WGN Radio News Director and Olympic Correspondent Ryan Burrow joins John Williams to preview the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. What local athletes should we keep an eye out for? What are the new events this year? What events should we be most excited for? Ryan has all the details!

Trent Blasco, member of the Lake County Model Railroad Club, joins John Williams to talk about the club, how many people make up the club, when the club typically meets, what they do when they get together, why it is such a great hobby, the process to become a member, how special it is when […]

Phil Castello, owner, The Side Lot in Wauconda, joins John Williams to talk about how the Side Lot is coming on nine years in business, their focus on local beers, the challenges of working in the hospitality industry, why they came up with the name, their popular dinner and wine events, and why they still […]

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head to charming Princeton, Illinois and chat with Victoria Yepsen, the Tourism […]

Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins John to talk about how many interest rate cuts he thinks we’ll see this year, a second-quarter GDP report that showed the economy growing, why he believes the Fed has done a good job curbing inflation, what he makes of today’s market rally, how he anticipates the […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader, and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week, the Rascals start the podcast talking about President Biden announcing on Sunday that he would not […]

Dr. Carrie Steiner, a licensed clinical psychologist currently in private practice as a police and public service psychologist, joins John Williams to talk about the police shooting of Sonya Massey. Dr. Steiner shares her thoughts on how the police handled the situation, why she believes the officer felt threatened, what the ‘use-of-force continuum’ means, and […]

Mark Lach, Creative Director for “Titanic: The Exhibition,” and Ted Wachholz, Executive Director, Eastland Disaster Historical Society, join John Williams to talk about the 109th anniversary of the Eastland disaster, what we should remember about the tragedy, and its connection to the Titanic. Video from an April visit by Mark Lach to WGN Radio:

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. Bob talks about how the combination of rain and hot weather has brought on a rise in lawn disease.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about hospitals taking care of an aging population, the importance of having an advance directive for medical care, what we need to know about the current COVID guidelines, and when should we get the next booster shot.

State Representative Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) joins John Williams to talk about Vice President Harris’ campaign for the presidency, what we can expect at the upcoming DNC, President Biden’s decision to step aside, what VP Harris needs to do to win the election, his reaction to some people saying the process to pick Harris was undemocratic, who he […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Dr. Joel Ostrow, professor, comparative and international politics, Benedictine University, joins John Williams to talk about President Biden stepping away from the presidential race and what this means for Vice President Kamala Harris and the democratic party moving forward. Dr. Ostrow explains why the Democratic party has the right to replace a candidate and why this […]

Attorney Burt Odelson, a leading expert in governmental and election law, joins John Williams to talk about possible legal challenges that could rise in the wake of President Biden announcing that he will not seek another term.

State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago) joins John Williams to share his thoughts on President Biden dropping out of the presidential race. Rep Buckner is a Democratic delegate and talks about why he’s supporting Vice President Harris as the democratic nominee at the upcoming DNC.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

John Williams reflects on the life and legacy of comedy legend and former Chicagoan Bob Newhart, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 94.

Curtis Granderson, Chicago native and former MLB All-Star, joins John Williams to talk about being down in Texas for All-Star weekend, his mission to keep youth participation in baseball equitable, the work he is doing with the Chicago Baseball and Education Academy, and the upcoming Major League Wiffle Ball event happening Saturday, July 27 at […]

Mike Nellis, former Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris and Founder and CEO of Authentic, a Chicago-based political fundraising and consulting firm, joins John to talk about the continued calls for President Biden to step down from the presidential race and what this might mean for Vice President Harris.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we take a trip to Kane County and talk with Karen Ann Miller, […]

New England Sports Network betting analyst Sam Panayotovich joins John Williams to talk about the Chicago food he misses while he’s in New England, how bad Chicago sports teams have been recently, if he thinks the Bears will make the playoffs this year, what he expects from Caleb Williams, and what Chicago franchise will the next to […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader, and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week the gang kick things of chatting with Rascal Brandon Pope, host of […]

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. We’ve been getting a lot of rain so what should we know about treating our lawn right now?

WGN Radio listener Sara Hagen joins John Williams to talk about a scam phone call she received from someone claiming to be from the Glen Ellyn police. Sara explains how she was able to determine this was a scam and how she was able to prevent herself from becoming a victim.

U.S. Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL 16) joins John Williams to talk about what’s going on at the RNC up in Milwaukee, his belief that Trump and his team are much for focused and disciplined, Joe Biden’s poor debate performance and the attempted assassination of former president Trump has energized the GOP, what he would say to people […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Mike Viqueira, Washington Bureau Chief at NewsNation, joins John Williams to recap the first day of the RNC in Milwaukee. Mike talks about former president Trump picking Senator JD Vance as his running mate, Senator Vance’s previous comments that were very critical of Trump, and if the tone of the speeches have changed since the […]

Chris Montagano, PGA, Tournament Director, NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank, joins John Williams to talk about the 6th installment of the NV5 Invitational coming to the Glen Club in Glenview next week, who typically competes in the tournament, why it’s a great event to watch the future stars of golf, and how the […]

Corey Brooks, Founder and Senior Pastor at New Beginnings Church of Chicago and the Founder and CEO of Project H.O.O.D, joins John Williams to talk about appearing tonight at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Jennifer Bias, owner, Camp Aramoni, joins John to talk about the camp being a destination for boutique camping, how she came about to running a campground, how she ‘stumbled’ into finding the land, what the facility is like when you come for a stay, the restaurant on site for the campers, what other amenities they offer, […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about Mincing Rascal Brandon Pope’s viral tweet on Milwaukee food, the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump, Trump picking JD Vance to be his running mate, U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissing the Trump classified documents case, and NBC pulling ‘Morning Joe’ off the […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about how nearly half of adult cancer deaths in the US could be prevented by making lifestyle changes, if vaping is less harmful than smoking, and what you should know about MRI scans.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Kellie Meyer, Washington Correspondent, NewsNation, joins John Williams to talk about former President Trump surviving an assassination attempt on Saturday during a campaign rally. Where did security fail? What exactly went wrong? Kellie gives us the details.

Katie Thomas, investigative health care reporter at The New York Times, joins John Williams to talk about how veterinary care has changed throughout the years, how the corporate acquisition of vet chains has impacted the industry, how the level of care has gotten better, what is driving up costs, if she believes pet insurance is […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Tom Dempsey, Washington D.C. correspondent, NewsNation, joins John Williams to give us the big takeaways from President Biden’s NATO press conference yesterday.

Attorney Rich Lenkov, Capital Member, Downey & Lenkov, and co-host of “Legal Face-Off” on wgnradio.com, joins John Williams to catch us up on the bribery trial of New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, and Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ trial.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

State Representative Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield) joins John Williams to talk about Governor Pritzker signing the Healthcare Protection Act into law. Rep. Morgan explains how this new law will reform health coverage in Illinois, how it will impact people’s healthcare, what this new law covers, and how this law will no longer allow insurers to stand in the […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to talk about why you should eat more fiber for younger cells, the benefits of beans, and to answer all of your health and nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader, and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute. This week, the Rascals begin by discussing […]

Nationally syndicated financial columnist and author Terry Savage joins John Williams to talk about the importance of remaining calm when the market fluctuates. Additionally, she answers a number of questions from WGN Radio listeners.

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. Can anything be done to prevent fungus from growing in your yard? What about bagworms? Listen and find out!

Peter Greenberg, ‘Eye on Travel‘ host and CBS News travel editor, joins John Williams to discuss how safe air travel really is and what to make of its coverage in the media.

Steve Greenberg, sports columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times, joins John Williams to discuss the recent discussions surrounding the Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark Rookie of the Year race. The two players have become very polarizing figures in the world of sports. Has discourse surrounding the two become toxic?

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the cutting edge AI being used at the hospital, if we be concerned about COVID cases rising in Chicago, the FDA approving Eli Lilly Alzheimer’s drug, and if he believes political candidates should take cognitive exams.

Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “The Alpha Wealth Hour” on WGN Radio, joins John to talk about markets continuing to perform well, his takeaways from Fed Chair Powell’s comments today about the economy, what we know about the future of Social Security, and how much money people need to retire […]

Benjy Ward, design principal at Gensler, joins John Williams to talk about a plan to revitalize Michigan Avenue to make it more accessible. Benjy explains how the north end of Michigan Avenue has struggled recently, how shopping behavior has changed, the design measures they are suggesting to boost foot traffic, and when we might see […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the plans to redesign the northern part of Michigan Avenue, the violence that plagued the city of Chicago over the holiday weekend, how he believes Mayor Johnson is handling the problem with violence in the city, his thoughts on the NASCAR race, and why […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins John to talk about why he wants to see a Fed rate cut in both September and December, the economy being okay but continuing to slow, investing during a Fed pause being good for the investor, when he starts to worry about rising unemployment, what the election in […]

Corey Brooks, Founder and Senior Pastor at New Beginnings Church of Chicago and the Founder and CEO of Project H.O.O.D, joins John Williams to talk about the violent holiday weekend and how he’s working to make the city a better and safer place.

Phil Vettel, Naperville Magazine restaurant critic and former Chicago Tribune restaurant critic, joins John Williams to offer his take on Hulu’s ‘The Bear.’ Phil talks about the series, how accurately it depicts the restaurant industry, and the importance of restaurant reviews to a new restaurant. And Phil, ever the restaurant critic, tells John some of […]

Dane Neal, WGN Radio’s motorsports expert, joins John Williams to recap the big NASCAR weekend in Chicago. What were Dane’s takeaways? Does Dane consider this year’s event to be a success?

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Clay Jenkinson, author, humanities educator, and historical impersonator, joins John Williams to talk about his time following John Steinbeck’s journey and what he learned from studying him. John and Clay also discuss that the image we perceive of the media isn’t always accurate. Clay will be on stage for WGN for a performance and a […]

John Williams chats with WGN Radio motorsports expert and host Dane Neal about this weekend’s NASCAR Chicago Street Race events and how racing in the street is different than on the track. Dane highlights which racers have the best odds of winning and gives details into some hometown racers participating. John and Dane also give […]

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Tobias Moskowitz, author, economist and professor at Yale School of Management, joins WGN’s John Williams to discuss his book Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won, which focuses on analytics and reasons for why certain outcomes happen in sports. Tobias’ book dives in on how games are won, the […]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader, and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week the Rascals break down President Biden’s poor debate performance and what that means for the future of […]

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. The hot, humid weather the last couple weeks popped up some diseases. What do we need to look out for?

Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins John Williams to talk about some bad financial advice given by radio host Dave Ramsey and what you need to know about getting a reverse mortgage. David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm on WGN Radio. You can call him at 855-56-David, or check […]

U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL5), joins John Williams to talk about President Biden’s debate performance last week and what that means for the Democratic party moving forward. Congressman Quigley is worried about the debate performance and how it might negatively impact down ballot races for the party. Does he believe that President Biden could recover from this debate […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Zack James, Head of Operations at Chicago Drone Light Shows, joins John to talk about when they started getting into the drone business, how a drone show typically works, how many drones are used during a show, the way they come up with ideas for the show, the various formations in a drone show, how […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the CDC recommending all Americans ages 6 months and older receive one of the new COVID-19 vaccines when they become available this fall, why most people are no longer losing their sense of smell or taste with COVID infections, […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about President Biden’s ‘dreadful’ performance at the debate last week and his thoughts on the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Rob Karr, President and CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association, joins John Williams to talk about a new law in Illinois that will prohibit banks and credit card companies from charging retailers a fee on sales taxes and tips. What will this new law mean for both retailers and consumers?

Professor Carolyn Shapiro, Associate Dean for Academic Administration and Strategic Initiatives, Co-Director of the Institute on the Supreme Court of the United States, Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law, joins John Williams to talk about the Supreme Court ruling that former President Donald Trump is entitled to some level of immunity from prosecution.

Marge Sipla, Speed Jokes spirit animal, cataloger and Member of the Speed Jokes Committee, joins John and the gang to give us her favorite Speed Jokes of June! And then, as always, John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Mark Lach, Creative Producer for “Titanic: The Exhibition,” joins John Williams to reflect on the anniversary of the Titan submersible implosion. And due to popular demand, the Titanic exhibition has been extended yet again! You can see the exhibit through Labor Day. Find more information here.

Connell McShane, anchor, NewsNation Now, joins John Williams to break down the debate between President Biden and Donald Trump.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Renee Kryger, President/CEO, Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce, joins John Williams to talk about their growing community, how they are becoming a dining destination with an abundance of family-owned restaurants, and the plethora of other attractions that draw visitors from all over the area. Also, Skittles are made in Yorkville!

Asher Perlman, Writer, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Cartoonist, The New Yorker, joins John Williams to talk about his new cartoon collection, “Well, This is Me.” Asher talks about the time he spent in Chicago, why he enjoyed performing in Chicago, when and why he decided to start cartooning, how his work ended up […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to talk about a new study that shows America’s diet quality moved from an F to a D. What tips does Dawn have for improving your diet? Also, another study showed that eating plant-based meat may be healthier for your heart than real meat. What does Dawn […]

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we don’t travel very far from Chicago at all! In fact, we head […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader, and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week the Rascals kick off the podcast talking about the upcoming debate between President Biden and Donald Trump. […]

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. Bob tells us if it is safe to plant grass seeds now when air temperatures are cooler.

Aaron Kleidon, owner, Scratch Brewing, joins John Williams to talk about his spot being named as one of the best pizza places in the USA by the New York Times. Aaron tells John how they are pretty well known for beer across the U.S., the way word of mouth has been a good advertiser for […]

Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins John Williams to answer all your questions about elder law, trusts, wills, and elder abuse. Kerry discusses the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s disease on both the patient and the family and what you need to know about dealing with the legal impact of the illness.

USA Triple Jumper Tori Franklin joins John Williams and Ryan Burrow to talk about her strenuous training regimen, the keys to be a successful triple jumper, the mental aspect of her sport, her experience at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, her chances of medaling in Paris, and why she likes being the underdog. And don’t […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

US Para Track & Field athlete, Decatur native, and DePaul University alum Noelle Malkamaki joins John Williams and Ryan Burrow to talk about competing against non-disabled athletes growing up and at DePaul, when she fell in love with track and field, how she came to start competing in the Para games, what she’s doing to […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the controversy surrounding U.S. Track & Field star Athing Mu not qualifying for the Paris Olympics, his thoughts on the sentence given to former Alderman Ed Burke, and what he’s looking forward to in the debate between President Biden and Donald Trump.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about how the heat can impact your brain health, why you need to be smart when dealing with extreme temperatures, how thinner stools might be a sign of colon cancer, how closely we should be paying attention to bird flu, […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Former U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-Rhode Island) joins John Williams to talk about his mission tackling the mental health crisis in the U.S. Patrick discusses his struggle with addiction, why we need to bring more attention to addiction, suicide, and mental health treatment, and the need for more vigorous advocacy. Patrick’s latest book is “Profiles […]

Corey Brooks, Founder and Senior Pastor at New Beginnings Church of Chicago and the Founder and CEO of Project H.O.O.D, joins John Williams to talk about the latest on his opportunity center in Woodlawn, how the financing on the project is going, what he hopes to accomplish with the opportunity center once it’s finished, where they […]

Robert Bruno, professor of labor and employment relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the co-author of the 2016 book “A Fight for the Soul of Public Education: The Story of the Chicago Teachers Strike,” joins John Williams to talk about the contract negotiations between CPS and CTU. Professor Bruno is optimistic about these […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Illinois State Rep. Harry Benton (D-Plainfield) joins John Williams to talk about why he’s filed two bills to prohibit elected officials from displaying the American flag upside down on government property.

Jesse Marks, Deputy Director of Athletics & Assistant Vice President (Development), Northwestern University, joins John Williams and WGN Radio Sports Director Dave Eanet to talk about the temporary field the university is building for the Northwestern football team while Ryan Field is being rebuilt. Jesse and Dave are really excited to watch the team play […]

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head to the Mississippi River and chat with Susan Yarolem, Director of […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner gives John Williams some ideas for delicious summer salads, the importance of strength training, and why you might need to reevaluate your sleep hygiene. Dawn also answers all of your health and nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader, and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, and political pundit Marj Halperin! This week the Rascals start the podcast by discussing Mayor Johnson launching a […]

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. What should we know about our lawns during this hot weather?

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin joins John Williams to talk about the Johnson administration launching a task force to look into a reparations program.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about how to stay safe during this hot weather and what we are learning about weigh-loss drugs.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

Dr. Paul Allegretti, emergency room physician at Provident Hospital, joins John Williams to offer tips on how to stay safe during oppressive heat.

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 talk about what you can do to protect your lawn in this extreme heat.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]

John Williams shares a loving tribute to his dad for Father’s Day.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

This week’s Mincing Rascals was recorded in front of a live audience at Winter’s Jazz Club on Wednesday, June, 12, 2024. The Mincing Rascals for this special live show are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, Cate Plys, […]

Daryl Pass, Senior Manager of Recovery Support Services, Kenneth Young Center, joins John Williams to talk about why people use Kenneth Young’s services, their robust clinical team, how business is going right now, the amazing counselors and therapists that work at the center, how the system of care has changed over the years, how recovery looks […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about the 19 specific fruits and vegetables most associated with decreasing disease risk. Dawn also answers all your health and nutrition questions.

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head to the heart of Amish country and speak with Sonya Nash, […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Sara Tieman is not only an ace Promotions & PR Manager for WGN Radio, but she is also a voracious reader (and world traveler!) who stops by every now and again to tell John about some of the best books she’s reading. What’s on her 2024 list so far? John, Steve Alexander and Bob Kessler also offer up their suggestions. Recommendations from […]

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. It’s going to be getting warm in the Chicago area, so what should you know to make sure your lawn is protected?

Speed Jokes make you laugh. But today, they also make you cry! John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about a new study that showed a healthy diet and lifestyle can slow down Alzheimer’s, the percentage of men who are using weight-loss drugs, the status of Moderna’s combined COVID-flu vaccine, and when we should be thinking of getting the […]

Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “The Alpha Wealth Hour” on WGN Radio, joins John to talk about the Fed policy meeting, if he thinks the Fed will do anything with interest rates, how many rate reductions he sees the Fed making this year, and the hot sector for investments right […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to explain why he no longer uses the word, ‘thug,’ and former president Donald Trump discussing boats, batteries, and sharks while he was on the campaign trail last weekend.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Mike LaVitola, co-founder of Foxtrot, joins John Williams to talk about the history of the upscale convenience store, how the market evolved through the years, what he made of the partnership with Dom’s, his position as executive chairman of the new company that plans to reopen stores, why he believes Foxtrot abruptly closed, and what […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Olympic sailor Maggie Shea joins Jon Hansen to talk about the type of boat she sails in competition, what her role is on the course, why she loves this kind of boat, how she got started sailing, the importance of the relationship she has with her teammate, why she is attracted to this challenge, what […]

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL 8) joins Jon Hansen to talk about the funding he secured for a new fire station in Itasca and to share his thoughts about Chicago’s readiness to host the upcoming DNC.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Jon Hansen walks through the events leading up to and on D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins Jon Hansen to talk about a new recipe she has for 3 ingredient cookies! And as always, Dawn answers all of your health and nutrition questions.

Timothy Jackson, Partner, Wallace Miller, tells Jon Hansen about emerging litigation that involves certain manufacturers of baby food products that contain dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals which have substantially contributed to young children developing lifelong brain injuries.

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, Jon Hansen has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we take a short drive up north and visit with Christine Rebout, Executive Director […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader, and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and political pundit Marj Halperin. This week, the Rascals start things off by discussing […]

Bob Bertog, president of Bertog Landscape Co. in Wheeling and a certified landscape professional with the National Association of Landscape Professionals, joins Jon Hansen to answer all of your lawn and garden questions. What’s the latest on the cicadas? For areas that have not seen them, is it too early to take off the protective netting […]

Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins Jon Hansen to talk about the ADP jobs report, the general strength of the economy, why people are feeling financially stressed, the concern over credit card debt, and how the economy will impact interest rates. David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm on […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

New England Sports Network betting analyst Sam Panayotovich joins Jon Hansen to talk about MLB banning San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano for life for violating MLB’s gambling policy. Sam also discusses the Illinois General Assembly passing a spending plan that would hike the tax for sports betting companies. Will this cause gaming companies to leave the state?

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins Jon Hansen to explain why he’s fired up about the Chicago Sky and what happened during their game against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever over the weekend. Eric and Jon also discuss the Johnson administration launching a ‘Plow the Sidewalks’ pilot program in four zones across the city.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins Jon Hansen to talk about what could be causing Jon’s eye twitching, his takeaways from Dr. Fauci’s testimony in front of a House panel on COVID’s origins, new research showing cancer patients often do better with less intensive treatment, and a new study that […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Reilly Stephens, Counsel at Liberty Justice Center, joins Jon Hansen to discuss a lawsuit the Liberty Justice Center filed that challenges the state of Illinois’ ‘dragnet surveillance’ of citizens through highway cameras known as Automated License Plate Readers that are located across Chicago expressways.

Employment attorney Patrick Dolan of Conti and Dolan joins Jon Hansen to talk about the FTC banning most noncompete agreements, why noncompete agreements are important for some jobs, his experience handling age discrimination cases, and to answer all of your employment law questions. For more information, call 312.332.7800 or visit www.contidolanlaw.com

Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins Jon Hansen to talk about today’s down market, the market moving faster than it ever has, why he believes the economy and market are doing fine, the expectations of a Fed rate cut, and what the upcoming election means for the market and your investments. Call Craig […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Brian Hoogeveen, The Cash Man from Americash Jewelry & Coin Buyers, joins Jon Hansen to discuss items that could be worth money. Have that old class ring sitting in a desk somewhere that you will never wear? Bring it in and maybe get some cash! If you think you have items you’d like to have appraised, visit topcashbuyer.com or […]

Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Leonard joins Jon Hansen to break down what happens now that former president Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a scandal involving Stormy Daniels.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Evan Summers, Bensenville Village Manager, joins Jon Hansen to talk about why Bensenville is such a special place to live, what makes The Edge Ice Arena unique, who typically uses the ice arena, how it’s an economic boon to the area, and why the Edge is the heart of hockey in suburban Chicago.

