Podcasts about wbez

This month's GRETAGRAM book club selection is Exit Party, the new novel from Station Eleven author Emily St. John Mandel. Like her other novels, this is a story that spans genre and time. It opens with Ari Waker, the villain from Emily's novel The Singer's Gun, as she goes to a party at the end of the world. Some very strange things happen at that party, and Ari is haunted by them for decades to come.In this spoiler-free interview, host Greta Johnsen talks with Emily about her inspiration for the novel, her writing process, and how she keeps track of all the interconnected characters from her books. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

City Council approves a new parking meter deal, another candidate drops out of the race for Chicago School Board president, and OpenAI alerts the City of Chicago that its technology targeted an online city database. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.GUESTS: David Greising, Better Government Association presidentSarah Karp, WBEZ education reporterFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

There's so much happening right in Chicago sports on all fronts. For the first time in history, both the White Sox and Cubs secured their seats in the playoffs on the same day. The Bulls are about to begin training camp. The Bears are hobbled but hopeful as they turn to a QB who is the backup to their backup. And that's not all.  In the Loop gets the inside scoop ahead of the week's busy sports schedule. GUESTS: Cheryl Raye Stout, WBEZ sports contributorFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Google gives the public a peek into its plans for the Thompson Center. O'Hare comes in dead last in a nationwide consumer survey on airport satisfaction. Plus, Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey gets a presidential endorsement.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.GUESTS: Brandon Pope, Fox 32 political reporterLeigh Giangreco, freelance journalistMitchell Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times government and politics reporterFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

