The ALL NEW Big Wakeup Call with Ryan Gatenby

Send us a textVanessa Bayer, who was currently in her 5th season on Saturday Night Live, talks about the "Trainwreck Comedy Tour" coming to the Harris Theater in Chicago, an all-star evening featuring Vanessa, Amy Schumer, Colin Quinn, Judd Apatow, Mike Birbiglia and Dave Attell.  (From 6-10-15)

Send us a text Monica Mohindra is the Director of the Veterans History Project (VHP) of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. In over 15 years with the Project, she has coordinated major initiatives with Members of Congress, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Endowment for the Humanities, PBS, Ken Burns/ Florentine Films, the HISTORY Channel, and many more. Before joining the Library, she worked in various communications with a variety of theater companies including The Smithsonian's Discovery Theater, Arena Stage's Living Stage Theatre Company and The Washington Revels. She is the spouse of a US Navy Veteran.  

Send us a textThe legendary Henry Rollins joined the show to talk about his role in a new four-part docuseries "Punk." We also discussed how music and fashion were attached to the English punk rock scene, why he embraced the punk rock community as a teenager, and the reason he turns down most punk rock documentaries (and why he chose to appear in this one). [From 3-7-19)

Send us a textSongwriting icon Diane Warren discusses her legendary career.(From 2016)

Send us a textWilliam DeWitt is the Director of Global Security at Verkada, where he is building a best-in-class corporate security program. Prior to Verkada, Will spent nearly 12 years at Palantir, where he served as Global Safety and Security Lead, building the company's corporate global security and government security programs. Under his leadership, Palantir's government security program obtained accreditation at the highest level, allowing it to process U.S. government data and pursue government contracts. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency awarded the program he built the Cogswell Award. Previously, Will served in the US Marine Corps for eight years. 

Send us a textAuthor Jacqueline Friedland's books have been called ferociously insightful, wholly engrossing and unputdownable! Her newest is Counting Backward, which is being called "An Erin Brockovich for our times."Next month, she delivers her most thought-provoking book yet with: COUNTING BACKWARD. This “ripped-from-the-headlines story is an Erin Brockovich for our times.”

Send us a textI had a fun chat with author Tanisia Moore about her new book for children (and parents, too) "Wash Day Love."Tanisia Moore views writing as her avenue for giving hope, sharing life's lessons, and sparking imaginations. Her companion picture books I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams and When Black Girls Dream Big empower young readers to dream and live big, and remind them of their strength and potential. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband and three young children. Learn more at tanisiamoore.com 

Send us a textTom Carroll is the writer director of “The Stress is Killing Me,” which is now available to rent/own on all North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms.  He is also the director or “Big Bad Budget,” which aired on PBS stations nationwide, and the writer director of “Who Stole the Tasmanian Devils?” Tom is also the author of several novels, including “The Dogs Who Play Baseball,” “Young and Dumb”, and “Lawrence and the Ant Colony,” and the play “Churchill's Finest Hour.”  

Send us a textAnnasophia Robb of The CW's Carrie Diaries discusses her new film DOWN A DARK HALL.  (From 8-17-18)

Send us a textMLB Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt called into talk about his serious battle with skin cancer (Stage 3 Melanoma) and a new initiative from CancerCare, "Your Cancer Game Plan."  It was also a thrill to talk to Mike about baseball memories of him always destroying my Cubs and his thoughts on whether the Cubs can repeat.(From 9-20-17)

Send us a textLauded by David Baldacci, Karin Slaughter, and Stephen King, among others "The Oligarch's Daughter" by Joseph Finder is already on the bestseller list. The hero, Paul Brightman, is a regular finance guy who by accident falls in love with an Oligarch's daughter. The U.S. intelligence community traps him into spying on his father-in-law and his activities. 

Send us a textCelebrated New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry returns to the show to discuss the latest installment in his wildly popular Cotton Malone series—now in development as a streaming series. The Medici Return takes Cotton to Italy to solve a five hundred year-old mystery. 

