The Crisis Cast

George Ryan's legacy is built largely on being the Illinois Governor who halted prison executions. The son of a pharmacist, Ryan grew up in Kankakee County where he launched one of the most storied and complicated political careers in Illinois history In this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin revisit a conversation we had with Illinois' 39th governor on May 2nd 2021. Mr. Ryan died May 2, 2025, at age 91. You'll hear Lissa & Thom's personal reflections on former Governor Ryan. Plus, Mr. Ryan shares what drove him to write the  book Until I Could Be Sure: How I Stopped the Death Penalty in Illinois.

This is a tale of two governing bodies. In this episode, we go to grad school on the stark differences between Illinois' municipal and state pensions. Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin are in our chat room with Naperville's city manager, Doug Krieger and Mark Fowler, executive director of the Northwest Municipal Conference. Both leaders have been instrumental in stabilizing city pensions across the state, but reforms in Springfield may threaten that stability. We'll get into a conversation about why Illinois's pension system is far more attractive than those of neighboring states. Plus, you'll hear what's driving moves to fix what isn't broken.

Funding for healthcare has reached an unprecedented crossroad.  But the path of Humboldt Park Health is secured through the tenacious leadership of its president, José R. Sánchez. He tells the Crisis Cast, "I wake up thinking I'm going to conquer the world."   In this episode, Lissa Druss talks with Mr. Sánchez about the critical role of safety net hospitals in underserved communities. Sánchez shares just how vulnerable community hospitals are, and how his team transformed Humboldt Park Healthcare through key initiatives and fundraising. You'll learn why he's seen a drop in the stigmas around mental health, and how he has navigated the politics of healthcare.   This week's Crisis Cast heroes are Michelle & Melissa Gomez, creators of Tu Casa.

How is it that Chicago still lacks a city charter? We're chasing the answer to that question this week with Kam Buckner who represents the 26th District in the Illinois General Assembly.  Rep. Buckner insists the city's lack of a constitution keeps us from any effective governance.   In this episode, Lissa & Thom get to the heart of how Rep. Buckner's long and illustrious resume led him to Springfield. We'll hear how he's drafting a values document for city, and why he's been able to attract support from the left, the right, and the middle in the process.   Kam shares lessons of wisdom from his father, a Chicago Police officer in the 1980s. It's our exclusive preview of the book he's writing on leadership — with his father's priceless quotes at the center of it.    This week's Crisis Cast hero: Unblocked Englewood's Tonika Johnson.

After a storied career in media, Roe Conn is living his father's dream for him, as a devoted public servant. In the summer of 2021, Conn became a sworn deputy and Director of the Cook County sheriff's office.    In this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin dig into what a career pivot like that looks and feels like. We'll hear about Conn's task force to reduce carjackings in Cook County and his insights on crime analytics. Plus, April 1st marked a major shift in the electronic monitoring of criminal offenders, and we'll explore its impact on the justice system.   Read about this week's Crisis Cast hero, Jahkil Jackson, here.

On March 17, 2020 Lissa Druss called us together to button down the launch of this podcast. It was just days prior to the State of Illinois' official call for a "shelter in place" due to the global pandemic.   In this episode, Lissa, Thom Serafin, and our producer Todd Manley met on St. Patrick's Day 2025 to discuss what we've learned about leadership and humanity over the past five years. We'll share our five most-downloaded episodes and listen back to the many voices that have been our "crisis" teachers. Plus, we'll wade in the waters of gratitude for all of you who've made our 5th anniversary possible by listening.

Too many voices simply complain about the struggles of our state. Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski enters our chat room with solutions for Illinois. Ted's approach is driven by 16-year career in international finance, based in Poland and Mexico.   During this episode, you'll hear what compelled Dabrowski to come home to engage in public policy. Plus, we'll dive into the what can be done to change the state's power dynamics, and how to engineer a turnaround in economic growth.   Ted Dabrowski is a first generation American, with a master's degree from the University of Chicago and MBA from the Wharton School.   This week's Crisis Cast hero is Dion Dawson, founder of Dion's Chicago Dream.

