Mokena's Front Porch

About Mokena's Front Porch

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 Rock Island train line arrived in 1852. Today, with a population of over 20,000, its rich past continues to shape its future. Your hosts: 🔹 Matt – A lifelong Mokenian, local historian, and author of two books on Mokena history. His blog, Matt’s Old Mokena, serves as the foundation for many of our episodes, bringing forgotten stories of the village back to life. 🔹 Israel – A passionate storyteller who grew up hearing firsthand WWII accounts from his grandfathers. Since moving to Mokena in 2016, he has embraced its history, working through technical challenges as a first-time podcaster to bring this show to life. He’s a BIG fan of Mokena! Join us as we explore the people, places, and moments that make Mokena special. Visit MokenasFrontPorch.com (http://mokenasfrontporch.com) for more stories, updates, and ways to connect. You can also find us on social media! Pull up a chair, get comfortable, and step back in time with us on Mokena’s Front Porch.

Publisher

Israel Smith & Matt Galik

Category

education · history · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Oct 2022

Latest episode

21 Mar 2025

Latest episodes

70 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Mar 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 fashio...

2. 

   18 Mar 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 ques...

3. 

   18 Mar 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 ...

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

108,452

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

12 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

11 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 77 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

94

Social presence

0

YouTube

82

Engagement

71

Contact Mokena's Front Porch

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.