Podcasts about wnua

A  compilation To  pay homage to Chicago's own Smooth Jazz station 95.5 WNUA. 1987-2009

I haven't posted much here lately about my work with the talented team I helped assemble a decade ago at Rivet (now formally known as Rivet360)—mostly in secret at the beginning.That's partly because, as I've shifted focus since 2017 to my award-winning Chicago Public Square email news briefing (subscribe free!), I've eased into a role as Rivet's Vice President of Editorial and Development—or, as I call myself, Nagger-in-Chief.And it's partly because the company's shifted its focus from journalism to become an innovative podcast consultancy—producing audio for others as well as shows of its own.One of those shows, PodWell—a guide to becoming better podcasters—is hosted by my friend and colleague Terri Lydon, who was kind enough to share the mic with me in her June 6 edition (recorded May 3, 2023, when I was just getting over a cold or something else that really wasn't COVID-19).That gave me nine minutes or so to nag on one of my favorite topics: How best to open a podcast.If you like this, check out more of my podcast guidance on Rivet's website and elsewhere on this blog.And hear more of my conversations with thought-leaders through the years on this website, in Apple Music, on Pandora or Spotify, via your favorite podcast player and at Chicago Public Square.(Meyerson headshot: Steve Ewert.)

[Updating this original post—from March 1, 2015—on Nov. 20, 2022: Greg Bear is dead at 71.] Science fiction writer Greg Bear in a 1994 interview with me on WNUA-FM, Chicago, on the future of the Internet:“It's going to be a huge intellectual telephone line, with graphics and library materials, all available at a few minutes' notice. That, I think, will be revolutionary. ... We have a lot of people from the entertainment industries thinking it's going to be a lot of the same old, same old — where they can simply market movies in new ways, and I don't think it's going to be that way at all. ... The people who are loosely called Generation Xers are going to have their say on this. And I think we may not be able to predict what they're going to do with it.”Update, Jan. 4, 2018: A later interview with Greg Bear, from 1996, when we talked about the prospect of life on Mars.

Chicago Reader columnist Ben Joravsky was kind enough to invite me on his show this week—we talked Wednesday, the podcast was published Saturday—to answer questions about how and why I do what I do for Chicago Public Square.I was honored along the way to express my admiration for columnists Neil Steinberg and Robert Feder, Reader critic Jack Helbig, The Onion, WXRT-FM News pioneers C.D. Jaco and Linda Brill, Square reader Angela Mullins, radio DJs Bob Stroud and Marty Lennartz, my college radio station WPGU … … and to deliver an ill-advised musical tribute to my alma mater, Carl Sandburg High School, whose fight song I was—for reasons that elude me now—moved to butcher.You've been warned. Here it is. If you like this, check out more of my conversations with thought-leaders through the years on this website, in Apple Music, on Pandora or Spotify, via your favorite podcast player and at Chicago Public Square.

[It's been a while since we dove into the archives. But now that hour's come round at last—again.]In 1995, the comic book industry was approaching what later became known as “the Great Comics Crash of 1996”—triggered in part by Marvel Comics' 1994 purchase of the business' third-largest distributor, converting it to distribute Marvel's stuff exclusively.So that was a significant topic June 30, 1995, when I sat down at WNUA-FM in Chicago—just ahead of the 20th annual Chicago Comicon*—with acclaimed comics writers Peter David and Chris Claremont, maybe best known then for their work on Marvel's The Incredible Hulk and The Uncanny X-Men, respectively; and the convention's CEO, Classics International Entertainment President Gary Colabuono, also then the proprietor of Moondog's comic shops.Here's how it went. Looking back on that time now, Colabuono recalls: “Marvel's decision to distribute their own comics was not only the death knell for direct market distributors, it was also the beginning of the end for the vast majority of comic book specialty shops in the U.S. Of the 21 stores in the Moondog's chain, 20 were out of business within a year of Marvel's move.”I've also asked David and Claremont for their perspectives on that time. I'll share them as they arrive.But here's David's July 28, 1995, reflection on that year's con: “If Gary Colabuono … asks you to be guest of honor, two words—Do It. Gary is the consummate host, making sure that you want for nothing and taking care that every need is anticipated.”If you like this, check out more of my conversations with thought-leaders through the years on this website, in Apple Music, on Pandora or Spotify, via your favorite podcast player and at Chicago Public Square.* For a show that was broadcast July 2, which explains David's joke at the end, “Boy, am I exhausted from that!”

