Overdue Last read · last published · next check Last read 18 hours ago, longer than this feed's 3 hours schedule.
↗Share
Elsewhere
Latest episodes
Saves to your Listen queue, to pick up on another day or another device.
The Mincing Rascals 8.19.26: CTU suing IPI, minimum wage, toll hike, Natalie Harp
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of the Steve Bertrand on Books podcast and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start the podcast talking about the CTU filing a defamation lawsuit against the Illinois Policy Institute (as…
Landscape expert Bob Bertog: Don’t cut your grass too short
We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Today, Bob talks about the amount of rain we’ve been getting and offers some lawn cutting tips.
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin: Cases of cyclosporiasis are slowing down
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the small uptick in COVID cases, how concerned we should be about the cyclospora outbreak, if the BRAT diet is still good for treating a stomach bug, and a new study that shows belly fat may be […]
Kelly Leonard: How constraints can help you become more creative and successful
Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about his recent podcast with writer David Epstein about the new book, ‘Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better.’ David suggests that constraints can actually help you […]
Eric Zorn: CTU lawsuit against Illinois Policy Institute is ill-advised
Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the CTU suing the Illinois Policy Institute (and our friend Austin Berg), Governor JB Pritzker putting more money into his reelection fund, and how polling impacts voter behavior.
Mark Eddington joins John Williams to talk about a real estate scam that could have been catastrophic. Mark explains how a fraudster tried to sell their property in Michigan from under them.
Lou Manfredini: How to prepare your home for a power outage
The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. This week, Lou reminds you to schedule your fall tune-up for your HVAC. Lou also talks about the benefits of a Tri-Fuel Generator with all the recent power outages. And as always, Lou answers all […]
Where is former President Barack Obama’s tan suit?
Lynn Sweet, special correspondent for Chicago Public Media and previously the Washington Bureau Chief for the Chicago Sun-Times, joins John talk about her quest to find the location of former President Barack Obama’s infamous tan suit! If you have any leads, click here!
Connell McShane: Takeaways from President Trump’s plane switch
Connell McShane, anchor of ‘NewsNation Live with Connell McShane,’ joins John Williams to talk about President Trump’s secret plane switch due to a possible threat from Iran. What is the significance of the switch? Connell also gives an update on the latest on the war in Iran.
What Tom Junod’s father taught him about being a man
Journalist Tom Junod joins John Williams to discuss his memoir, ‘In the Days of My Youth I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man.’ Tom talks about why he decided to write about his father in such detail, what made his father so different than other dads that he grew up around, the […]
How Trinity Advocacy Group helps families through difficult times
Colleen Ceh Becvar, Co-Founder, Trinity Advocacy Group, joins John Williams to talk about how they usher older adults and their families through difficult times, the two sides of their business, the various types of services they provide, how they charge for their services, and how they come up with sustainable care plans that is accessible to […]
Dawn Jackson Blatner: Health benefits of interval walking
Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to talk about the importance of consistency when you are trying to eat better, tips for what you should eat for the best gut health, a new study that shows how much body fat you can lose by interval walking, and why she’s obsessed with this healthy snack!
Best of the Midwest: Kankakee River Valley Regatta
It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature for 2026! Are you trying to come up with some quick getaway ideas that are only a quick trip from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we take a short trip south and visit with Devyn […]
The Mincing Rascals 8.12.26: Pope Hat night, Karoline Leavitt leaving, Trump plane swap, Wisconsin election
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Chicago journalist Cate Plys, and Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of the The Last Ward on Substack. The Rascals start the podcast this week talking about why Cate thinks the Air & Water Show is stupid and dangerous. What about […]
Landscape expert Bob Bertog: Is it possible to overfertilize?
We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals! Today, Bob joins Jon Hansen to answer all of your lawn and garden questions.
Film critic Michael Phillips, host of the Filmspotting-produced podcast, ‘The Movie Racket with Michael Phillips,’ joins John Williams to talk about the first season of his new podcast, his thoughts on the movie ‘Once’ after the passing of Glen Hansard, the box office success of movies like ‘Michael,’ ‘Spider-Man,’ and ‘The Odyssey,’ and to talk […]
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin: mRNA flu vaccine is good for public health
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the FDA approving a new mRNA flu vaccine.
Eric Zorn: The Democratic party is a wounded brand
Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about 21st Century phone manners, why he texts people before he wants to call them on the phone, what he’s paying attention to in Wisconsin primary election, the PR battle that Democratic candidates will have to face with the rise of socialist candidates.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part MCCVI, 8.11.26:
John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com. Update: Today’s Speed Jokes were canceled because of severe storms that blew through the area.
