Morning Shift Podcast

As the summer winds down, we wanted to share some highlights of conversations we've had on Reset over the last few months. From our immigration series to conversations with music legends to sitting down with Sasha's mom, we're looking back on an eventful season. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In 1991, a high-profile and controversial Supreme Court confirmation hearing led Carol Moseley Braun to run for the U.S. Senate. “The good people of Illinois saw fit to elect me,” Moseley Braun says. That's when she became the first Black woman to serve in the upper chamber. At the same time, Braun was the first woman senator to represent the state of Illinois in Congress. Braun details her childhood, that journey to Congress and the international success that would follow in a new memoir, “Trailblazer: Perseverance in Life and Politics.” Reset sits down with Carol Moseley Braun to learn more about her Chicago upbringing and storied career. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In the early hours of April 16, 1983, 23-year-old Karen Schepers of Elgin went missing after a night out with co-workers. And over four decades later, the Elgin Police Department's Cold Case Unit takes this missing persons case on again. The detectives behind the case document their investigation in the first season of the “Somebody Knows Something” podcast. Reset sits down with Elgin Police Department Chief Ana Lalley, detectives Christopher Hall and Andrew Houghton, and Sergeant Matt Vartanian to learn more about their work and the pod. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The National Guard was deployed to Washington, D.C. earlier this month as a part of President Donald Trump's effort to mitigate crime in the capital. And Chicago could be next. City and state leaders, such as Gov. JB Pritzker, have made their message clear. “Do not come to Chicago.” Since then, the White House has issued a press release of its own. A bullet-pointed list of crime statistics and headlines. Reset will go behind those headlines and fact-check the White House's claims that Chicago residents want the National Guard in the city with WBEZ criminal justice reporter Chip Mitchell and Northwestern professor Andrew Papachristos. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

As students return to campuses across the nation, a new documentary explores the legacy and new challenges faced by historically black colleges and universities. Reset learns more from Brandis Friedman, WTTW anchor and co-producer of the documentary “Opportunity, Access & Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs.” We also hear from Felecia Commodore, associate professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois has been a leader in the data center boom, with more than 220 across the state. However, those centers use up tons of water, often from the same sources that local communities rely on for drinking water. Advocates that work to protect the Great Lakes (and local drinking water) are raising the alarm on the burden this could put on Illinois municipalities in the short and long term. Reset gets the details from Jen Walling, executive director, Illinois Environmental Council; and Joel Brammeier, president, Alliance for the Great Lakes. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The historic Charnley-Persky House in the Gold Coast is a rare two-fer co-designed by a pair of architecture giants: Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan. The building at 1365 N. Astor St., which is often called the first modernist house in the world, was designed in 1891 when Sullivan was 35 years old and his employee Wright was 24. In this episode of What's That Building?, Sasha Ann Simpons and Dennis Rodkin tour the Charnley-Persky House for a closer look at this unique property. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago-based emergency room physician Dr. Thaer Ahmad is one of the dozens of health care workers from the area who have traveled to Gaza to provide humanitarian aid since the October 7, 2023 attacks. Ahmad and his colleagues are sharing their experiences with Illinois lawmakers in an effort to highlight the starvation in Gaza and to stop weapon transfers to Israel. Reset hears from Dr. Ahmad, WBEZ city politics Mariah Woelfel and Ertharin Cousin, former executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme.

