WGN - The Dave Plier Podcast

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to All American Icon Christie Brinkley about her memoir ‘Uptown Girl', being discovered in Paris, life with Billy Joel, the origins of the song ‘Uptown Girl', ‘Vacation' movie with Chevy Chase, life lessons, and living with gratitude.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to Chicago's own Gary Sinise on Memorial Day to honor our fallen, recap the annual National Memorial Day concert, discuss The Gary Sinise Foundation, and explain the significance of how his non-profit honors the country's fallen, first responders, and more.

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Kevin Cronin joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about his journey this summer touring with The Kevin Cronin band and Styx in their Brotherhood of Rock tour and the wind down last December of the iconic band REO Speedwagon. Kevin will sing the songs of REO that you […]

Radio Hall of Famer Garry Meier joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about the real meaning of Memorial Day. Garry celebrates his father, Frank Meier, and his combat experiences from serving in World War II. Visit garrymeier.com for more.

NYT best-selling author Robert M. Edsel, who also wrote ‘The Monuments Men’, speaks to WGN Radio's Dave Plier about his new book ‘Remember Us', an ensemble piece that follows twelve main characters over a six-year span. It zeroes in on ordinary people from the small rural province of Limburg in the Netherlands, their gratitude for freedom […]

WGN Radio's Dave Plier and Dave Schwan talk about the true meaning of Memorial Day, which originated as ‘Decoration Day' after the Civil War and was officially signed into law in 1967. Plus, Dave shares President Ronald Reagan's moving Memorial Day speech from 1984.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to Weber's Kevin Kolman about getting your grill into gear this summer, recipes for the perfect burger, desserts, and more!

Smashing Pumpkins’ own Billy Corgan joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about his new solo tour with newly formed band The Machines of God, upcoming concerts overseas, his upcoming collaboration this fall with The Lyric Opera of Chicago, expanding his family, and Billy's world of wrestling.

Authors Wally Podrazik and Harry Castleman join WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about the latest edition of their extremely comprehensive book on the history of television and visual media from the 1940's to today.

Chicago radio great Kevin Matthews joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about his radio days, his upcoming documentary, a longtime friendship with the ‘85 Chicago Bears including the late great Steve McMichael, and Jim Shorts joins in to talk about the new Bears coach and his pig skin picks.

Chicago Bishop John Siemianowski joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about Chicago's own Pope Leo XIV, the expected direction of the Catholic Church, and is the new Pope a Cubs fan or Sox fan?

Evanston's own Jeremy Piven joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about his upcoming comedy show at The Vic Theatre on June 6th, his acting journey, his legendary parents and the Piven Theater Workshop and his upcoming projects. For tickets, visit axs.com.

Who is your favorite TV mom? WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to Watching TV author Wally Podrazik about TV's best moms that you grew up with, ranging from I Love Lucy, The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, Happy Days, The Cosby Show, Modern Family and more.

In keeping a promise to help ‘keep his name alive', WGN Radio's Dave Plier celebrates the legacy of the late Don Rickles on his birthday by sharing his backstage Vegas interview with the comedy legend. Plus bonus interviews with his longtime best friend, the late Bob Newhart, author Michael Starr of the book ‘The Merchant […]

Comedian Lisa Ann Walter joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about her Emmy, Peabody, Golden Globe award-winning sitcom ‘Abbott Elementary', ‘The Parent Trap', being a mom and her love of stand-up comedy leading into her appearances at Zanies Rosemont this weekend.

Voted by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the greatest drummers of all time, Kenny Aronoff joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about his nearly 50 years in music, touring with Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony and playing with the likes of John Mellencamp, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Rod […]

12 year old Alex Plier joins his Dad, WGN Radio's Dave Plier, to talk about his favorite things about Easter.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about Easter weekend activities, the health of Pope Francis, The Generation to Generation Campaign, the appointment of five new bishops, Catholic Charities, and his excellency's ‘Easter Message of Renewal.'

WTTW’s popular on-air host, producer and Chicago Architecture Foundation docent Geoffrey Baer joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about his new special, Touring Chicago's Lakefront, by exploring its many attractions, revealing some of its secrets, and telling colorful stories about how it was created and why it looks as it does today.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier shares his ‘exit interview' with the legendary Walter Jacobson as he retires after 65 years in broadcast journalism, reports and his iconic Perspectives. Dave also replays his 2023 interview with Walter and Bill Kurtis when they celebrated the 50th anniversary of their pairing on ‘THE 10 O'Clock News'.