Joe Vallez, Executive Director, Bensenville Park District, joins Jon Hansen to talk about the work they do at the park district, what sets their park district apart from others, why having a farm program is so significant, the great summer programs they have available, their commitment to every member of their community, and what makes […]

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, Jon Hansen has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head south on I-55 and visit our state capital and chat with […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins Jon Hansen to talk about what she thinks of “scrambled oats,” a recipe that’s very hot right now on social media, and new research that shows why we overeat. And, as always, Dawn answers all of your nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin. This week the Rascals talk about the upcoming DNC in Chicago and the plan to virtually […]

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

Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins Jon Hansen to answer all your questions about elder law, trusts, wills, and elder abuse. Kerry reminds us why everyone needs a power of attorney.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Andrew Van Dam, Columnist at the Department of Data, The Washington Post, joins Jon Hansen to break down and analyze a YouGov survey that asked 2,000 adults which decade had the best and worst music, movies, economy, etc.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins Jon Hansen to break down a Washington Post analysis of America’s Best Decade, how inflation is impacting consumers, if you can tell the difference between store brand and name brand products, and how Illinois House Bill 4409 (passed by the IGA, waiting to be signed by Governor Pritzker) replaces […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins Jon Hansen to talk about an F.D.A. panel endorsing the safety of a colon cancer blood test, an oral medication proving to be effective against postpartum depression, and how concerned we should be about bird flu.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Noah Gittell, a film critic, sportswriter, and author, joins John Williams to highlight his new book, Baseball: The Movie. Noah talks with John about classic baseball movies mentioned in the book and how they connect with American lifestyle throughout history.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Joel Mcgee, the Toy Scout, joins John Williams to talk about some of the rare toys he’s come across, what toys to keep, and where to find him. If you have an old toy you think is worth money, contact him at Toyscout

Following her case (a 3-year dispute over a pair of AirPods) being won last year, Amara Harris is now suing the city Naperville. Her attorney, Juan Thomas, joins John Williams to talk about why they decided to wait to begin their suit and why they decided to go forward with it.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL5), Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, joins John Williams to talk about his recent op-ed that explains why Illinois needs to invest in high-speed rail. Congressman Quigley also discusses the controversy over Supreme Court Justice Alito displaying ‘Stop the Steal’ flags outside of his home and beach house.

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head to Macomb and chat with Jock Hedblade, Executive Director, Macomb Area […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to give us some healthy ideas for your Memorial Day weekend cookout!

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals kick things off talking about OpenAI being accused of […]

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx joins John Williams to talk about why she is examining a new policy that would direct prosecutors in her office to reject drug and gun charges that stem solely from some routine traffic stops.

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.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Mina Bloom, reporter on Block Club Chicago‘s investigative team ‘The Watch,’ joins John Williams to talk about her story that shows how many migrant children in CPS are being left behind because the schools often lack bilingual support.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about how TV shows often get Chicago details wrong, if he believes speed cameras would help reduce reckless drivers on Illinois expressways, why some pro-Palestinian protesters are avoiding talking to the media, and an issue he has with an advice column in the Sun-Times.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about a company selling a weight-loss drug for 85% less than Wegovy, what it means when someone says they ‘beat cancer,’ and the evidence that suggests cancer is on the rise in younger adults.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Daniel Thomas, Deputy Director, Illinois Office of Tourism, joins John Williams to talk about National Travel and Tourism Week, the amount of people that will be traveling over Memorial Day, the importance of the travel industry to the economy of Illinois, the travel trends in Illinois, the wonderful state parks in Illinois, and some ideas […]

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

WGN Radio’s John Williams and Lisa Dent are on a mission to help send 100 kids to City Kids Camp so inner-city kids can unforgettable summer. City Kids Camp Radiothon, presented by Republic Bank of Chicago, with support from Alpha Wealth Group and Jewel Osco. How to donate now and on Radiothon Day (May 16) Watch the final segment: […]

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we cross the border and head to southern Wisconsin for a chat with […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about what you need to know about ultra-processed foods, a couple of nutrition hacks for 100% whole wheat croutons and scrambled eggs with extra protein, and health benefits (heart and brain!) of olive oil. Dawn also answers all of your nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

John shares the bad news that their family dog, Daisy, passed away and talks about why our relationships with dogs are so important and meaningful. RIP to Daisy, the dizzy dappled dachshund.

Peter Greenberg, “Eye on Travel” host and CBS News travel editor, joins John Williams to talk about the health of the travel industry right now, the booming cruise industry, and the airlines taking the DOT to court over passenger rights, junk fees and ticket transparency. Peter also answers all of your travel questions.

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. What do we need to know about the emerging cicadas?

The Mincing Rascals this week are Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin. This week, the Rascals talk about the 1-year anniversary of the inauguration of Mayor […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Ted Rossman, Senior Industry Analyst, Bankrate.com, joins John to talk about a federal judge in Texas blocking a Biden administration rule that would have capped credit card late fees at $8. 

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about CPS teachers heading to Springfield to lobby for more funding, why he disagrees with Amy Dickinson on the advice she offered to a husband whose sister-in-law disclosed romantic feelings for him, and his thoughts on the Soldier Field colonnades.

Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “The Alpha Wealth Hour” (formerly “This Week in Wealth”) on WGN Radio, joins John to talk about the market reacting to inflation data this week, what he expects the Fed to do with interest rates, meme stock activity, the ongoing concern about debt and how […]

Dr. Michael Bauer, Medical Director at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to tell us his thoughts on cold remedies like Cold-EEZE or Zicam, how a person typically catches a cold, the importance of staying hydrated, if we should be wearing face coverings on airplanes, and what we should know about allergy season this year. […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Major Kendall Mathews, Associate Chicago Area Commander, The Salvation Army, joins John Williams to talk about it being National Salvation Army Week, Illinois Salvation Army Week, and Salvation Army Week in Chicago. Major Mathews tells John what he does for The Salvation Army, the services The Salvation Army provides, how they are able to transform […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins John to talk about the markets having a nice run, the economy performing well overall, the ongoing effort to fight inflation, when we might see prices go down, why he’s not worried about the Fed raising rates, how many rate cuts he expects this year, and what […]

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head north and visit with Cari Greving, Executive Director, Visit Racine County! […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Attorney Rae Kaplan of Kaplan Law Firm joins John Williams to talk about a couple of approaching student loan relief deadlines that you should know about.

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals kick things off this week talking about the pro-Palestinian protests happening on college campuses around the country. […]

Journalist and best-selling author A.J. Jacobs joins John Williams to discuss his latest book, “The Year of Living Constitutionally.” A.J. talks about about why he tried to live like the Founding Fathers, how the book helped him understand how we should interpret the Constitution, what surprised him about the Constitution, and why it’s troublesome to have […]

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. Mother nature is confusing everybody right now so Bob gets you up to speed on what you need to be doing to protect […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Dr. Eman Abdelhadi, Assistant Professor, Comparative Human Development, University of Chicago, joins John Williams to give us an update on the protests currently happening on the U of C campus and to talk about university police clearing the protesters’ tent encampment overnight.

Noted pet expert Steve Dale, in light of the stories about Governor Kristi Noem killing her dog and President Biden’s dog Commander biting secret service agents, tells John Williams what you can do if you have a dog with behavioral issues.

Dr. Binisa Shah, Immediate Care doctor at Northwestern Medicine, joins John Williams to talk about an expert panel on recommending starting regular mammography screening at age 40, what we know about two new COVID variants, and a new study that shows Alzheimer’s disease may be inherited more often than previously known.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about local author Jonathan Eig winning a Pulitzer Prize for his book, “King: A Life,” cultural blind spots, and to share his thoughts about the protests happening on college campuses across the country.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

America’s Toy Scout, Joel Magee, joins John Williams to take some calls and answer questions about your old toys. Do you have any collectibles sitting around that house that could be worth money? Joel has the answers. Joel will be in the Chicago area this week and you can find all the details here.

Dr. Eman Abdelhadi, Assistant Professor, Comparative Human Development, University of Chicago, joins John Williams to talk about the role she’s played in the student-led protests on the University of Chicago campus and the latest on the negotiations between the protesters and the University of Chicago administration.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

'Moderate protests and thoughtful ways' would accomplish more, says rabbi.

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we explore glorious Grand Rapids with Kate Lieto, Associate VP of Marketing, Experience Grand […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about grocery shopping tips, the importance of doing a ‘cart check’ before your check out at the store, recommendations for healthy chips, what you should know about carbs and weight. Dawn also answers all of your nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin. The Rascals start today’s podcast talking about the pro-Palestinian protests that are happening on college campuses around the country. […]

Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins John Williams to talk about current mortgage rates, existing housing supply rising, and the importance of paying down your credit card debt. David also answers all of your mortgage and real estate questions. David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm on WGN […]

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx joins John Williams to talk about meeting with leaders of several local universities to talk about the response to the pro-Palestinian protests that have been happening on college campuses.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

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. Cicadas are coming! What can you do to protect your trees?

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about a New York District Attorney failing to comply with a police officer during a traffic stop and to share his thoughts on the protests happening on college campuses across the country.

Dr. Michael Bauer, Medical Director at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the use of weight loss drugs, if there is a stigma attached to losing weight via weight loss drugs, if there is a reason for people not to take weight loss drugs, and how concerned we should be about bird flu.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp joins John Williams to discuss the new documentary film “War Game” that explores what the next January 6th might look like. In the film, Sen. Heitkamp is one of the prominent government experts role-playing parts in the hypothetical crisis. “War Game” is the closing night selection of the Doc10 […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

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 piece in Slate about the use of cell phones in school classrooms and to give us an update on Evanston Township High School adopting a new cell phone policy […]

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Join John Williams and the cast of The Mincing Rascals at Winter’s Jazz Club (465 N. McClurg Ct.) on Wednesday, June 12 for a live taping of the podcast – plus Robert’s Pizza and jazz guitarist Andy Brown. Tickets are $42.75, inclusive of all fees. Get tickets here. Doors to Winter’s Jazz Club open at […]

Henry Fuguitt, a former employee at Dom’s Kitchen & Market in Chicago, joins John Williams to share his experience of how he found out that the business would be abruptly closing.

