Podcasts about wbez

Housing advocates have warned that the Obama Presidential Center could price out longtime residents. So far, the cost of single and multi-family homes in Woodlawn closest to the Obama Center have doubled since 2019, and less than a third of housing stock in the area was considered affordable. Also, the number of short-term rentals, like Airbnb, are increasing in the neighborhoods around the Presidential Center, which takes potential rental housing out of the market. In the Loop digs into how the city has fallen short of delivering on promises aimed at protecting residents from displacement, and how the growth of Airbnbs in the area is impacting affordability. GUESTS: Sidnee King Pineda, journalist, Illinois Answers Project Infiniti Gant, housing organizer, Southside Together Kristy Ramsey, Airbnb host, Woodlawn resident Cam Rodriguez, WBEZ data reporter Alexandra Salomon, WBEZ senior editor For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Walgreens has shuttered two more South Side locations, including the Chatham location, after closing five in 2025. Ald. William Hall (6th) wants to launch the city's first-ever Office of Pharmacy Access to create publicly owned alternatives. Block Club Chicago's Atavia Reed and WBEZ's Sarah Karp are here with details. Plus, we're recapping Chicago Public Schools Supt. Macquline King's congressional testimony in Washington this week.  Good News: Movies In The Parks, Chicago Music Legacy Tour, Simeon's First Play in Decade Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our daily newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this Friday, June 12 episode: Visit Bloomington Friends of San Damiano Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Chicago police investigate a cross burning and potential hate crime in Grant Park. Governor Pritzker says he's open to calling a special legislative session to reach a Bears stadium deal. Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel pedals presidential aspirations on a bike tour of New Hampshire. In the Loop breaks down those stories and much more with Axios' Carrie Shepherd, Chicago Tribune's Dan Petrella, and WBEZ's Alden Loury. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Is Indiana the inevitable new home for the Bears, or is the leap toward Hammond just a stealthy negotiation tactic to put pressure on Illinois? The team announced Friday that its board of directors has voted to push forward with developing a stadium in Hammond, Ind., even though an exact site has not been selected yet. So are Chicago and Arlington Heights really out of the running? Will the fans follow the team to Hammond? How did we get here? In The Loop digs in. Our panel today: Indiana State Rep. Earl Harris, Jr.; Cheryl Raye-Stout, WBEZ sports contributor; Prof. Deborah Carroll, director, UIC's Government Finance Research Center. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

It's the first Friday of the month, which means it's time for a new book to read! This month's selection is Julia Langbein's phenomenal novel Dear Monica Lewinsky, and Julia is today's guest on the show.The book is about Jean, whose life was derailed the summer after her sophomore year in college. When she travels to France to study medieval religious history, she meets a charismatic professor and decides to pursue an affair with him. The repercussions of that choice echo through her life, and she's still haunted as an adult. When she realizes her summer abroad was the same summer the Monica Lewinsky story broke in the United States, Jean prays to Monica, asking for forgiveness. That's when a vision of Monica Lewinsky appears to Jean, and she's able to relive her summer in France. When Tom Perrotta blurbed Julia's first novel American Mermaid, he said, “It probably shouldn't work, but it succeeds brilliantly, thanks to Julia Langbein's tonal control and wicked sense of humor,” and the same can be said for Dear Monica Lewinsky. This book may be hard to describe, but it's a joy to read, and it's also a searing examination of female desire and the prices we pay to pursue it.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

ICE agents sparked chaos in Chicago's Albany Park neighborhood, crashing into a woman's car and threatening residents as they chased and detained a man. Media outlets got a preview of the Obama Presidential Center campus. Developers break ground on a $7-billion project around the United Center. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with WBEZ senior statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal, Chicago Tribune government reporter A.D. Quig and Block Club Chicago reporter Quinn Myers. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

