Podcast

SPOTLIGHT: The Support System for Life

Alyssa Sonnenburg — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 11:28:34 +0000

Written by Jenna Smith

Illinois is the abortion capitol of the Midwest. Women from states that have safegaurds to protect babies are choosing the land of Lincoln for surgical abortions or, increasingly, aboriton drugs. Donna Williams is trying to counter that. As the executive director for PASS network for Life, she leads the pregnancy based care center in Tinley Park to protect and promote life.

Pregnancy Aid South Suburbs offer services designed to address the needs of both mothers in crisis pregnancy situations and the father.… Continue Reading

SPOTLIGHT: How Can You Mess with Success?

Alyssa Sonnenburg — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 11:00:10 +0000

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

This episode of Spotlight focuses on the topic of homeschooling.

Kirk Smith, ICHE’s (Illinois Christian Home Educator) executive director, gives encouragement to parents who don’t know how to homeschool, gives direction on how to choose good curriculum, and much more.

Parents, especially moms, feel like they’re unworthy- that they are not capable of homeschooling… if it’s [homeschooling] is a principle of God, it works– regardless of how good or how unprepared we feel as parents.

SPOTLIGHT: A Conversation With Stephanie Trussell

Alyssa Sonnenburg — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:00:30 +0000

Written by Alyssa Sonnenburg

Stephanie Trussell is a mother, grandmother, entrepreneur, board member for the Illinois Family Institute & Good Soil Good Seed Foundation, and former candidate for Illinois Lieutenant Governor. In this special episode of Spotlight, Monte, David and Stephanie revisit the 2022 campaign and the events that led up to it.

They discussed how Illinois Republican voter turnout can be improved. Startlingly, only 45 percent of Republicans turned out to vote. Stephanie implores that conservatives must unite, not tear each other up for small differences in beliefs, and overcome a defeatist attitude when it comes to Illinois elections.… Continue Reading

A Day With the Baileys Pt. 2 (Illinois Family Spotlight #262)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 09:48:38 +0000

On this episode of Spotlight, Illinois Family Action presents the second half of Executive Director David Smith’s conversation with Illinois State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey and his wife Cindy. Sen. Bailey gives us a glimpse into life on a large family farm and shares interesting information about the wealth of vital natural resources that can be found in the southern half of the state. Additionally, Bailey presents his vision and priorities for Illinois, should he be elected governor.After… Continue Reading

“The Religion of Us” (Illinois Family Spotlight #239)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 06:22:53 +0000

Successful plans are best built on a foundation of strategic thinking. When it comes to political involvement, Christian apologist Dr. Frank Turek states that Christians ought to focus their efforts on motivating and mobilizing the citizens who share their worldview on the most critical issues of the day. Speaking at the 2017 IFI Worldview Conference, Dr. Turek also poses and answers these key questions: what is the purpose of government; can morality be legislated; how can we counter self-defeating statements; and what’s at stake and what should we do?… Continue Reading

“Let’s Do 40 Days for Life: FAQs”(Illinois Family Spotlight #218)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 05:41:24 +0000

Ever wondered how you can get involved in the pro-life movement, how you can help save babies and their mothers? 40 Days for Life is your answer. Listen to this podcast for a primer on participating in one of the easiest forms of life activism out there. Monte Larrick interviewed Catherine Walker, the leader of the 40 Days for Life vigil in Aurora and post-abortive woman, to get insider information on joining a vigil and getting answers to frequently asked questions.… Continue Reading

PODCAST: RINOs and Never-Trumpers Help Leftists Destroy America

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 05:15:32 +0000

In the past year, we saw anarchists savagely beat innocent people in the street; take control of city blocks; incinerate police precincts; burn Bibles; attack churches; loot businesses; tear down federal monuments; deface public property; and parade naked in front of, hurl obscenities at, and even assault police officers. We saw….

“If Democrats Get In, Say Goodbye to America the Beautiful and Hello to America the Ugly” (Illinois Family Spotlight #208)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 05:15:32 +0000

The continued lockdowns–allegedly due to COVID-19–are not inhibiting pro-life activists like Joseph Scheidler from taking to the streets. The Face the Truth Tour consists of pro-lifers demonstrating in front of abortion clinics with graphic abortion photos to demonstrate the reality of abortion. Mr. Scheidler and Monte talked about how this tour got started, and why it is so effective and convicting. They also discussed the pro-life situation in Illinois and America, the hypocritical nature of the BLM activists, and election 2020.… Continue Reading

“Jezebel’s War With You” (Illinois Family Spotlight #196)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 09:39:56 +0000

According to Dr. Michael L. Brown, whether you realize it or not, war is raging in our nation. This war is not with a flesh and blood opponent, but rather with what he terms the “spirit of Jezebel” – demonic forces that are at work in individuals today, just as those same spirits were at work in individuals in biblical times. In his address to attendees of IFI’s 2020 Worldview Conference, Dr. Brown holds fast to the authority of Scripture and encourages believers to suit up in the full armor of God to fight against the advances of our depraved, satanic foe.… Continue Reading

“The 2020 Question: Is the U.S. Government the Final Authority?” (Illinois Family Spotlight #195)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:21:42 +0000

The effects of COVID-19 reach far beyond the realm of human health. In Spotlight this week Pastor Calvin Lindstrom and I consider Americans’ right of religious liberty vs. submission to governmental authorities, especially in light of restrictions on “non-essential,” in-person worship services and church gatherings. Should Christians be governed by Hebrews 10:25 or Romans 13 and what is a proper, biblical response to government overreach?