Join Bond Almand on his extreme journey cycling across America
Bond Almand, ultra-endurance cyclist, joins John Williams to talk about Bond’s Extreme Journey, a 10,000-mile bike ride to every NFL stadium! Bond explains why he’s doing the ride, the amazing things about crossing the country by bike, how many miles he’s riding per day, the partnership with Extreme Networks, and the scariest moment he’s seen […]
Solar panels for your home could make financial sense
Andrei Turea, Co-owner & CEO, Green Attic Roofing, joins John to talk about how business has been going with all the storms, the biggest roofing problems people are dealing with right now, why solar makes financial sense, what to know about solar incentives from the state of Illinois, and how Green Attic Roofing will guide you […]
The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. Today, Lou offers some tips on caulking, filling, and paint touch-ups. And as always, Lou answers all of your home improvement questions! Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each Saturday morning at 6 am.
Highlights from the 2026 Chicago Ducky Derby to benefit Special Olympics Illinois. Live coverage featuring John Williams in the WGN Radio studios on the 18th floor of our building at the corner of Wacker and Columbus and intern Kaleigh Ibarra along the Chicago River: You can still donate to support a great cause by clicking […]
Chicago man to sue Taco Bell and Taylor Farms over cyclosporiasis
Ron Simon, Founding Partner, Ron Simon & Associates, joins John Williams to talk about how his firm specializes in food poisoning cases, the many cases they have handled against Taco Bell and Taylor Farms, the lack of transparency from Taco Bell and Taylor Farms, why his firm doesn’t file class action suits, and their representation […]
Dare we say it, but summer is almost over and it will soon be back-to-school season. But there’s still time for a good read. Here are some suggestions from our WGN Radio Book Club members: John Williams (weekdays 10am-2pm, including The Noon Business Lunch, plus the Mincing Rascals podcast) Little Blue Dot – How GPS Shaped The Modern […]
The Mincing Rascals 8.5.26: Chris Welch apology, rise of democratic socialists, Todd Blanche AG nomination
The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Steve Bertrand, host of Steve Bertrand on Books and proprietor of Steve Bertrand Travel, and award-winning journalist and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start the podcast this week talking about Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch apologizing for his actions that made a staffer…
Landscape expert Bob Bertog: How to get rid of thistle
We are ‘Keeping it Green’ with Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, who joins John Williams to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. Bob says even though we have had a lot of rain recently, the soil is still dry.
Democratic political strategist Alaina Hampton: Speaker Welch is not the right leader for the moment
Alaina Hampton, Democratic political strategist and an advocate for victims of sexual harassment and survivors of sexual violence, joins John Williams to talk about her recent op-ed in the Tribune calling for the resignation of Speaker Chris Welch in light of new allegations involving Welch’s interactions with a former staffer and his handling of sexual […]
Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins John Williams to talk about how hot the sellers market is in the Chicago area, Fed Chair Warsh keeping interest rates steady, a disappointing ADP job report, and to answer all of your mortgage and real estate questions. David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from […]
Is Senate likely to confirm Todd Blanche for attorney general?
Hannah Brandt, Washington correspondent for NewsNation, joins John Williams to talk about the Senate Judiciary Committee advancing Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general.
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin: Measles vaccine is safe and effective
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Catherine Gratz Griffin Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about measles cases being on the upswing, what we should know about Cyclospora outbreak today, and the benefits and risks of testosterone replacement.
Eric Zorn: Alexi Giannoulias will probably be next mayor of Chicago
Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the greatest lines in songs, who he believes will be the next mayor of Chicago, and the Senate Judiciary Committee advancing Todd Blanche’s nomination to be attorney general along party lines.
The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to tell us the projects we need to be working on this week. Today, Lou gives some tips on fertilization after the drenching rains over the weekend. And as always, Lou answers all of your home improvement questions. Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each Saturday morning at 6 am.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part MCCI, 8.3.26: The Best Jokes of July!
Marge Sipla, Speed Jokes spirit animal, cataloger, and member of the Speed Jokes Committee, joins John Williams and the gang to give us her favorite Speed Jokes of July 2026! What was your favorite joke this month? Keep sending your jokes to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com
Connell McShane: Trump not sure what to do next with Iran
Connell McShane, anchor of ‘NewsNation Live with Connell McShane,’ joins John Williams to talk about the 16-year-old lifeguard who saved a 10-year old boy, and the latest on the war in Iran.
Teacher Liz Shulman: Is there a role for AI in education?
Liz Shulman, English teacher at Evanston Township High School and in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University, joins John Williams to talk about her recent Op-ed in the Tribune, ‘Why are we still pretending Big Tech cares about our classrooms.’ Liz Shulman is the author of the forthcoming ‘By the Book: […]
Your Hometown: How McHenry supports their local independent businesses
Restaurateur Dan Hart, President of Hart Alliance, to talk about the restaurants he runs in McHenry, why McHenry is a great place to do business, the benefits of being located close to the Fox River, some of the fan favorites at his restaurants, the challenge of running a restaurant in the current climate, what drove […]
Meet the person helping to keep you safe at major Chicago events
Michelle DiCola, Chicago’s director of traffic management in the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, joins John to talk about all the work that goes into making sure people that are attending events in Chicago do so safely.