Dan Libman
A lifelong Illinois resident, Dan Libman has been living near Rockford and teaching at Northern Illinois University for 20 years, where he was awarded the Excellence in Undergraduate teaching award in 2018.
His essays and stories have garnered a Paris Review Discovery Prize, a Pushcart Prize for fiction, and an Illinois Arts Council grant in prose. His debut story collection, Married But Looking, was featured on WNIJ's inaugural book series in 2012.
His history with NPR includes reading a This I Believe Essay on the Bob Edwards show, stumping the chumps on Car Talk, and winning a pink elephant on Whad'ya Know. He also was tied for being the first cyclist (along with radio's Carl Nelson) to ride the length of the Rock River, which was chronicled in a five-part Morning Edition series. He has previously reported from RABGRAI, bicycled Lincoln Highway, and has sat in bars talking politics for WNIJ. Currently, he hosts the WNIJ podcast Under Rocks.
He is a Leo and can be reached at heylibman@yahoo.com
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In a rural corner of northern Winnebago County, right up near the Wisconsin border, you can find one of the country’s most important bird research centers – and one of the most dedicated teams of volunteers you’ll ever meet. So as spring migration started ramping up, we sent our own dedicated team to investigate the Sand Bluff Bird Observatory and banding station. -
Step into Founders Memorial Library on the campus of Northern Illinois University and you’ll find yourself in a colorful dream world. Between the bookshelves are 22 towering sculptures by five artists from Mexico City. “Alebrijes – Creatures of a Dream World” is free and open to the public through November 8, 2024, and artist visits and other special events will be planned throughout its stay. -
Sure, you have a rock collection. Who doesn't? Meet Jon Barnhart, whose rock collection was started by a Civil War veteran, and every stone has a story. Not to mention his collection of bikes, outhouses, out-buildings, signs, sleighs, vintage cars... Well, you're just going to have to listen. -
Morrissey, Dahl, Bukowski, Rowling: Dan Libman has some ideas about what to do with artists who disappoint. -
It has been five years since The Librarian, a.k.a. Dan Libman, stepped into a wrestling ring in Oregon, IL. No, there won't be a rematch. But he will catch us up on what his fellow wrestlers are doing today. -
Under Rocks wraps up another year of adventures by bundling up and heading into the woods to find the perfect pine. Actually, it’s more of a farm than woods, as these rookies learn what’s so great about a real Christmas tree. Sinnissippi Farm and Forest co-owner Doug Conroy schools them on the real vs. fake debate. The Clauses even weigh in -- and it’s M-A-G-I-C. -
Hi, this is your Under Rocks podcast team. We're excited about our final episode of 2023 and even more pumped about what's in store for 2024. So please leave a message at wnij.org or rocks@niu.edu. And starting now, you can find a fresh episode every third Thursday of the month! -
It’s a dance as old as humanity itself: Bees make honey, humans steal it. And for the most part, we get away with it with nothing more than an occasional sting. But over time, we’ve learned we must do more for the honeybee, which is propping up our fragile ecosystem. The Under Rocks team managed to get itself invited to peer into the process of stewarding bees and harvesting honey with Tim Benedict of Orion Organics. It’s his farm in Lee County where bees roam with the bison among the wildflowers of Nachusa Grasslands. -
Who would have thought perfection could strike twice in a life? Dan Libman, of course. -
Take a stroll through your nearest downtown and chances are you're going to see some big bold public art on at least a few buildings. Cities and towns are embracing murals as a way to support artists and show some civic pride. We sent WNIJ's Under Rocks team to downtown Rockford to learn more, starting in the studio of muralist Brett Whitacre. (We'd love to see your favorite mural! Send a photo and location to rocks@niu.edu)