Four "sanctuary city" mayors faced a grilling before Congress this week. How did Chicago's Brandon Johnson perform? You'll hear his grade from Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Gregory Royal Pratt.   Pratt is literally writing the book on City Hall, and breaks down the chaos of a 6-plus hour hearing on Capitol Hill that questioned Chicago's role in immigration reform. Lissa & Thom get into the weeds on the city's fractured political factions, and the future of reporting in the age of social media.   Plus, Greg Pratt offers his list of politicians who can bridge the gaps between deeply divided power groups. Pratt is author of the book The City is Up for Grabs.

In times of crisis, few organizations can rise to the occasion like The Salvation Army. But a $24 million budget shortfall, driven by Elon Musk's team at DOGE is putting the services "The Army" provides in peril.   During this episode, we examine the impact of massive federal funding cuts on non-profits. Lissa Druss is joined by Brian Bernardoni, Executive Council Chair for the North & Central Division of The Salvation Army. We'll unravel the complexities of financing non-profits. Plus, break down how state by state, politics is driving the flow of money. This week's Crisis Cast Hero: Jacqueline Alcántara

We've had more than a week to digest the trial of former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan. We're still processing. Who better to guide that thinking than the Chicago Tribune's investigative reporter Ray Long.    In this episode, Ray joins Lissa & Thom to explore the implications of Madigan's conviction on Illinois politics and the broader issues of corruption within Illinois' political system. We'll get into the challenges of ethical governance and the role of journalism in documenting political misbehavior.   Plus, we ponder the question of whether politicians are capable of policing themselves.    Ray Long is two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and author of The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois' Velvet Hammer.

Here's some political whiplash. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan historic corruption conviction lands just days after impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich is pardoned by President Donald Trump. Some might say, "Only in Illinois." During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin contemplate whether Madigan's conviction signals the full closure of Springfield's legacy patronage culture. Plus, what kind of price will the state pay for J.B. Pritzker's pursuit of the national spotlight?

How do you find the words, when events leave you speechless? That's one of the questions that faced Los Angeles-based screenwriter and producer Amy Guth during the recent wildfires.   During this episode, Thom Serafin gets curious about writer's block and hidden narratives with Amy. This is a conversation about getting started on a book, on a film, on anything. Plus, you'll learn how Guth became a baroness.   Amy Guth also hosts two podcasts: Crain's Daily Gist and Words Matter. You can read her blog Writing for Weird Times on Substack.

The midair collision of an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter underscored the critical nature of crisis response. A space Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin live and breathe. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, we'll discuss the hard realities facing the new Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy. Plus, we'll chat through the White House's on again-off again funding freeze and what may have fueled its demise.

This conversation hits warp speed with Lissa's first question. Will the new economic policies of the White House bring benefits or detriments? Who better to answer that, than our financial wellness guru Ilyce Glink?   We'll learn how to square public perception with economic reality as Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin dig into Ilyce's expertise on the market, and our place on the global stage relative to tariffs. Does it make sense to cap credit card interest, and should you wait before diving into your next real estate transaction? A lot of answers and even more questions on this episode of the Crisis Cast.

Serious political junkies jump right into predicting the next ballot. Listen in as Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin trespass on 2026. We invited Axios Chicago's Justin Kaufmann back to debate the shifting tides for the 5th floor of Chicago's City Hall, the governor's mansion, and a very critical U.S. Senate seat. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, we examine what might be the tipping point for Mayor Brandon Johnson. Plus, what's the next move for Senator Dick Durbin, and who will step up to prioritize public safety?

You're only as smart as the people around you. So, in the midst of 2020's global pandemic we went searching for voices smarter than us. We wanted to learn how compassionate leaders navigated uncharted waters. The Crisis Cast with Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin was born, and 185 episodes later we're grateful to have you along for the ride.   During this conversation, we'll revisit the wisdom of our favorite voices. Lissa, Thom, and producer Todd Manley also consider whether the lessons learned are making a difference in our world and the streets where we live. While our favorite places are the neighborhoods of Illinois, we'll celebrate our stops in Italy, Ukraine, Israel, and Washington D.C., among others.   Plus, you'll hear how Lissa's concept for this podcast was originally going to be a show on WGN Radio. Welcome to Season 6 of the Crisis Cast!