It's the last Friday of May, which means it's time to discuss T Kira Madden's novel Whidbey!Host Greta Johnsen talks to self-professed T Kira stan Kristen Arnett, the author of several novels. (Her most recent book, Stop Me If You've Heard This One, is especially wonderful!)They unpack what makes this complex novel so readable: nuanced themes, compelling characters, tangible sense of place, and propulsive plot.TRIGGER WARNING: This book deals with themes of child sexual abuse, which we discuss. SPOILER ALERT: This episode includes spoilers for the book. If you haven'y read it yet a nd you don't want to know what happens, listen to the spoiler-free author interview here. For more information on the GRETAGRAM book club, sign up for Greta's newsletter, GRETAGRAM!SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalTile art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Obama Presidential Center announces the schedule for its grand opening. Chicago's U.S. Attorney's Office says it's instituting reforms after the high-profile case against a group of ICE protesters falls apart because of prosecutorial misconduct. Plus, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson visits Pope Leo XIV in Rome. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with freelance journalist and City Cast Chicago contributor Brandon Pope, Illinois Answers Project reporter Alex Nitkin and Chicago Sun-Times reporter Violet Miller. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Host Greta Johnsen talks to two of her favorite readers -- MJ Franklin, an editor at the New York Times Book Review and host of The Book Review Book Club podcast, and Traci Thomas, who hosts the wonderfully bookish podcast The Stacks.Even though the three of them have WILDLY different reading tastes, they also have an abundance of respect for each other, so these conversations are always a treat. Here's a list of each of their recommendations: Greta's picks: The Children, Melissa Albert (June 2)Land, Maggie O'Farrell (June 2)Etna, Paul Yoon August 4Traci's picks:Crossroads: A Memoir in Baseball and Life, Dusty Baker (June 9)The Great Wherever, Shannon Sanders (July 7) Seasons of Fury: Four Families and the Rise of Islamophobia in America, Rozina Ali (August 25)MJ's picks:Country People, Daniel Mason (July 7)Fixer Chao, Han Ong (July 14)The Mortons, Justine Larbalestier and Scott Westerfeld (July 21)SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalTile art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

City Council reached a near-unanimous decision to pause the subminimum wage hike for tipped workers this week. When they voted to free the subminimum wage hike back in March, Mayor Brandon Johnson ultimately vetoed their decision. Johnson confirmed this week he will accept this compromise and not pursue another veto. WBEZ's Susie An and Block Club Chicago's Madison Savedra are here to discuss why this ordinance is being reversed just three years in. Plus, Illinois is getting millions for lead pipe removal, and changes are coming to Ravenwood's popular Del Sur Bakery.  Good News: South West Side Zine Library Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our daily newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this Friday, May 22 episode: Enjoy Illinois Broadway In Chicago - Spamalot Newberry Library Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Happy Friday! It's been another busy week in politics, the economy, and more. So before you head out for the long Memorial Day weekend, get caught up on the top local stories you need to know about: Illinois lawmakers debate insurance rate reform and prescription drug costs, charges are dropped against the Broadview Six, and Chicago broadcast journalists sue big tech. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel today: Nick Blumberg, WTTW News correspondent; David Greising, president of the Better Government Association; and Bob Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times investigative reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

WXPN morning host and assistant music director Kristen Kurtis offers host Greta Johnsen three songs to enjoy this summer, and they are all BOPS: Zinadeplhia, “River”Parlor Greens, “Eat Your Greens”Allison Russell, “Cold April” ft. Kara Jackson, Denitia, and Explore! Pop ChoirSHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalTile art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Former Chicago mayoral candidate Paul Vallas is fined for violating campaign finance rules. Mayor Johnson announces plans to meet with Pope Leo XIV in Rome. Lawyers for residents of the South Shore apartment building raided during Operation Midway Blitz seek millions in damages from the federal government. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp, Axios Chicago reporter Monica Eng and NBC 5 political and investigative reporter Paris Schutz. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Illinois needs over 100,000 units to fill a severe housing shortage. Gov. Pritzker has a new plan to address this problem, the Building Up Illinois Developments, or BUILD. Housing advocates say the BUILD plan will help with housing affordability, particularly in neighborhoods with high demand. But some are concerned that this plan will take power from local municipalities and open the door for big developments in areas with mostly single family homes. In the Loop learns more about the basics of the bill currently working its way through the Illinois House and Senate from Mawa Iqbal, WBEZ statehouse reporter. We hear potential pros of the plan from Jeff Baker, CEO, Illinois Realtors and potential cons from Doug Pollock, president, Village of Riverside. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Fran Spielman and WBEZ's Mariah Woelfel mark Brandon Johnson's three-year anniversary as Chicago mayor. Mayor Johnson discusses his family milestones and argues his administration has improved its messaging while citing a 60-year low in homicides, reopened public mental health clinics, increased downtown visitors, and stabilizing census trends. Pressed on CPS's $732 million deficit and potential classroom cuts, he insists the State of Illinois must fully fund schools through progressive revenue such as a digital ad tax or billionaire/millionaire taxes, rejects school closures as repeating past failures.

Sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program made by the federal government last year are now going into effect. In the Loop gets updates and hears how changes to SNAP benefits are impacting local grocery stores and Chicago-area families. Guest host Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city government reporter, checks in with Nolan Downey of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Melody Winston of Living Fresh Market in Forest Park and Sally Schulze of RefugeeOne. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Months after the end of Operation Midway Blitz, immigration enforcement and detention is still underway in the Chicago area. But as federal agents have pivoted to a quieter approach, so too have rapid responders — advocates who work to provide fast on-the-ground help to people vulnerable to immigration raids and arrests. In the Loop checks in with Cristóbal Cavazos of the Casa DuPage Workers Center, Mimi Guiracocha of Pilsen Unidos por Ñuestro Orgullo (PUÑO) and WBEZ immigration reporter Adriana Cardona-Maguigad. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Host Greta Johnsen talks with profesisonal organizer Kelly Brask about how Swedish death cleaning can help you live better by getting rid of the things that no longer fit int your life and keeping the things that are useful and joyul for you. She also offers hints for how to organize your space and encourages you to embrace cleanliness while avoiding perfectionism. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ready for a week's worth of news in under an hour? Illinois State Police open an investigation into the ICE shooting of Silverio Villegas González. Mayor Johnson goes on the offense against the Bears in Springfield. Tickets for the opening of the Obama Center go on sale. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel today: Carrie Shepherd, Axios Chicago reporter; Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune city hall reporter; and Mitch Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times reporter covering government and politics. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Host Greta Johnsen talks with T Kira Madden, whose novel Whidbey is the GRETAGRAM Book Club selection for May. (TW: Child sexual abuse.)Whidbey is told from the points of view of three women who are all connected to Calvin, a sexual precator: Mary Beth, his mother, and Birdie and Linzie, who victims who approach their trauma in very different ways. T Kira talks about the book's enticing opening scene, the ways that victimhood can be exploited, and whether she considers writing fiction to be cathartic. SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalTile art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago's Cinco de Mayo parade is cancelled for a second year due to immigration enforcement fears. IBM announces a new innovation center at the Quantum and Microelectronics Park on Chicago's South Side, pledging hundreds of jobs for City College graduates. Meanwhile, in Springfield, the Illinois legislature is finalizing its game plan to keep the Chicago Bears in Illinois. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with Block Club Chicago reporter Mack Liederman, Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mary Norkol and Alex Nitkin, Illinois Answers Project government finance and accountability reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Host Greta Johnsen talks with Roxana Jullapat, head baker and co-owner at the Los Angeles restaurant Friends & Family. Her new cookbook is Morning Baker: Recipes and Rituals for Breakfast and Beyond.In 2019, she wrote Mother Grains: Recipes for the Grain Revolution, a thorough compendium of heritage grains and everything they have to offer. Roxana says the new cookbook is just as devoted to whole grains, but it's a little more joyful. “There's a lot more spontaneity,” she said. “It truly is a reflection of what we make at Friends & Family, and what it means to be a grain head.”SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalShow art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Residents are still cleaning up basements and backyards after record-breaking rainfall. Gov. JB Pritzker says all bets are off for state employees on prediction markets. Body cam video of the shooting of Officer Krystal Rivera is released to the public. And Chicago Public School lunchroom staff block traffic over stalled contract talks. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap. Our panel today: Christian Farr, NBC-5 Chicago reporter; Geoff Buchholz, WBBM Newsradio political editor; and Sarah Karp, WBEZ Education reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Host Greta Johnsen talks to author Rufi Thrope, whose novel Margo's Got Money Troubles was just adapted into a series on Apple TV+.The show's cast is stacked -- it stars Elle Fanning as Margo, a young woman who becomes pregnant after an affair with her college professor. She decides to keep the baby, much to the chagrin of her own single mom Shyanne, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Margo's absentee former pro wrestler dad, Jinx, is played by Nick Offerman. Rufi and Greta talk about the magic of seeing a novel in a whole new dimension, what Rufi is working on next, and the utter absurdity of living with the cuddly monster known as the Bull Terrier. SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalShow art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A former ComEd CEO and an ally of former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan are both freed from prison and granted new trials. A Wisconsin sheriff files a defamation lawsuit against a Skokie woman and a Cook County Commissioner. Meanwhile, Illinois lawmakers pass legislation limiting junk fees for renters. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with Axios Chicago reporter Carrie Shepherd, Chicago Tribune transportation and labor reporter Talia Soglin and WBEZ city politics reporter Mariah Woelfel. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Hundreds of Chicago Catholic school students have found out some additional resources they rely on, like tutors, classroom aides, and after-school programs, will no longer be available through the end of the school year. Who is to blame between CPS and the Archdiocese? Well, it depends who you ask. We are joined by WBEZ's Adora Namigadde and freelance journalist Yareni Murillo. Plus, arts events supporting Chicago immigrants and Ford City Mall ordered to close.  Good News: Earth Fest, Pilsen Community Art House, Butterfly Effect Project  Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our daily newsletter.  Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this Thursday, April 16 episode: Window Nation Paramount Theatre Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Ben's beloved Bulls trade for a clubhouse preacher who asks reporters if they fornicated before marriage. He also has bad knees. Ben riffs. Alden Loury talks property tax and politics—or the politics of property tax. What prompted voters to oust Assessor Fritz Kaegi? Hint—rising property taxes. Well, that's not a hint so much as the answer. Was that fair to Kaegi? Will the next assessor make a difference? Also, Maria Pappas reveals she knows how to play the property tax game. Alden is an editor for WBEZ and Sun-Times columnist.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Greta's guest today will be familiar to longtime Nerdette listeners -- her name is Kate Schatz, and she's an activist and author. She co-wrote Do the Work: An Antiracist Activity Book with W Kamau Bell, and she's the author of Rad American Women A-Z and Rad Women Worldwide.Now, she's back with her first novel for adults! Where the Girls Were takes place in the Bay Area in 1968. It's about Baker, a teenager whose future is bright -- until she meets a boy, and has sex with that boy, and gets pregnant. Baker ends up at a “home for wayward girls,” a residence program where young pregnant women would be hidden from society until they gave birth. Their babies would be put up for adoption and the girls were expected to return home as if nothing ever happened. “This is a book about choice and reproductive freedom and bodily autonomy and how truly complicated and nuanced it all is,” Kate says. Kate talks with Greta about why she set the book in ‘68, the sneaky nefariousness of the word “unfit,” and where she finds comfort during tumultuous times. SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalShow art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Efforts begin to rename Pilsen's Cesar Chavez Post Office. Chicago launches a citywide program allowing homeowners to add additional dwelling units. Meanwhile, housing advocates announce plans to sue Chicago Housing Authority over last month's CEO appointment. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in our Weekly News Recap. Our panel today: Block Club Chicago reporter Quinn Myers; Monica Eng, Chicago reporter for AXIOS; and Sun-Times reporter Kaitlin Washburn. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

