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We got a wake-up call during this episode of the Crisis Cast. On a show about problem solving during a crisis, Father Greg Sakowicz reminds us, "Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved."
Father Greg is rector of Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral, and gives Lissa, Thom, and all of us some mysteries to ponder. During his 40-plus years as a priest, Father Greg has fed his passion for humor and stories through his radio show and his weekly essays to parishoners. This episode leans into slowing life down enough to keep the kindness of Christmas alive year round.
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On heals of the 2024 election, there's a lot stirring in our neighborhoods about the federal funding that may vanish. All of which collides with the City of Chicago's nearly $3 billion budget deficit. Durning this episode, Justin Kaufmann of Axios Chicago joins Lissa & Thom to talk about our present day council chaos. Justin sees it as a hearkening back to the "council wars" of the 1980s. What's driving this dysfunction? Can Mayor Brandon Johnson actually be a collaborator in chief? These are just some of the answers we're chasing. Plus, is Governor J.B. Pritzker helping with his harsh tones for the incoming Trump administration?
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Music therapy is innovating every day. Yet much of the practice is misunderstood. Clare Takash joins Lissa & Thom during this episode to explain her journey to becoming a music therapist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Music therapy provides the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions for patients with autism, trauma survivors, Parkinson's disease, and more. Clare can even be seen soothing families in Rush Hospital's neo-natal unit. Patients may need a rhythmic "prescription" or a melody — the methods are never as simple as they seem. Listen as Clare shares her strategies, and some soul-stirring survival stories.
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There's one powerful statement you'll always hear from the leader of Illinois' 2nd largest city.
"Don't tell me. Show me."Richard Irvin is in his 2nd term as the Mayor of Aurora, and touts the city's innovative approach to empowering its citizens. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin revisit Mayor Irvin's interests in statewide office and explore his passion pitch for the Bears to make Aurora home. Plus, we'll have a conversation about gratitude with some guidance on why the Democratic Party shouldn't take Black voters for granted.
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As we approach the season of giving, we're proud to bring you a conversation that explores innovation in serving community needs.
During this episode, Thom Serafin digs into how one non-profit group built an alliance with the City of Chicago -- to keep the un-housed warm during the winter. Beth Amodio, CEO of One Warm Coat, shares the reinvention of how volunteers get activated. Plus, you'll hear how an interactive map is uniting churches, youth groups, and more in collecting and distributing coats and more.
You can read the story of this week's Crisis Cast heroes here.
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With Donald Trump poised to retake the White House, we cornered two experts to pull out their political GPS point out the path. During this episode, we tap into the deep thoughts of two great journalists: Mary Ann Ahern and Ray Hanania. Lissa & Thom uncover what the pundits missed in the 2024 vote and what the next Trump cabinet might look like. Plus, where will J.B. Pritzker's fortunes land after his second term, and what's the next move for Senator Dick Durbin? Hear the answers on our special post-vote edition of the show.
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For her entire life Hermene Hartman has been driven to stand up and stand out. Dr. Hartman's career began during the Civil Rights Movement, when she collaborated with Reverand Jesse Jackson at Operation Bread Basket. During this episode, Lissa & Thom chat with Hermene about how she channeled her activism into publishing as a media entrepreneur. Dr. Hartman has plenty to say about what's going on at City Hall, the divisive political landscape, and her advocacy for Chicago's Black middle class.
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In the last gasp before election day 2024, we're pulling back the curtain on political polling. Once again we welcome Rod McCulloch of Victory Research to our Crisis Cast chat room.
We'll hear what's changed in polling over the long haul, and what's different about each of the last 3 Presidential elections. You'll learn about how pollsters deal with voter cynicism, what's REALLY wrong with negative campaigning, and why he gives candidates the harsh reality. -
This week, we revisit a powerful conversation from Season 3 of The Crisis Cast. Listen in on the lessons learned from his forensic consortium. Our guest, Paul Ciolino, convinced Governor George Ryan to rethink the death penalty in Illinois.
Ciolino is a private investigator turned DNA expert who advocates for those wrongly convicted. In this episode, Lissa & Thom dig into corrupt systems and the high-profile cases Paul Ciolino has investigated. You'll hear about his first hand encounters with Anthony Porter, Amanda Knox, Arturo Gatti, and more. This episode was originally released in April of 2022. -
On Friday October 4th mass resignations from the CPS school board rocked Chicago's political landscape. Then on Monday October 7th, Mayor Brandon Johnson's made a quick turnaround to appoint new board members. During this episode of the Crisis Cast municipal finance expert Paul Vallas joins Lissa & Thom to offer perspective and a dose of reality on the CPS turmoil. There have been months of strife between Mayor Johnson, the Chicago Teachers Union, and CPS CEO Pedro Martinez over how to address the school system's fiscal cliff. Is there a CTU coup at play? How will this impact voters who get to choose a partially elected board for the first time?