We close out 2024 and our fifth season with some humorous wisdom from our archives. Al Gini is an archaeologist of ideas, and renowned author. In this episode of The Crisis Cast, he shares his adventures in training future leaders as professor of Business Ethics at Loyola University of Chicago.   You'll meet his Uncle Joe, a teacher of survival through laughter.  Prof. Gini schools us on what we truly need from politicians and what we might do about historical figures and their monuments. Al Gini has authored seven books on ethics and more, including 10 Virtues of Outstanding Leaders and The Importance of Being Funny. This episode was originally released in November of 2020.

We got a wake-up call during this episode of the Crisis Cast. On a show about problem solving during a crisis, Father Greg Sakowicz reminds us, "Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved." Father Greg is rector of Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral, and gives Lissa, Thom, and all of us some mysteries to ponder. During his 40-plus years as a priest, Father Greg has fed his passion for humor and stories through his radio show and his weekly essays to parishoners. This episode leans into slowing life down enough to keep the kindness of Christmas alive year round.

On heals of the 2024 election, there's a lot stirring in our neighborhoods about the federal funding that may vanish. All of which collides with the City of Chicago's nearly $3 billion budget deficit.   Durning this episode, Justin Kaufmann of Axios Chicago joins Lissa & Thom to talk about our present day council chaos. Justin sees it as a hearkening back to the "council wars" of the 1980s. What's driving this dysfunction? Can Mayor Brandon Johnson actually be a collaborator in chief? These are just some of the answers we're chasing. Plus, is Governor J.B. Pritzker helping with his harsh tones for the incoming Trump administration?

Music therapy is innovating every day. Yet much of the practice is misunderstood. Clare Takash joins Lissa & Thom during this episode to explain her journey to becoming a music therapist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.   Music therapy provides the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions for patients with autism, trauma survivors, Parkinson's disease, and more. Clare can even be seen soothing families in Rush Hospital's neo-natal unit. Patients may need a rhythmic "prescription" or a melody — the methods are never as simple as they seem. Listen as Clare shares her strategies, and some soul-stirring survival stories.

There's one powerful statement you'll always hear from the leader of Illinois' 2nd largest city. "Don't tell me. Show me." Richard Irvin is in his 2nd term as the Mayor of Aurora, and touts the city's innovative approach to empowering its citizens. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin revisit Mayor Irvin's interests in statewide office and explore his passion pitch for the Bears to make Aurora home. Plus, we'll have a conversation about gratitude with some guidance on why the Democratic Party shouldn't take Black voters for granted.

As we approach the season of giving, we're proud to bring you a conversation that explores innovation in serving community needs. During this episode, Thom Serafin digs into how one non-profit group built an alliance with the City of Chicago -- to keep the un-housed warm during the winter. Beth Amodio, CEO of One Warm Coat, shares the reinvention of how volunteers get activated. Plus, you'll hear how an interactive map is uniting churches, youth groups, and more in collecting and distributing coats and more. You can read the story of this week's Crisis Cast heroes here.

With Donald Trump poised to retake the White House, we cornered two experts to pull out their political GPS point out the path. During this episode, we tap into the deep thoughts of two great journalists: Mary Ann Ahern and Ray Hanania.   Lissa & Thom uncover what the pundits missed in the 2024 vote and what the next Trump cabinet might look like. Plus, where will J.B. Pritzker's fortunes land after his second term, and what's the next move for Senator Dick Durbin? Hear the answers on our special post-vote edition of the show.

For her entire life Hermene Hartman has been driven to stand up and stand out. Dr. Hartman's career began during the Civil Rights Movement, when she collaborated with Reverand Jesse Jackson at Operation Bread Basket.   During this episode, Lissa & Thom chat with Hermene about how she channeled her activism into publishing as a media entrepreneur. Dr. Hartman has plenty to say about what's going on at City Hall, the divisive political landscape, and her advocacy for Chicago's Black middle class.

In the last gasp before election day 2024, we're pulling back the curtain on political polling. Once again we welcome Rod McCulloch of Victory Research to our Crisis Cast chat room. We'll hear what's changed in polling over the long haul, and what's different about each of the last 3 Presidential elections. You'll learn about how pollsters deal with voter cynicism, what's REALLY wrong with negative campaigning, and why he gives candidates the harsh reality.

