Stay and Fight with Matt Paprocki

On this episode of “Stay and Fight with Matt Paprocki,” we meet Bob Muzikowski, who in his early years lived a wild life, struggled with an addiction to cocaine, found God, and built a successful business. After moving to Chicago, he started the largest inner city little league in the country, and opened Chicago Hope Academy, a school that is transforming lives in one of the city's toughest neighborhoods. 

Five years ago, on June 27, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court justices issued a landmark ruling that forever freed government workers from having to pay forced union fees as a condition of their employment. Join Mailee Smith, senior director of labor policy and staff attorney for the Illinois Policy Institute; Jacob Huebert, president of the Liberty Justice Center and co-counsel of the lawsuit; and Mark Janus, plaintiff and former Illinois state worker, in commemorating the anniversary of this victory.

On this episode of “Stay and Fight with Matt Paprocki,” we meet Illinois entrepreneur and hero of taxpayers, Adam Andrzejewski. Founder of OpenTheBooks.com, Adam built the largest private database of government expenditures in the world to create transparency in government spending—exposing waste and corruption across the country. 

On this episode of “Stay and Fight with Matt Paprocki,” we meet Josh Hale, CEO and president of Big Shoulders Fund. After finding his calling in nonprofit work, Hale built his career at Big Shoulders, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing Chicago's inner-city children with a quality Catholic education. Under Hale's leadership, Big Shoulders launched an initiative that saved some of Chicago's highest-risk Catholic schools from closing — and Hale's just getting started. Subscribe to listen to future stories about amazing Illinoisans fighting for the state's future.

On this episode of “Stay and Fight with Matt Paprocki,” we meet the Rev. Corey Brooks, whose decision to start a church in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood changed many young people's lives and uplifted the community. Brooks shares how his ministry and nonprofit, Project H.O.O.D., continue to rehabilitate former gang members and fight for a better and safer Illinois. Subscribe to listen to future stories about amazing Illinoisans fighting for the state's future.

On this episode of "Stay and Fight with Matt Paprocki," we meet Neli Vazquez Rowland, who has revolutionized helping the homeless and low-income populations in Chicago. She does everything you can imagine to empower Chicagoans - from addiction treatment and counseling, to education, job training, and job placement - and has helped over 135,000 people in the process. Subscribe to catch future stories about amazing Illinoisans fighting for the state's future.

On this episode of “Stay and Fight with Matt Paprocki,” we meet Ed Bachrach, a CEO who successfully ran and sold his family's fourth-generation clothing retail business. Bachrach caught the bug for public policy, and it never left him. He doesn't believe in giving up on Illinois. So, he's launched dozens of organizations and nonprofits: fighting for pension reform, combating domestic violence and helping developing countries. I call him the Most Interesting Man in the World. Subscribe to listen to future stories about incredible Illinoisans fighting for the state's future.

On this episode of “Stay and Fight with Matt Paprocki,” we meet Tom Sodeika, whose immigrant ancestors fought against tyranny and were forced to flee Lithuania. A successful entrepreneur and CEO of Precision Payroll, Sodeika has a deep-rooted love for freedom and a passion for turning Illinois around. Subscribe to listen to future stories about incredible Illinoisans fighting for the state's future.

On this episode of “Stay and Fight with Matt Paprocki,” we meet Vince Kolber, a successful entrepreneur who could be retired on a beach somewhere. Instead, he's a civic leader in Chicago whose efforts led to record voter turnout. Kolber tells Matt Paprocki why the state of Illinois is worth saving. Subscribe to catch future stories about amazing Illinoisans fighting for the state's future.

On this episode of “Stay & Fight with Matt Paprocki,” we meet Tony Saliba, whose humble beginnings as a caddy on the Chicago North Shore fostered connections that led him to a wildly successful career as an options trader at the Chicago Board Options Exchange. A serial entrepreneur, Tony is the only Chicagoan to be featured in the bestselling book “Market Wizards”, which profiled the world's best traders. Tony tells Matt Paprocki how the state of Illinois plays into his story. Subscribe to catch future stories about amazing Illinoisans fighting for the state's future.

On the first episode of “Stay and Fight,” we meet Randy Lewis, who led the billion-dollar logistics division at Walgreens headquarters in Illinois. Inspired by his son, Austin, who has autism, Lewis started a movement within the company to create full-time jobs with benefits for people with disabilities. Today, nearly 50% of workers at a Walgreens distribution center are differently abled and the initiative has been replicated by Best Buy, Lowe's, Meijer and more.

Listen to the Stay and Fight podcast, hosted by Illinois Policy Institute CEO Matt Paprocki. Subscribe to the show to catch this season's episodes featuring powerful stories of Illinoisans who make the state a better place.