Send us a textJim Jefferies is coming to the Vic Theater in Chicago for two stand-up shows being taped for a new special.  We discuss the state of the world, the state of comedy, and the state of our minds.

Send us a textRenowned rock and roll photographer Mick Rock, who has taken iconic photographs of David Bowie, Queen, Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, Ramones, and especially Lou Reed, called in to discuss a limited-edition book of pictures and stories, Transformer, out now to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the LP that, with the magic help of David Bowie and Mick Ronson, launched Lou Reed into the hero status we know today. We only had 10 minutes for the interview, but I could listen to Mick tell Reed and Bowie stories all day. Mick sadly passed away in 2021 at age 72.

Send us a textMarg Helgenberger called in to talk about her movie, "Almost Friends" as well as her play "What We're Up Against." Plus: Chicago geography and filming in Alabama in the summer -- on purpose. (From 11-14-17)

Send us a textLindsay Arnold discusses partnering with Cubs legend Davis Ross on " Dancing With the Stars." (From 4-13-17).Lindsay Arnold is an all-American girl who was born and raised on the stage in Provo, Utah. She began dancing at the age of four and has not stopped dancing since. She trained extensively in Utah with some of the country's best teachers, including Shirley Ballas and Mark Ballas, a Dancing with the Stars veteran dancer.Lindsay is incredibly versatile, but her area of expertise is Latin dance. Previously a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance, perform in the 30-city tour, in theaters all across the nation. She later joined Dancing with the Stars, where she was first partnered with boxer Victor Ortiz.Her numerous awards include placing 1st place in both the United States Open Youth Latin Championships and the United States Open Junior Latin Championships, being a top 3 finalist at the World Junior Latin Team Match, a top 5 finalist at the World Cup Latin Junior Championships and a top 5 finalist at the United States Junior National 10 dance Championships.

Send us a textJames Feinstein discusses his book "THE FIRST MAJOR: The Inside Story of the 2016 Ryders Cup Tournament." (From 11-3-17)John Feinstein is one of America's favorite sportswriters, and his new book invites readers to join him on the trail of the storied Ryders Cup – an intense tournament that pits America's best golfers against their European counterparts in one of the most emotional matches of the year. 

Send us a textThe Amazing Kreskin made 88 appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and has also been on with David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon and more. He continues to be the world's leading mentalist. His off-broadway show debuts on April 12th at Theatre Row-Lion Theatre in New York City. We discussed how he first landed an appearance on the Tonight Show, his relationship with Johnny and Dave, and his experiences in Chicago. Kreskin also graciously agreed not to read my thoughts (or least not to announce them on the radio).(From March 29, 2018)

Send us a textActor James Faulkner discusses his role as Paul in the film "Paul, Apostle of Christ." (From March 2018.)Born in Hampstead, London, James Faulkner has enjoyed a prolific and varied career spanning more than 40 years. In 2017, he was widely acknowledged for his portrayal of Randyll Tarly in HBO's Game of Thrones as well as playing the head of MI6 in ATOMIC BLONDE alongside Charlize Theron. His numerous British and U.S. television roles include such series as Downton Abbey, Da Vinci's Demons, I Claudius, The Martian Chronicles, Crazy Like a Fox, Highlander and La Femme Nikita. Film credits include X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, THE GOOD SHEPHERD starring Robert de Niro, BRIDGET JONES' DIARY among many others. James' theatre roles include multiple West End productions, and he has narrated over 40 documentaries, read 15 audio books and voiced a number of video games.

Send us a textWe open the vault and go all the way back to 2014 for my chat with LeeAnn Rimes, who was promoting her Christmas tour and her album “ONE Christmas - Chapter 1."