This week, we revisit a powerful conversation from Season 3 of The Crisis Cast. Listen in on the lessons learned from his forensic consortium.  Our guest, Paul Ciolino, convinced Governor George Ryan to rethink the death penalty in Illinois. Ciolino is a private investigator turned DNA expert who advocates for those wrongly convicted.  In this episode, Lissa & Thom dig into corrupt systems and the high-profile cases Paul Ciolino has investigated.  You'll hear about his first hand encounters with Anthony Porter, Amanda Knox, Arturo Gatti, and more. This episode was originally released in April of 2022.

On Friday October 4th mass resignations from the CPS school board rocked Chicago's political landscape. Then on Monday October 7th, Mayor Brandon Johnson's made a quick turnaround to appoint new board members.   During this episode of the Crisis Cast municipal finance expert Paul Vallas joins Lissa & Thom to offer perspective and a dose of reality on the CPS turmoil. There have been months of strife between Mayor Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union, and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez over how to address the school system's fiscal cliff. Is there a CTU coup at play? How will this impact voters who get to choose a partially elected board for the first time?

We've talked a lot about candidates on the 2024 ballot, but voters in seven Illinois counties are voting this fall on whether they'd like to become their own state.  23 counties have already said, "yes." During this episode, Thom Serafin talks with G.H. Merritt, the Chairman of NEW Illinois. Merritt says this is not a divide between Democrats and Republicans. It is a movement that firmly states the needs of Chicago and Cook County are not in the best interests of the rest of the state.  New Illinois is focused on the constitutional right to have representative state government. What's the history of new state formation? What are the steps in the process? We'll dig into the answers to those questions and more, on this edition of the Crisis Cast.

At midnight, Monday September 23rd — ShotSpotter, the gun detection technology in place for more than six years in the city of Chicago was shut down as the contract expired. The city council voted to extend the contract, but Mayor Brandon Johnson exercised his veto power. During this episode, Lissa & Thom are joined by Chicago's 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale -- who advocates for the data that says ShotSpotter works. Plus, we'll debate what communities at-risk say about this technology.

Time travel can be enlightening. During this trip through our show archives, we go back to the heals of the 2022 midterm elections. Paul Kendrick is the Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising, a grass roots grooming organization for Democrats.   Their mission is training candidates and their organizations to connect with working families. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom probe Paul on what Republicans did to prevent achieving the red wave and how Democrats intended to rebuild the blue wall.  We'll also predict where the next generation of compelling candidates might be hiding.  And more, importantly, the inherent crisis in teaching every day candidates how they can use their personal story to connect with voters. This conversation was originally released November 16, 2022.

Here's a conversation that is both predictive and reflective on the potency of debates. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin are in our chat room examine the stakes for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in what may be their only Presidential debate. We'll ask the question, "Is the Commission on Presidential Debates obsolete?" Plus, how often has a single debate changed the outcome of an election. You'll hear some enlightening history about Chicago's legendary Kennedy-Nixon debate. Former City News and Chicago Tribune journalist Jim Strong was the managing editor at WBBM-TV in 1960. Strong takes us behind the scenes to share more about the Nixon team's "makeup" misstep.

It's time to hear from a voice dedicated to writing Illinois' comeback story. Austin Berg has lived all over the Land of Lincoln, and is one of our state's most compelling change agents. During this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin get to the heart of how Austin engages action on governance issues, as VP of Marketing for the Illinois Policy Institute. Plus, you'll hear why public corruption has become a way of life in Illinois.  Austin Berg is co-founder of Iron Light, a marketing agency helping purpose-driven brands change the world, and co-author of "The New Chicago Way: Lessons from Other Big Cities" by Southern Illinois University Press.

During any crisis, the "cool" heads prevail. In this episode we'll cover some Chicago's most daunting and outrageous challenges -- like an airport bulldozed in the middle of the night. Forrest Claypool has held the highest leadership post at three of the most critical municipal institutions: the park district, the public schools, and the Chicago Transit Authority. Claypool is the author of The Daley Show: Inside The Transformative Reign of Chicago's Richard M. Daley. Thom Serafin goes behind the scenes at City Hall with Claypool, who served as Daley's Chief of Staff for two tenures.  This is a conversation about the unapologetic use of power, and an adept use of passion for the Windy City.

