The Chicago's Afternoon News Podcast from 720 WGN
Dr. Dana Varble, Chief Veterinary Officer for the North American Veterinary Community, joins Lisa Dent to talk about the world’s friendliest animal, a new 12 month flea treatment for dogs, and always, she answers pet questions from listeners.
Dr. Hermene Hartman, Chicago media pioneer and founder of N'Digo, joins Lisa Dent to discuss a shooting at a church in Kentucky, the devastating fallout of the Fourth Of July Texas floods, and the possible appointment of a Chicago City Council member’s son.
Ana Belmonte, Psy.D. is the division chair for the forensic psychology department at The Chicago School, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the ‘CSI effect.’ The rise in popularity of crime shows ,Ana Belmonte, Psy.D., explains, has caused in increase of students in forensic psychology. She shares the Applied Forensic Psychology masters program at The Chicago School. Students […]
Myles Rowe, American motorsports racing driver, joins Lisa Dent to discuss his historic INDY NXT race win over the weekend. Rowe shares his beginnings in racing, how he worked his way up to winning in the INDY NXT circuit, and what it means to be an African American in racing.
Abe Scarr, Director of Illinois PIRG & the Illinois PIRG Education Fund, joins Lisa Dent to discuss State Farm raising homeowners’ insurance rates in Illinois by 27% this summer, citing rising costs from extreme weather. Scarr shares that unlike many states in the union, Illinois has no protections for insurance rate increases.
Max Bever, Director of Public Information, Chicago Board of Elections, joins Lisa Dent to discuss how Miami’s city commission, in a 3-2 vote, changed the city's election bylaws to push the municipal races back to 2026. Bever shares the likelihood of the same occurrence happening in Chicago.
Lisa Dent checks in with the newsroom to hear their stories.
Lisa Dent checks in with the newsroom to hear their stories.
Jeff Nydegger with Jeff Buys Your House joins Lisa Dent to check in and share his background and the operations of his company. After leaving the military, he began buying houses in 2007. Today, Jeff Buys Your House is the largest homebuyer throughout the Chicagoland Area. Nydegger shares the process that sellers go through when […]
Deborah Witzburg, Chicago Inspector General, joins Lisa Dent to discuss her belief that the Chicago City Council must protect her position from political influence. An ordinance that is set to be voted on by the ethics committee next week, Witzburg explains, would align Chicago with the rest of the country on effective independent oversight.
Lisa Dent welcomes Dale Duda, Founder and Market Manager of the Northbrook Farmers Market Association, to talk about her story founding the market and bringing the market to Northbrook. Duda shares what the visitors to the market will experience. With a very selective list of vendors, Duda explains, the Northbrook Farmers Market ensures that all […]
Lisa Dent checks in with the newsroom to hear their stories.
Lou Manfredini joins Lisa Dent in his new weekly segment, Ask Lou, where he answers your questions about all things home repair.
Tom Weitzel, retired Chief of the Riverside Police Department, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the ‘Teen Takeover’ in Glen Ellyn that resulted in the neighborhood pool closing early.
Steve Gavers, founder of the Gavers Community Cancer Foundation, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the foundation’s fundraising event. Gavers is a cancer survivor himself and has become dedicated in raising money for others with cancer. Gavers was recently diagnosed with cancer again earlier this year with melanoma. On July 19th, the foundation is hosting its […]
Tom Appel, Publisher of Consumer Guide Automotive, joins Lisa Dent to discuss why car insurance has gotten so expensive.
Tricia Menke, Events and Outreach Coordinator at the Illinois Railway Museum, joins Lisa Dent to share who’s visiting the Illinois Railway Museum. Thomas the Tank Engine is coming back for the 25th year. This weekend and the one following, families can attend the Day Out With Thomas event.
Lisa Dent checks in with the newsroom to hear their stories.
Sol Ashbach, Co-Owner of Wolf & Company, joins Lisa Dent to share Bucktown’s new restaurant. Ashbach shares that it is more than a singular restaurant. It’s a gathering place where they provide everything from a morning coffee to a fresh meat on your way home to work. And if you want to spend an evening on […]
Howard Tullman, American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, educator, writer, lecturer, and art collector, joins Lisa Dent to discuss his most recent article, ‘Succeeding on Substack Is Harder Than It Looks‘.
