John Williams
4,691 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★ - 154 ratingsThe John Williams Podcast from 720 WGN
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Episodes
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin: Should we be concerned about monkeypox?
May 24, 2022 21:14Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to tell us what we need to know about monkeypox and how monkeypox differs from COVID. Dr. Kopin also answers all of your medical questions.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXXIII, 5.24.22
May 24, 2022 19:35John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Hope Chicago is sending students and parents to college for free
May 23, 2022 23:28Dr. Janice Jackson, Chief Executive Officer, Hope Chicago, joins John Williams to talk about what Hope Chicago does, their goal to send students and a parent to college for free, what colleges are involved in the program, what Hope Chicago pays for, the goal to get kids and parents skills and better jobs, how kids […]
Ukulele Barb dazzles John Williams with an in-studio performance of the theme from ‘Midnight Cowboy’
May 23, 2022 23:10Well, here it is! The day we’ve all been waiting for. Our friend Ukulele Barb joins John Williams, Steve Bertrand and Bob Kessler in-studio to talk about her experience learning the ukulele as part of a 100 day challenge. Barb was gracious enough to join us each Monday for the last few months to tell […]
Dr. Bal Nandra: How Ketamine can help those suffering from PTSD
May 23, 2022 21:26Dr. Bal Nandra, Founder and Medical Director of IV Solutions and Ketamine Centers of Chicago, joins John Williams to talk about the successful treatment that John’s nephew received for migraine headaches, how they treat different conditions to get the best results, what Ketamine does, and to tell us about an upcoming event at the Serenity Foundation this […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXXII, 5.23.22
May 23, 2022 19:55John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Ald. Ray Lopez: ‘What is the point of having laws if our officers are being instructed not to enforce them?’
May 20, 2022 20:3415th Ward Ald. Ray Lopez joins John Williams to talk about Mayor Lightfoot’s curfew plan making its way through the public safety committee, why he voted ‘no’ on the curfew change, and his plan to help combat violence in Chicago.
John Williams celebrates 100 years of WGN Radio!
May 19, 2022 22:47Chief Engineer Bill Murdoch, WGN’s unofficial historian Dave Marzullo, and Steve Bertrand of Chicago’s Afternoon News, join John Williams to reflect on the 100th anniversary of WGN Radio and to talk about the ‘100 Years of WGN Radio: A Retrospective’ documentary. The documentary airs at 7pm on WGN-TV on 5/19 and will be available online […]
Cheers to Chicago’s Very Own Golden Lager!
May 19, 2022 21:34Laurin Mack, Owner of the Conrad Seipp Brewing Company, Doug Hurst, Co-founder and Head Brewer and Metropolitan Brewing, and Liz Garibay, Executive Director at the Chicago Brewseum, join John Williams to talk about the release of Chicago’s Very Own Golden Lager, a limited, exclusive beer release brewed specially for WGN Radio’s 100th anniversary! Looking to […]
Best of the Midwest: Visit the Petoskey Area!
May 19, 2022 21:05Looking to take a quick getaway from the Chicago area this summer? Well, John Williams has you covered with our “Best of the Midwest” feature. Today, Jim Powell, the new Executive Director of the Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau, joins John to tell us about all of the the great things to do in Petoskey, Michigan. […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXXI, 5.19.22
May 19, 2022 19:18John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
The Mincing Rascals 5.18.22: Mayor Lightfoot’s curfew, Irvin v. Bailey, and racist attack in Buffalo
May 18, 2022 23:57The Mincing Rascals are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald, Brandon Pope, host of ‘On the Block‘ on WCIU, Heather Cherone, political reporter for WTTW, and Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute. The Rascals break down a variety of stories including Mayor Lightfoot’s wish to impose a curfew in Chicago after an uptick of violence downtown, the […]
Is imposing a curfew an effective tool to combat crime?
May 18, 2022 22:50Alexandra Block, Senior Supervising Attorney for Legal System and Policing, ACLU of Illinois, joins John Williams to talk about Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s unsuccessful attempt to issue an executive order changing Chicago’s curfew laws. Alexandra expresses her concerns over the city trying to impose a curfew, how the curfew is going to work, and the overwhelming […]
Is a curfew an effective tool to combat crime?