During this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin lean in on one particular question. "What will the nationwide narrative on Chicago be following the 2024 Democratic National Convention?"   To get some answers, there's no better source than Rick Pearson, Chief Political Writer for the Chicago Tribune. Our conversation examines DNC conventions from the past: from the ancient history of '68 to the far less noisy politics of 1996. Get ready for some predictions on the next chapter of Chicago's reputation.  

Lissa & Thom have a ton on their mind. What's the Fed's next move on interest rates? How much fear has been stoked by the jobs report? What's Governor Tim Walz all about?  That's a ton to process, but we'll cover it all in rapid fire. Plus, a Crisis Cast primer on the state of Illinois' L-G-D-F. Gather round for a Crisis Cast Whiteboard on the issues that will really drive votes this election season.

Here comes some rare enlightenment from two of Chicago's former police superintendents, in the same conversation. Thom Serafin welcomes Eddie Johnson & Garry McCarthy to share what everyone is missing about reducing crime in Chicago. They also reveal the statistics on the ShotSpotter systems that get buried in politics. Plus, you'll hear a real time reaction to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.

In this special edition of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin take us to Milwaukee and the floor of the RNC. Their guest is Richard Porter, a national committeeman for the Republican Party of Illinois.  Porter joined us moments after it was announced Ohio Senator J.D. Vance would be joining the Republican ticket as Donald Trump's running mate. During this episode, you'll get a peak behind the curtain of the first of this summer's national political conventions. Plus, we learn more about the impact of the assassination attempt on former President Trump.

  Lissa Druss is on assignment this week. Meanwhile, Thom Serafin digs into the trials and sentences of some key political figures like Mike Madigan and Ed Burke. Some of this lead straight to an intersection with the Chief Justice John Roberts' Supreme Court. Once again, we welcome Ray Long investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune. The two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and author of “The House That Madigan Built” joins us in unraveling colliding cases.

The firestorm that has engulfed 2024's first Presidential debate is still burning. We needed a cool head in the room, to consider the aftermath of President Joe Biden's performance vs. former President Donald Trump. That calming voice, came in the form of the Chicago Tribune's Ray Long.   During this episode, Lissa & Thom work through the complications of an aging White House with a much-lauded journalist who knows the game of politics. J. R. R. Tolkien fans will enjoy this journey to Helm's Deep.

Severe and sudden loss is how Kelly Richmond Pope realized her inner strength.  As an educator and entrepreneur, she has uncovered the truths inside fiscal fraud.   Her day job is teaching accounting forensics at DePaul University - but she is also the award-winning director of the documentary All The Queen's Horses.  The film tells the story of the largest municipal embezzlement in U.S. history.   Plus, Kelly is CEO of Red Flag Mania, an interactive and immersive accounting game that incorporates real stories.  In this episode, Lissa & Thom learn the pain that whistleblowers suffer for the greater good. Originally released September 17, 2020.

The traditional broadcast world has endured a seismic shift or two – or ten. Steve Cochran has been in front of a microphone and up and down the dial for all of it. For more than three decades he's been a fixture on Chicago radio. That includes audio brands like WLUP, WMVP, WIND, WLS, and more than 16 years on WGN.    During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Cochran is quick to say that the companies with AM radio signals need to focus on being bigger than that. Plus, he talks about his lifelong pursuit to advocate against bullying. Lissa & Thom learn who inspired his passion to fight for kids' rights, why he can't keep politics off his radio shows, and his fascinating life journey as an adoptee.

From retail politics to sitting on the judicial bench, Aurelia Pucinski's life in public service is brimming with wisdom. This Crisis Cast flashback offers a fascinating glimpse into our legal system from a discussion that took place just a week prior to the now infamous 2020 election. Judge Pucinski references her presence on the ballot, and her second term on the Illinois Appellate Court now expires in 2030.    During this episode, she underscores the critical requirements of each branch of government, and reveals a true crisis in the justice system. Lissa & Thom also probe the question of 'court-packing' and if she believes Supreme Court justices owe anything to their nominating President. This episode was originally released October 29, 2020.  