The September GRETAGRAM book club selection is Mary H.K. Choi's Pool House, an exquisitely claustrophobic novel about a TV family and the mess that lies just under the surface.Host Greta Johnsen unpacks the novel with Inkoo Kang, a TV critic for The New Yorker. She brought many wonderful insights to the book, including this one: “We're coming out of this era of increased representation of diversity in Hollywood, and that has been really nice,” Inkoo said. “But a lot of it has been really sanitized. So reading something where the motivations seem really human and the author seems so wonderfully unconcerned with how likeable the characters are was incredibly refreshing to me.”Greta and Inkoo talk about the book as a coming of age story, the themes of surveillance and identity, and, yes, that ending.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Movie of the Year: 2006The Departed (feat Adam Kempenaar!)Inside The Departed Podcast EpisodeWelcome to The Departed podcast episode of Movie of the Year: 2006, where the Taste Buds take on Martin Scorsese's Boston crime epic. Ryan, Mike, and Greg welcome Filmspotting co-host Adam Kempenaar to the panel. Together, they dig into a film about cops, crooks, and the men who raise them. Moreover, the conversation covers fatherhood, gender, and the rough racial politics of Scorsese's South Boston. Additionally, the crew delivers a Career Retrospective on Leonardo DiCaprio, the jittery star at the film's center. Ultimately, the episode asks whether this Best Picture winner still earns its reputation twenty years later.New to the season? Start with our Movie of the Year 2006 intro episode, then catch up on the full 2006 bracket reveal.About the Film: The Departed (2006)The Departed opened in theaters on October 6, 2006. Martin Scorsese directed, and William Monahan wrote the screenplay. Specifically, Monahan adapted the 2002 Hong Kong thriller Infernal Affairs. The story follows two moles working on opposite sides of the law. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, an undercover cop inside the Irish mob. Meanwhile, Matt Damon plays Colin Sullivan, a mob plant rising through the Massachusetts State Police. Jack Nicholson rules over both men as crime boss Frank Costello. Notably, the supporting cast includes Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Vera Farmiga, Alec Baldwin, and Ray Winstone.The film became a major critical and commercial hit, earning more than $290 million worldwide. In addition, it won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay. Scorsese finally won Best Director after five earlier nominations. Thelma Schoonmaker also took home Best Film Editing. Roger Ebert gave the film four stars in his original RogerEbert.com review. For full cast and crew credits, visit The Departed on IMDb.Guest Panelist: Adam KempenaarAdam Kempenaar co-founded Filmspotting, one of the longest-running film podcasts in the medium. He launched the show in March 2005 with Sam Van Hallgren. Since 2012, he has co-hosted alongside Josh Larsen. Filmspotting has now passed 1,000 episodes and has also aired on WBEZ in Chicago. Furthermore, Kempenaar teaches at the University of Iowa, where his courses cover film criticism, sports and cinema, and podcasting. He is also a longtime member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. Additionally, he consults on marketing and content for the Chicago International Film Festival. For twenty years, he also led marketing and content for the Chicago Blackhawks. In 2025, he and Larsen celebrated two decades of the show with the first Filmspotting Fest in Chicago. Notably, Filmspotting was barely a year old when The Departed opened. That timing gives Adam a rare firsthand view of the 2006 film conversation. Find his reviews, Top 5 lists, and Sacred Cow episodes at filmspotting.net.Father Figures on The Departed PodcastFathers haunt every corner of The Departed. Costello grooms young Colin Sullivan from childhood, handing him groceries and shaping his loyalty. By contrast, Billy Costigan grows up with a dead father and a family split between Southie and the North Shore. Captain Queenan, played by Martin Sheen, becomes the steady parent Billy never had. Consequently, Queenan's death lands as the emotional turning point of the film. Meanwhile, Sullivan chases approval from every authority figure around him, from Costello to Ellerby. The film even closes on an open paternity question surrounding Madolyn's pregnancy.The panel digs into how Monahan's script treats the police and the mob as rival families. In practice, both institutions recruit sons, reward obedience, and punish betrayal. Above all, the Taste Buds and Adam ask which surrogate father does the most damage.Gender and Masculinity in The DepartedThe Departed is a crowded film about men performing toughness. Cops trade insults about each other's mothers, sexuality, and manhood. Costello, meanwhile, treats women as property and punchlines. Against that backdrop, Vera Farmiga's Madolyn stands nearly alone as a major female character. Interestingly, Monahan built her from two separate women in Infernal Affairs, one for each mole. As a result, she becomes the hinge between Billy and Colin.That choice raises real questions for the panel. Is Madolyn a fully realized character, or a device that links the two leads? Additionally, the crew considers how Sullivan's private failures mirror his fractured identity. The conversation also weighs whether Scorsese critiques this macho culture or simply enjoys it.Boston, Race, and Tribalism: The Departed 2006 Podcast DebateScorsese sets his story in South Boston, a neighborhood with a fraught racial history. Costello opens the film with a monologue about the Irish, the Italians, and Black Bostonians. Throughout the film, characters toss slurs as casually as they throw punches. Nevertheless, the panel debates what the film actually says about that bigotry.On one hand, the dialogue captures the tribal loyalties behind decades of city tension, including the 1970s busing crisis. On the other hand, some viewers argue the film treats ethnic insults as local color rather than subject. Furthermore, Costello's crew and the state police both run on in-group loyalty and suspicion of outsiders. Therefore, that tribalism powers the entire mole plot. The Taste Buds and Adam ask whether the film interrogates Boston's prejudices or leans on them for authenticity.Career Retrospective: Leonardo DiCaprioThis episode also features a Career Retrospective on Leonardo DiCaprio. The Departed marked his third collaboration with Scorsese, following Gangs of New York and The Aviator. Notably, 2006 was a banner year for him, and Blood Diamond earned him a Best Actor nomination that season. His early work stretches from This Boy's Life and What's Eating Gilbert Grape to Titanic. Later highlights include Catch Me If You Can, Inception, Django Unchained, and The Wolf of Wall Street.DiCaprio finally won the Best Actor Oscar for The Revenant. Since then, he has worked again with Quentin Tarantino, Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson. In total, he has made six feature films with Scorsese. The panel walks through the full filmography, from child actor to elder statesman. However, you will have to listen to hear how the Taste Buds and Adam rank his work.Why The Departed Still MattersThe Departed endures as the film that finally won Scorsese his Oscar. Moreover, it proved a Hollywood remake of a Hong Kong crime film could stand on its own. Its double-agent structure still echoes through crime thrillers and prestige television. Additionally, its performances remain endlessly quotable, especially Wahlberg's profane Sergeant Dignam. Alongside Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone, it helped define the Boston crime cycle of the 2000s. Ultimately, the film still sparks arguments about Scorsese's best work. Those arguments make it perfect bracket material for Movie of the Year: 2006.Related Episodes from Movie of the Year: 2006Movie of the Year 2006: Intro Part 1The Movies of 2006 Bracket Reveal2006 Mixtape Part IBrowse every Movie of the Year episodeFAQ: The Departed Podcast and FilmWhat is The Departed podcast episode about?This Movie of the Year: 2006 episode features the Taste Buds and guest Adam Kempenaar discussing Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Topics include father figures, gender, and the film's portrait of race in Boston. The episode also includes a Leonardo DiCaprio Career Retrospective.What is The Departed about?The Departed follows two moles in Boston. Billy Costigan goes undercover inside Frank Costello's Irish mob. Meanwhile, Colin Sullivan secretly works for Costello inside the Massachusetts State Police. Each man races to expose the other first.Who directed The Departed?Martin Scorsese directed The Departed. William Monahan wrote the screenplay, and the film won Scorsese his first Academy Award for Best Director.Is The Departed based on a true story?No, the plot comes from the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. However, Jack Nicholson's Frank Costello draws loose inspiration from real Boston gangster Whitey Bulger.Did The Departed win Best Picture?Yes. The Departed won Best Picture at the 79th Academy Awards. It also