Brigette DeMarzo, Director, Quality and Patient Safety, Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the history of the Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, the type of patients they typically see, how they differ from hospitals most people are familiar with, the technology that is used to assist patients in their recovery, and the […]

Restaurateur and serial entrepreneur Eric Schlickman joins John Williams (from Italy!) to talk about how long he’s been in the restaurant business, why he left his job as an architect to open restaurants, his passion for Wheaton, the multiple restaurants that he runs in Wheaton, how business has been post-pandemic, the support he has received […]

IndyCar/NASCAR driver Conor Daly joins John Williams to talk about the upcoming Indy 500, his previous experiences participating in the race, and the premiere of the new season of the documentary series ‘100 Days to Indy‘ on the CW.

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we take a ride to the other side of Lake Michigan and chat […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about what you should know about heart health and eggs, and how, in most cases, cholesterol in food does not negatively impact your cholesterol levels. Dawn also answers all of your nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune, and political pundit Marj Halperin. A lot of news to get to this week and the […]

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. Grass is growing, so it’s almost time to start your weekly lawn maintenance!

Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins John Williams to answer all your questions about elder law, trusts, wills, and elder abuse. Congratulations to Peck Ritchey for being named the legal education partner of the Alzheimer’s Association. Kerry explains the importance of having your estate planning in order when you are capable of making decisions. The time to […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Australian sleight-of-hand artist and magician Harry Milas joins John Williams to talk about The Unfair Advantage, his new show that exposes the secrets of card cheating. The Unfair Advantage is showing at Steppenwolf’s Merle Reskin Garage Space and has been extended through May 19th. Get your tickets here.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins Jon Hansen in for John Williams to discuss what ‘forever chemicals’ are and whether or not we should be concerned about them. Dr. Kopin and Jon also discuss ‘Ozempic babies’ and the effects the weight loss pill have on people who stop using […]

Kathryn Bronsky, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Policy Manager, joins Jon Hansen in for John Williams to talk about USDA hungry pests such the spongy moth and the spotted lanternfly that can damage U.S. agriculture and forests. Listen in while Kathryn explains how these invasive pests are affecting the Midwest and why spongy moths are […]

Attorney Rich Lenkov, Capital Member, Downey & Lenkov, and co-host of “Legal Face-Off” on wgnradio.com, joins Jon Hansen in for John Williams to talk about the the latest news surrounding former President and current presidential candidate Donald Trump’s hush money trial as well as sharing updates about how the Supreme Court weighs bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors. […]

Kim Kuipers with Kuipers Family Farm joins Jon Hansen in for John Williams to share details about the Midwest Tulip Fest happening this spring at the farm. Listen in as Kim shares details on how much longer they will have their tulips in bloom and what other activities are available during the festival.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins Jon Hansen in for John Williams to discuss whether or not we should be able to have the ability to recall a politician. Listen in while Eric and Jon dive deeper on the topic and weigh both possible outcomes.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

WGN-TV News Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter Ben Bradley joins John Williams to talk about Ben’s story surrounding Dolton’s Mayor, Tiffany Henyard, and what the accusations are. The two discuss how the issues are surrounding more than just the Village of Dolton but also Thornton Township, where Henyard is Supervisor.

Daryl Pass, Manager of Recovery Support Services, Kenneth Young Center, joins John Williams to talk about what the Kenneth Young Center does and whom they serve, the various services they provide, the effort to have free access to Narcan, the stigma around the way we classify addicts, and how they’re working to help those who have […]

Dr. Paul CarraDonna, Northwestern University, Plant Biology & Conservation, Assistant Professor of Instruction, and Chicago Botanic Garden, Research Scientist, joins John Williams to discuss Earth Day, it’s lack of national importance in today’s world, and how people can help the effort taking care of the Earth.

Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins John to talk about inflation data stalling out, what stubborn inflation means for the economy, what good investors should know right now, when the Fed might cut interest rates, and why he believes this is a buying opportunity to compound wealth. Call Craig now to see how […]

Dr. Amar Pattani, family dentist at Main Street Smiles at 312 W Main Street in Barrington, joins John Williams to talk about why you should not rinse after brushing your teeth, especially at night. And as always, Dr. Pattani answers all of your oral health questions!

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

John’s former producer Elif Geris checks-in to give an update on her life in Los Angeles, how she’s been doing since she left WGN, what it’s like to pursue music as a career, and to share a new song that she just released. Listen to “Should We Be Dead” on all of the streaming platforms!

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL 8) joins John Williams to talk about movement on his legislation that would require the sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner, how that bill is tied to aid for Ukraine and Israel, and China’s role in the U.S. fentanyl crisis.

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we head across Lake Michigan and visit with Linda Hart, Executive Director, Holland […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals start this week’s show talking about the protest earlier […]

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. What should you be doing to your lawn right now?

Segment 1: Mark Hamrick, Washington Bureau Chief and Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate.com, joins John to talk about persistent inflation, how consumers are being impacted by inflation, what it means to have a robust economy, what is good about the economy right now, how we are slowly getting the economy back to normal, and how many rate cuts could we […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Anthony Whaley, Vice President, Ticket Sales, Chicago Sky, joins John Williams to talk about last night’s WNBA draft and the excitement over the upcoming Sky season. How are tickets selling? Can you still get tickets to see the Sky face Caitlin Clark? Anthony breaks it all down.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about his frame-by-frame analysis of the events that led up to the Chicago police shooting Dexter Reed.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the best ways people can lose weight, differences between the common cold and seasonal allergies, if you can still develop allergies later in life, and a new study that found that pregnancy complications are linked to increased risk […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Dr. Joel Ostrow, professor, comparative and international politics, Benedictine University, joins John Williams to explain the current conflict between Israel and Iran.

Mark Lach, Creative Producer for “Titanic: The Exhibition,” joins John Williams to share stories and artifacts on the 112th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Due to popular demand, The Titanic Exhibition is extending until July 7th. Get your tickets here. Bonus: After their on-air interview, John Williams continues his conversation with Mark Lach […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Bob Passmore, Department Vice President, Personal Lines, American Property Casualty Insurance Association, joins John Williams to explain why auto and home insurance rates are surging.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Spring has officially sprung, so it’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we once again head to the great state […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about the social media viral recipe called “OATZEMPIC.” What should you know about this recipe and should you try it? Dawn also answers all of your nutrition questions!

Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “This Week in Wealth” on WGN Radio, joins John Williams to talk about rising insurance rates, what is going on with the markets this week, what he takes from the inflation data released this week, when we are likely to see the Fed cut interest rates, and […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals start the show talking about COPA releasing the video […]

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. Spring is here and Bob tells us what you need to do to get your lawn ready for the summer.

Andrea Kersten, Chief Administrator, Civilian Office of Police Accountability, joins John Williams to discuss the details surrounding the March traffic stop where Chicago police shot and killed Dexter Reed.

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 chat with Harvard business professor Michael Norton about his new book “The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Criminologist Dr. Scott Bonn joins John Williams to talk about his upcoming one-man theatrical show at City Winery, “Why We Love Serial Killers.” Dr. Bonn tells John what the show is like, why are we drawn to such dark individuals, if there is a common thread among serial killers, why the majority of his audience […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the Civilian Office of Police Accountability releasing video of a March traffic stop where a man was shot and killed by police. Eric and John also talk about the popularity of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark and women’s college basketball.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about yesterday’s solar eclipse and if the hospital is seeing any patients with eye damage, what you should know about seasonal allergies this year, and the prices of weight-loss drugs.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Comedian, storyteller, director and actor Mike Birbiglia joins John Williams to talk about, “Please Stop the Ride,” his new show coming to the Chicago Theater later this month. Mike tells John about having eclipse fever, his desire to go to a Cubs game while he’s in town, how he mined material for this new show, […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Daniel de Visé, author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, joins John Williams to discuss his new book, “The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Making of an American Film Classic.” Daniel tell John why he wanted to write a book about the Blues Brothers, the great friendship between Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, […]

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Spring has officially sprung so it’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, John is joined by Tinley Park Village Manager […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about the importance of getting back to a healthy routine after indulging in unhealthy foods, what you should know about the salt content in food, where most of the salt we eat comes from, what can help balance sodium, and what other ingredients we need to […]

Northwestern basketball great Boo Buie joins John Williams and WGN Sports Director Dave Eanet to talk about his incredible career at Northwestern, how he will go down as one of the best players to ever play at Northwestern, the amazing support the team received from students and the community, being able to make the NCAA […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

After 4 weeks, 7 rounds and 271,351 votes, the 2024 Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament sponsored by Career Vision has its champion. Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast co-host Michael Piff joined John Williams to call the owners of the winning pizza place. Listen to the segment below: https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4591566/4591566_2024-04-04-151706.64kmono.mp3 Antioch Pizza Shop won by just 1% of the […]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. This week the Rascals discuss the LSU women’s basketball team not being on the court during the playing of […]

Roman Somogy, third year optometry student at Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Optometry, joins John Williams to talk about his path to eventually becoming an optometrist, what you can learn about the body by studying eyes, and what we need to know about safely viewing the solar eclipse.

Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins John Williams to tell us what you should know about reverse mortgages. David also answers all of your real estate questions. David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm on WGN Radio. You can call him at 855-56-David, or check out the Team Hochberg […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Matt Farley, the prolific singer-songwriter who has released 25,000 songs, joins John Williams to talk about why he releases so many songs on Spotify, how he is able to support himself by maximizing SEO, his definition of ‘art,’ how many songs he typically writes a month, the discipline it takes to write so many songs, […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the controversy surrounding the LSU women’s basketball team not being on the court during the national anthem before their game against Iowa, what concerns him about the group that Alderman Sigcho-Lopez spoke alongside during a protest against the DNC, his Tweet Madness bracket, and […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to the challenge of properly diagnosing patients, why some people aren’t losing weight while taking weight loss drugs, and the decrease in the amount of flu and COVID they are seeing.

Marge Sipla, Speed Jokes Spirit Animal, joins John to tell us her favorite jokes of March! And, as always, John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Attorney Rae Kaplan of Kaplan Law Firm joins John Williams to talk about the Biden administration’s executive order on student loans that expires at the end of this month, the importance of knowing the laws about federal loans, and what you need to know about changes to this year’s FAFSA applications.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Donna Sattler, Real Estate Broker, RE/MAX at Home, joins John Williams to talk about the real estate scene in Mundelein, the robust real estate market right now, why she loves living in Mundelein, the best recipe for a successful home purchase, how interest rates are impacting the market, the average price of a home in […]

Laura Herrera, Owner / Operator of McDonald’s in Mundelein, joins John to talk about the connection her family has with McDonald’s, when she started working at a McDonald’s restaurant, all the positions she’s had before she became an owner / operator, the challenges of running a restaurant, how McDonald’s supports women with career opportunities, a […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about how you can make your deviled eggs healthier and what you should know about washing fruits and vegetables. And as always, Dawn answers all of your health and nutrition questions.

Spring has officially sprung so it’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, John is joined by Malorie Paine, Executive Director, […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals kick things off this week talking about the delay […]

Robert Pasin, Chief Wagon Officer, Radio Flyer, joins John on National Little Red Wagon Day which commemorates what the Little Red Wagon means in people’s lives. Robert talks about why the company is called Radio Flyer, how many people work for Radio Flyer, what the best-selling wagons are today, what other products he’s excited about, and […]

Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins John Williams to answer all your questions about elder law, trusts, wills, and elder abuse.