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We’ve talked a lot about candidates on the 2024 ballot, but voters in seven Illinois counties are voting this fall on whether they’d like to become their own state. 23 counties have already said, "yes."
During this episode, Thom Serafin talks with G.H. Merritt, the Chairman of NEW Illinois. Merritt says this is not a divide between Democrats and Republicans. It is a movement that firmly states the needs of Chicago and Cook County are not in the best interests of the rest of the state.New Illinois is focused on the constitutional right to have representative state government. What's the history of new state formation? What are the steps in the process? We'll dig into the answers to those questions and more, on this edition of the Crisis Cast.
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At midnight, Monday September 23rd — ShotSpotter, the gun detection technology in place for more than six years in the city of Chicago was shut down as the contract expired. The city council voted to extend the contract, but Mayor Brandon Johnson exercised his veto power.
During this episode, Lissa & Thom are joined by Chicago's 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale -- who advocates for the data that says ShotSpotter works. Plus, we'll debate what communities at-risk say about this technology. -
Time travel can be enlightening. During this trip through our show archives, we go back to the heals of the 2022 midterm elections. Paul Kendrick is the Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising, a grass roots grooming organization for Democrats. Their mission is training candidates and their organizations to connect with working families.
During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom probe Paul on what Republicans did to prevent achieving the red wave and how Democrats intended to rebuild the blue wall. We'll also predict where the next generation of compelling candidates might be hiding. And more, importantly, the inherent crisis in teaching every day candidates how they can use their personal story to connect with voters. This conversation was originally released November 16, 2022. -
Here's a conversation that is both predictive and reflective on the potency of debates. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin are in our chat room examine the stakes for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in what may be their only Presidential debate. We'll ask the question, "Is the Commission on Presidential Debates obsolete?"
Plus, how often has a single debate changed the outcome of an election. You'll hear some enlightening history about Chicago's legendary Kennedy-Nixon debate. Former City News and Chicago Tribune journalist Jim Strong was the managing editor at WBBM-TV in 1960. Strong takes us behind the scenes to share more about the Nixon team's "makeup" misstep. -
It's time to hear from a voice dedicated to writing Illinois' comeback story.
Austin Berg has lived all over the Land of Lincoln, and is one of our state's most compelling change agents. During this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin get to the heart of how Austin engages action on governance issues, as VP of Marketing for the Illinois Policy Institute. Plus, you'll hear why public corruption has become a way of life in Illinois.
Austin Berg is co-founder of Iron Light, a marketing agency helping purpose-driven brands change the world, and co-author of "The New Chicago Way: Lessons from Other Big Cities" by Southern Illinois University Press.
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During any crisis, the "cool" heads prevail. In this episode we'll cover some Chicago's most daunting and outrageous challenges -- like an airport bulldozed in the middle of the night.
Forrest Claypool has held the highest leadership post at three of the most critical municipal institutions: the park district, the public schools, and the Chicago Transit Authority.
Claypool is the author of The Daley Show: Inside The Transformative Reign of Chicago's Richard M. Daley. Thom Serafin goes behind the scenes at City Hall with Claypool, who served as Daley's Chief of Staff for two tenures. This is a conversation about the unapologetic use of power, and an adept use of passion for the Windy City. -
During this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin lean in on one particular question. "What will the nationwide narrative on Chicago be following the 2024 Democratic National Convention?" To get some answers, there's no better source than Rick Pearson, Chief Political Writer for the Chicago Tribune. Our conversation examines DNC conventions from the past: from the ancient history of '68 to the far less noisy politics of 1996. Get ready for some predictions on the next chapter of Chicago's reputation.
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Lissa & Thom have a ton on their mind. What's the Fed's next move on interest rates? How much fear has been stoked by the jobs report? What's Governor Tim Walz all about?
That's a ton to process, but we'll cover it all in rapid fire. Plus, a Crisis Cast primer on the state of Illinois' L-G-D-F. Gather round for a Crisis Cast Whiteboard on the issues that will really drive votes this election season. -
Here comes some rare enlightenment from two of Chicago's former police superintendents, in the same conversation.
Thom Serafin welcomes Eddie Johnson & Garry McCarthy to share what everyone is missing about reducing crime in Chicago. They also reveal the statistics on the ShotSpotter systems that get buried in politics. Plus, you'll hear a real time reaction to the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.
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In this special edition of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin take us to Milwaukee and the floor of the RNC. Their guest is Richard Porter, a national committeeman for the Republican Party of Illinois. Porter joined us moments after it was announced Ohio Senator J.D. Vance would be joining the Republican ticket as Donald Trump's running mate.
During this episode, you'll get a peak behind the curtain of the first of this summer's national political conventions. Plus, we learn more about the impact of the assassination attempt on former President Trump.
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