Send us a textIan Port talks about his book THE BIRTH OF LOUD: LEO FENDER, LES PAUL & THE GUITAR-PIONEERING RIVALRY THAT SHAPED ROCK 'N ROLL.  (From 1-17-19)Ian Port is an award-winning writer and music critic whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, The Village Voice, and The Believer, among other publications. He is also the former music editor of the San Francisco Weekly. He lives in New York. For more information, visit: www.iansmithport.com.

Send us a textAndrew Chimka, industry hiring expert and LinkedIn's Director of Product Management, shares his top hiring tips for small business success, including the state of hiring today for small businesses, the top challenges small businesses face, and how LinkedIn is helping small businesses find qualified candidates with its new AI assistant.

Send us a textLegendary comedian and actor Tommy Davidson returns to the show for a fun interview and to promote his upcoming appearance at the Chicago Improv in Schaumburg Dec 20-22.

Send us a textWith an uptick in flu, Covid, and RSV, virus hunter Mary Rodgers shares tips on navigating the winter months.Mary Rodgers, Ph.D. is an Associate Research Fellow in Abbott's diagnostics business.In her role, Mary manages research from the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition, the first industry-led global scientific and public health partnership dedicated to the early detection of and rapid response to future pandemic threats. As part of the coalition, over 20 sites around the world monitor circulating and emerging pathogens to help quickly detect outbreaks, and then work together with health officials to minimize the spread.Mary also tracks the diversity of infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis and SARS-CoV-2 to track new variant's impact on diagnostic testing. In 2019, Mary and a team of Abbott scientists announced the discovery of a new subtype of HIV and made the sequence available to the global research community. This research marked the first time in 19 years that a new subtype of HIV-1 Group M had been identified.Mary joined Abbott in 2014 and has authored or coauthored more than 40 research papers and contributed thousands of viral genomes to public databases. Mary was named one of Business Insider's 30 under 40 Young Leaders in Biotech in 2017 and is an inducted member of Abbott's Volwiler Society, which recognizes its most distinguished scientists and engineers.Mary received her Ph.D. in biological and biomedical sciences from Harvard University. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Southern California.

Send us a textAward-winning author Sandra Magsamen discusses her career writing books for children and her newest board book, "Silly Santa."

Send us a textIt's always a good time to talk Wisconsin cheese, and returning guest Julie Hartigan has some great recipes and entertaining ideas using the world's most awarded cheese!Julie Hartigan is a trained chef, recipe creator, hosting expert, and culinary travel guide who helps people enjoy the good life with cooking, entertaining, and travel tips! A former engineer whose career changed into the culinary world, attending the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC and later working at Food Network and Saveur magazine; Julie is a regular on your favorite morning and lifestyle shows and has published 1000's of recipes and hosting tips for Food Network, Weight Watchers, Real Simple, Shape Magazine, Pop Sugar, Bed Bath Beyond, and more. A fun-loving person and natural born host; Julie loves sharing easy recipes and entertaining ideas so you can kick back and enjoy your party too.  You can learn more at JulieHartigan.com.

Send us a textWhether dealing with “invited pain” from physical activity or “uninvited pain” from an injury or condition – pain is a reality for many Americans. In fact, the CDC estimates that 50 million Americans suffer from chronic pain.Harley Pasternak, The fitness instructor to celebrities such as Ariana Grande, Jessica Simpson, Adam Levine, and Gwyneth Paltrow shares techniques such as salt soaks, foam rolling, and the first FDA-registered topical pain relief line formulated with CBD, CBDMEDIC. (From 11-14-19)

Send us a textFrom 10-5-16: Comedian and actress Phoebe Robinson talks about her first book, You Can't Touch My Hair (And Other Things I Still Have to Explain). 