Mick Mulvaney, NewsNation political contributor and former acting White House chief of staff for the Trump administration, joins John Williams to talk about NBC News hiring former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel only to fire her after receiving backlash from other NBC talent.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL 8) joins John Williams to talk about legislation he sponsored that would require the Chinese company ByteDance to divest TikTok.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Austin Berg, Vice President of Marketing, Illinois Policy Institute, joins John Williams to talk about why he’s concerned that it has been taking so long to get final election results in the race for Cook County State’s Attorney.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the delay getting final results in the race for Cook County State’s Attorney race, what changes he would like to see for mail-in voting, why former governor Rod Blagojevich is making news, the heartbreaking story surrounding the death of 11-year-old Jayden Perkins, and […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis, the importance of keeping up with recommended cancer screenings, his thoughts on the at-home colon cancer screening test Cologuard, and why some Ozempic users are getting pregnant while on birth control.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Amy Dickinson, the “Ask Amy” syndicated advice columnist, joins John Williams to discuss a recent column where she offered advice to a dad who was uncomfortable with the idea that his daughter would be sleeping in the same room with her boyfriend while they are at home during summer break.

Karen Conti, Founding Partner, Conti & Dolan Law, joins John Williams to discuss her new book, “Killing Time with John Wayne Gacy: Defending America’s Most Evil Serial Killer on Death Row.” Karen talks about the noted sex offender and serial killer’s back-story, how she ended up representing Gacy as an up and coming attorney, the way […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

On World Down Syndrome Day, Nancy Gianni, Founder and Chief Belief Officer, GiGi’s Playhouse, joins John to talk about what we should know about Down syndrome, their mission to change the way the world views Down syndrome, how GiGi’s Playhouse is a place to learn about love and acceptance, how many locations they have around […]

Mike Hlas, sports columnist and Iowa men’s basketball beat writer for The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, joins John Williams to talk about University of Iowa women’s basketball player Caitlin Clark and what makes her one of the best basketball players ever.

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about the differences between regular soda and diet soda, how planks can help lower blood pressure, why being a ‘grazer’ is frowned upon, a new study that shows the replacement of regular salt with a salt substitute can reduce high blood pressure in older adults. And […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals start the show discussing the Bring Chicago Home real […]

New England Sports Network betting analyst Sam Panayotovich joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know before filling out brackets for the NCAA Tournament. What are some of the likely upsets? How far will Northwestern and Illinois go? Who is likely to cut down the nets in April? Sam breaks it all down.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about primary election day in Illinois, the low voter turnout thus far, the CTU organizing an effort last week to get high school kids out to the polls, and if he expects the Bring Chicago Home referendum to pass.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to tell us what you should know about the shingles vaccine, why many people have a reaction to the the shingles vaccine, when you should start getting the shingles vaccine, a new study about the best exercise to lower blood pressure, […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy Cunningham joins John Williams to tell us why you should vote for her to remain on the court. Justice Cunningham explains how she distinguishes herself from her opponent in the race, her unique path to the Illinois Supreme Court, if she’s ever intimidated by a case, how she works with […]

Two of the best Mincing Rascals, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute and veteran journalist and democratic strategist Marj Halperin, join John Williams to debate the Bring Chicago Home referendum, a ballot question that could change the way real estate transfers are taxed in the city.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Erik Soderstrom, Senior Artistic Producer, Ravinia Festival, joins John Williams to talk about the programming for the 2024 season!

Spring has nearly sprung so it’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some trip ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for you! Today, John is joined by Dana Trilla and Sherm Lindsey, Co-Founders […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about her beloved brownie recipe, how ultra-processed foods can affect your brain, and an acronym that could help you eat less processed food. Dawn also answers all of your nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals kick off the podcast this week recapping last Thursday’s State of the Union. What do the Rascals think […]

Democratic state Appellate Justice Jesse Reyes joins John Williams to tell us why he is running for a seat on the Illinois Supreme Court. Justice Reyes talks about his history on the bench in Illinois, what made him decide to run for a seat on the Supreme Court, why he considers himself a progressive judge, […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

With the 2024 Chicago Pizza Madness Tournament (sponsored by Career Vision) underway, John Williams was joined by Chicago’s Very Own Eats co-host and WGN Radio “bracketologist” Michael Piff on Monday to discuss the details for listeners to vote. To kick off the tournament properly, John also spoke with Courtney Miller, general manager of the 2023 […]

Peter Greenberg, “Eye on Travel” host and CBS News travel editor, joins John Williams to talk about a new self-service security screening process being used at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about what he remembers about the day in March 2020 when the world seemingly shut down because of the COVID outbreak, the latest news about the Bring Chicago Home real estate transfer tax referendum, why the CTU rallying voting-age high schoolers to get out […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to discuss the biggest issues facing hospitals right now, his recollections of when the pandemic began in March of 2020, how concerned we should be about measles, and Wegovy being approved by the FDA for reducing the risk of heart attacks.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Clayton Harris III, candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney, joins John Williams to talk about why he wants to be the next Cook County State’s Attorney. Clayton discusses Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara telling Chicago police officers to vote for his opponent Eileen O’Neill Burke, his reaction to people saying his opponent will be […]

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 Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, who explains how, in many jobs, we don’t really have a good […]

Marc Ganis, sports business expert and President and Co-Founder of Sportscorp Ltd., joins John Williams to talk about a new report that says the Bears are interested in building a new publicly-owned domed stadium south of Soldier Field using $2 billion in private money.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The great Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips joins John Williams to talk about what movies he expects to take home Oscars at this weekend’s Academy Awards. What was Michael’s favorite film? What documentary should we see before the ceremony? Michael gives us the scoop.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Brett Johnson, cyber security expert and former US Most Wanted cybercriminal turned good guy, joins John Williams to talk about the amount of ransomware attacks that are targeting hospitals, why hospitals are being targeted by cyber attacks, why many cyber criminals are never arrested, how cyber criminals gain the trust of their victims, what you […]

Spring has nearly sprung so it’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Are you trying to come up with some vacation ideas that are only a quick getaway from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, John is joined by Lagina Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. This week, the Rascals start the pod talking about everyone’s favorite […]

Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins John Williams to share his thoughts on the Tribune editorial, “The law is catching up to rip-off real-estate commissions. It’s time for a change.” David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm on WGN Radio. You can call him at 855-56-David, or check out […]

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the growing popularity of women’s college basketball, Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark declaring for the WNBA draft, Robbie Avila (aka “Cream Abdul-Jabbar”) putting Indiana State men’s basketball back on the map, and why he’s appalled how slowly justice is unwinding with both the Bring […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to explain the new CDC guidelines for COVID isolation, how contagious you are with the common cold, and the mortality rate for U.S. women with breast cancer falling an estimated 58 percent from 1975 to 2019.

Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins John to talk about what’s causing the markets being off today, how AI is driving the market, what he expects from the economic data set to be released later this week, the latest news on cryptocurrency investment, and how many rate cuts does he expect to make this […]

Marge Sipla, Speed Jokes cataloger and Member of the Speed Jokes Committee, joins John and the gang to recap some of their favorite Speed Jokes of January and February of 2024. And then, as always, John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Axios reporter Monica Eng joins John Williams to explain how Cook County is trying to fix inaccurate property tax data.

Chris Jones, Editorial Page Editor and Chief Theater Critic, Chicago Tribune, joins John Williams to talk about the the recent Tribune editorial, “The law is catching up to rip-off real-estate commissions. It’s time for a change.”

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Amy Dickinson, the “Ask Amy” syndicated advice columnist, joins John Williams to talk about her recent column about an uncle who is worried that his sister is raising useless kids.

Attorney Rich Lenkov, Capital Member, Downey & Lenkov, and co-host of “Legal Face-Off” on wgnradio.com, joins John Williams to talk about an Illinois judge ruling that former president Trump be barred from the Illinois primary ballot because he engaged in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. Rich also tells John about the Supreme Court agreeing to decide whether Trump […]

Daryl Pass, Manager of Recovery Support Services, Kenneth Young Center, joins John Williams to talk about what the Kenneth Young Center does and who they serve, his history with substance abuse and mental health issues, the various services they provide, the pillars of SMART recovery, the differences between sobriety and recovery, what Narcan does and […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals kick off the podcast celebrating the career of the great Tom Skilling! […]

WGN Radio listener Amy joins John Williams to share a unique story about how her family used in vitro fertilization.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins John Williams to talk about a lawsuit he filed with the FTC and and a bipartisan coalition of nine attorneys general, challenging the proposed merger between Albertsons and Kroger.

Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins John Williams to answer all your questions about elder law, trusts, wills, and elder abuse.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL 8) joins John Williams to talk about his recent trip to Taiwan to meet with the new president-elect and what he learned from the visit. Rep. Krishnamoorthi also gives an update on an aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and the southern border. Come for the politics and stay for Rep. Krishnamoorthi’s Tom Skilling […]

In honor of the retirement of the great Tom Skilling, John Williams leads WGN Radio’s “Tom Skilling-off” where listeners give us their best impersonation of the one and only Tom Skilling!

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the number of people who believe that Iowa basketball superstar Caitlin Clark could play in the NBA. Eric also explains the latest twists and turns on the “Bring Chicago Home” referendum.

Dr. Victoria Weston, medical director for the Northwestern Medicine Immediate Care Centers in Huntley, McHenry, and Crystal Lake, joins John Williams to talk about the uptick in measles cases around the U.S., what we should know about the next COVID vaccines, cases of norovirus being on the rise in the US, and if it’s too […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

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 talk about how you should be treating your lawn and garden during this upcoming weather cycle that will feature high’s in the 70’s and low’s in the 20’s.

Dr. Kara Goldman, Medical Director of Fertility Preservation, Northwestern Medicine, joins John Williams to talk about the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos created through IVF are considered children under state law. Dr. Goldman explains how this ruling is having profound implications across the U.S., what we should know about how IVF works, the […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

John Williams talks about a Wall Street Journal report on what employers are doing to get employees to come back to the office. What would it take you to go back to the office?

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about the benefits of walking briskly, how to know if the olive oil you are buying is good for you, a delicious cholesterol-free brownie, and the best lunch food for blood pressure. Dawn also answers all of your health and nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, political pundit Marj Halperin, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. This week, the Rascals kick things off by discussing the unseasonably warm weather in Chicago. […]

Marc Ganis, sports business expert and President and Co-Founder of Sportscorp Ltd., joins John Williams to talk about White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf asking for $1 billion in public funding to build a new stadium in the South Loop. Marc also gives us his thoughts on Soldier Field and if the Bears will most likely […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Considered one of the world’s greatest “magiciennes,” French magician Alexandra Duvivier joins John Williams to talk about her show Extraordinaire! with Alexandara Duvivier coming to the Rhapsody Theater in Chicago from February 22-March 10, 2024.

