Karen Conti

Author Dennis Breo joins Karen Conti to talk about the 60th anniversary of the Richard Speck murders in Chicago, where eight student nurses were killed. Dennis discusses Speck’s family upbringing and relationships, his complicated personality, the crime scene, how one victim, Corazon Amurao, survived, Speck’s defense at trial, how he spent his time in prison, and […]

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart joins Karen Conti to discuss the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative and how it has helped drastically reduce gun violence since the 2022 Highland Park parade shooting. Eric also talks about Firearm Restraining Orders, what he has done to solve domestic violence issues in Lake County, and law enforcement’s close connection with […]

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs joins Karen Conti to discuss the role of Illinois’ Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program and its impact on people with disabilities. Michael also talks about Illinois’ state-facilitated retirement savings program, the importance of college savings accounts, Operation Purple Heart, and accessing unclaimed funds.

Charles Bosworth, author of ‘Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?’, joins Karen Conti to talk about the JonBenet Ramsey murder that took place nearly thirty years ago. Charles discusses whether JonBenet’s father, John, was involved in the case, the family’s behavior after her death, who may have sexually abused JonBenet, the questionable ransom note left in the home, […]

Carolyn Shapiro, a constitutional law professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, joins Karen Conti to talk about this week’s Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship and mail-in voting. Carolyn explains birthright citizenship, the arguments made by President Trump’s administration in support of the executive order to end it, and what would need to happen to get […]

Lester Munson, a retired lawyer and Sports Illustrated and ESPN author, joins Karen Conti to talk about the latest NBA betting scandal involving former player Malik Beasley. Lester comments on how much blame we should direct toward athletes for placing bets, the consequences of sports betting for athletes, and how to prevent athletes from taking […]

David Widner, nephew of John and Clarence Anglin, who escaped from Alcatraz along with Frank Morris, joins Karen Conti to talk about their famous escape, which occurred 64 years ago this month. David discusses why his uncles were imprisoned, the plan to flee the island, the possibility of making it to shore, reports of a stolen […]

Joe Feldman, Founder and President of Cover My Mental Health, joins Karen Conti to talk about how you can get your mental health care covered by insurance. Joe discusses what people should do if they struggle to access a clinician, when insurers tend to deny coverage, the importance of documenting calls and other key information when […]

Noah Bazis, Illinois Legislative Strategist with the Institute for Justice, joins Karen Conti to talk about a new law loosening licensing rules for cosmetologists. Noah discusses the requirements for licensure, the cost of cosmetology school, whether cosmetologists even need licenses, how the new law changes the current one, and more.

Dr. Alan Childs, Licensed Clinical Psychologist joins Karen Conti on Father's Day to talk about how separation and divorce impact children and what parents can do to protect their emotional well-being. Dr. Childs covers how parental alienation can lead to long-term relationship issues and offers guidance on co-parenting and when children may need therapy. If […]

Jeffrey Ment, an expert in travel law, joins Karen Conti to break down what travelers need to know heading into the busy summer season. Jeffrey explains how recent rules on flight delays and cancellations have improved refund timelines, along with the fine print that can impact eligibility. Jeffrey also discusses handling lost or delayed baggage, […]

Elder law attorney Kathryn Casey joins Karen Conti during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month to discuss why estate plans are critical, especially if cognitive decline becomes more common with age. Kathryn talks about memory loss impacting legal decision-making, breaks down the role of guardianship in Illinois, and highlights the risks of DIY estate planning tools and why […]

Ryan Graveface and Chloe Manon, owners and founders of Graveface Museum, join Karen Conti to talk about their museum and possessing the largest collection of artifacts, personal effects, and documents from John Wayne Gacy and the Gacy case including a rare true crime text written by John Wayne Gacy about his own trial that has […]

Diana Hartmann, McHenry County Regional Office Superintendent for the Illinois State Board of Education, and Richard Wistocki, former Naperville Police Detective and active Cyber Crimes Detective, join Karen Conti to talk about cyberbullying and the severity of the problem today. Richard discusses Illinois’ law on cyberbullying, what is considered legal, a statute he is trying […]

Brian Killacky, retired CPD homicide investigator and hostage negotiator, joins Karen Conti to discuss police interrogations, when Miranda rights must be given, why people admit to crimes they didn’t commit, lie detector tests, and his involvement in the Brown’s Chicken murder interrogation.