Rick Wojcik, owner of Chicago's Dusty Groove, joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to preview ‘Record Store Day' and shares the story of when he purchased the entire WGN Radio record collection from our archives. To visit the website of the store and for more information, visit dustygroove.com.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier welcomes Brendan, Siobhan, Etain, and Anlon McKinney of Chicago's #1 Irish pub Chief O'Neill's talk to about the legend of Chicago Police Chief O'Neill, the art of pouring the perfect pint of Guinness, their classic Irish cuisine, private label scotch, beer, the Bad Irish Momz of Comedy event, inspired music and […]

Chicago's own Wayne Messmer joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk bout his one-man play, 'Father (Saint) Damien' happening at Holy Name Cathedral on Sunday March 2, 2025. For tickets, visit Holynamecathedral.org.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier shares his interview with author and historian Adam Selzer to talk about the fascinating yet little-known story of how Chicago served as the unlikely capital of American film production in the years before the rise of Hollywood (1907–1913), the rise and fall of the major Chicago movie studios in the mid-silent […]

WGN Radio's Dave Plier welcomes WGN-TV's Brhett Vickery to the WGN Radio Studios to talk about her first year at WGN, her new streaming show with Marcus Leshock on the WGN Plus app and wgntv.com called ‘What a Day!', stories about her mom interning for Bob Sirott back in the day, her journey, her family […]

Music legend Bill Medley from The Righteous Brothers joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about his journey in music and his upcoming show at The Des Plaines Theatre on Saturday, March 1st, 2025. For tickets, visit desplainestheatre.com.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier spends some time with comedian Jeff Ross, THE Roastmaster General about his comedic process, favorite roast jokes and his upcoming appearance at The Den Theatre in Chicago on March 7-9th, 2025. For tickets, visit thedentheatre.com.

Half a century after the drug-fueled, DJ-driven, glamour-drenched musical phenomenon of disco was born at a New York City loft party, disco's musical and fashion influences live on in popular culture. WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to author Frank DeCaro about his new book Disco: Music, Movies, and Mania under the Mirror Ball — an entertaining, yet serious tribute […]

Steve Darnall, Editor-in-Chief of Nostalgia Digest Magazine, speaks with WGN Radio's Dave Plier about the latest edition of Nostalgia Digest Magazine, featuring stories about film legend Lionel Barrymoore, Judy Holliday, the history of Pez and more. Steve & Dave also celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Jack Benny's debut on television and his 131st birthday, which is on […]

WGN-TV Chief Meteorologist Demetrius Ivory hangs out with WGN Radio's Dave Plier to talk about the snow moving into the area tonight and through the weekend, along with some spirited 90's pop culture trivia.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to Jeff Rogers, jeffrogersunlimited.com, about this year's commercials for Sunday’s Big Game featuring celebs, nostalgia and plenty of humor. Plus Dave and Jeff talk about the NEW Museum of Broadcast Communications online exhibit on the Top 20 Super Bowl Commercials of all time. To see the new exhibit, visit MUSEUM.TV.

Author and entertainment journalist Tripp Whetsell talks to WGN Radio’s Dave Plier about Norman Lear and his new biography about the seven-decade career of a TV icon who created the gold standard for television comedies, producing shows that were the first to give underrepresented members of society an authentic prime-time voice, while encouraging audiences to […]

WGN Radio's Dave Plier talks to actor David Eigenberg about his role on NBC's ‘Chicago Fire', their upcoming crossover episode, jumping back in to ‘Sex in the City' spinoff ‘And Just Like That', and a trivia game on Eigenberg's career.

Bill O'Reilly talks to WGN Radio's Dave Plier about President Trump's executive orders this week to include the release of assassination files from JFK, RFK and MLK and challenging presidential pardons from both President Biden and President Trump.

Garry Meier catches up with WGN Radio's Dave Plier on cocktailing, the bottled old fashioned, award show relevance and the obscure movie and TV shows nominated, and the creature comforts of life.

Comedian Nikki Glaser is coming back to The Chicago Theatre with a new show added on June 1 and talks to Dave Plier about her comfort on stage and her style of comedy.

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier (in for Lisa Dent) is joined by Steven Crano, Corporate Communications Manager at Choose Chicago, and Ben Goodnick, Chef Partner at Lettuce Entertain You, for this week’s edition of ‘Foodie Friday’ where we are highlighting Chicago Restaurant Week.

WGN Radio’s Dave Plier (in for Lisa Dent) and the Newsroom cover some of today's most unusual stories. First, Lauren Lapka (in for Steve Bertrand) talks about the most common passwords. Then, Kevin Powell discusses Olympic memorabilia. Finally, Mary Van De Velde talks about ‘Octomom.’

Ilyce Glink, CEO of Best Money Moves financial wellness company, joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier (in for Lisa Dent) to share information about this year’s tax bracket increases and what the new administration is going to look at.

Dan Hampton, NFL Hall of Famer and host of The Hamp and O'B Show, joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier (in for Lisa Dent) to give his thoughts on the Bears’ new head coach.

WGN Radio's Dave Plier is joined by Mike Rowe to talk about his upcoming custom-made 1962 Dodge Power Wagon auction to benefit the Mike Rowe Works Foundation and scholarships, his movie project “Something to Stand For', the skilled labor recruiting crisis, his Knobel Whiskey brand and more. For more, mikeroweworks.org, somethingtostandfor.com and knobelspirits.com.

Comedian Pat McGann joins WGN Radio's Dave Plier to preview his LIVE show at the historic Chicago Theatre on Saturday, January 25, touring with his kids and more!