Send us a textLegendary agent and producer Shep Gordon discusses his book THEY CALL ME SUPER MENSCH (From 9-21-16).It started with a punch from Janis Joplin. It was 1968 and Shep Gordon had quit the job that had brought him to L.A. after only one day. He had about a month's worth of cash in his pocket when he checked into a Hollywood motel. The first night, he tried to “rescue” a girl he thought was in distress. That was Janis, who punched him in the mouth. With the kind of serendipity that would mark the next five decades in a remarkable career, Gordon's life as a legendary manager, agent, and producer was launched. Famous among the famous, Gordon came to wider public attention through Mike Myers's “shagadelic rock doc” Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon. Now, in THEY CALL ME SUPERMENSCH: A Backstage Pass to the Amazing Worlds of Film, Food, and Rock'n'Roll, this charismatic original tells his own version of his rollicking, good-spirited life story.

Send us a textIn a public service interview, I'm joined by Alla Reznik from Verizon, who talks about cybersecurity awareness and the holidays. Alla Reznik is the Senior Director at Verizon Business, where she has been leading a national team of Cybersecurity and Unified Communications sales specialists for over two years. With more than 20 years of experience in the tech industry, she has a proven track record of delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of diverse market segments and customers. 

Send us a textReturning guest Aaron Blakey visits the show to talk about the final book in THE BAD GUYS series, THE BAD GUYS IN ONE LAST THING. 

Send us a textKenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes return to the show for a fun chat about the latest book-inspired-by-the-podcast: GREEKING OUT: HEROES AND OLYMPIANS.

Send us a textROB PAULSEN, voice of Yakko on ANIMANIACS, called in to talk about the show's return to Hulu  22 years after its final episode aired.Maybe you've never heard of Rob Paulsen. But you've heard him. A lot.  Maybe you don't know Rob Paulsen, but you know Pinky and the Brain, Animaniacs, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Jimmy Neutron Boy Genius, and most of the other animated projects that Paulsen has been part of as a voice actor for nearly three decades. With over 2,000 (yes, that's right) half-hour programs and dozens of films, video games, and other animated media to his credit, Paulsen has been one of the hardest working, most in-demand, and most beloved voice artists in the industry, earning (so far) a Daytime Emmy and Peabody, three times winning the Annie Award (for voice actors).Rob called in to talk about the 

Send us a textChristopher “Chris” Tucker is an international award winning actor and comedian best known for playing the role of Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour film series. Tucker became a favorite on Russell Simmons' HBO Def Comedy Jam in the 1990's and came to prominence in the 1995 film Friday alongside Ice Cube. Next he co-starred and executive produced Money Talks with Charlie Sheen and then appeared in Luc Besson's The Fifth Element. In 2006, he negotiated an unprecedented $25 million salary to appear in Rush Hour 3, which at the time made him the highest paid actor in Hollywood.Chris called in to promote his upcoming show on January 24th at the Chicago Theater. (From 1-14-15)

Send us a textPlaying in the NBA for eighteen years, Ray Allen won championships with the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat and entered the record books as the original king of the three-point shot. Known as one of the hardest-working and highest-achieving players in NBA history, this most dedicated competitor was legendary for his sharp shooting. From the Outside, complete with a foreword by Spike Lee, is his story in his words: a no-holds-barred look at his life and career, filled with behind-the-scenes stories and surprising revelations about the game he has always cherished.  (From 3-28-18)

Send us a textOn this episode we once again open The Big Wakeup Call Vault (TM) and listen to some of my Halloween-related interviews!First, from  9/27/21: Cassandra Peterson AKA Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, made her second visit to the show when she called in to discuss her memoir "Yours Cruelly, Elvira."From 10/30/2014: Tyler Mane, who donned the mask of Michael Myers in "Halloween" and "H2," talked about his movie "Compound Fracture."From 1/29/2018: Kane Hodder, who played Jason in the "Friday the 13th" series, chatted about his movie "Victor Crowley."From 10/20/2021: Deborah Vorhees, actress from the "Friday the 13th" series, talked about her new movie and directorial debut, "13 Fanboy."From 10/27/2017: "Count" Dominick Dicce discussed his book "You're a Vampire - That Sucks!"And from 10/20/2015: We revisit Elvira's first appearance on the show, talking about her stint as a guest judge on Food Network's "Halloween Wars."Happy Halloween!