After the break the conversation turns to pending legislation, specifically SB 2762 which would require comprehensive sex ed starting in kindergarten (with NO parental opt-out) and SB 3788 which, among other things, deletes teaching honor and respect for monogamous, heterosexual marriage.… Continue Reading

How Churches Can Better Serve Our Communities (Illinois Family Spotlight #182)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 10:06:30 +0000

This podcast features an interview with Pastor Cesar LeFlore to discuss his ministry at the Beloved Community Development Coalition, gentrification, christian co-ops and how the Church should help communities, out-of-wedlock births, personal responsibility, and reparations for slavery.… Continue Reading

“It’s Frankenstein-y and We’re Doing This to Children!” (Illinois Family Spotlight #172)

Benjamin D. Smith — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 10:00:26 +0000

It is imperative to know the truth in order to refute lies. Illinois Family Institute’s cultural affairs writer, Laurie Higgins, is well-acquainted with the truth regarding the lies of “trans” ideology. At a recent forum hosted by Concerned Citizens for American in Rockford, Laurie states that biological sex and scientific facts matter, despite what the proponents of this false, destructive ideology would have us believe.

In her presentation, Laurie clearly defines the terms biological sex, gender, and gender identity.… Continue Reading

Abortion Update: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (Illinois Family Spotlight #167)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 09:00:39 +0000

The 2019 fall 40 Days for Life campaign is in full swing and will run through November 3^rd. At a recent launch event in Tinley Park, David Smith, Executive Director of Illinois Family Institute and Illinois Family Action, shares from his heart regarding the apathy and disinterest he has witnessed among Illinois Christians toward public policy and the political process. He also outlines the sordid details of Illinois’ radical Reproductive “Health” Act (SB 25) and the resultant devastating consequences.… Continue Reading

“That Floor Sounded Like the Pits of Hell” (Illinois Family Spotlight #166)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:00:17 +0000

Joining Monte Larrick on this edition of Spotlight is Darren Bailey, current State Representative for the 109^th district. Their conversation occurred at the Illinois Conservative Union’s Illinois Political Activist Conference which was held in August in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

Representative Bailey details the reasons why he has decided to run for state senate in the 55^th district and recounts the valuable experience he gained as a state representative. He also shares an incident surrounding Pastor Cory Musgrave’s opening prayer on the final day of the recent legislative session that illustrates why it is imperative that conservatives and Christians in the Land of Lincoln are well-represented by the leadership of conservative and Christian men and women in the Illinois General Assembly.… Continue Reading

“Is Polyamory or Pedophilia Next?” (Illinois Family Spotlight #161)

Benjamin D. Smith — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 19:02:36 +0000

This edition of spotlight features a Laurie Higgins appearance on Jim Schneider’s Voice of Christian Youth (VCY) America program, Crosstalk.

They discuss the present-day radical anti-science sexual revolution heavily promoted by the National Education Association and division 44 at the American Psychological Association, the rising normalization of non-monogamous relationships, the absence of an alternate perspective in public schools, some extremely Leftist business items passed by the NEA at their most recent convention, and a new Leftist term: white fragility.… Continue Reading

“Creating Social Justice Warriors Doesn’t Start in College” (Illinois Family Spotlight #159)

Benjamin D. Smith — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 09:00:50 +0000

This edition of spotlight features a Laurie Higgins appearance on the Sandy Rios in the Morning show on American Family Radio to discuss rampant radically leftist sexual ideology in public schools. They specifically drilled into the National Education Association’s annual meeting where they affirmed several radical leftist ideas like unrestricted access to abortion, LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum, white fragility, etc.

They also discuss democrat presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg’s christian heresy, the normalization of polyamory and pedophilia, and what retirees can and should be doing to advance the Kingdom.… Continue Reading

Presenting IFA’s New Podcast

David E. Smith — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 21:00:49 +0000

Written by David E. Smith

We are excited to announce a new Illinois Family Action (IFA) feature: podcasting! For those who are unfamiliar, a podcast is simply a digital audio recording that is easily listened to and shared with others through a computer or smart phone. Podcasts are a convenient and popular way to reach, educate, and connect with an audience.

Our podcast, Illinois Family Spotlight, will be a weekly podcast that provides analysis of and commentary on political and cultural events and issues.… Continue Reading