Small businesses are essential to stabilizing neighborhood economies. They create jobs, activate commercial corridors, and provide the goods and services that help communities thrive. Yet across the Chicago area — particularly in historically underinvested South and West Side neighborhoods — many entrepreneurs continue to face structural barriers that make it difficult to access the capital, technical assistance, and business networks needed to start, sustain and grow their businesses.   To help address those challenges, The Chicago Community Trust and four philanthropic partners launched the Fund for Equitable Business Growth in 2019. Guided by research from Next Street, the funder collaborative invests in organizations that strengthen Chicago's small businesses by improving access to capital, business services, and coordinated resources. Since its launch, the Fund has supported 46 business service organizations, helped nearly 6,000 small businesses access coaching and training, and connected entrepreneurs to more than $22 million in grants and loans. Today, new research from Next Street reveals that significant gaps remain, with small businesses seeking far more capital than traditional lenders provide, and many businesses that are ready to grow are unable to access the financing to do so.   In this episode of Trust Talks, Earl Grandberry, director of the Fund for Equitable Business Growth, hosts a conversation with Sara Dinges, head of ecosystem solutions at Next Street, Niharika Hanglem, program director at The Richard L. Duchossois Foundation (RLD), and Linda McGill Boasmond, owner & president of Cedar Concepts Corporation. Together, they discuss what the latest research reveals about Chicago's small business ecosystem, philanthropy's role in strengthening that ecosystem, and why investing in trusted business support organizations is essential to helping entrepreneurs build stronger businesses and more resilient neighborhood. They also explore the Fund's next phase of work, including strategies to address capital access, operational challenges, growth-stage support gaps, and the policy and systems changes needed to unlock opportunity. This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at WBEZ.

This year, Chicagoans have seen more grocery stores close on the South and West Sides, SNAP benefits stripped from tens of thousands of households, and food prices continue to rise. Sun-Times health reporter Elvia Malagon joins us to discuss how this is all contributing to an increasingly food-insecure Chicago. Plus, WBEZ's arts and culture reporter Mike Davis is in the building with the must-see storefront productions during Chicago's fall theater season.   The 2026 Hunger in Chicago Report Good News: Celebrating Chaka Khan  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 Sept. 18 episode: Broadway in Chicago - Dirty Dancing Chicago Architecture Center - Open House Chicago Exhibition Weekend Kowalski AFSP Illinois Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Google gives the public a peek into its plans for the Thompson Center. O'Hare comes in dead last in a nationwide consumer survey on airport satisfaction. Plus, Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey gets a presidential endorsement.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.GUESTS: Brandon Pope, Fox 32 political reporterLeigh Giangreco, freelance journalistMitchell Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times government and politics reporterFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Chicago journalists reflect on covering Operation Midway Blitz one year after the aggressive immigration crackdown began. Illinois House Republicans call for ethics reforms after the state's legislative watchdog resigned. Plus, a proposed plan to move the White Sox into a new South Loop stadium is unveiled.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more.GUESTS: Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune state government reporter Simone Alicea, City Cast Chicago executive producerViolet Miller, Chicago Sun-Times general assignment reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

During the aggressive 10-week campaign, around 4,000 people in the Chicago area were detained, and 2,700 were deported. Reporters from the WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times newsroom reflect on the anniversary of the launch of Operation Midway Blitz. GUESTS: Mariah Woelfel, WBEZ city government reporter Araceli Gomez Aldana, WBEZ news reporter Candace Dane Chambers, visual journalist, Chicago Sun-Times