Chicago's Inspector General urges City Council to police bad behavior. Democratic legislators return to Texas for a redistricting vote. Former Northwestern football coach reaches settlement with the university. Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul files more lawsuits against the Trump administration and politicians push for Southwest side communities to be declared disaster areas after flooding. Reset dives into these and other top local stories with City Cast Chicago executive producer Simone Alicea, FOX 32 political correspondent Paris Schutz and WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The first wind phone was created in Japan by Itaru Sasaki after losing his cousin to cancer in 2010. He installed a disconnected rotary phone in his garden as a way to connect with his cousin after their death. In 2011, after a tsunami hit the coast of Japan, destroying cities and leaving hundreds of people missing, Sasaki then relocated the phone booth on a hill overlooking the ocean to give others a way to connect with their lost loved ones. And now in 2025, one mother in Geneva, Ill., wants to bring a wind phone to the far western suburb. Reset learns more about this effort and navigating grief. We'll hear from Elaine Haughan, who lost her son James in 2021; Liam Jackowiec, best friend of James Haughan; and Neal Parker, with the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, which invites visitors to use the wind phone they have available by its butterfly garden. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Trump administration is considering reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug. This change could have major implications for cannabis businesses in Chicago. Reset sits down with Cannabis Business Association of Illinois' executive director Tiffany Ingram, nuEra's Jonah Rapino and Umi Dispensary's Akele Parnell to understand how this reclassification could impact the local industry and what it could mean for consumers. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Famous for its grandeur and colossal size, the Uptown Theatre celebrates its 100-year anniversary. Over the last century, the Uptown has seen its highs and lows, but after being shuttered in 1981, the “palace” now needs a $190-million revamp. Robert Loerzel's new book, The Uptown: Chicago's Endangered Movie Palace, relives the glory days of the theatre through photos and archives. Many, like Loerzel, hope the Uptown Theatre will be restored to its former purpose and splendor through the help of donor and state funding. Reset hears more about the Uptown Theatre's history and future from Loerzel, Preservation Chicago executive director Ward Miller, and David Syfczak, caretaker for the Uptown Theatre for the last 30 years. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Since HIV and AIDS were first declared an epidemic in the 1980s, numerous non-profit, private, and federal organizations have been created to combat the disease. But many Black-LED HIV and AIDS organizations struggle to cover operating costs as they work on prevention, education, and case management. As the Trump Administration makes drastic cuts to HIV/AIDS prevention funding, organizations that serve the communities on the frontlines of this crisis face an uncertain future. On today's Reset, we hear about the current state of the HIV-AIDS fight in Chicago, and why we see a funding gap between Black-led and other organizations. Today's panel: Timothy Jackson, director of policy and advocacy for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago; and Hannah Peewee, associate director of communications for Taskforce Prevention and Community Services. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Since HIV and AIDS were first declared an epidemic in the 1980s, numerous non-profit, private, and federal organizations have been created to combat the disease. But many Black-LED HIV and AIDS organizations struggle to cover operating costs as they work on prevention, education, and case management. As the Trump Administration makes drastic cuts to HIV/AIDS prevention funding, organizations that serve the communities on the frontlines of this crisis face an uncertain future. On today's Reset, we hear about the current state of the HIV-AIDS fight in Chicago, and why we see a funding gap between Black-led and other organizations. Today's panel: Timothy Jackson, director of policy and advocacy for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago; and Hannah Peewee, associate director of communications for Taskforce Prevention and Community Services. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Ordering wine and learning how to pair it with meals and summer produce can be intimidating – but it doesn't have to be! We talked to a chef, master sommelier and a food writer to learn how to pair what wine with what food, and how to do it in the least pretentious way possible. Today's panel: Maggie Hennessy, WBEZ contributor and food writer; Paul Virant, owner Gaijin, Vistro Prime and Petite Vie; Martin Beally, master sommelier, director of wine, beverage and ops integration at Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