Criminal defense lawyer Damon Cheronis joins Karen Conti to talk about the week's trending legal news. Damon explains why we have grand juries and what happens during a grand jury process. He also provides an update on the ‘Broadview Six’ fallout and comments on the first-degree murder conviction of Karmelo Anthony in Texas.

Dr. Joni Johnston, forensic psychologist, private investigator, and crime writer, joins Karen Conti to discuss true crime and why we are obsessed with it. Dr. Johnston talks about common traits found in serial killers, whether there are ways to prevent someone from becoming a serial killer, the Macdonald triad and whether it has been proven, distinguishing between a […]

Karen Conti welcomes her law partner at Conti & Dolan, employment lawyer Patrick Dolan, to the show to talk about current legal news stories. They discuss potential cell phone bans in schools and whether such bans create safety concerns, Ryne Sandberg’s children suing their stepmother, Margaret Sandberg, over mishandling of his trust, and a crazy […]

Mike Leonard, criminal defense and civil attorney at Leonard Trial Lawyers, joins Karen Conti to talk about legal issues that arise in the summer. Mike discusses DUI arrests and their costs, swimming pool liability, protecting yourself as a homeowner when having indoor or outdoor work done, whether internships must be paid, and parenting-time issues. Mike also answers […]

Locke Bowman, civil rights attorney with Loevy & Loevy, joins Karen Conti to discuss the denial of a special prosecutor in connection with the actions of ICE agents during Operation Midway Blitz. Locke recaps Operation Midway Blitz, explains who has the power to investigate federal agents, comments on whether the Chicago Police Department will investigate, and discusses if […]

Criminal defense lawyer Damon Cheronis joins Karen Conti to talk about the week’s trending legal news. Damon discusses Harvey Weinstein’s retrial ending in a hung jury, the ‘Broadview Six’ having all counts dismissed, seeing something he’s never seen before in federal court, a big ruling in the Luigi Mangione case, Alex Murdaugh’s convictions getting overturned, and more.

Reproductive rights attorney Ryan Ferrante joins Karen Conti to talk about reproductive rights, infertility treatments, and at what point you may need a lawyer when going through treatments. Ryan explains what happens when there’s no more use for embryos, the surrogacy process, and insurance coverage for procedures.

Courtroom sketch artist and art therapist Pat Lopez joins Karen Conti to talk about her career and the responsibilities of the job. Pat discusses the famous trials she has worked on, such as the Kobe Bryant rape trial, Oklahoma City bombing trial, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez murder trial, and others. Pat also comments on the importance of […]

Jess Raines and Chris Krason from Chicago Prime Tours join Karen Conti to talk about a new crime bus tour in Chicago called ‘The Bloodlines of Chicago: The Serial Killer Tour’. The tour highlights local spots connected to serial killers John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer. Jess and Chris share their favorite stops on the tour […]

Criminal defense lawyer Damon Cheronis joins Karen Conti to break down the latest stories in criminal law. Damon talks about the recent James Comey indictment regarding seashells, protected speech versus unprotected speech, and whether President Trump will have to appear as a witness if the Comey case goes to trial. Damon also comments on his firm representing […]

Commercial business lawyer Adham Alaily joins Karen Conti to discuss people’s rights when they owe money to credit card companies and other debt collectors. Adham also talks about what happens when a lawyer sues you for a debt, what occurs when you don’t show up to court and a judgement is entered, and how to […]

Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell, a professor in the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and an expert on domestic violence, joins Karen Conti to dive deeper into the mass shooting that occurred last weekend in Shreveport, Louisiana, in which a father killed eight of his children. Dr. Campbell discusses why men kill their children more often […]

Melanie Greenberg, a family member of Lisa Stebic, joins Karen Conti to discuss the disappearance of the Plainfield resident, who went missing in 2007. Melanie shares details about the day Lisa went missing, Lisa’s relationship with her husband Craig, a police report that was given to the family after her disappearance, whether the Drew Peterson […]