This month's GRETAGRAM book club selection is Mary H.K. Choi's Pool House, a novel about mothers and daughters, about seeing and being seen, and about desiring and being desired. This novel isn't necessarily soapy, but it's definitely MESSY, and it's quite a ride. Mary has written several YA novels, but Pool House is her first book for adults. It's about Stevie, a young woman who lives in the llong shadow of her mom Moon, an aging former TV star. Their lives are deeply intertwined with Adam, who played Moon's stepson in the TV show they were both in. When we meet this trio, they've just learned that Mac, who plated the TV dad, has died by suicide, and each of them reckons with his death in very different ways.In this spoiler-free interview, host Greta Johnsen talks with Mary about the origins of the novel, the obvious metaphor of living in a glass house, and what it's like to write a novel for "grown ups."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago's Catholic archbishop and nuns oppose a controversial end-of-life law set to go into effect next week. A mass shooting in Washington Park draws President Trump's criticism over city and state responses to crime. And one year after Chicago's Operation Midway Blitz, federal immigration agents still face no charges. GUESTS: Monica Eng, Axios Chicago reporter Alden Loury, WBEZ data projects editorParis Schutz, political and investigative reporter, NBC 5For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

The 87% Club is a series of episodes that explore the case for giving less energy to things that don't matter, so we have more time to spend on things that do. This week, host Greta Johnsen talks to writer Priyanka Mattoo, the author of the wonderful essay collection How To Be Less Useful: The Joy of Inefficiency. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chicago home prices rose faster than any other U.S. city in the past year. Immigration agents are involved in a highway crash, while the Mayor issues any executive order targeting city contractors doing business with ICE. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.GUESTS: Carrie Shepherd, Axios Chicago reporter Alex Nitkin, Illinois Answers Project government finance and accountability reporter Sarah Karp, WBEZ senior education reporterFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Tensions over race and gender have manifested in former NBA players disrupting games and Republican lawmakers sending a letter to the WNBA's commissioner demanding "accountability."  In the Loop discusses the politicization of the WNBA and why it's become a flashpoint for culture wars. GUESTS: Cheryl Raye-Stout, WBEZ sports contributorQuita Wiggins, host Quita in the Mornings on YouTubeFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

We honor the late country music icon, Dolly Parton. The family of the acclaimed singer announced her death at 80 years old yesterday. In an interview with People on Friday, August 21, Parton said, “I'm still healin', I'm still workin'! You know me — as I've often said — I've dreamed myself into a corner and I still have so many things I want to achieve, so I'm gonna keep on working as long as I can to see everything come to life.”In the Loop's discusses the legacy and impact of Dolly Parton. Plus, Indiana residents may be getting federal assistance for weather damage and a first look at the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival.  GUESTS: Somer Van Benton, WBEZ reporter Clare Lane, WBEZ Morning Edition anchor Erica Thompson, Chicago Sun-Times arts and entertainment reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

This week, host Greta Johnsen talks with Ayurvedic doctor, coach, and podcast host Sweta Vikram, who "helps high achievers move through burnout, grief, and overwhelm."Today's episode is largely about perfectionism when it comes to rest. So many of us think that time off is an all-or-nothing deal -- take a long vacation, or be strung out and constantly in your email inbox. But Sweta encourages a gentle, incremental approach. Even 15 minutes of down time once or twice a day can make a big difference for your brain and body. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mayhem breaks out in the Wrigley stands during the Crosstown Classic. Hundreds of union members rallied outside the Shedd Aquarium. Commutes are about to get pricer after the Illinois Tollway Board approved its first toll hike in nearly 15 years, and Gov. Pritzker signed a disaster proclamation to help areas hit by this summer's record-breaking storms.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more.GUESTS: Becky Vevea, Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chiefShia Kapos, Politico reporter and author of Politico's Illinois Playbook newsletterCheryl Raye-Stout, WBEZ sports contributorFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

