WGN - The John Williams Full Show Podcast

Ryan Burrow, WGN News Director and host of the ‘Quest for Gold‘ podcast, joins John Williams to tell us everything we should know about trying to procure tickets for the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles.

Rob Karr, President and CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, joins John Williams to clear up misconceptions about a controversial Illinois law banning certain credit card fees.

Connell McShane, anchor of ‘NewsNation Live with Connell McShane,’ joins John Williams to talk about the stock market hitting record highs after some positive Iran war news, prices not really coming down since President Trump took office, and his thoughts on President Trump’s feud with Pope Leo.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com!

Sam Toia, President and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, tells John why the fight for the subminimum wage isn’t over.

Greg Kot, former music critic for the Chicago Tribune and co-host of ‘Sound Opinions,’ joins John Williams to talk about the history of protest songs, where you can hear contemporary artists doing protest songs, how the way listening to music has changed, and if these newer protest songs have the same impact as they did […]

It's time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature for 2026! Are you trying to come up with some quick getaway ideas that are only a quick trip from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head to the great state of Michigan and visit […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to talk about the best time of day to exercise and a new study about the best and worst carbs for your weight. Dawn also answers all of your health and nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Chicago journalist Cate Plys, publisher of Roseland, Chicago: 1972, and multi-media journalist Brandon Pope, author of Brandon Pope's Screening Room. This week, the Rascals start the podcast close to home by talking about the Chicago City Council failing to override Mayor Johnson’s […]

Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune reporter covering the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse and criminal justice issues in Chicago, joins John Williams to talk about a federal appeals court announcing that former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and lobbyist Michael McClain would be released from prison and granting them new trials.

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals! Bob tells John that you don’t need to water the rest of the week after all the rain, and don’t attempt to mow the heavy, wet grass. Bob also […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

Dawndria Murray, Franchisee Owner Operator of Culver's of Matteson, joins John Williams to talk about her now viral video that showed her making a plea to parents after kids were behaving poorly at her restaurant.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about physician burnout and everything that Northwestern does to deal with employee wellness, the challenge of getting people the right care at the right place in a timely manner, COVID being down, the flu season being over, and […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias possibly running for Chicago mayor, his thoughts on CTU wanting a day off of school on May 1st to protest, the feud between President Trump and Pope Leo, and why he was rooting for Rory McIlroy to win […]

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias joins John Williams to talk about how Illinois families have been rocked by rising car insurance premiums and his ‘Driving Change’ initiative that will move Illinois toward a more equitable and affordable system that would prioritizes a driver's record behind the wheel. Secretary Giannoulias also comments on a new scam that he […]

John Williams talks to Kate Lieto, Vice President of Marketing for Experience Grand Rapids, about why Grand Rapids is emerging as a top spring getaway. They highlight the city's major riverfront transformation, a new downtown amphitheater, and the upcoming Dale Chihuly exhibition at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park—all helping make the city a vibrant hub for arts, entertainment, and outdoor experiences. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8256690/8256690_2026-04-14-173630.64kmono.mp3 Learn more […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

Clay Jenkinson, American humanities scholar, author and educator, joins John Williams to celebrate the birth of American Founding Father and the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson.

The great author and Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg joins John Williams to talk about the difficulty many people are having getting treated at hospitals in a timely manner.

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. Lou explains why now is the perfect time for exterior deck staining. Lou also answers all of your home improvement questions. Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each Saturday morning at 6 am.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

Hannah Brandt, Washington correspondent for NewsNation, joins John Williams to give us the latest on the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran.

Dr. Geza Gyuk, Senior Director of Astronomy, Adler Planetarium, joins John Williams to tell us everything we should know about the Artemis II mission and what to expect when the astronauts return to Earth.

Craig Bolanos, Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to talk about today’s hot inflation report, the three signs that the economy and markets are rebounding, the alarming rate of people taking early withdrawals from their 401k plans, why people should stay excited about the energy sector of the market, and why it could be […]

New York Times Best-Selling Author Tilar Mazzeo joins John Williams to discuss her novel, ‘The Sea Captain’s Wife.’

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com!

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to talk about her bedtime milk and cookies recipe and to answer all your health and nutrition questions.

It's time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature for 2026! Are you trying to come up with some quick getaway ideas that are only a quick trip from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head north to beautiful Wisconsin and visit with Mindy […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. Today, the Rascals start the podcast discussing President Trump’s fiery rhetoric, the latest developments on the war with Iran, […]

We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. 

Chicago entrepreneur Glen Tullman, the visionary behind the new magic venue ‘The Hand and The Eye,’ joins John Williams to talk about his background, the historical importance of the building, his lifelong passion for magic and the wonder it can create, Chicago’s long history with magic, and what we need to know about the experience […]

Joe Khalil, NewsNation's Washington, D.C. correspondent, joins John Williams to talk about the ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran and what we learned from Secretary Hegseth’s press conference this morning.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about how AI is being used in hospitals, his thoughts on a colon cancer blood test called Shield, and why it’s still important to get COVID, flu, RSV, and shingles vaccines.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about Michigan winning the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the U.S. Supreme Court declining to hear a challenge to Illinois’ concealed carry ban on public transit, the civil trial in Adam Toledo’s family lawsuit against Chicago Police Department, and the latest on the deadline President […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.

Joabe Barbosa, a runner originally from Brazil who is a Roosevelt University doctoral candidate in clinical psychology, joins John Williams to talk about his effort to run all over the Chicago area and showcase the city to the rest of the world. Joabe tells John what inspired him to run through Chicago neighborhoods, how he’s […]

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. Lou explains why it’s important to periodically check for leaks in your home. Lou also answers all of your home improvement questions. Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each Saturday morning at 6 am.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com.