Personal injury lawyer Patrick Salvi II joins Karen Conti to talk about a $241 million jury verdict in a case involving Eric Johnson, a courier who was killed by carbon dioxide exposure while transporting dry ice for a dairy company in 2016. Patrick discusses why the jury awarded such a large verdict. He also details medical […]

Renee Williams, lawyer and CEO of the National Center for Victims of Crime, and Jennifer McGuffin, Chief Communications Officer at Romanucci & Blandin, LLC and member of the Board of Directors for the National Center for Victims of Crime, join Karen Conti to discuss victims’ rights. Renee explains how victims’ rights in criminal cases differ from […]

Dr. Alan Childs, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and Jill Egizii, President and founder of the Parental Alienation Awareness Organization USA, join Karen Conti to highlight parental alienation ahead of Nation Parental Alienation Day on April 24th. Dr. Childs explains what qualifies as parental alienation, why parents do it, its long-term effects on children, and actions people should […]

Law professor Vikram Amar joins Karen Conti to talk about the U.S. Supreme Court’s arguments on the issue of birthright citizenship and its recent ruling on conversion therapy. Vikram discusses whether President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship will get struck down, whether the Supreme Court’s decisions have become too political, and how the court’s decision […]

Dr. Katherine Ramsland, author and professor in forensic psychology and criminology at DeSales University, joins Karen Conti to talk about the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer, Rex Heuermann, that is expected to plead guilty. Katherine discusses the suspect’s character, his targets, whether his wife knew of the murders, our inability to recognize people who may be […]

Former prosecutor and personal injury lawyer Matthew Moyer joins Karen Conti to discuss his book, ‘American Justice: From the Frontlines of the War on Crime’, which dives in on cases he has been involved in and how the justice system operates. Matthew also talks about carjackings by kids, political corruption, how the gang world has […]

Criminal defense lawyer Damon Cheronis joins Karen Conti to provide the latest on the murder case of Loyola student Sheridan Gorman. Damon discusses how potential immigration consequences may affect the prosecution of defendant Jose Medina, Medina’s past run-ins with the law, the SAFETY Act and its role in the case, and whether he is mentally fit to […]

Private Investigator Jordan Scherer and Bruce Maitland, founder of Private Investigations for the Missing, a non-profit he started after his daughter Brianna went missing, join Karen Conti to discuss missing persons and strategies used to help find them. Jordan talks about the difference between searching for children versus adults, a new law in Illinois detailing […]

Healthcare lawyer Ann Ford joins Karen Conti to highlight the ‘She Did What?!’ Award that Karen will receive in April from the Malecki Brooks Ford Law Group, LLC. Ann also talks about her transition from nursing to law and the current state of women in law.

Joel Rubin, Executive Director of the Illinois Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, joins Karen Conti to talk about social workers, the services they provide, and the education needed to get licensed. Joel and Karen also talk about the severe shortage of mental health care providers, the laws that are affecting it, and why […]

Author Bob General joins Karen Conti to talk about his new book, ‘Just… Call Me Al: A Capone Diaries Novella’, which is a fictionalized story about the life and journey of Al Capone. Bob details Capone’s youth, how he became famous, what led to his success, his mentor, how he fared while being imprisoned at […]

Antitrust lawyer Jon Jagher joins Karen Conti to discuss the DOJ’s lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation for antitrust violations. Jon talks about how performers and concertgoers may be affected by the suit, the evidence and witnesses the jury may consider, and what could happen to the companies if the court finds that Live Nation […]

Legal expert Andrew Stoltman joins Karen Conti to discuss various internet scams and how to detect them. Andrew talks about being careful when investing in cryptocurrency and other forms of investment, finding the right financial advisor, and how lottery winners can become lottery losers due to fraud.

Former Judge Lise Pearlman joins Karen Conti to discuss her book, ‘The Lindbergh Kidnapping Suspect No. 1: The Man Who Got Away’, which details the 1932 kidnapping of aviator Charles Lindbergh’s son, Charles Lindbergh Jr. Judge Pearlman talks about the life of Charles Lindbergh, the night of the kidnapping, how Bruno Richard Hauptmann was accused […]