Rock Island Line

Dedicated with love to Rock Island, IL - a podcast that features the voices of local residents, artists, builders, and changemakers. Through candid conversations, it explores the challenges the city faces, the dreams its people hold, and the ideas that can move Rock Island forward. Our very own community think tank — rooted in empathy, driven by dialogue.

Rock Island Line is a society podcast hosted by Annika O'Melia, with 37 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Annika O'Melia hosts Rock Island Line, a society show with 37 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #6

  Fresh Films for a Fresh Economy

  Aug 13, 20261h 43mS2

  If you live in Rock Island and care about the future of this city, this is a conversation you need to hear. In this episode, Annika O'Melia talks with Kelli Feigley of Fresh Films about the organization's plans to bring Rock Line Studios—a new, $12 million film and television production studio—to Rock Island. The project could connect our community to Illinois' nearly billion-dollar per year film industry while creating new opportunities for local workers, businesses, students, and artists. Annika believes that, if Rock Island and Fresh Films can bring this vision to life, Rock Line Studios could be one of the most transformational developments for Rock Island's identity, economy, capacity, and future in her lifetime. Kelli also shares the personal story behind her family's relocation to Rock Island, how she fell in love with the community, and her children's positive experiences in Rock Island Public Schools. The conversation also explores homelessness, perceptions of Rock Island, the city's untapped potential, and what it takes to invest in a community's future. To learn more about Rock Line Studios, sign up for project updates, or contact Kelli about donating or investing, visit: https://freshfilms.org/studio/ The minimum investment is $57,500, representing a 1% ownership interest in the studio. A $115,000 investment represents a 2% interest. Fresh Films is currently $300k shy of enough funds to break ground and start recruiting projects. Donations of any size are welcome. Fresh Films plans to launch a community campaign after the groundbreaking is announced, including recognition opportunities such as a Hollywood-esque Star. According to Fresh Films, donations are 100% tax-deductible, and Fresh Films retains equity in the studio and its potential future revenue. Read local stories, listen to more conversations, and follow Rock Island Line at: https://rockislandline.com/ Music: "Different Times" by Jett Everill, licensed through Epidemic Sound.

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  Episode #5

  Atticus Garrison: Watching the Watchers

  Jul 17, 20261h 43mS2

  Host Annika O'Melia sits down with Atticus Garrison — Blackhawk College librarian, digital literacy advocate, and returning friend of the show — for a close look at the 21 Flock Safety license plate reader cameras now watching the edges of our city and listening to the sounds of our city. Atticus walks us through what these ALPR cameras actually do, how the Rock Island Police Department has worked to manage them responsibly, and why his deepest concerns lie not with our local department but with the vendor, Flock Safety, and the nationwide surveillance network it's building. From AI-powered "search by description" to person-tracking tools like Nova, from security failures to cross-jurisdictional access, it's a clear-eyed, fair-minded conversation about a technology quietly reshaping public life in Rock Island — and a reminder that the city's Flock contract is coming up for renewal. This episode's book recommendation: Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech by Brian Merchant. Read Atticus's full companion piece, "Always Watching: Flock Cameras in Rock Island," here: https://www.rockislandline.com/post/always-watching-flock-cameras-in-rock-island Episode music: "Different Times" by Jett Everett, licensed via Epidemic Sound. This episode description written with the support of Claude.