Send us a textEmmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actor Bobby Cannavale called into promote the release of "Jumani: Welcome to The Jungle," out now on digital, and coming to DVD and Blu-Ray on March 20th. We also discussed Boardwalk Empire, how we're both members of the "old dad's club," and unfortunately ended on a down note with a chat about the Jets and the Bears. (From 3-12-18)

Send us a textCraig Fugate knows the power and danger of natural disasters like few people in this nation's history. He served as President Barack Obama's FEMA Administrator from 2009 to 2017, leading the agency through multiple record-breaking disasters, including floods, tornadoes and Hurricanes Sandy and MatthewNow, Mr. Fugate is sharing his vast experience in a special interview about being prepared for the danger and challenges of winter weather. Craig discusses the growing number of major weather events and how these events are impacting the nation. Learn why Mr. Fugate is also teaming up with Jackery to share a checklist that reveals important steps families can take prepare for the challenges of winter weather.

Send us a textWhether it's a NSFW ("not safe for work") encounter with a bra-selling pet parent or a touching farewell to a beloved family dog - DR. DAWN FILOS bring us a variety of tales underscoring the deep connection and mutual affection between pets and their owners in the new book: TALES OF A PET VET: STORIES FROM THE CLINIC AND HOUSE CALLS

Send us a textAs National Cybersecurity Awareness Month unfolds, we have an exclusive interview with Cybersecurity Expert, Grant Hansen. This is a timely and critical discussion to help understand the rising threat of cybercrime, with losses exceeding $37.4 billion in the past five years (FBI Internet Crime Report 2023). Grant Hansen brings over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, offering practical tips and proactive strategies for both businesses and consumers to stay safe in today's digital world.

Send us a textWe celebrate 50 years of local area company Grecian Delight | Kronos as they Honor Greek American Cuisine, Culture, and Heritage with Community Events. Mike Paribello is a seasoned marketing, sales, and innovation leader with over 25 years of experience in the consumer products and food industry. His extensive expertise in brand management, advertising, shopper and retail marketing, consumer insights, and staying ahead of the latest trends has made him a trusted figure among some of the most recognized food companies and brands found in millions of households today. Throughout his career, including over 20 years at Conagra Foods and Smithfield Foods, Mike has consistently driven growth and innovation. Paribello is now helping Grecian Delight | Kronos into its next 50 years, focusing on innovative and convenient solutions for both retail and foodservice operators making it easy for them to bring the finest Greek and Mediterranean food options to tables and menus everywhere.

Send us a textCompiled acclaimed anti-racist educator Liz Kleinrock and celebrated author Caroline Kusin Pritchard, and illustrated by Iris Gottlieb, WHAT JEWISH LOOKS LIKE is a powerful intersectional anthology celebrating thirty-six Jewish heroes—from Tracee Ellis Ross, and Victor Perez, to Doña Gracia Nasi. A first-ever collection that disrupts the narrative of how a Jewish person is perceived!

Send us a textGrammy, Tony, and Emmy Award winning singer-songwriter) that's 3/4 of an EGOT!) Cyndi Lauper called in to talk about some of her newest projects as well as her work as a spokesperson for the 8 million Americans dealing with symptoms of psoriasis.(From November 14, 2019)

Send us a textLinda Sue Park visits the show to discuss her book Gracie Under the Waves.Linda Sue Park is the author of many books for young readers, including the 2002 Newbery Medal winner A Single Shard and the New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water. Her most recent title for middle grade readers is The One Thing You'd Save, a collection of linked poems. Linda Sue is the founder and curator of Allida Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. She serves on the advisory boards of We Need Diverse Books and the Rabbit Hole museum project, and created the kiBooka website, www.kibooka.com, to highlight children's books created by the Korean diaspora. In her travels to promote reading and writing, she has visited more than 30 countries and 49 states. Linda Sue knows very well that she will never be able to read every great book ever written, but she keeps trying anyway. Visit her website at www.lindasuepark.com; follow her on Twitter @LindaSuePark.