May 18, 2022 22:50Alexandra Block, Senior Supervising Attorney for Legal System and Policing, ACLU of Illinois, joins John Williams to talk about Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s unsuccessful attempt to issue an executive order changing Chicago’s curfew laws. Alexandra expresses her concerns over the city trying to impose a curfew, how the curfew is going to work, and the overwhelming […]
How Herbie Cohen became the ‘World’s Greatest Negotiator’
May 18, 2022 22:32Best-selling author Rich Cohen joins John Williams to discuss his latest book, “The Adventures Of Herbie Cohen: World’s Greatest Negotiator.” Rich tells John many wonderful stories about his father including how his father inspired a line in the David Mamet play ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ where Herb acquired the gift of negotiating, how Herb ended up […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXX, 5.18.22
May 18, 2022 21:02John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
A teenager from Naperville is the youngest American woman to summit Mt. Everest
May 17, 2022 20:59Amy and Rodney Westlake join John Williams to talk about their 18-year-old daughter Lucy becoming the youngest American woman to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin: ‘We want to be done with the virus, but the virus is not yet done with us’
May 17, 2022 20:36Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about when you should get a second booster, if we need to update current COVID-19 protocols, how many times can a person contract COVID, and a mask mandate coming back to Evanston High School.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXIX, 5.17.22
May 17, 2022 19:57John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Eric Zorn: Which GOP gubernatorial candidate has the best chance to defeat Gov. Pritzker?
May 16, 2022 22:40Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald joins John Williams to talk about the race for Illinois governor, including WTTW’s scoop where they found that gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin had called Donald Trump a “bigoted racist” in text messages, the recent WGN-TV poll that showed Irvin with a slim lead over Senator Darren Bailey, and the […]
Eric Zorn: Which GOP gubernatorial candidate has the best chance to defeat Governor Pritzker?
May 16, 2022 22:40Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald joins John Williams to talk about the race for Illinois governor including WTTW’s scoop where they found that gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin had called Donald Trump a ‘bigoted racist” in text messages, the recent WGN-TV poll that showed Irvin with a slim lead over Senator Darren Bailey, and the […]
Rep. Kam Buckner on Mayor Lightfoot’s weekend curfew: ‘This is a bad, bad use of our resources and our time and our energy’
May 16, 2022 21:57State Rep. Kam Buckner (D-Chicago), a candidate for Chicago mayor, joins John Williams to talk about why he decided to run for mayor, the violence in Chicago over the weekend, and if he believes Mayor Lightfoot’s plan to impose a curfew will help combat crime in the city.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXVIII, 5.16.22
May 16, 2022 20:32John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Professor Joel Ostrow: What has likely surprised Vladimir Putin the most about the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
May 13, 2022 20:19Dr. Joel Ostrow, professor, comparative and international politics, Benedictine University, joins John Williams to talk about Russia’s scaled down version of Victory Day on May 9th, what Vladimir Putin might be hoping for as the Russian invasion drags on, why he believes Putin has backed himself into a corner, what has likely surprised Putin the most […]
Professor Joel Ostrow: What has surprised Vladimir Putin the most about the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
May 13, 2022 20:19Dr. Joel Ostrow, professor, comparative and international politics, Benedictine University, joins John Williams to talk about Russia’s scaled down version of Victory Day on May 9th, what Vladimir Putin might be hoping for as the Russian invasion drags on, why he believes Putin has backed himself into a corner, what has surprised Putin the most about […]
Pastor Corey Brooks on Chicago violence: ‘Everybody in our community should be in an uproar’
May 12, 2022 22:52Corey 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 number of funerals he’s presided over recently, why only a small amount of people are outraged over violence in Chicago, the importance of giving children mentors and opportunities to […]
David Hochberg: What should we know about current mortgage rates?
May 12, 2022 22:20David Hochberg joins John Williams to talk about current mortgage interest rates, why we are going to hear more about adjustable rate mortgages, and why he thinks the government gave away too much money during the pandemic. David hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm on WGN Radio. You can call […]
Alpha Wealth Group founder Tom Fortino: Stock market volatility and uncertainty will continue
May 12, 2022 22:02Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, joins John Williams to talk about the extended downward slide of the stock market, what needs to happen to turn the market, how the price of fuel is impacting the economy, the distortion in the labor market, and what you can do to be defensive in the current […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXVII, 5.12.22
May 12, 2022 20:16John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
The Mincing Rascals 5.11.22: President Biden visit, new ward map, and Richard Irvin leads the GOP race for governor
May 12, 2022 00:34The Mincing Rascals this week are John Williams of WGN Radio, Eric Zorn of The Picayune Sentinel and The Daily Herald, Heather Cherone of WTTW, and Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute. The Rascals chat about people protesting outside of the private homes of Supreme Court justices, the race for Illinois governor and candidate Richard Irvin not answering questions about Roe v. […]
Climb the steps at Soldier Field to raise funds for the American Lung Association
May 12, 2022 00:06Kristen Young, Executive Director, American Lung Association in Greater Chicago, joins John Williams to talk about the next Fight for Air Climb, presented by UnitedHealthcare, taking place on June 19th at Soldier Field! Register to join WGN Radio’s team, or create a team of your own. Every Climber receives an official Fight For Air Climb T-shirt.
