois, discusses her research on how just 20 minutes a week of low-cost mindfulness and relaxation programming can support the wellbeing of students, teachers, and even parents. She explores Illinois’ new student relaxation law, the evidence behind school-based mindfulness, and policy recommendations to help schools effectively foster positive coping and wellbeing. Read the f...
14 Jul 2026
The future of math: Inside Illinois' new statewide numeracy plan (with Phi Nguyen and Erica Mason)
Illinois has launched a new statewide numeracy plan aimed at strengthening math education for students across the state. In this episode, researchers Phi Nguyen (UIC) and Erica Mason (Illinois) discuss the reasoning behind the plan, their role in its development, and how it could improve outcomes for students across Illinois. Read the full report: https://bit.ly/3T0oWvB
11 Jun 2026
What happens when fluoridated water goes away? (with Dr. Helen Lee)
In this episode, pediatric anesthesiologist Helen Lee discusses the vital role fluoridated water plays in preventing tooth decay and protecting children's health. Drawing on her experience caring for children, especially those enrolled in Medicaid who often face barriers to dental care, she explains the consequences communities can face when fluoridation is removed, the potential costs for Illinois if it were discontinued, and the scientific debate surrounding the recent National Toxicology P...
13 May 2026
The collateral consequences of school discipline records in Illinois (with Eve Rips)
In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Eve Rips, an assistant professor at UIC Law, shines a light on the consequences of K-12 discipline records in college admissions and professional licensure. Rips recommends two policy solutions to ease these inequities. Read her latest report with IGPA here >>
20 Feb 2026
How COVID relief funds changed Illinois schools (with Craig De Voto)
In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, host Kristen Chandler speaks with Craig De Voto, research assistant professor at the Learning Sciences Research Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. De Voto unpacks how Illinois schools used federal ESSER funds distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic to address learning loss, what results those investments have produced, and what’s policy recommendations could address the impending education funding crisis.
19 Nov 2025
How parties really view ranked choice voting (with Brian Gaines)
Professor Brian Gaines examines partisan views on ranked choice voting with Kristen Chandler, revealing its potential impact on Illinois, political parties, and American voters in this interview.
15 Oct 2025
The cost of keeping Illinois moving (with Richard Funderburg and Paula Worthington)
Richard Funderburg and Paula Worthington analyze Illinois' transit budget crisis, examining ridership trends and exploring policy solutions to ensure the sustainability of public transportation in this interview.
3 Sept 2025
Unseen but essential: How caregiver policies impact healthcare with Mina Raj
Host [Host Name] interviews Mina Raj, assistant professor, on how caregiver policies improve healthcare for states, patients, and health systems.
13 Aug 2025
Illinois' AI Policy Landscape with Jeremy Riel
Host [Host Name] interviews Jeremy Riel, UIC assistant professor, about Illinois' AI policy, exploring the IGPA working group's goals and how a new grant empowers educators and lawmakers.
23 May 2025
The Economics of Clean Air: Julian Reif on Illinois Pollution and Progress
Professor Julian Reif analyzes Illinois air pollution data, revealing trends in metro areas and offering insights into measuring pollution, in this interview episode.
14 May 2025
Meet the "Wolffs": IGPA's interns on policy, purpose, and what’s next
This episode of the Illinois Policy Unpacked podcast is a special one. We sat down with our three Charles P. Wolff interns, (also affectionately known as "the Wolffs") Aparna Ramakrishnan, Cecilia Espinosa, and Lindsay Semmelman. This paid internship through the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois System is designed to expose undergraduate students to a variety of activities that occur within a busy public policy research institute. Join us as we di...
7 May 2025
Inside the Fight for Fair Elections: Campaign Finance with Fred Wertheimer
In this episode of the Illinois Policy Unpacked podcast, we meet Fred Wertheimer, the "dean of campaign finance reform," in Washington DC to discuss ongoing challenges in American political finance. Wertheimer has spent more than four decades working on democracy and governance issues, and is the Founder and President of Democracy 21, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to strengthen U.S. democracy and promotes government integrity, accountability and transparency measures to acc...
31 Mar 2025
How the latest agricultural tariffs may impact Illinois farmers (with Jonathan Coppess)
In this episode of the Illinois Policy Unpacked podcast, we sit down with Jonathan Coppess, an associate professor of agricultural policy at Illinois, to discuss the potential impact of recently proposed tariffs on Illinois farmers. With Illinois ranking as the nation’s third-largest agricultural exporter, changes in trade policy could have major consequences for corn, soybean, and pork producers. Join us at IGPA as we explore the historical context of agricultural tariffs, the political chal...
Who has been a guest on Illinois Policy Unpacked
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Brian Gaines
Richard Funderburg
Paula Worthington
Mina Raj
Jeremy Riel
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3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 10 / 100
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