An unimportant investigation into the difference between cupcakes and muffins with Bon Appetit test kitchen editor Shilpa Uscocovic.SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalTile art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicagoans are still asking if the feds will return to the city after Operation Midway blitz. WBEZ's Curious City recently tackled whether the federal presence here constituted martial law. We are joined by WBEZ's Erin Allen and Mike Davis. Plus, boos rain down at the Jeffs, and an international student's attempt to run every Chicago street hits a major roadblock. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our daily newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246 Learn more about the sponsors of this April 3 episode: The Other Art Fair Steppenwolf Theatre Window Nation Chicago Architecture Center Walking Tours Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Police Supt. Larry Snelling faces public questioning about whether Chicago police coordinated with ICE agents. Illinois politicians respond to the firing of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Thousands gather in Grant Park and suburbs for the third No Kings rally. University of Illinois makes it to NCAA's Final Four, while the Bulls dismiss a player for social media posts. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap with Nick Blumberg, WTTW News correspondent; Sophie Sherry, Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter; and Brandon Pope, freelance journalist. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In 1819, Illinois lawmakers enacted the Black Laws, which required Black people to have a certificate of freedom to live in Illinois and made it illegal to gather in groups of three or more. That is, however, unless the gathering was for religious observances. From then on, churches made for and by Black people became hubs for connecting each other to resources, for education, as well as providing a spiritual home. In an ongoing series, WBEZ explores the history of Black churches in Chicago and their impact on their communities, faith and social justice movements. In the Loop sits down with Nicole Jeanine Johnson, WBEZ and CST investigative reporting fellow; Alden Loury, WBEZ senior data projects editor; and the Rev. John Smith of Olivet Baptist Church to learn more. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