LaSalle Network CEO Tom Gimbel’s advice for new graduates
May 11, 2022 22:51Yesterday on the Wintrust Business Lunch, our friend Tom Gimbel, founder and CEO of LaSalle Network, joined John Williams to offer some advice to young graduates who are about to enter the workforce. And typical of anything posted to the internet, it sparked a vigorous debate about how relevant the advice is to new workers. Check out […]
Ald. Gilbert Villegas on Chicago’s new ward map: ‘It’s a loss for Chicagoans, a loss for fair map advocates, and really a loss for the Latino community’
May 11, 2022 22:3836th Ward Ald. Gilbert Villegas joins John Williams to talk about the proposed new City Council ward map which will stretch the boundaries of his ward so dramatically that it will resemble a pool noodle or barbells. Ald. Villegas also shares his thoughts about the proposed location for Chicago’s first casino.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXVI, 5.11.22
May 11, 2022 21:10John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Lou Manfredini: How to get the most out of your AC unit
May 10, 2022 22:01The great Mr. Fix-It, Lou Manfredini, joins John Williams to talk about the hot weather that is blanketing the area and what you should know about your AC unit as we get ready for summer.
Former CPS CEO Paul Vallas: Proactive policing is needed to fight crime
May 10, 2022 21:40Former mayoral candidate and CPS CEO Paul Vallas joins John Williams to discuss his recent Op-ed in the Chicago Tribune that offers suggestions on what should be done to curb violence in downtown Chicago. Paul also tells John if he’s considering another run for mayor.
Dr. Jeffrey Kopin: How concerned should we be about rising COVID cases?
May 10, 2022 21:14Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins John Williams to talk about why he decided to get into the medical field, how medicine has advanced through the years, what positives will come out of the pandemic, and how concerned we should be about rising COVID cases. And Dr. Kopin answers […]
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXV, 5.10.22
May 10, 2022 20:08John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Is taking away recess a productive punishment?
May 09, 2022 21:58Jackie Mader, Early Childhood Education Reporter, The Hechinger Report, joins guest host Jon Hansen to talk about her recent piece on recess at school. Should teachers be allowed to punish kids by taking away recess?
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXIV, 5.9.22
May 09, 2022 20:01John Williams (and Jon Hansen) bring you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
Thank a nurse on National Nurses Day!
May 06, 2022 21:37Today is National Nurses Day and joining John Williams to talk about his career is Oak Point University alum Chauncey Incarnato, a neurological trauma intensive care nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Chauncey talks about his unique path to becoming a nurse, if there was any hesitation about becoming a nurse, what he does at Northwestern, […]
Ald. Reilly on Mayor Lightfoot’s pick for a new casino: ‘Is this the best site for the city of Chicago and does it provide the greatest benefit to the taxpayer?’
May 06, 2022 20:2842nd Ward Ald. Brendan Reilly joins John Williams to discuss Mayor Lightfoot picking Bally’s for Chicago’s first casino license. Ald. Reilly talks about the lack of transparency from the Lightfoot administration about the three finalists, why he thinks the process was rushed, what concerns him about Mayor Lightfoot’s choice, and if he thinks the mayor has enough […]
The benefits of compression and cryotherapy
May 05, 2022 22:26Regional Manager Julia Weinstein and General Manager Karen Fusco of Restore Hyper Wellness in Northbrook join John Williams to talk about the benefits of their services including compression, cryotherapy, IV Drip therapy, the locations they have throughout the Chicago area, and why people of all ages use their services.
Best of the Midwest: Visit Jackson, Michigan!
May 05, 2022 21:35Looking to take a quick getaway from the Chicago area this summer? Well, John Williams has you covered with our “Best of the Midwest” feature. Today, John chats with Rachel Buchanan, Marketing & Development Manager for Experience Jackson, about the wonderful sights and sounds of Jackson, Michigan. Rachel talks about how far Jackson is from […]
Ald. Brian Hopkins on Bally’s winning the Chicago casino bid: ‘I’m against the proposal and I’m against the process’
May 05, 2022 21:33'I'm against the proposal and I'm against the process,' says Ald. Brian Hopkins.
John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, Part CCCLXIII, 5.5.22
May 05, 2022 19:24John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected]!
What you should know about inflation-beating I bonds
May 04, 2022 22:55Jon Hansen, host of “Let’s Get Legal” and “Your Money Matters” and reporter and producer for WCIU’s “On the Block,” joins John Williams to talk debate whether Russian athletes should be able to participate in sporting events around the world and to talk about a recent conversation he had on why I bonds could be […]
What you should know about inflation-beating I Bonds
May 04, 2022 22:55Jon Hansen, host of “Let’s Get Legal” and “Your Money Matters” and reporter and producer for WCIU’s “On the Block,” joins John Williams to talk debate whether Russian athletes should be able to participate in sporting events around the world and to talk about a recent conversation he had on why I Bonds could be […]
You can now drink Chicago tap water from a can
May 04, 2022 22:29Stay "Chidrated" with Chicagwa. It's Chicago's tap water from Lake Michigan in a can.
How to get rid of unwanted dandelions from your lawn
May 04, 2022 22:10Bob 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.