Allen Lynch spent his childhood in Chicago's south suburbs with fond memories of walks to his grandmother's house in Roseland. Lynch was often bullied, and at age 18, to test his strength he enlisted in the U.S. Army. That was 1964, and one year later the United States had troops on the ground in Vietnam. In 1966, Sgt. Allen Lynch began a tour of service that would earn him the Medal of Honor.   During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom hear the experiences that led Sgt. Lynch to write the book "Zero to Hero" – he also shares wisdom on the future of military action, and what we should do in the present to better care for our veterans.  Plus, filmmaker George Bogdanich discusses his new documentary Vietnam Changed My Life.

Two presidential debates between Joe Biden and Donald Trump are on the books. The first will be June 27th at CNN studios in Atlanta. It will have a unique nod to Chicago, because it will take place without an audience on a television set. That was the case in 1960, when WBBM-TV hosted John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon for the first-ever televised debate.   During this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin set the stage for this unique arrangement. Both the CNN debate and a 2nd debate in September on ABC are bypassing the non-partisan Commission on Presidential Debates. What's the strategy in this? Both candidates will be seated, and there will be no crosstalk permitted. Plus, political analyst Andy Shaw contributes to this episode, and weighs in on which candidate holds the advantage in this format.

The timing of this conversation left us pondering pathways to change.  It was the spring of 2021, and occurred during the days surrounding the verdict in the killing of George Floyd, and the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Chicagoan Adam Toledo.   Renowned civil rights attorney Sheila Bedi joined Lissa and Thom to discuss her work surrounding the Chicago Police consent decree.  In this eye-opening episode, Sheila shares her passion for teaching future lawyers and her drive to communicate the need for legal reform. Originally released 4/25/21.

During this episode, a critical look at Illinois' strategic players with reporter Shia Kapos, author of Politico's morning newsletter: the Illinois Playbook. Shia offers up her definition of the city's new brand progressive politics. Lissa & Thom dig in on how she sees the City of Chicago responding to a summer full of global visitors. Plus, we get the scoop on whether Shia ever sleeps.

During this episode, we'll share the story behind a new film that documents the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023. The documentary is called #NOVA, and it reveals the massacre of hundreds of psy-trance music enthusiasts at a festival on 10/7. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin are in our chat room to hear the personal story of first responder Eran Masas. Plus, filmmaker Dan Pe'er and Alison Pure-Slovin, Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, join the discussion to explain the documentary's creation and impact.

Bears President Kevin Warren and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson gathered us all together for a presser on their "Dome By The Lake" on Wednesday. This struck our Crisis Cast crew as an odd rollout. Why was it shoe-horned into a space just prior to the NFL draft?    During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin ask the question – "Are the Bears just bluffing their intention to remain in the City of Chicago?" There are just too many details that don't add up, about revenue shares and debt service, and a few dozen other players to be named later.

Just two months into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we had a fascinating conversation with Lissa's cousin, Daniela. She's a veteran journalist on the economic beat, based in Rome. Daniela gave us an early lesson in how the war reverberates very differently across Europe. At that point, Italians were caught in the middle, particularly because 50% of Italy's natural gas came from Russia. As the debate over military aid reaches a new inflection point -- this Crisis Cast flashback offers a powerful trip back in time. The episode was originally released April 6, 2022.

For more than two decades, veteran radio programmer Mitch Rosen has led Audacy's WSCR. "The Score" is Chicago's leading destination for sports talk. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Thom Serafin finally gets his job interview to join "The Score" lineup of personalities. Lissa Druss stops Thom from pitching 10 hours of daily Sox talk on the Cubs station. Join us as we go deep with Mitch (Niles West alum), on his adventures in radio – from producing the legendary Eddie Schwartz to brushes with names like Bill Gleason and Jay Mariotti from Chicago's sporting past. Plus, we'll chat about the women who have carved a new path in sports talk, and some predictions on the future of the Bears.

While the March '24 primary revealed a disappointing truth in voter participation – it reinforced a shift in ideology within Chicago's neighborhoods and some collar suburbs. Research and public policy analyst Frank Calabrese returns to the Crisis Cast to share what his maps predict about voter trends.   During this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin start digging for the truths that separate the mayoral elections of 2019 and 2023. Plus, we'll get out Frank's political microscope for a deeper look at the Cook County State's Attorney race.