For this deep-dive discussion of Tayari Jones' novel Kin, host Greta Johnsen talks with Traci Thomas, who hosts The Stacks podcast. They talk about the exquisite pleasure of reading a book that does exactly what it sets out to do, the beauty of female friendship, and the different ways the main characters are mothered despite the absence of their actual mothers. Warning: this is a spoilery conversation! If you haven't read the book yet, go listen to Greta's spoiler-free conversation with Tayari. SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalTile art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Federal job cuts last year hit one group the hardest — Black women. MPR News host Angela Davis talks with a journalist who interviewed some of the women who lost their jobs about how they are doing a year later — financially and emotionally. The article was published recently in Hammer and Hope, an online magazine that focuses on Black politics and culture.Guest:Natalie Moore is a senior lecturer and director of Audio Journalism Programming at Northwestern University in Illinois. She was a reporter and editor at the Chicago public radio station, WBEZ, for 17 years where she was known for her reporting on segregation and inequality.She writes a monthly column for the Chicago Sun-Times and she is also the author of “The South Side: A Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation.” And she is co-author of “The Almighty Black P Stone Nation: The Rise, Fall and Resurgence of an American Gang” and “Deconstructing Tyrone: A New Look at Black Masculinity in the Hip-Hop Generation.”

Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss the finale of My So-Called Life -- “In Dreams Begin Responsibilities” -- with Pop Culture Happy Hour host Linda Holmes and Ronald Young, Jr., who hosts Weight for It. They talk about the centrality of Angela and Rayanne's friendship, the power of Patty's nostalgia trip, and how the episode works as both a season and series finale. Plus, Greta and Kristen talk to Winnie Holzman, the creator of My So-Called Life. about how fulfilling it is to hear stories about the show's impact even though it aired more than 30 years ago. She reflects on one of the main throughlines of her career: wanting to work on creatively inspiring teams.SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenCo-host: Kristen MeinzerSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposer: Andrew M. EdwardsTile art: Lou LovisekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was a busy week in Chicago and the country: ICE agents head to O'Hare as TSA workers near their sixth week without pay. Political arguments continue to swirl after the shooting death of an 18-year-old Loyola student. Plus, a new baseball season brings hope to fans, but Chicago's teams fall flat on their opening day. We cover those stories and more with WBEZ education reporter Sarah Karp, Block Club reporter Mack Liederman and Heather Cherone, WTTW senior politics reporter. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Bees and butterflies get all the buzz when it comes to pollination, but what about the underdogs? Think flies and moths, which are essential to pollination in the Midwest. In the Loop kicks off the blooming season by checking in with entomologist Allen Lawrance of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, to find out how we can use our backyards to protect and support pollinators. Plus, WBEZ kids weigh in with their questions about bees, hummingbirds, and other insects. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

In today's MSCL rewatch episode, Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 17 and 18 -- “Betrayal” and “Weekend” -- with Soraya Roberts, a culture writer and contributing writer at Defector who wrote the the book In My Humble Opinion: My So-Called Life.They talk about THE BEYRAYAL, whether Jordan actually loved Angela, and what Brian's deal is.SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenCo-host: Kristen MeinzerSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposer: Andrew M. EdwardsTile art: Lou LovisekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

City Council votes to end a phaseout of the sub-minimum wage and raise the tax on downtown hotels, making it the highest hotel tax in the nation. And federal prosecutors say a local cyber security expert turned out to actually be a cyber criminal. Plus takeaways and surprises from Tuesday's primary election. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in our Weekly News Recap with Julie Bosman, Chicago bureau chief for the New York Times, Fox 32 political correspondent Paris Schutz and senior public safety editor for WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, Tom Schuba. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