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  Episode #4

  Dr. Jane Simonsen: Called to Reckon

  Mar 31, 20262h 35mS2

  In this episode of Rock Island Line , Annika sits down with Dr. Jane Simonsen, professor of history and gender studies at Augustana College and co-author and editor of Called to Reckon: Replacing History and Reclaiming Mission at a Midwestern College . Their conversation explores what it means to truly "reckon" with history—both as individuals and as institutions rooted in a specific place. Together, they examine the deep and often overlooked history of the land Augustana calls home, focusing on the Sauk and Meskwaki, the life and legacy of Black Hawk, and the profound transformations that took place in the early 1800s. Dr. Simonsen brings both scholarly expertise and thoughtful perspective to discussions about how history is remembered, interpreted, and sometimes misrepresented. They also talk about the role of local historian John Hauberg in shaping regional narratives and preserving the legacy of Black Hawk. The conversation expands into broader themes of women's history and women's rights, Native American representation, and the responsibility of institutions to revisit their own pasts with honesty and care. At its core, this episode is about place, power, and the stories we choose to tell—and retell—about where we live. 📚 Episode Resources Black Hawk's Autobiography (1833) The Autobiography of Black Hawk Called to Reckon: Replacing History and Reclaiming Mission at a Midwestern College Called To Reckon publisher site These sources provide additional context on Black Hawk, local historical interpretation, and the work of reckoning with institutional history. Check out RockIslandLine.com. Music by Jett Everill from Endemic Sounds.

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  Episode #3

  Marisa Cantu: Caring for Community

  Mar 10, 20261h 17mS2

  n this episode of Rock Island Line , Annika sits down with Marisa Cantu for a wide-ranging conversation about community, service, and life in Rock Island. Marisa reflects on growing up in Rock Island and the powerful influence of her father in shaping her commitment to service and mission-driven work. She shares what it was like growing up—and now raising her own children—on the Half, and how those experiences have shaped her view of neighborhood, belonging, and civic life. The conversation also explores Marisa's work with the Community Caring Conference (CCC) , which is entering its 50th year serving the region, as well as her efforts to help reorganize and energize neighborhood block associations across Rock Island. Annika and Marisa also discuss police–community relations and the importance of building trust and connection between residents and local institutions. Before the conversation begins, Annika shares an update on recent reporting at Rock Island Line , including the first article in a new series examining questions and concerns surrounding the Rock Island–Milan School District . The first piece explores district finances and staffing, investigating a widely repeated claim that administrative spending has grown at the expense of classroom instruction. You can read the article and explore additional stories and fact sheets at: https://www.rockislandline.com Future articles in the series will examine discipline policies, state-level changes affecting Illinois schools, and how Rock Island compares to neighboring districts. As always, thank you to the many community members who have reached out with questions, perspectives, and information as this work continues. Music: "Different Times" by Jett Everill

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  Episode #2

  Deb Kuntzi on Preserving Hauberg Estate

  Feb 19, 20262h 13mS2

  In this episode of Rock Island Line , I sit down with Deb Kuntzi , the Executive Director of the Hauberg Estate — a local treasure that has been a cultural and architectural jewel of our community for more than a century. Built between 1909 and 1911 in the Prairie style and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hauberg Estate was once the private home of Susanne Denkmann and John Hauberg and later became a civic center donated to the city by the Hauberg family. In recent years, Deb has led the nonprofit Hauberg Estate in restoring and reimagining this historic mansion and its Jens Jensen–designed gardens for future generations to enjoy. Deb's love of historic preservation, her deep commitment to community, and her own passion for volunteering shine throughout our conversation. We talk about the effort to acquire, save, and restore the Hauberg Estate when it faced potential sale, and how that effort has birthed ongoing restoration, vibrant programming, and community engagement that makes the estate a gathering place for Rock Islanders. We also dive into what's planned for the future — from garden restoration and carriage house improvements to educational events, tours, and cultural programming that bring history alive and build community bonds. Deb shares insights about why preserving places like the Hauberg matters, how volunteers and donors have been essential, and why historic preservation can be a catalyst for connection and pride in our city. This is a lively and informative conversation about roots, revitalization, and the joy of watching a community's past become part of its present and future. You can learn more about Hauberg Estate and support preservation at www.haubergestate.org and I hope you'll take the time to check it out. Rock Island Line is produced by me, Annika O'Melia. Theme music is Different Times by Jett Everill . You can find past episodes, writing, and more about the project at www.rockislandline.com Thanks for listening — and I'll see you down the line.

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