Lisa Dent checks in with the newsroom to hear their stories.
Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins Lisa Dent to discuss how Social Security is being affected by the ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ And, as always, Savage answers questions from listeners.
Baljash Cheema, MD, medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Human Longevity Clinic, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the impact that our body’s age has on our health. Dr. Cheema shares some of the contributing factors that determine our health as we age and shares how people can find their body’s age.
U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL 16) joins Lisa Dent to discuss The Big Beautiful Bill. Rep. LaHood shares some of the reasons as to why he voted ‘yes’ for the bill and how he says it will help working people and the economy.
Dr. Susan McConnell, founder of Let It Be Us, joins Lisa Dent to discuss Let It Be Us and their effort to help get children-in-waiting adopted by families. McConnell shares some information about adoption in Illinois and how people who are looking to adopt can help connect a child with a family.
Jordan Engerman, Vice President of Partnerships at Choose Chicago, joins Lisa Dent to discuss Choose Chicago’s first digital pass to 25 pizza places across Chicago. Each participating pizza restaurant has their own deals associated with the pass. To get your pizza pass, click here.
Troy Kimmel, South Central Texas meteorologist/emergency management incident response meteorologist, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the National Weather Service in Texas following the major floods over the Fourth of July weekend.
Lisa Dent checks in with the newsroom to hear their stories.
Dr. Sterling Elliott, clinical pharmacist at Northwestern Medicine and assistant professor of orthopedics at Feinberg School of Medicine, joins Lisa Dent to discuss his visit to Washington D.C. where he lobbied for legislation to help those who are recovering from opioid addiction. Then, Dr. Elliott answers medication questions from listeners.
Dr. Hermene Hartman, Chicago media pioneer and founder of N'Digo, joins Lisa Dent to discuss Jesse Jackson Jr’s potential return to Congress.
Ron Nunziato, the senior director of policy for the Health Care Council of Illinois, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the latest report showing Illinois has some of the worst nursing homes in the country. Nunziato says that despite Illinois’ place on the list, the state is trending in the right direction.
Burt Odelson, attorney for the Village of Dolton Board of Trustees, joins Lisa Dent to discuss Dolton finalizing the purchase of the childhood home of Pope Leo XIV.
Lou Manfredini joins Lisa Dent in his new weekly segment, Ask Lou, where he answers your questions about all things home repair.
Jimmy Pankow, trombonist and founding member of the band Chicago, joins Lisa Dent to share some stories about the band’s early days, their upcoming show at Ravinia, and more.
Ilyce Glink, CEO of Best Money Moves financial wellness company, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the stock market’s record highs, the June jobs report, and the likelihood of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates. Then, Glink shares some Fourth of July statistics.
Adam Alexander, lead play-by-play commentator for the 2025 Xfinity Series season, joins Lisa Dent to talk about the NASCAR Chicago Street Race Weekend. Returning for the third year, NASCAR’s Chicago Street Races for the Xfinity and Cup Series are this weekend. Alexander shares some of the highlights that spectators will experience and the magic of […]
David Brindley, Deputy Editor of AARP Bulletin and AARP The Magazine, joins Lisa Dent to share AARP’s 99 ways to save.
Ross Stanton Jordan, curator Freedom in Form: Richard Hunt and curatorial manager, Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, joins Lisa Dent to discuss the Richard Hunt exhibit and the Addams Hull-House Museum. Jordan features what to expect from Hunt’s exhibit at the Loyola University Museum of Art (7/11-11/15).
Kristen Reynolds joins Lisa Dent to discuss her new position as President and CEO of Choose Chicago. Reynolds shares her goals for the future and how the tourism agency is trying to change how people view Chicago.
Jahmal Cole, founder and CEO of My Block, My Hood, My City, joins Lisa Dent to share an update on his mission to live in all 77 of Chicago's neighborhoods — what Cole calls his “listening tour.” Cole just finished living for a month in Rogers Park. Cole will now spend a month living in […]
Lisa Dent checks in with the newsroom to hear their stories.
Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins Lisa Dent to discuss Social Security, and as always, she answers questions from listeners.