Jim Elliott, Founder & President, Diveheart, joins John Williams to talk about his goal to open the country’s deepest swimming pool in North Chicago. Jim tells John about the work that Diveheart does, the purpose of building this type of pool, how much he estimates this project will cost, who he hopes will help pay […]

Dr. Joel Ostrow, professor, comparative and international politics, Benedictine University, joins John Williams to talk about the death of Alexei Navalny, the leading opposition figure to Vladimir Putin in Russia.

Dr. Marc Sala, pulmonary and critical care specialist and co-director of the Northwestern Medicine Comprehensive COVID-19 Center, joins John Williams to talk about his work at the COVID-19 Center, what they are learning about Long COVID from the work they are doing, how the COVID virus caused such systemic symptoms in certain people, and why you […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

John Williams discusses the piece in The Cut written by financial journalist Charlotte Cowles that details her experience getting scammed out of $50,000. Listeners have opinions and John takes your calls and texts.

Illinois State Representative John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) joins John Williams to explain why he believes that Illinois should lower the drinking age to 18.

Segment 1: Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins John to talk about the disappointing economic data released this week and how it’s impacting the market, how this economic news will impact inflation, the consumer softening tremendously, why he’s advising clients to get back to basics with their investments, and when he expects the Fed […]

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about the health benefits of movement, her thoughts on young people taking weight loss drugs, why she’s concerned about people losing muscle mass when they are on weight loss medications, her recipe for Protein-Packed CHEESY PEPPER POPPERS (as recommended by a WGN Radio listener!), and the […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals start off today’s podcast talking about Mayor Johnson’s decision […]

State Senator Linda Holmes (D-Aurora), joins John Williams to talk about a new piece of legislation that she co-sponsored that would allow a mentally capable adult who is terminally ill the option of ending their own life.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about a number of items including the debate over what age you are considered to be a senior citizen, the return of Jon Stewart to The Daily Show, and how Stewart handled the age problem of both President Joe Biden and former president Donald […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to discuss the concern over the mental gaffes made by former president Donald Trump and President Biden, why stomach cancer is so difficult to diagnose and treat, and the CDC planning to drop five-day COVID isolation guidelines.

Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “This Week in Wealth” on WGN Radio, joins John Williams to tell us why the stock market is tumbling today, the numbers behind today’s inflation data, how this data will impact the Fed rate cuts, and when the market may recover.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Dennis Ryan, Executive Creative Director, Bader Rutter, joins John Williams to talk about the best and worst Super Bowl commercials? What commercials hit it out of the park? What missed the mark? Dennis breaks it all down!

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

JC Phelan, the 2024 Chicago Auto Show Chairman and owner of Jack Phelan Chevrolet and Jack Phelan Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram, joins John Williams to tell us about all the great things to see at this year’s Chicago Auto Show!

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

New England Sports Network betting analyst Sam Panayotovich joins John Williams to talk about what a new Sox park might look like in the South Loop, the likelihood that Devin Hester and Steve McMichael make the NFL Hall of Fame, some of the Super Bowl bets he’s most excited for, how much money will be spent on […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about Super Bowl snacks and what you can do to make them healthier. Dawn suggests you should eat what you crave but make it with better ingredients. You can find helpful suggestions in Dawn’s book, “The Superfood Swap.”

Jennifer Morris, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Wintrust, joins John Williams to talk about their Super Bowl ad that will appear during the big game this Sunday! Watch for it at the end of the third quarter!

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Dr. Douglas Johnston, Chief, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Surgical Director, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, and Dr. Baljash Singh Cheema, Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, join John Williams to tell us what we should know about heart failure. Dr. Johnston and Dr. Cheema explain what heart failure is, the risk factors and health […]

Dr. Clyde Yancy, Chief, Division of Cardiology at Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, joins John Williams to talk about the relationship between health equity and heart care. Why is health equity so important? Dr. Yancy discusses the health disparity to heart health and how Northwestern Medicine is working to improve health equity.

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, political pundit Marj Halperin, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. This week the Rascals start the show talking about last week’s 24-hour strike by the Chicago Tribune Guild. Did […]

Dr. Sadiya Khan, Magerstadt Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology, joins John Williams to explain how weight loss drugs interact with the heart. Dr. Khan talks about the cardiac benefits of using weight loss drugs, who should be using the medicines, the risks involved with taking weight loss drugs, and the long and short term implications of […]

Dr. Ike Okwuosa, Director, Infiltrative & Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy Program, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, joins John Williams to give us information on heart disease. Dr. Okwuosa tells us about the most common types of heart disease, the symptoms of heart disease that you should be aware of, and the importance of early identification and treatment.

Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins John Williams to talk about current mortgage rates, how the current rates are impacting homebuying, and how total credit card debt in the US jumping $50 billion to a record $1.13 trillion. David, as always, answers all of your mortgage questions. David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Dr. Thaer Ahmad, Emergency Medicine Physician on the South Side of Chicago, Global Health Director and Assistant Program Director for the Emergency Medicine Department at Advocate Christ, joins John Williams to talk about his humanitarian aid mission in Gaza.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about a number of stories making news including the challenge some school districts are facing to fund full-day kindergarten, which will be required for the 2027-2028 school year. Also, Eric offers his thoughts on the Chicago Tribune editorial that favors a fully-elected school board. […]

Cassaundra Rouse, Executive Director, Illinois Tollway, joins John Williams to answer all of your questions about the agency phasing out transponders for new sticker tags. You can now order online or purchase at Jewel-Osco locations.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the rudest things patients do at the doctor’s office and a new study that some weight loss drugs showed a significant reduction in blood pressure. Dr. Kopin also answers all of your medical questions.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Dr. Don Angelaccio, Superintendent of Prospect Heights School District 23, joins John Williams to talk about a new law that requires all Illinois public school districts to establish full-day kindergarten by the 2027-2028 school year. Dr. Angelaccio explains what this unfunded mandate will mean to school districts, the challenges it will create without extra funding, […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Derek Stevens, CEO and Owner of Circa Casino and Circa Sports, joins Wendy Snyder to talk about the popular bets people are placing on this year’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, the fun prop bets that are offered on the Circa Sports Illinois app, how you can play Circa Squares, and the Big […]

Dennis Ryan, Executive Creative Director, Bader Rutter, joins Wendy Snyder to preview the commercials that will be shown during this year’s Super Bowl.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about what you should know about eating processed meat, how you can eat less processed food (CRAP), and her thoughts on the Netflix docuseries “You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.” And as always, Dawn answers all of your food and nutrition questions.

Rabbi Evan Moffic from Makom Solel Lakeside in Highland Park joins John Williams to talk about the Chicago City Council passing a resolution calling for ceasefire in Israel-Hamas war.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Find out which John Williams Speed Joke outranked them all according to WGN listeners.

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. Eric kicks off the show showing solidarity with the Chicago Tribune Guild, who are going on strike for 24 […]

Cook County State’s Attorney candidate Eileen O’Neill Burke joins John Williams to talk about her credentials, how she would run the office, if she would change the previous administration’s retail theft policy, her thoughts on the elimination of cash bail, the scrutiny she’s facing over prosecuting an 11-year-old boy when she worked in the state’s […]

Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins John Williams to answer all your questions about elder law, trusts, wills, and elder abuse. Kerry also talks about the recent news that Jay Leno filed for conservatorship over his wife who is suffering from dementia.

Illinois Senate GOP Leader John Curran joins John Williams to talk about his Tribune Op-ed where he criticizes the way Governor Pritzker has handled the migrant crisis in Illinois.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about a number of stories making news including CPD halting the program that sent ‘scarecrow’ police cars downtown, Eric’s skepticism about the upcoming DNC (or political conventions in general), the continuing debate over the possibility the city of Chicago will ban natural gas in […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about Elon Musk’s Neuralink implanting a brain chip in the first human patient, the latest research on helping long COVID sufferers, the efficacy of the RSV vaccine, who should be getting the RSV vaccine, the amount of people in Chicago […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The day has finally come, where you decide on John Williams’ Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament Champion, sponsored by Team Hochberg.  Listen to each Championship-quality joke below: Joke #1 Joke #2 Voting will remain open until Thursday morning, February 1st and a champion will be crowned on John’s show after 10 AM. Graphic by Michael […]

Ashlee Humphreys, professor at the Medill School of Journalism, Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications, Northwestern University, joins John Williams to talk about a jury awarding E. Jean Carroll $88.3 million in her defamation lawsuit against former president Donald Trump. Using her expertise, Professor Humphreys explains how she came up with the former president causing between $7.2 […]

Katie Dana, cicada expert at the University of Illinois joins John Williams to tell us what we should expect when two major broods (Brood XIII and Brood XIX) of cicadas emerge around the same time. Katie calls this a very special event for Illinois and a ‘natural wonder of the world!’

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Rick Bellairs, Chairman, Woodstock Groundhog Days, joins John Williams to tell us about all the events they have planned for the annual Groundhog Day celebration…including a visit from WGN-TV’s Tom Skilling!

Shirley Hood, appliance expert at Abt Electronics in Glenview, joins John Williams to tell us everything we should know about induction cooking. Shirley gives all the details and answers all of your questions!

Naperville Councilman Josh McBroom joins John Williams to talk about his “provocative” effort to call attention to the crisis at the border.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

There’s one matchup to go before our John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Championship, sponsored by Team Hochberg. Vote for who will be advancing now! Listen to each joke below: Joke #1 Joke #2 Voting will remain open until Monday morning, January 29th and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show after 10 […]

Brian Floyd, Property Manager, Circa sportsbook at American Place Casino in Waukegan, joins John Williams to talk about when they opened in Waukegan, how they distinguish themselves from other wagering spots, their focus on customer service, what you can do at the retail location that you can’t do on the mobile app, the incredible environment […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams with tips to strengthen your immunity. Dawn also offers her comments on the study that showed multivitamins improving memory in older adults. And as always, Dawn answers all of your food and nutrition questions!

Pam Fisher, Volunteer Coordinator, Roberti Community House in Waukegan, joins John Williams to talk about what happens at Roberti Community House, how they provide emotional support, connection, and opportunities for community members, how they have grown since they started in 2011, the culinary training program they opened in 2018, they type of volunteers they are […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, started with sixteen competitors. Now we’re down to the Final Four! We have a feeling these will be tougher to choose from. Listen to each joke below: Joke #1 Joke #2 Voting will remain open until Friday morning, January 26th and results will […]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. Today, the Rascals debate the proposed ordinance in Chicago that would ban natural gas in newly constructed homes and […]

Award-winning physician Dr. Kenneth Candido joins John Williams to talk about his incredible ability to consistently throw an official NFL football with a perfect spiral from 45+ yards through a basketball hoop. Dr. Candido is using this skill in an effort to raise awareness and funds for The Global Health Initiative Fund, which provides resources […]

36th Ward Ald. Gilbert Villegas joins John Williams to talk about the city of Chicago considering an ordinance that would ban natural gas in new homes. Alderman Villegas is calling for more time to study the ordinance and how this will impact the residents of Chicago and says this ordinance is not clean nor affordable. [audio: https://serve.castfire.com/audio/4483644/4483644_2024-01-24-230744.128.mp3]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Round 2 of John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, wraps up with Matchup #4! [UPDATE] WINNER (with 53% of 676 votes): The doctor handed me a cup and said, “urinate.” I said, “Thank you. My wife says I’m a six at best.“ OVER: Fun fact: If you sneeze and fart […]

Lindy Wordlaw, the city of Chicago’s Director of Climate and Environmental Justice Initiatives, joins John Williams to discuss an ordinance that would ban natural gas in new Chicago homes and buildings.