Thom Clark, peace activist and media specialist, recalls being motivated by his friend, Roland Radford, a military veteran, to try and stop the Vietnam War.Thom Clark is a volunteer with the Investigative Project on Race and Equity. A former co-host of the weekly Live from the Heartland radio show on Loyola's WLUW 88.7 FM, he's also lectured on media and American Culture in UIC ‘s Corporate MBA program, working with cohorts of Chinese health professionals. He served on the steering committee of Network 49, an independent political organization of the 49th Ward in Chicago's Far North Side Rogers Park neighborhood, where he and his family have resided for over 30 years.For over 25 years, Thom was president & co-founder of the Community Media Workshop (now Public Narrative) where he helped journalists and hundreds of NGOs annually improve media coverage of Chicago's neighborhoods. He also taught in the graduate journalism program at Columbia College Chicago.Thom hosted a weekly Community Media & You CAN TV cable show for eight years and co-hosted the weekly WNUA radio show City Voices for 15 years. In addition to a comprehensive annual media guide to hundreds of outlets and thousands of journalists, under his direction the Workshop orchestrated major media campaigns around the 1996 Democratic Convention, Local School Councils, the 2013 NATO Summit and ethnic media. He co-authored three seminal reports for the Chicago Community Trust on The NEWnews: Journalism We Want & Need.During his 40 years as an editor, photojournalist and social enterprise entrepreneur in Chicago's nonprofit sector, Thom developed affordable housing for Voice of the People in Uptown; co-founded and directed the Chicago Rehab Network; served as editor of award-winning monthly, The Neighborhood Works published by the Center for Neighborhood Technology; co-authored a weekly photo column for The Chicago Reader; and worked as a newsletter editor and photojournalist, before co-founding the Workshop in 1989.Thom was one of Business and Professional People's “40 Who've Made a Difference;” he's received the Chicago Headline Club's Peter Lisagor Award; and he gained a Studs Terkel Community Media Award from the Workshop for his journalistic leadership.On April 29, 1971, Thom & three colleagues poured blood on 500 draft board records in Evanston, Illinois, used in recruiting soldiers to fight in Vietnam. Later, The Four of Us, successfully defended themselves in federal court, gaining acquittals from a jury on three counts and later winning the fourth conspiracy count on appeal.

This week's transformative Chicago City Council development—the historic livestream video presentation of a committee meeting—brings to mind a time when the council was maddeningly tough to follow.In 1988, I was a newbie City Hall reporter for WXRT-FM. It was an assignment I relished not—partly because the council's procedures were bewilderingly opaque and byzantine.But I channeled my journalistic frustration into creation of a series that won a nationwide United Press International award for documentary radio reporting.So, let's return to the year 1988. Eugene Sawyer was briefly Chicago's mayor, and a young journalist was pissed off at the difficulty navigating … Chaos in the Council.Related:■ Me, far more enthusiastic about covering City Hall in 2012.■ Another award-winning WXRT News investigation from 1984.■ And check out some of my interviews with thought-leaders through the years on this website, in Apple Music, on Spotify, via Alexa-powered speakers, through your favorite podcast player, and at Chicago Public Square.

In this episode of Common Ground Oak Park, guest host Matt Baron welcomes Charlie Meyerson, founder of Chicago Public Square, a free daily email news roundup. In their wide-ranging conversation, Charlie shares from his 40-plus years in Chicago news working for the likes of WGN, WXRT, WNUA and the Chicago Tribune, among other media outlets.

The death Tuesday of Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago journalist Lois Wille—a veteran of the Tribune, the Sun-Times and the Daily News—brings to mind a memorable 1997 interview with her and journalist Linda Lutton. You can hear them debate urban housing trends that were remaking Chicago then and, more than two decades later, are shaping it still. Here's how it sounded—as aired June 22, 1997, on WNUA-FM, Chicago. More conversations with thought-leaders through the years on this website, in Apple Music, on Spotify, via your favorite podcast player, and at Chicago Public Square. (1984 image of Wille: C-SPAN.)