Send us a textAn informative discussion with Natasha Daniels about her memoir OUT OF MY SHELL: Overcoming Social Anxiety from Childhood to Adulthood.Natasha Daniels is an anxiety and OCD child therapist and has published six other books including How to Parent your Anxious Toddler, Anxiety Sucks: A Teen Survival Guide, Social Skills Activities for Kids, It's Brave to Be Kind, The Grief Rock and Crushing OCD Workbook for Kids. She also hosts the AT Parenting Survival Podcast and has a Youtube channel, Ask the Child Therapist. You can find her work at https://www.socialanxietyreality.com/; www.ATparentingsurvival.com or on social media @Atparentingsurvival.

Send us a textLucy Ashe discusses her new book The Sleeping Beauties.Lucy Ashe is an English teacher. After training at the Royal Ballet School, she decided to change career plans and go to college. She studied English literature at St. Hugh's College, Oxford, before receiving her teaching qualification. Ashe's poetry and short stories have been published in a number of literary journals, and she was shortlisted for the 2020 Impress Prize for New Writers. Her first novel, The Dance of the Dolls, was published in 2023. She lives in New York City. 

Send us a textDr. Chadi Nabhan discusses his book THE CANCER JOURNEY: Understanding Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention.Chadi Nabhan, MD, MBA, FACP, is a board-certified hematologist and a medical oncologist who practiced hematology and oncology for years. He has authored or co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts and abstracts. He is the author of Toxic Exposure: The True Story behind the Monsanto Trials and the Search for Justice and is the creator and host of the weekly Healthcare Unfiltered podcast.

Send us a textIt's a lively chat with Annie Zaleski as we talk all things Taylor Swift and her new book Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs.Annie Zaleski is an award-winning music journalist and author based in Cleveland, Ohio. Her writing has appeared in Rolling Stone, the Guardian, Time, and the Los Angeles Times, and she has written books on artists including Lady Gaga, Pink, and Duran Duran. Facebook: SBTS: Instagram: @anniezaleskiauthor, @thunderbaypress, Annie's website is anniez.com

As someone who has worn headphone for nearly 30 years of a radio career and who plays in a band in loud venues, hearing protection is very important to me, so I called in an expert.We have world-renowned hearing expert Professor De Wet Swanepoel to discuss the critical hearing issues facing many Americans. It's estimated that 44 million Americans experience hearing loss, but only one-fifth get help. Research has shown that there is a significant relationship between hearing loss, cognitive decline and depression in the elderly, so in 2022, the FDA announced that hearing aids can be sold over-the-counter without a prescription. Professor Swanepoel share some timely info about this serious issue that affects so many families.

HGTV star Matt Blashaw joins our 6-Timers Club as we talk about sustainable energy for your home.  Matt shares tips on the many benefits of using propane in both new construction and remodeling/renovating homes. Matt will share his own experience of living in a propane-equipped homestead that includes appliances, energy sources and back-up power.This episode is supported by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).Find more information at  www.Propane.com/ForMyHome

Director, writer, comedian, singer and songwriter Gino McKoy called in to discuss his directorial debut on the sci-fi-horror-comedy, "Lumina."Also written and produced by McKoy with a cast headed by veteran Eric Roberts, the film follows an odd foursome who desperately search for their friend who's mysteriously disappeared.  Their quest evolves into a change-of-pace thriller with endless, threatening twists and turns--all laced with a little welcomed humor.Lumina's back story includes:  the first feature filmed entirely in Morocco, one of the few movies completed during the first year of the pandemic and the exclusive single release of "Everything to Me," which is featured on the official soundtrack of the filmArriving at the start of the annual wave of Halloween films, "Lumina" hits the theaters in a special return engagement on Friday, September 20, 2024.