The great Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips joins John Williams to talk about this year’s Oscar nominations. What was the biggest snub? What are the movies he definitely thinks we should see before the ceremony? Michael breaks it all down.

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about a number of topics making news including the idea being floated that the city of Chicago should be responsible for clearing sidewalks after a snowfall, the latest controversy surrounding Chicago’s Rat Hole, and Chicago’s effort to ban natural gas in new buildings.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about a study that shows taking a daily multivitamin supplement may improve memory and ward off dementia in aging adults, the efficacy of wearing masks to prevent virus spread, and former Cubs Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg being treated […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Round 2 of John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, continues with Matchup #3! Listen to each joke below: Joke #1 Joke #2 Voting will remain open until Wednesday morning, January 24th and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show after 10 AM. Graphic by Michael Piff / WGN […]

Kellie Meyer, Washington Correspondent in NewsNation’s Washington D.C. Bureau, joins John Willliams to talk about Ron DeSantis dropping out of the presidential race and what that means for the GOP moving forward. Also, Julia Manchester, National Political Reporter, The Hill, tells Lisa Dent who benefits from Ron DeSantis dropping out of the presidential race.

Attorney Rich Lenkov, Capital Member, Downey & Lenkov, and co-host of “Legal Face-Off” on wgnradio.com, joins John Williams to talk about the Illinois Supreme Court considering whether the smell of cannabis is a reason for the police to search a vehicle.

Best-selling author Shelby Van Pelt joins John Williams to discuss her book, “Remarkably Bright Creatures.” Shelby talks about how the success of the book has changed her life, what led her to write the book, how long she worked on the book before it was published, how word of mouth fueled the success of the […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Round 2 of John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, continues with Matchup #2! Listen to each joke below: Joke #1 Joke #2 Voting will remain open until Tuesday morning, January 23rd and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show after 10 AM. Graphic by Michael Piff / WGN […]

Attorney Mike Kozlowski, Senior Counsel, Esbrook P.C., joins John Williams to talk about why a Texas bus company that he’s representing is suing the city of Chicago over its migrant drop-off ordinance.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL 8) joins John Williams to talk about his work as the lead Democrat and Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, why we need to improve our immigration system, his recent tour of a Motorola Solutions facility in Elgin, the stopgap funding […]

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Round 1 of John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, is in the books. Now we’re onto Round 2, starting with Matchup #1. Listen to each joke below: Joke #1 Joke #2 Voting will remain open until Monday morning, January 22nd and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show […]

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature! Is winter getting you down? Looking for some fun things to do to conquer those winter blues? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, John is joined by Stephanie Klett, President and CEO, Visit Lake Geneva! Stephanie tells John about the upcoming Winterfest […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about how you can build a better sandwich. And as usual, Dawn answers all of your food and nutrition questions!

Chicago sports marketing expert Marc Ganis joins John Williams to talk about the story in the Sun-Times that the White Sox are in serious talks to build new stadium in South Loop’s ‘The 78.’ Marc believes this proposal (if it gets done) would be the kind of project that would change the relevance of the White […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The inaugural John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, rolls on with Matchup #8!’ [UPDATE] WINNER (with 51% of 678 votes): Fun fact: If you sneeze and fart at the same time, your body takes a screenshot. OVER: Brookfield Zoo has an interesting attraction. A lion and a sheep living peacefully […]

The Mincing Rascals this week are Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, political pundit Marj Halperin, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The Rascals start this week’s show by discussing the results of the Iowa caucuses. Is there […]

Andrew Van Dam, Columnist at the Department of Data, The Washington Post, joins John Williams to break down the data on how many books people read last year.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL 8) joins John Williams to talk about a number of topics including his name popping up as a potential replacement for Senator Dick Durbin if the senator decides not to run for re-election, the deadline for funding the government, what needs to be done to handle migrants, how to expedite work authorization for migrants, […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The inaugural John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, rolls on with Matchup #7! Listen to each joke below: Joke #13 Joke #14 Voting will remain open until Thursday morning, January 18th and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show after 10 AM. Graphic by Michael Piff / WGN Radio. […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins Jon Hansen to talk about a number of topics making news including the Feds banning humorous electronic messages on highways, the widow of Jerry Krause being booed at the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor ceremony, and the big takeaways from the GOP caucuses in Iowa.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to talk about why people might be feeling sicker for longer periods of time, the GI virus that is going around, how Chicago’s cold weather might dampen the amount of respiratory virus infection that is around, and […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The inaugural John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, rolls on with Matchup #6. Listen to each joke below: Joke #11 Joke #12 Voting will remain open until Wednesday morning, January 17th and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show after 10 AM. Graphic by Michael Piff / WGN Radio. […]

Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins John to talk about the market being slightly misaligned with the Federal Reserve, if he thinks we will ever get inflation down to 2%, how many interest rate cuts we will see in 2024, why we need to pay attention to energy prices, and how he expects the […]

Dr. Amar Pattani, family dentist at Main Street Smiles at 312 W Main Street in Barrington, joins John Williams to talk about what you should know about mouthwash, what toothpaste he recommends, the best teeth whiteners, flossing vs. using a Waterpik, and to answer all of your oral hygiene questions.

Carl Prouty, “The Technologist” at Abt Electronics in Glenview, talks to John about everything he saw at the Consumer Electronics Show. What were the hottest TVs at the show?

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

The inaugural John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, continues with Matchup #5. Listen to each joke below: Joke #9 Joke #10 With Martin Luther King Day on Monday, voting will remain open until Tuesday morning, January 16th and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show after 10 AM. Graphic […]

Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “This Week in Wealth” on WGN Radio, joins John Williams to offer his thoughts on money manager Dr. Bob Froehlich saying on yesterday’s Wintrust Business Lunch that he sees the Fed cutting rates up to eight times and the Dow reaching 44,000 by the end of […]

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about why we need a snack intervention, tips for snacking smarter, and why you should be eating a better breakfast that is high in protein. Dawn also answers all of your nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The inaugural John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, continues with Matchup #4. Listen to each joke below: Joke #7 Joke #8 Voting will remain open until Friday morning, January 12th and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show after 10 AM. Graphic by Michael Piff / WGN Radio. […]

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. John kicks of the pod by congratulating Eric on his Michigan Wolverines winning the CFP National Championship. Congrats, Eric! You rooted like a […]

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. Bob tells us what we should do to our plants in advance of the deep freeze that is heading towards the area.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The inaugural John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, continues with Matchup #3. Listen to each joke below: Joke #5 Joke #6 Voting will remain open until Thursday morning, January 11th and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show after 10 AM. Graphic by Michael Piff / WGN Radio. […]

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about his Michigan Wolverines winning the CFP National Championship, how NIL money is changing the college game, how he feels about the Michigan sign stealing scandal, where he stands on the ‘dibs’ debate, and U.S. Supreme Court declining to review a high court ruling upholding […]

Peter Greenberg, “Eye on Travel” host and CBS News travel editor, joins John Williams to tell us everything you should know about the new Royal Caribbean ship ‘Icon of the Seas.’ Peter also gives us the latest update on the investigation as to why a sheet-metal door plug covering the emergency exit on a Boeing 737 […]

Jerry Haggerty, co-owner of the Haggerty Auto Group, joins John Williams to talk EVs, the current status of the Chevy Bolt electric vehicles, the roadblocks (range anxiety) facing electric vehicles, the range of a typical EV, and why a hybrid vehicle makes a lot of sense right now.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the benefits of “Damp January,” the nagging cough that many people are suffering from, what to know about the latest COVID strain, why people are not taking Paxlovid, and a new small study about potential treatments for Alzheimer’s. Dr. […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The inaugural John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, continues with Matchup #2! Listen to each joke below: Joke #3 Joke #4 Voting will remain open until Wednesday morning, January 10th and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show after 10 AM. Graphic by Michael Piff / WGN Radio. […]

Best-selling author Brad Meltzer joins John Williams to talk about the 10-year anniversary of his “Ordinary People Change the World” series of books and the latest book in the collection, “I am Ruth Bader Ginsburg.”

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

To kickoff the inaugural John Williams Best Speed Jokes of 2023 Tournament, sponsored by Team Hochberg, we lead off with Matchup #1! Listen to each joke below: Joke #1 Joke #2 Voting will remain open until Tuesday morning, January 9th and results will be discussed on the John Williams Show after 10 AM. For more […]

State Senator Sara Feigenholtz joins John Williams to tell us everything we should know about Illinois’ Electric Vehicle Charging Act, a law that went into effect on January 1st that says new homes in Illinois will be required to support electric vehicle charging stations.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John to talk about the snowstorm that might be heading our way early next week and how you should prepare your home. Listen to HouseSmarts Radio on WGN each Saturday morning at 6 am.

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner talks with John Williams about New Year’s resolutions and how you can make them last longer. Dawn also answers all of your health and nutrition questions.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Happy New Year! The Rascals are back for 2024. The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. The […]

Clayton Harris III, candidate for Cook County State’s Attorney, joins John Williams to talk about why he wants to be the next Cook County State’s Attorney. Clayton explains his philosophy about crime in Chicago, how he assesses Kim Foxx’s performance, the importance of dealing with the root causes of crime, what he thinks of the […]

Mortgage and real estate expert David Hochberg joins John Williams to talk about current mortgage rates, why it’s a good time to buy a house right now, and the good economic news as we enter 2024. David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm on WGN Radio. You can call him at […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, joins John Williams to talk about the various Chicago New Year’s specials that were on this year, some news predictions for 2024 (will just-convicted former 14th Ward Ald. Ed Burke spend a day in prison in 2024?), and crime figures released by CPD showing reductions in homicides, shootings and […]

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the amount of people who are sick right now, how indoor dryness makes it more difficult to recover from a respiratory infection, what we should know about the latest strain of COVID, and what happens when you stop taking weight-loss […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Penguin expert Dyan DeNapoli joins Steve Dale, filling in for John Williams, to talk about her book and her experiences rescuing penguins in South Africa

Gary Thomas joins Steve Dale, filling in for John Williams, talks about how he started singing songs from ole’ blue eyes and how it’s grown into his own show

Certified personal trainer Kirsten Anderson talks to Steve Dale, filling in for John Williams, about making healthier choices and how to keep up with your New Year’s resolutions.