As we explored in Brandwidth, if you were to start a radio station today, you’d want it to be TECHNOLOGICALLY in synch with rapidly changing consumer capabilities.  You’d need to be CREATIVELY in synch with all co-branded platforms.  Importantly, Innovation is the only sustainable strategy for creating long-term value.  Neal Sabin and Rick O’Dell are doing just that. Neal serves as President of Content and Networks of Weigel Broadcasting. There, he’s been instrumental in creating numerous networks including Decades, ME-TV and ME-Too, and now MeTV-FM radio, which has taken Chicago by storm and is now available as a syndicated format. He also oversees the company’s TV stations in multiple markets  Rick O’Dell is the consummate Chicago radio veteran, perhaps best known for as Chicago’s pre-eminent authority on smooth jazz programming, as the longtime Program Director of WNUA. Previous stops included soft-AC WCLR, and he now oversees programming on the soft rock/oldies station branded as Me-TV FM. Together, they join us to share the power of creating in the now, to be poised for tomorrow by offering insights to the multimedia phenomenon that is “ME”.  Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: (1:58) Neal shares the definition of the “Me” in MeTV and MeTV-FM.  Discover why the recipe may be simpler than you might think, but also why it’s not easy to execute!  (3:03) Hear what led Neal and Rick to believe that a successful cable TV network could be reimagined to defy ratings gravity as a popular music radio format?  (5:35) Wait until you hear the little know physics facet which makes the rapid rise of Chicago’s first MeTV-FM even more impressive! (6:45) Hear the masterplan which gives MeTV-FM a competitive advantage unlike any other.  (12:09) After success on TV, Radio and online, Neal and Rick define their biggest opportunity moving forward…and how it could work for you!  Complete show notes: www.brandwidthondemand.com

Veteran (seasoned?) Chicago journalist Charlie Meyerson (currently of Chicago Public Square & Rivet, ex- of Chicago Tribune, WGN, WNUA and WXRT) joins me for subs and news talk at Submarine Tender (200 Desplaines Ave, Forest Park, IL 60130.) Just to get it out of the way, the restaurant's name isn't "Submarine Tenders," as wrongly stated early in the episode by your intrepid  host. Chicago Public Square has become an indispensable part of my day. Go sign up for the daily newsletter right now. I'll wait. Discussed this week: The rampant misuse of the word "legendary": "There need to be actual legends about you." The harrowing experience of parking at Submarine Tender. Charlie's brand is "bland." Charlie was a latchkey kid, which informs his dining decisions. For the first time ever, this podcast includes a flute performance. The impact of the current political administration on journalism. When Charlie got the news bug, dating back to Watergate. "Journalists are there to make sure the government does the right thing." Journalists' commitment to the truth: "If I were threatened with jail for doing my job, that'd be kinda cool." Charlie's broadcast news history, including 10 years at WXRT and work at the late WNUA (he even sings the station's theme to jog your memory). Charlie and I hooked up on Tinder. Kinda. Well, not really. The senses-shattering origin story of Chicago Public Square! Charlie offers (real and helpful) advice to aspiring media people. Does bias exist in the news? And how does Charlie feel about it? This might be a better time to break into journalism that it seems on the surface. Starting Chicago Public Square, and the pros & cons of creating a startup media model. We "rightsize" the podcast for your enjoyment. Are Americans more tribal now?  This isn't a music podcast! "Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull came to visit WXRT... " "Of course he did." ROM: SPACEKNIGHT gets a mention! Charlie met his wife in a traffic accident. Charlie treats us to a flute performance! Junior high jokes commence!