AI therapy? Not if you're in Illinois. The state has banned the use of artificial intelligence for mental health therapy. It is just the third state to put restrictions on the use of AI in the field, joining Nevada and Utah. While some therapists support the ban, others are opposed, arguing that AI allows them to be more present in their client meetings. Others also vouch for AI therapy as a cheaper mental health care option for those who cannot afford professional care. Reset hears more about what the ban could mean for mental health care patients and providers in Illinois. Today's panel: Aaron Weiner, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist and addiction specialist; Blase Ur, assistant professor of computer science, University of Chicago; Joel Rubin, executive director, National Association of Social Workers, Illinois chapter; Mario Treto Jr., Secretary of Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Lots of news this week! President Trump threatens to deploy the National Guard to Chicago. Texas House Democrats announce plans to leave Illinois and return home. And the Cook County State's Attorney decides not to file charges against officers who killed motorist Dexter Reed. Reset breaks down these stories and much more with WBEZ statehouse reporter Alex Degman, WTTW News correspondent Nick Blumberg and Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Reema Amin. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson answers listeners' questions about ICE, the National Guard, affordable housing in Chicago, and more. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

A new program is helping Illinoisans of African descent reconnect and reclaim ancestral ties lost due to the transatlantic slave trade. In a period spanning over 400 years, more than 13 million men, women, and children were forcibly transported across the Atlantic Ocean to work in the Americas, devastating familial bonds. Now, the Illinois Family Roots Pilot program is offering free DNA testing so people can trace their roots into the past and connect with living relatives. Reset learns more about the state program and hears from two Chicago-area residents who connected after DNA testing showed they were related. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

A Chicago taskforce is exploring what reparations could mean for the city's Black residents, and it's taking an open-minded approach, considering more than just money. Meanwhile, Evanston continues to disburse funds to Black residents and descendents affected by the city's history of discriminatory housing practices, such as redlining. So, what's happened with reparations so far, and what comes next for Evanston, Chicago and other local communities? Resets gets the latest on the push for reparations in the Chicago area. Today's panel: Tonia Hill, multimedia producer, The TRiiBE; Pilar Audain, associate director, Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Greater Chicago; and Vanessa Johnson-McCoy, operations and community engagement manager, Reparations Stakeholders Authority of Evanston. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Rosa's Blues Lounge has launched an independent record label to highlight the work of unrecorded artists. Plus, the label aims to ensure artists retain rights to their intellectual property. Chicago blues artist, Billy Branch, was the first performer on Rosa's stage — now 41 years later, he and his band were the first to sign with Rosa's Record Label which launched Aug. 1. Reset speaks with Billy Branch and co-founders of the label, Tony Mangiullo and Marni Willenson about the story of the venue, the creation of the label and how this could contribute to Chicago's blues scene. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In the past year, two tent encampments have been cleared by the city, but people are still living in tents and green spaces and under viaducts throughout the city. As President Trump begins a high profile campaign to clear encampments in D.C., we look at the ways being homeless and living outside is criminalized, the strain on residents when there are encampments in parks and what the city and social service organizations are doing to find homes for the unhoused. Reset speaks with Sendy Soto, Chicago Chief Homelessness Officer, David Wywialowski, director of Outreach and Health at the Night Ministry, Doug Schenkelberg, executive director of the Chicago Coalition To End Homelessness and Mark Ishaug, CEO of Thresholds. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Have you ever wondered, “What is the oldest house in Chicago?” Well, you wouldn't be the first. In this latest edition of our What's That Building series, we explore the Noble–Seymour–Crippen House, named after three families who owned it before the Norwood Park Historical Society purchased the building. Reset learns more with Reset architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin, Rev. Kevin Anthony Ford of St. Paul Church of God in Christ and Noble-Seymour-Crippen house docent Art Krumrey. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois state lawmakers missed the deadline to close the $770 million budget gap for the CTA before the end of the fiscal year. If the budget gap is not filled, Chicago area-wide transit could face cuts, possibly eliminating 4 train lines and more than 65 buses. Reset hears more about the public transit fiscal cliff and how it will affect the CTA with Illinois Sen. Ram Villivalam of the 8th District, RTA director of government affairs Rob Nash and Better Streets Chicago executive director Kyle Lucas. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The FBI is said to be helping find Democratic Texas legislators who fled to Illinois. Indiana expands immigrant detention centers. The last of four convicted ComEd co-conspirators has been sentenced to prison. Chicago Public Schools cuts custodians in an effort to save money. Reset breaks down those stories and much more with Chicago Tribune political writer, Dan Petrella, Chicago Sun-Times reporter, Mary Norkol, and anchor of WTTW's “Chicago Tonight” and host of “Chicago Tonight: Black Voices,” Brandis Friedman. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Record stores aren't dead. Across the Chicago area, they're a mainstay for discovery and for community connection. So, let's salute the role they play in expanding our musical horizons. We chatted with Jack and John Dreznes, father-son duo at Beverly Records in the Beverly neighborhood, Nigel Ridgeway, co-founder of Miyagi Records, Kelli Lynch, music director at WRRG at Triton College and Natalie Moore, Chicago Sun-Times columnist. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