Joey Morelli, the owner of Max’s Deli in Highland Park, is back from Ukraine, cooking for soldiers and refugees. He joins Steve Dale, filling in for John Williams, to talk about what kind of food he has been making, the current state of Ukraine, what his experience was like, and his next trip to Mexico City. To […]

Dr. Marty Becker joins Steve Dale, in for John Williams, to talk about Dr. Kwane’s foundation that won him CNN’s “Hero of the year,” how pets of the homeless don’t get the medical care they deserve, and how simple actions can improve their life and prolong it.

Alderman of Chicago’s 43rd Ward, Timmy Knudsen, joins Steve Dale to talk about the performance of Mayor Brandon Johnson and what he hopes to work towards in the coming year and how the city is trying to handle the migrant crisis.

Nutrition Expert Dawn Jackson Blatner joins Steve Dale, in for John Williams, to shed some light on how to stay healthy over the holidays, committing to New Year’s Resolutions, and our addiction to sugar.

Paul Vallas joins Steve Dale, filling in for John Williams, to talk about how Mayor Johnson has mishandled the migrant issue and how he would go about making changes that Mayor Johnson hasn’t

Steve Dale, filling in for John Williams, talks with Binny’s Wine Director Doug Jeffirs and asks him about the best bubbly we can find at all price ranges and what sorts of things we can look for when trying to find the best winter beers.

Lawrence Kreymer of Chicago Waffles joins Steve Dale, filling in for John Williams, to talk about their various locations around the city and their signature specialty waffles you can try when you visit.

Happy Holidays to all of our loyal Mincing Rascals listeners! While the Rascals are enjoying some well-deserved holiday time with family and friends, we bring to you a Mincing Rascals “Best Of” episode. This podcast features John, Eric Zorn, Brandon Pope, Austin Berg and Jon Hansen discussing a variety of issues including the NASCAR race […]

Dave Simmons from Ride Illinois joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to talk about the recent Illinois Supreme Court decision that doesn’t hold the City of Chicago liable for bicyclists’ injuries caused by potholes.

Gwen Daniels, the deputy Director of Illinois Legal Aid Online joins Jon Hansen, filling in for John Williams, to talk about the new laws that will take place in the new year and how they might affect you.

Mack Liederman joins Jon Hansen, in for John Williams, to talk about his favorite animal stories of the year.

Frank Ferrante, actor, comedian and Groucho Marx impersonator, joins Steve Dale, in for John Williams, to talk about his experience with getting to know Groucho’s kids, recreating the Marx Brothers’ humor that transcends time, and how Groucho might feel about today’s comedy.

Dr. Rena Carlson joins Steve Dale, in for John Williams, to talk about the holiday decorations that are dangerous for household pets and the respiratory illness that has been getting dogs sick. Dr. Carlson also answers listeners calls and texts about vaccines and mercury poisoning.

Legendary singer Dionne Warwick joins Steve Dale, in for John Williams, to talk about her evening at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and her awkward interaction with President Biden. Listen in while the two discuss her illustrious career and how her meeting with Elvis resulted in a lot of record sales.

For nearly half of a century, Rosebud Restaurants have been bringing classic Italian food to Chicago and the ‘burbs. Phil Gerardi of Rosebud Restaurants joins Steve Dale, in for John Williams, to talk about how they got through COVID-19 and how they strive to make very customer feel at home with the best Italian food […]

Andrew Hayes, Vice President, Director of Marketing & Communications for World Business Chicago, joins Wendy Snyder in for John Williams to talk about Santa Claus relocating “Santa’s Workshop” to Chicagoland and what that would look like for the city.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… Producer and Director Kyle Newman joins Wendy Snyder, in for John Williams, to share details his latest Star Wars project, “A Disturbance in the Force.”

An organizer of the fourth annual Joy Project, Ingrid Kwak, joins Wendy Snyder, filling in for John Williams, to talk about what the Joy Project is and how long they’ve been collecting donations. She also shared details about what charities they’re donating to and what items they’re collecting. To learn more about the Joy Project, […]

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

Nutrition Expert Dawn Jackson Blatner joins Wendy Snyder, in for John Williams, to shed some light on how to stay healthy over the holidays. Listen in while Dawn shares some of the best ways to have a holiday with more energy and appetite awareness. Then Dawn will share her hack for better blood sugar with […]

Tom Mockaitis, DePaul Professor and terrorism expert, joins Wendy Snyder, in for John Williams, to discuss the latest on the war between Israel and Hamas.

Happy Holidays to all of our loyal Mincing Rascals listeners! While the Rascals are enjoying some well-deserved holiday time with family and friends, we bring to you a Mincing Rascals “Best Of” episode. This podcast, from March 1st, 2023, features John, Eric Zorn and Austin Berg discussing the Chicago mayoral election. The big takeaway: John […]

Gabe Mollica, comedian and storyteller, joins Wendy Snyder, in for John Williams, to talk about his hit off-Broadway show Solo: A Show About Friendship. In Solo, Gabe dives deep into what it means to have friends in your 30s, his special relationship with Stephen Sondheim, working at a summer camp for children with chronic illnesses, […]

Paula Kosin, Author, Speaker, Consultant, Career Coach and Certified Grief Educator Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, joins Wendy Snyder, in for John Williams, to share her 6 tips for handling grief during the holidays.

Alexander Zalben, Managing Editor of Decider.com, joins Wendy Snyder in for John Williams to discuss what’s coming and what’s going on in the world of television and streaming. This week, the Oscar hopeful starring and directed by Bradley Cooper about the life of Leonard Bernstein called Maestro will come to Netflix, Percy Jackson and the […]

Elder law attorney Kerry Peck joins John Williams to answer all your questions about elder law, trusts, wills, and elder abuse.

Dr. Samuel Kim, thoracic surgeon at the Northwestern Medicine Canning Thoracic Institute, joins John Williams to talk about actor Andre Braugher being diagnosed with lung cancer months before his death, when lung cancer is typically diagnosed, why he recommends getting a CT scan to check your lung health, how many cases of lung cancer are […]

Attorney Rae Kaplan of Kaplan Law Firm joins John Williams to talk about the Biden administration announcing an extension of a critical student loan forgiveness deadline. The old deadline was 12/31/23, but the new deadline is 4/30/24.

Craig Bolanos, Co-Founder and CEO of Wealth Management Group, joins John to talk about the momentous market rally, his thoughts on the Fed cutting interest rates in 2024, the concern over consumer debt, and if real estate should still be part of your portfolio. Call Craig now to see how your spending, savings, investing, impacts your chances […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Sara Tieman is not only an ace Promotions & PR Manager for WGN Radio, but she is also a voracious reader (and world traveler!) who has once again read nearly 100 books this year! She joins John Williams to discuss some of the best books she read in 2023. You can check out her entire list […]

Software engineer and Christmas lights enthusiast Billy Quesse joins John Williams to talk about the spectacular light show that he puts on each year at his home in Spring Valley, Illinois! How does this light show come together? You can check out the awesome video and find out more here.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

A WGN listener used AI to create a story using the phrases, ‘John Williams radio personality,” ‘WGN Radio,” “Daisy the Dizzy Dapple Dachshund,” and “Speed Joke coffee mug.” John Williams reads the story for all to enjoy!

We are celebrating all the cool things in Lemont this month for our “Your Hometown” feature! Today, Jeremie Bacon, Founder and CEO, The Forge: Lemont Quarries, joins John Williams to tell us all the fun activities you can do at The Forge, the type of customer they typically see, and why Lemont is so important […]

John Williams, Kevin Powell, and Mary Van De Velde talk about the movie, “Love Actually,” and if the film is as good as some people thought it was when it originally came out in 2003.

Rosemont mayor Brad Stephens joins John Williams to talk about buses of asylum seekers being dropped off in Rosemont and how they are handling the crisis.

John Williams is joined by Dawn Jackson Blatner, author and registered dietician nutritionist, for a special in-studio party to promote healthy and fun holiday catering menu ideas, sponsored by Dom’s Kitchen and Market in Lincoln Park and Old Town. Today’s feature: Entrees and sides! And as always, Dawn answers all of your nutrition questions.

Just a few weeks ago, John Williams was joined by author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner to sample and showcase items from Dom’s Kitchen and Market’s holiday catering menu. Fortunately for us, there was a lot more from their menu to try. As you swipe through the photos from our latest healthy spread, […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn, Publisher of The Picayune Sentinel, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, political pundit Marj Halperin, Jon Hansen of WGN Radio and Block Club Chicago, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. […]

John Williams talks about visiting the ECHO factory in Lake Zurich. Illinois Manufacturing is alive and well!

John Williams hosts the annual Salvation Army Radiothon. Our Virtual Red Kettle goal of $175,000 was exceeded thanks to our amazing WGN listeners and all of our generous sponsors. Special thanks to the one and only David Hochberg, Major Caleb Senn, Theo Coleman, Shane Carlin, and Brian Duewel of the Salvation Army, Bob Coyne and […]

Madan Kulkarni, Owner, The Matrix Club, joins John Williams on the Wintrust Business Lunch to talk about their club in Naperville, what’s inside the Matrix Club, what inspired him to open this space, why he considers it a global meeting space, why the venue is so unique and a perfect place to experience other cultures, […]

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

State Representative Joyce Mason joins John Williams to talk about the effort to eliminate road tests for seniors in Illinois. Rep. Mason plans to propose legislation that eliminates the age-based road test. Rep. Mason says we need to focus on evidence-based data and not just our perception of old people driving.

Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “This Week in Wealth” on WGN Radio, joins John Williams to talk about how the markets have performed this year, the positive economic data coming out, why debt issues are a cause for concern, and what he expects from Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s comments later this […]

Dr. Michael Bauer, Medical Director at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about the number of flu cases that are being reported this year, the respiratory viruses that are circulating outside of the flu, and what he thinks of a new report about Ozempic and alcohol cravings.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

Attorney Rae Kaplan of Kaplan Law Firm joins John Williams to talk about what we should know about Grad PLUS loans and the SAVE repayment plan, why you approach federal loans differently that other types of debt, the options you have if you hold a private loan, and the application period for student loan forgiveness closing on Dec. 31, 2023.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg joins John Williams to talk about new transportation funding coming to Chicago, what improvements will be made with the funding, what it would take to get high-speed rail throughout the Midwest, if he expects a smooth holiday season when it comes to air travel, and his future political ambitions.

U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL 8) joins John Williams to talk about a glowing profile in Foreign Policy about the the work the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party is doing to map out a new era of U.S. competition with China. Congressman Krishnamoorthi also explains why he’s concerned with TikTok.

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Blake Burman, Moderator of The Hill and Chief Washington Correspondent of NewsNation, joins John Williams to tell us the major takeaways from the GOP debate in Alabama.

John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!

The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Neil Steinberg of the Chicago Sun-Times, Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute, and Cate Plys, former staff writer at the Chicago Reader and political op-ed columnist at the Sun-Times and Tribune. This week, the Rascals discuss the state of Illinois halting the construction of a migrant shelter in Brighton Park. How has […]