Veteran (seasoned?) Chicago journalist Charlie Meyerson (currently of Chicago Public Square & Rivet, ex- of Chicago Tribune, WGN, WNUA and WXRT) joins me for subs and news talk at Submarine Tender (200 Desplaines Ave, Forest Park, IL 60130.) Just to get it out of the way, the restaurant's name isn't "Submarine Tenders," as wrongly stated early in the episode by your intrepid  host. Chicago Public Square has become an indispensable part of my day. Go sign up for the daily newsletter right now. I'll wait. Discussed this week: The rampant misuse of the word "legendary": "There need to be actual legends about you." The harrowing experience of parking at Submarine Tender. Charlie's brand is "bland." Charlie was a latchkey kid, which informs his dining decisions. For the first time ever, this podcast includes a flute performance. The impact of the current political administration on journalism. When Charlie got the news bug, dating back to Watergate. "Journalists are there to make sure the government does the right thing." Journalists' commitment to the truth: "If I were threatened with jail for doing my job, that'd be kinda cool." Charlie's broadcast news history, including 10 years at WXRT and work at the late WNUA (he even sings the station's theme to jog your memory). Charlie and I hooked up on Tinder. Kinda. Well, not really. The senses-shattering origin story of Chicago Public Square! Charlie offers (real and helpful) advice to aspiring media people. Does bias exist in the news? And how does Charlie feel about it? This might be a better time to break into journalism that it seems on the surface. Starting Chicago Public Square, and the pros & cons of creating a startup media model. We "rightsize" the podcast for your enjoyment. Are Americans more tribal now?  This isn't a music podcast! "Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull came to visit WXRT... " "Of course he did." ROM: SPACEKNIGHT gets a mention! Charlie met his wife in a traffic accident. Charlie treats us to a flute performance! Junior high jokes commence!

Bob Kessler does news at WGN Radio, and he does a lot of other things, including writing and producing Green Sense Radio and the Greensense Minute on WBBM, and doing news with Rivet Radio. He talks about why he likes doing broadcast radio and why he loves radio; being a musician and how he got interested in music, writing and arranging music, recording piano and performing harmonica; how he became ordained as a lay Buddhist teacher, what obstacles he has overcome, how he got into radio, internships with WKTI, WYMS, and WXRT; working on Jan Coleman’s show and Steve and Johnnie’s show at WGN; doing news on WGN while being the writer and executive producer for Ramsey Lewis’ show with Karen Williams on WNUA; how tech has changed broadcasting; his future plans, living an atypical life, and more.Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG150.mp3

Dee Daniels is a veteran in both print and broadcast. She began her career as a radio news reporter in Charleston West Virginia covering politics and government at the state capital. Dee later worked at WCHS as a news reporter, and WBES easy listening station as a host. Returning to Chicago her home, she worked as an afternoon host at WKDC Jazz in Elmhurst , interened with WNUA, and then on to WJPC. It was there the seed was planted for creating her own publication after meeting who would later become her mentor, the late John H, Johnson. With a passion for broadcast, yet a yearning for news Dee returned to her news roots as a Journalist in the North West Suburbs at the Downers Grove Reporter, and later Liberty Suburban News Group where she covered local government, education, business and community events. Wanting to serve her community as a journalist Dee returned to the city and landed a job at the Chicago Tribune City News Service covering police beats, politics and community. Realizing there was stories to be told and legacy to print Dee began plans to start her own News Publication “Noir Woman News,” which she launched in 2004 featuring the first cover story on now First Lady Michelle Obama. The publication initially served as an insert in the Chicago Citizen thanks to another mentor Publisher Bill Garth.

(Episode 1 of 2) TIM SEISSER TRIO A staff writer for Bass Musician Magazine, and with influences ranging from Jaco Pastorius and Victor Wooten to Ray Brown and Paul Chambers, Tim Seisser is one of Chicago's premier electric bassists. He's been on the show before, but he's back with his own combo--a must see for all jazz lovers!  In 2008, Tim released his first album as a leader entitled "Wire and Wood".  It received high acclaim from jazz reviewers and has been played on multiple Chicago area jazz stations including WDCB and WNUA.  www.timseisser.com

(Episode 2 of 2) TIM SEISSER TRIO A staff writer for Bass Musician Magazine, and with influences ranging from Jaco Pastorius and Victor Wooten to Ray Brown and Paul Chambers, Tim Seisser is one of Chicago’s premier electric bassists. He’s been on the show before, but he’s back with his own combo–a must see for all jazz lovers!  In 2008, Tim released his first album as a leader entitled “Wire and Wood”.  It received high acclaim from jazz reviewers and has been played on multiple Chicago area jazz stations including WDCB and WNUA.  www.timseisser.com