There have been many plans for what should happen to the 62-acre site known as the 78 along the Chicago River at Roosevelt and Canal. The latest is a new stadium for the Chicago Fire soccer team. The project promises more affordable housing and economic growth, but some residents of neighboring Chinatown have concerns and are making them heard. Reset sits down with Sarah Tang, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community's director for programs, Matthew Zhao, Teen Coalition for Chinatown intern, and Debbie Liu, president of Ping Tom Park Advisory Council. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Recent anti-immigration policies have left many home healthcare workers on edge. As a result, many individuals who require long-term care and rely on this labor to assist with daily living tasks related to health and hygiene have had to go without this much-needed service. Reset checks in with Michelle Garcia, a woman living with disability who has had to scramble to find care for her and her husband and Chicago Sun-Times healthcare reporter Elvia Malagon. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

August 6 marks 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima. Its effects are still being felt all across the world eight decades later. Reset discusses with DePaul University religious studies professor Yuki Miyamoto, Japanese Art Foundation board president John Donners and Rebecca Ozaki and Jeannie Tomoda Harrell, program directors at the Japanese American Citizens League Chicago.

We'll hear movie buffs' reviews of summer hits and get recommendations for films and local festivals to check out. We'll check in with Rebecca Fons, director of programming at the Gene Siskel Film Center, Michael Phillips, film critic for the Chicago Tribune and Jeremy Marder, programmer and manager at the Music Box Theatre. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois has joined a multi-state federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's efforts to limit gender affirming care for young people. This comes as the fourth major hospital in Chicago rolls back the kind of care offered to patients under 19 years of age. To fill in these gaps, a rapid response team of volunteers is working to connect families to alternate providers. Reset learns more from Asher McMaher, executive director Trans Up Front Illinois who is coordinating this team, Dr. Jessica Lapinski, a physician at Outpatient Family Medicine Transformed who provides gender affirming care, Michelle Vallet, parent of a trans teen who works to foster understanding among allies, and Kristen Schorsch, WBEZ health care reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Need to let off some steam and yell into the void? Well, you're not alone. In fact, you can head to North Avenue Beach on Sunday evenings and meet up with Scream Club Chicago, where the one thing everyone has in common is that they really need to indulge in a good scream. If screaming is not for you, and you're looking for something a bit more melodic, there is always the Chicago Circle Singing. They meet once a month, and anyone – no matter the skill or talent level – can join and belt one out. Reset sits down with the founders and members of Chicago Circle Singing and the Scream Club about finding catharsis – and community – in screaming and singing. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

With the first day of classes just weeks away, we're asking: How did Chicago teens spend their summer vacation? Turns out, some got to work, gaining new skills and experiences in preparation for the start of school. Reset hears from teens about how hard it was to land a job, where they ended up, and what lessons they're taking away from the summer season. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

With the first day of classes just weeks away, we're asking: How did Chicago teens spend their summer vacation? Turns out, some got to work, gaining new skills and experiences in preparation for the start of school. Reset hears from teens about how hard it was to land a job, where they ended up, and what lessons they're taking away from the summer season. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