As part of a monthlong series about doing less, host Greta Johnsen talks to a theater director and an author about attention, achievement, effort, and ease. First, Greta speaks with Michaela Goldhaber, a Bay-Area playwright, director, and dramaturg who is also involved in disability justice work through her theater company Wry Crips Disabled Women's Theater Group. Then, she talks to Cathy Haynes, the author of The Fullness of Time: Marking the Day by Birdsong, Blooms, Shadows, and Stars.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The owners of multiple South Side funeral homes are under a microscope after state officials discovered they had been mismanaging human remains. Last week, officials and police discovered dozens of decaying bodies at the South Chicago Chapel. We break down the details with Block Club Chicago's Maxwell Evans and WBEZ's Dan Mihalopoulos. Plus, the recently shuttered Aspira charter network is trying to sell its publicly funded school building, and the Chicago Fire are hoping to extend their August win streak. Good News: Hegewisch Farmers Market & Edgewater Monday Market 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 Aug. 14 episode: Paramount Theatre Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson moves to further regulate data centers, Governor J. B. Pritzker signs a law allowing rideshare drivers to unionize, while the shocking discovery of dozens of decomposing bodies at a South Side funeral home raises calls for more government oversight. We dig into those stories and more in our Weekly News Recap.GUESTS: Nick Blumberg, WTTW News correspondentMaxwell Evans, Block Club Chicago reporter  Dan Mihalopoulos, WBEZ investigative reporter  For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

Illinois has joined a growing number of states that regulate the way social media companies can interact with minors. The Children's Online Social Media Safety Act aims to create guardrails for kids while still giving them an option to learn and connect with people through social media. In the Loop chats with experts about what families need to know about these new regulations and the potential privacy concerns of age verification.GUESTS: Devorah Heitner, author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital WorldMarshini Chetty, professor of computer science, University of ChicagoMawa Iqbal, WBEZ senior statehouse reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Host Greta Johnsen starts a month-long miniseries for the 87% club with an interview with author Veronica Roth. She's written more than a dozen books, most notably the Divergent series.Her latest book is called Seek the Traitor's Son (print | audio), a book that she approached very differently from her other projects. Here's what she says about it in the acknowledgements:“I started writing this book almost six years ago with no intention of publishing it. I had it in my head that a book that made all the pleasure centers of my brain fire at once just couldn't be a serious project. But when I told two of my friends about it, they pointed out that there was no reason that should be the case. The world is too dark, and life is too short, to spend it resisting things that bring you joy. So why not write a big, romantic, indulgent, genre-straddling story?” This conversation perfectly embodies many of the questions that define the 87 percent club -- What if work was also fun? What if I could stop caring about what other people think? How can I turn down those critical voices in my head?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The feds threaten to prosecute Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, Chicago Public Schools hope state lawmakers will approve funding, and a former top CPS executive is charged with COVID loan fraud. Also, we say good-bye to 91-year-old Chicago jazz legend Geraldine de Haas.We cover these stories and more in our Weekly News Recap.GUESTS: Brandis Friedman, anchor of  WTTW's “Chicago Tonight” Dan Petrella, Chicago Tribune political writer Sophie Sherry, Chicago Sun-Times staff reporterFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The July GRETAGRAM book club selection is Paige Lewis' Canon, a nonbinary hero's journey that has all the elements of an epic: Good Guys vs. Bad Guys, a fickle god, and, of course, a talking whale!Host Greta Johnsen discusses the book with Molly McGhee, the author of Jonathan Abernathy You Are Kind. They discuss structure, narrative presence, earnestness, and the futility of glory.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 South and West Side neighborhoods grapple with the closure of seven grocery stores. An estimated 400,000 music fans expected to descend on Grant Park this weekend for Lollapalooza. Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch is coming under increasing scrutiny over his handling of sexual assault allegations against state Representative Harry Benton. While Governor Pritzker signs into law a bill that would let judges settle disputes over custody of pets.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.GUESTS: Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune transportation and labor reporterHeather Cherone, WTTW Chicago politics reporterDave McKinney, WBEZ & Chicago Sun-Times politics and government editor For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The Joliet Treatment Center, designed to treat people with serious mental illness, repeatedly failed to prevent or respond to fires despite two deaths, an investigation by The Marshall Project, WBEZ and the Sun-Times found.

