Apr 15, 2026
Put on your safety belts for a conversation about the Land of
Lincoln's tax and population crisis.
Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago
Policy Center, joins Lissa & Thom to examine Illinois' fiscal
challenges and potential reforms for Chicago's governance. He
highlights the impact of high taxes,...
Apr 9, 2026
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...
Mar 19, 2026
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...
Mar 11, 2026
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,...
Feb 27, 2026
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...