The Crisis Cast

You've seen her byline reporting for the New York Times, Forbes, Crain's Chicago Business, Block Club, and many more great destinations for news. Leigh Giangreco has superpower when it comes to unraveling complex stories. In this episode, Lissa & Thom go behind the scenes with Leigh on her recent work covering the tragic murder of Loyola student Sheridan Gorman for the New York Times. Plus, you'll hear what it's like to navigate in-depth journalism in a world ruled by doom-scrolling and short attention spans.

This week's Illinois primary election underscored that "campaign cash is not a strategy." Veteran political pollster and advisor Rod McCulloch from Victory Research joins Lissa & Thom to dig through the rubble of recent voter behavior. How does one candidate outspend an opponent three-to-one, and still lose? Why do endorsements fall short? Who benefits from low voter turnout? All the answers and many more questions are inside this episode of the Crisis Cast. Plus, you'll hear predictions for the "Super Bowl" of elections: the next vote for Mayor of Chicago.

Our friend John Kass, the venerable columnist, always says what he feels. During this episode, he takes the conversation with Lissa & Thom to a whole new level. Kass is full of caution on surviving a stroke, avoiding media overload, and his passion for coaching culinary arts. You'll learn why he's sworn off Fox News, CNN, and others — and how he plans to double down on writing at John Kass News.

Join Lissa & Thom for some heady talk on the fine art of sports journalism. In this episode, seasoned NFL writer Dan Pompei shares the stories behind Bears superstar Charles 'Peanut' Tillman, and the legacy of Ron Wolf in shaping NFL teams. Plus, we'll dive into predictions on this year's Bears' draft picks and what is fueling the drama of the NFC North. This week's Crisis Cast hero is Bears wide receiver DJ Moore.

Businessman Rick Heidner says he can't sit on the sidelines any more. Heidner tells Thom Serafin, in an extended face-to-face interview, why he was compelled to seek the Republican nomination to be Illinois' next governor. You'll hear Heidner's passion for guiding economic success and why family drives his approach to politics. Plus, Lissa Druss joins Thom to analyze the competitive landscape in the March Republican Primary. This week's Crisis Cast heroes are the members of Girl Scout Troop #26286 in Englewood. You can support their cookie sales to save the troop here.

In this episode, Bela Gandhi, founder of Smart Dating Academy, shares her journey from being a bad dater to becoming a dating coach. Lissa & Thom get schooled on the importance of understanding partner preferences, navigating dating apps, and the significance of emotional and intellectual connections in relationships. Bela emphasizes the role of coaching in dating, shares success stories from her clients, and offers insights on finding love after loss. The conversation concludes with quickfire questions that reveal Bela's personal insights and philosophies on love and relationships. Plus, Thom gets graded by Lissa on his performance as a matchmaker.

There's nothing like some fresh fiscal wisdom as we dig into a new year. Ilyce Glink is back to enlighten Lissa & Thom on the landscape of personal finance. In this episode, we'll chat about precarious markets, the 30% increase in food costs, and what to do about the record-high volume of personal debt. Plus, you'll hear some insights on China's massive economic development, as Ilyce reports on her recent three-week trip to southeast Asia. The silver lining in this conversation is the news that Ilyce is co-founder of a stealth startup focused on total wellness.

Join us for a wild ride through the entanglements of the Chicago City Council. Axios' Justin Kaufmann jumps into our chat room to breakdown the recent ban on hemp-derived THC products. In this episode, Mayor Brandon Johnson's budget accountability is questioned, and Lissa & Thom work through the list of issues most likely to engage voters. Plus, Justin came ready with an intoxicating number of twists that will impact the March Illinois primary and the mid-term elections in November. This week's Crisis Cast hero is Cook County Birding Champ Tarik Shahzad.

This is a conversation about political identity with a voice of reason no matter what side of the aisle you call home. In this episode, we're joined by Pat Brady, the former chair of the Illinois Republican Party. While Lissa Druss is on assignment, Thom Serafin digs into the Trump impact on Republican identity. Brady shares his journey from federal prosecutor to pure political junkie. Plus you're hear the issues that persist in Republican messaging and the names that appear to be the emerging leaders. Learn about this week's Crisis Cast hero: Josephine Christopher

We start the year with a deep dive on the price of division. Join Lissa & Thom as they visit the heart of the Statehouse with Ben Szalinski of Capitol News Illinois. During this episode, we'll troubleshoot the the Land of Lincoln's federal funding gaps and if property tax reform can save the day. We'll cover the buzz on AI and energy policy. Plus, you'll hear why Szalinski thinks you'd be proud of Illinois' legislators. This week's Crisis Cast hero is Jo Fleming creator of the solar panels that mimic sunflowers.

For decades, millions of Kev-Heads were charmed by the characters and sonic genius Kevin Matthews created on the radio. Today, Kev is traveling the world as a roadie for a broken statue of the Virgin Mary. In this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom celebrate Christmas with a behind-the-scenes conversation about the "Broken Mary" that Matthews found next to a flower shop dumpster. You'll hear why Kevin insisted the statue remains "broken" — and how his spiritual transformation is now speaking to a new audience, without a microphone.

Service to others runs deep in the Payton family DNA. There's a global reminder of that before every Super Bowl, when one NFL humanitarian is bestowed with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. In this episode of the Crisis Cast, WGN-TV's Jarrett Payton talks about the life lessons he learned from his father, and the vision he has for his own legacy. Lissa & Thom dive into Jarrett's obsession with watching game film, Ben Johnson's much-needed honesty, and JP's predictions for a Bears' playoff run. It's not like we're hungry. It's only been 40 years since the Bears won a Super Bowl. This week's Crisis Cast hero is Chicago ECO House CEO Quillen Blackwell.