After months of campaigning – and millions and millions of dollars spent from outside interests like AIPAC and cryptocurrency – several hotly-contested races for the U.S. Senate, governor and the U.S. House came to a close on Illinois' Primary Day. We'll dig into everything you need to know with a panel of political experts: who won, who came up short, and how the results could shape up the general midterm election in the fall. Our panel to help us break it all down: WBEZ's Clare Lane, Mariah Woelfel and Mawa Iqbal; Jaime Dominguez, professor at Northwestern University; Connie Mixon, professor of political science at Elmhurst University; and Jim Durkin, former Minority Leader, Illinois House of Representatives. We'll also hear from candidates themselves, including: Daniel Biss, mayor of Evanston, Democratic nominee for Illinois' 9th Congressional District Don Tracy, Illinois Senate Republican nominee Darren Bailey, Illinois Governor Republican nominee Juliana Stratton, Lt. Governor of Illinois, and Senate Democratic nominee For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Greta Johnsen and Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 15 and 16 -- “So-Called Angels” and “Resolutions” -- with Jenn White, the host of the NPR show 1A.They talk about the ups and downs of what Jenn (somewhat facetiously) calls “a very special episode of My So-Called Life,” the devastation and sweetness of Ricky's story, and the fact that Sharon is “just a nice, middle-class suburban girl who's horny,” as Kristen put it.SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenCo-host: Kristen MeinzerSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposer: Andrew M. EdwardsTile art: Lou LovisekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker surveys the destruction left behind after a series of wild storms rip through Kankakee County, destroying homes and buildings. Plus, the Illinois primary election is next week, and all eyes are on the tight race to replace longtime retiring U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. We also talk about campaign finances and the use of AI in technology in political ads. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more with Axios Chicago reporter Carrie Shepherd, WBEZ politics editor Dave McKinney and local journalist Leigh Giangreco. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Strong and consistent winds that sweep across Lake Michigan could provide significant electricity generation. But there are no wind turbines in the lake or any of the Great Lakes. This Curious City story is made possible through a partnership between WBEZ and Grist, a nonprofit environmental media organization.

Host Greta Johnsen talks to Tayari Jones. Her novel Kin is the GRETAGRAM book club selection for March. It's about two girls grow up in the 50's in Alabama. They each lost their mothers in different ways, and those absences shape the trajectories of both of their lives. Tayari and Greta talk about the power of deep, abiding friendship, the importance of asking for help, and how Tayari stumbled upon writing historical fiction. UPCOMING BOOK CLUB BOOKS:April: Vigil, George SaundersMay: Whidbey, T Kira MaddenJune: Dear Monica Lewinsky, Julia LangbeinJuly: Canon, Paige LewisSHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalShow art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Host Greta Johnsen and co-gost Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 13 and 14 -- “Pressure” and “On the Wagon” -- with culture writer and podcaster Margaret H. Willison. They talk about the show's many different depictions of teenage desire, the fate of the Frozen Embryos, and Patty's “congenital inability to chill,” as Margaret so skillfully puts it.SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenCo-host: Kristen MeinzerSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposer: Andrew M. EdwardsTile art: Lou LovisekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kristi Noem is out as DHS secretary; meanwhile, Cook County prosecutors dismiss 21 cases against local ICE protesters. Chicago is one step closer to video gambling in bars and restaurants and Jesse Jackson memorials conclude in Chicago. In the Loop goes behind the headlines in the Weekly News Recap. Today's panel: Mitch Armentrout of the Chicago Sun-Times, Geoff Buchholz of WBBM Newsradio, and Jake Sheridan of the Chicago Tribune. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Host Greta Johnsen and co-host Kristen Meinzer discuss My So-Called Life episodes 11 and 12 --”Picture Perfect” and “Self Esteem” -- with Christina Tucker!!!! She's a podcaster and writer who co-hosts the podcast Wait, Is This A Date?. They talk about school dance drama, wallpaper as an analogy for sex, and the fact that Delia Fisher is a f*****g QUEEN. .SHOW CREDITS:Creator and host: Greta JohnsenCo-host: Kristen MeinzerSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposer: Andrew M. EdwardsTile art: Lou LovisekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Greta and Kristen discuss My So-Called Life episodes 9 and 10 --”Halloween” and “Other Peoples' Mothers” -- with Patrick Hinds!He co-hosted his own MSCL deep-dive podcawst, My So-Called Podcast, in 2018.They talk about whether Angela ACTUALLY time travels, how terrible it is to add oregano to a curry, and how Patrick thinks about Patty differently now that he's a parent. SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenCo-host: Kristen MeinzerSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposer: Andrew M. EdwardsTile art: Lou LovisekSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The GRETAGRAM book club is officially in podcast form! Host Greta Johnsen talks to Nina McConigley, the author of How to Commit a Postcolonial Murder. Her novel is the GRETAGRAM book club selection for February. It's about two teenage sisters who decide they must kill their uncle. While this book is intense it's also funny and strange -- or, as Nina puts it, cheeky! Nina talks about the weirdness of growing up in an immigrant family in Wyoming, the complicated legacy of colonialism, and the nostalgic power of Noxema.SHOW CREDITSCreator and host: Greta JohnsenSenior Producer: Ben GoldbergComposers: Ross Bellenoit and Jeremy ThalShow art: Mac MacleanSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.