Host Greta Johnsen talks with City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran and Margaret Willison, the newest member of the Culture Study newsletter and podcast team.They play the extremely low-stakes game Burden or Delight with three of the biggest pop culture touchstones of the summer: The World Cup, Taylor Swift's wedding, and Christopher Nolan's newest blockbuster, The Odyssey. (Did Margaret make a quiz based on her rigorous examination of every possible photo of confirmed attendees? YES. Yes she did.) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seven Save-A-Lot grocery stores across the South and West Sides could close their doors as early as Saturday if Yellow Banana, the company that owns and operates them, can't find new funding. Block Club Chicago's Atavia Reed is here with the latest. Plus, WBEZ's Kristen Schorsch joins us to detail the ongoing legal battles surrounding the recently shuttered West Suburban Hospital and provide a temperature check on Chicago's struggling safety net hospitals. Good News: 5th Annual Words of Wonder Literary Festival!, Roots: “The Brunch Experience”  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 July 24 episode: Visit Bloomington Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Chicago City Council has approved referendum questions for upcoming elections, three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane is returning to the Chicago Blackhawks on a two-year contract, and Chicago police have issued official guidelines on how officers should collect evidence against immigration agents suspected of violating laws.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.GUESTS: Kim Bellware, freelance journalistRavi Baichwal anchor at ABC 7 NewsMary Norkol, Chicago Sun-Times reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

Host Greta Johnsen talks with Sarah Wilson about her new book, I Eat the Stars: How to Live Fully and Beautifully in a Collapsing World. As the title suggests, Sarah's book explores the idea of sysrem collapse, a metacrisis we're already experiencing through climate crises, political upheaval, cultural isolationism, and fossil fuel consumption.This book isn't necessarily easy to read -- after all, it presents a pretty grim future for our current way of life. But Sarah also points out that many of the systems that are currently collapsing have been oppressing us from the beginning. And to that end, this book is an invitation to consider what to prioritize as humanity moves forward.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.

Today, a City Council committee will question the details and effectiveness of the Mayor's “ICE on Notice” executive order as ICE sightings and arrests are up in Chicago. Mayor Brandon Johnson signed it back in January, following months of Operation Midway Blitz, and with it directed the Chicago Police Department to “investigate federal immigration agents and refer evidence of suspected illegal activity to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.” WBEZ's Mariah Woelfel is here to discuss what, if anything, has changed in the last six months. Plus, Sun-Times reporter Erica Thompson tells us about her afternoon with 1,000 Chicago teens downtown. Good News: Silver Room Block Party We're doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We'd be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it's only 7 minutes long. You'll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City swag. 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 July 17 episode: Visit Bloomington Destination Madison Newberry Library Become a member of City Cast Chicago. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Chicago gets a one-two punch with another heat wave combined with dangerous air quality. A North Side Trader Joe's becomes the first of the grocery chain's Illinois locations to unionize. And the Shedd Aquarium agrees to take in abandoned beluga whales from a closed marine park in Canada. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.GUESTS: Carrie Shepherd, Axios Chicago reporter Quinn Myers, Block Club Chicago reporter covering Wicker Park, West Town & Bucktown Bob Herguth, Chicago Sun-Times investigative reporterFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop. 

Today's episode is about public television, classic literature, and an extremely charismatic Jack Russell Terrier.Yes, we are talking about Wishbone, the iconic children's PBS show that aired from 1995 to 1998. It was about Wishbone the dog, who imagined himself as the star of many canonical texts such as The Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, Oliver Twist, and Cyrano de Bergerac. The shoe aired for 50 episodes, and won 5 Daytime Emmys. There's a new documentary out about the show -- it's called What's the Story, Wishbone?. Host Greta Johnsen talks to two of the documentary's producers, who also worked on the original show -- Betty Buckley, who also produced Wishbone, and Larry Brantley, who played the voice of Wishbone himself.As the documentary explores, the show wasn't easy to make. The adaptations were ambitious, the production schedule was intense, and nothing like it had really been made before. But at the same time, there's a tangible sense of curiosity and joy. And of course, a charming dog in pantaloons is always a delight. 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 Federal appeals court in Chicago upholds Illinois' assault weapons ban one week after the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to consider a challenge to the ban in Cook County. Former Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel makes headlines after a controversial speech in Israel. Plus, the CTA says crime is down 30% percent over last year.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in the Weekly News Recap.GUESTS: David Greising, president, Better Government AssociationOlivia Olander, state government reporter, Chicago TribuneMitch Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times reporter covering government and politicsFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Welcome to our Summer series! This week on Queer News, Anna DeShawn continues to bring you the stories that matter most to our community! Join Anna for an exclusive interview with Brave Space Alliance's new CEO Nikki Patin. Nikki Patin has been serving as the CEO for Brave Space Alliance for one month, but before then Nikki's had quite the career. Featured in The Guardian, Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Reader, Windy City Times and on WBEZ, WTTW, and HBO, Nikki Patin has been writing, performing, educating, leading organizations and advocating for over two decades.    Nikki talks with Anna about who they are, what qualified them for the CEO position out of the 100 applicants who applied, their tentative 10-year strategic plan for the future of Brave Space Alliance, and the impact Brave Space Alliance has had on the LGBTQ+ community. Brave Space Alliance (BSA) is an LGBTQ+ focused community center on Chicago's South Side that welcomes and serves all who come through our doors.  They strive to empower, embolden, and educate each other through mutual aid, knowledge-sharing, and the creation of community-sourced resources as we build a world of liberty and justice for all. Want to support this podcast?