With the first day of classes just weeks away, we're asking: How did Chicago teens spend their summer vacation? Turns out, some got to work, gaining new skills and experiences in preparation for the start of school. Reset hears from teens about how hard it was to land a job, where they ended up, and what lessons they're taking away from the summer season. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

U.S. Rep. Danny Davis is leaving Congress. Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg dies. Canadian wildfires cause Chicago to once again have the worst air quality in the world. Plus, the Illinois Governor is urged to declare a state of emergency for flooded neighborhoods and much more. Reset goes behind those headlines and more with NBC-5 Chicago reporter Christian Farr, Block Club Chicago reporter Francia Garcia Hernandez and Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mitchell Armentrout. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

We hear the story of a local woman, “Maria,” who fled war-torn Syria for the United States more than 10 years ago. While her request for asylum languished in the courts for the last seven years, she carried on the work of creating a new life, forming a community, and working as an immigration advocate. Just this week, she found out that her request for asylum has been denied. She now finds herself in a state of limbo, unable to return to her own country out of fear of persecution, uncertain of a future here. In the final installment of our weeklong series looking into what it's like to be an immigrant without permanent status in the U.S., we focus on the experiences of asylum seekers and refugees. We speak with “Maria” from Syria; Maya Oyarbide-Sanchez, Refugee One Wellness Director; Heena Musabji, Legal Director at CAIR-Chicago; and Maketh Mabior, a former refugee from Sudan and lay leader of the South Sudanese congregation at St Paul's Church. All of today's guests work on representing, resettling, and supporting refugees and other displaced people under a cloud of uncertainty created by the current administration. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Lollapalooza is in full swing as thousands of fans descend on Grant Park, snarling traffic. We'll give you a 101 of what you need to know, highlights of the four-day music festival, and how not to get on the nerves of fellow concert-goers. And if you're looking for counter-programming, we'll find out more of what Chicago has to offer in the coming weeks. Arts and culture experts Sofie Hernandez-Simeonidis (WBEZ) and Ambar Colón (Chicago Sun-Times) break it all down. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

After over 800 student visas were suddenly revoked this spring, immigrants studying or hoping to study in the U.S. fear sudden and unanticipated visa termination. Illinois has over 60,000 international students who bring in revenue to the state and its universities. With a constant fear of visa termination, and changes to the applicant vetting process, Reset digs deeper into what it all means for international students in Illinois. Our panel: Jay, a student visa holder; immigration lawyer Scott Pollock; WBEZ higher education reporter Lisa Kurian Philip; and University of Chicago Professor Clifford Ando. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The tax and spending bill recently signed into law radically alters how borrowers will pay back their student loans, lowers the amount of money graduate students and parents can borrow, and officially sunsets President Biden's SAVE program, which is known for low monthly payments, and expedited loan forgiveness. Reset speaks with student loan borrower Kia Clair, rising senior at Northern Illinois University; Alex Lundrigan, policy and advocacy manager, Young Invincibles; and Lisa Kurian Philip, WBEZ higher education reporter, about how these changes could affect local borrowers and what they can do to prepare. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

From agricultural laborers to software engineers, America offers multiple pathways for people to live and work in the country on temporary work visas. However, obtaining these visas can be frustrating and workers' legal status is still tenuous. Reset hears from Coleman Immigration founding partner Christina Coleman and one Chicagoan about his experience on a temporary work visa. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Retirement is out of reach for a growing number of Americans who simply can't afford to stop working. But seniors looking for work often face age discrimination. A program in Chicago provides job training, computer skills, and resume coaching for low-income seniors and has placed hundreds of seniors in jobs in community centers, schools, and public assistance programs. But as of July 1 of this year, the 140 seniors participating in this program have been furloughed due to federal and state funding cuts. Reset speaks with Sheryl Holman, CEO, Community Assistance Program. Plus, Patricia Johnson, Sandra Robinson, and Sharon Rainey, who participated in CAP's Senior Community Service Employment Program. They share how CAP's training and job placements helped them, and what needs to be in place for them to thrive. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.