WGN - The John Williams Uncut Podcast

It's time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area this holiday season? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, John is joined by Linda Hart, Executive Director Holland Visitors […]

Barbara Porch, Executive Director of Antioch Chamber of Commerce, joins John Williams to put a spotlight on Antioch. She runs through the plethora of fun family activities free for all ages this holiday season.

Ruth-Ann Renaud, Chief Marketing Officer at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and NW Indiana, joins John Williams to talk about the incredible mission to take care of sick children and their families. They do so by providing care, housing, and financial alleviation to keep those families together during their children’s recovery. To donate, go […]

John Williams is joined by Dawn Jackson Blatner, author and registered dietician nutritionist, for a special in-studio appearance to promote healthy and fun holiday catering menu ideas, sponsored by Dom’s Kitchen and Market in Lincoln Park and Old Town. See all the items that John, Dawn and our WGN Radio office was treated to, which could […]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and Axios reporter Monica Eng. On this week’s episode, the Rascals discuss the challenge of housing asylum seekers and and the […]

Arne Duncan, Managing Partner, Chicago CRED, former United States Secretary of Education, and ex-CEO of Chicago Public Schools, joins John Williams to talk about what Chicago CRED does, their mission for a transformative reduction in gun violence in Chicago, the goal to move people from the illegal economy to the legal economy, and the $21 million […]

Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins John Williams to answer all your questions about elder law, trusts, wills, and elder abuse. Kerry also tells you what you should know about the inheritance tax in Illinois and the federal estate tax.

Marissa Riley, Assistant Divisional Music and Creative Arts Director, The Salvation Army, joins John Williams to talk about her work teaching music at The Salvation Army, what we should know about the music programs at The Salvation Army, how music gives people a sense of belonging, who can take part in the music programs, and […]

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

Michelle Maxia, Director, Toy Box Connection, joins John Williams on this Giving Tuesday to talk about what Toy Box Connection does and who they serve, some of the organizations that they support, the ways you can donate toys, their goal to make sure every child gets a toy this holiday season, how they have expanded beyond […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the migrant challenge the city is facing as winter draws closer and some ideas to make football games shorter. And, it's still not too late to get tickets for the upcoming “Songs of Good Cheer” caroling party with Eric, Mary Schmich, and a […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about why he recommends that most people get the flu and COVID shot at the same time, the importance of getting the new COVID shot, if we should get shots in the same arm or different arm, what you should […]

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

Ray Long, the great investigative reporter at the Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about the corruption trial of former Chicago alderman Ed Burke as the trial enters day 9.

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

Former Notre Dame football great and Chicago Bears player Chris Zorich joins John Williams to talk about his relationship with the Salvation Army, how he was introduces to the Salvation Army, all the services the Army provides, his experience ringing the bell for the Salvation Army, and where he might be if he didn’t have […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about what she’s making for Thanksgiving this year, her holiday party mantra (“Graze Nothing, Enjoy Everything”), her P.A.R.T.Y. tips for socializing, how much water we should be drinking, and how drinking tea with dessert is a great hack for digestion and mindfulness. Dawn also answers all […]

John Williams brings you a 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 of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU,, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Mincing Rascals start the podcast this Thanksgiving week by […]

Jon Hansen, he of many jobs at WGN Radio, Block Club Chicago, and the Chicago Blackhawks, joins John Williams to talk about GOP Rep. David Schweikert of Arizona saying that fighting obesity with Ozempic or other weight loss drugs could reduce the national debt.

Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins John Williams to talk about mortgage interest rates dropping, his thoughts on Chicago’s real estate transfer tax proposal heading to the ballot next year, and how the National Association of Realtors verdict could impact Chicago homebuyers. David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the amount of COVID patients they are seeing in the hospital, why you should get the new COVID vaccine if you are older or have chronic health issues, how few people in the U.S. have received the new COVID […]

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

Rabbi Evan Moffic from Makom Solel Lakeside in Highland Park joins John Williams to discuss the rise of antisemitism amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Attorney Rae Kaplan of Kaplan Law Firm joins John Williams to talk about how many student loan borrowers may have been paying the wrong monthly payment. How can you find out if you’ve been paying the wrong amount? And what can you do to reduce your monthly payment? Rae has all the answers.

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

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker joins John Williams to discuss the migrant crisis, the funding the state has offered the city of Chicago to care for migrants in the city, the communication challenges he’s had with Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and what needs to happen to get migrants working in the city and state.

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!

34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway joins John Williams to talk about how a top aide in the Brandon Johnson administration offered to help him with a problematic homeless encampment in his ward in exchange for supporting Mayor Johnson’s real estate transfer tax plan and an end to the subminimum tipped wage. Alderman Conway says that […]

It's time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some fun things to do this holiday season? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for you! Today, John is joined by Laura Rush, Communications Director for the Geneva Chamber of Commerce! Laura talks about their historic downtown […]

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

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. 

Anthony Driver, President, Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, joins John Williams to talk about the panel voting to approve a new policy that would ban CPD from being members of hate groups.

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, political pundit Marj Halperin, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. There is a lot of news to get to this week! First, the Rascals talk […]

Dynna Edwards, Manager of The Salvation Army‘s Pathway of Hope program (and also a recipient of this program), joins John Williams to tell us what the Pathway of Hope program does, how people can get into the program, how the program works, why the focus is on an individual’s needs, and how your support helps […]

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

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about a number of topics making news including some Chicago aldermen wanting to create a new quiet zone in the streets surrounding a downtown abortion clinic, a new policy that would ban CPD from joining hate groups, and a Picayune Sentinel survey that ask […]

Dr. Sindhu Aderson, Medical Director of Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care, joins John Williams to talk about the amount of upper respiratory infections she is seeing at their clinics, the increase in COVID cases, the best ways to treat an upper respiratory infection, the importance of staying hydrated, if you should get a flu or COVID shot if you […]

Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “This Week in Wealth” on WGN Radio, joins John Williams to talk about today’s stock market rally, the release of today’s inflation data, if he believes inflation will continue to cool, and what people should be doing with their investments right now.

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

Brian Hoogeveen, The Cash Man from Americash Jewelry & Coin Buyers, joins Jon Hansen to tell us why you shouldn’t clean your old collectibles. Brian also answers all of your collectible questions!

Attorney Patrick Dolan, Conti & Dolan, joins Jon Hansen to talk about the Chicago City Council passing a new paid leave ordinance that gives workers in the city 10 days of paid leave, including five sick days and five days of personal time off.