Host Greta Johnsen talks to author and poet Paige Lewis. Their novel Canon is the GRETAGRAM book club selection for July. Canon is difficult to describe -- it pays homage to many classic epics and is deeply rooted in the Bible, But it's also extremely irreverent, funny, and weird. Ultimately, it's a nonbinary hero's journey with Good Guys and Bad Guys and a wonderful talking whale. Greta and Paige talk about OCD, the nature of evil, the sensationalism of violence, and FUN ANIMAL FACTS!There are three ways you can participate in book club:Listen to this spoiler-free conversation with Paige, then read the book, then sit back and relax!Do the first two things above, but leave Greta a voicemail with your thoughts by Monday, July 27! Just record yourself on your smartphone and email the tile to greta m johnsen at gmail dot com.Listen to the podcast, read the book, and come to the Zoom discussion on Sunday, August 2 at noon Central Time! Email Greta for the link. UPCOMING BOOK CLUB BOOKS:August: Land, Maggie O'Farrell (out now)September: Pool House, Mary H.K. Choi (out now) October: Exit Party, Emily St. John Mandel (out Sept. 14) November: Ply, Hernan Diaz (out Sept. 29)December: The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman, Deesha Philyaw (out Sept. 29)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.

Mayor Johnson wants to give Chicago renters new protections, Governor Pritzker issues a state disaster proclamation over extreme weather as the Chicago region remains under extreme heat warning. Plus, Police Superintendent Larry Snelling and Chicago FBI Chief DePodesta announce abrupt resignations.In the Loop breaks down those stories and more.GUESTS: Leigh Giangreco, freelance journalistRummana Hussain, Chicago Sun-Times opinion pages editor and columnist Shia Kapos, Politico reporter and author of Politico's Illinois Playbook newsletterFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

The June GRETAGRAM book club selection is Julia Langbeing's Dear Monica Lewinsky, a novel that explores sainthood, desire, the legacy of Monica Lewinsky, and the history of horny nuns. Host Greta Johnsen discusses the book with Gwen Kirby, the author of the wonderful short story collection Shit Cassandra Saw. Together, we unpack what makes this book SO GOOD, from tone to topic to setting to structure.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.

After a violent weekend with eight killed and 40 injured, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson joins calls for the creation of a new Department of Gun Violence Reduction. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court strikes down Hawaii's restrictive gun law. And embattled U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros announces plans to review the work of a “Broadview Six” prosecutor going back to 2007. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more.GUESTS: Paris Schutz, NBC 5 political and investigative reporterMaxwell Evans, Block Club Chicago reporter Violet Miller, Chicago Sun-Times general assignment reporter Alma Campos, Chicago Sun-Times immigration reporterFor a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

Nurses everywhere are fed up. They're organizing and walking picket lines more than ever before. Here in the Chicago area, more than 2,000 of them have voted to unionize in just the last month. On today's In the Loop, we'll hear first-hand accounts from a couple of local nurses and a journalist who's been following their efforts. GUESTS: Jessica Ahn, registered nurse in the emergency department at Saint Mary of Nazareth Hospital Sarah Louise Dawson, registered nurse in medical ICU at Rush University Medical Center Kristen Schorsch, WBEZ public health and politics reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

No you're not seeing things – we're bringing you our Weekly News Recap a day early! Illinois Governor JB Pritzker promises to be “very involved” in the 2028 presidential election. A man accused of burning a cross in Grant Park faces hate crime and arson charges. The U.S. Department of Justice challenges Evanston's reparations program. In the Loop breaks down those stories and more in our Weekly News Recap. GUESTS: Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune transportation and labor reporter Lee Bey, Chicago Sun-Times architecture critic Justin Laurence, Crain's Chicago Business government and politics reporter For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

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.

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.

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.