WCPT 20th Anniversary – Heartland Signal

Thank you to everyone who came out to Max and Benny’s for our 20th anniversary live broadcast, and thank you to everyone who listened! If you missed it or want to listen again, check out the 20th Anniversary SoundCloud playlist below, or watch the video on Facebook: Hours 1 and 2, Hours 3 and 4. Also scroll down for photo galleries of the live broadcast and 20 years of WCPT!

The event was sponsored by Max and Benny’s, Fazio Insurance, Smart 265, the Democratic Party of Kane County, Southland Friends of Labor, Democratic Party of McHenry County, McHenry County Democratic Women, and ABOC.

LIVE BROADCAST RECAP

Hal Sparks and Johnny Million kicked off the 4.5-hour broadcast, co-hosting “The Hal Sparks Radio Program,” with special guests (listed in order of appearance):

Rob Glenn of Rute Design
Karen Byrne, co-host of the TruBlu Politics podcast (and Stephanie Miller’s “Karen from Chicago”)
Natalie Ziemba, member of the Woodstock City Council
Michael Garlin, former WCPT host
Richard Chew, host of WCPT’s “Chew’s Views” (weekdays at 6:00 a.m. Central)
Jill Wine Banks, legal analyst, former general counsel of the U.S. Army, author of “The Watergate Girl,” and host of Just The Facts with Jill Wine-Banks and co-host of #SistersInLaw
Joan Esposito, host of WCPT’s “Live, Local & Progressive” (weekdays from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Central)
Art Andros & Bobby Drell of WCPT’s “Where Are They Now?” (Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. Central)
Patti Vasquez, host of WCPT’s “Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez” (weekdays from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Central)
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, former host of “Sunday Mornings” on WCPT

Then Richard Chew, Joan Esposito, Patti Vasquez and Scott Duff co-hosted coverage with special guests (listed in order of appearance):

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
Thom Hartmann, host of “The Thom Hartmann Program,” weekdays at 11:00 a.m. on WCPT
State Sen. Laura Fine, Democratic member of the Illinois Senate for the 9th District
State Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl, Democratic member of the Illinois House for the 57th District
Chicago Ald. Scott Waguespack, member of the Chicago City Council representing the 32nd Ward
Marj Halperin, Democratic analyst, political commentator on “The Mincing Rascals” podcast, fill-in host for WCPT, and a moderator of the Hideout’s live conversation series
Tom Moss of Indivisible Chicago and a moderator of the Hideout’s live conversation series
William Muck, professor of political science at North Central College and regular WCPT fill-in host
Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton
Kurt Mullett, “Chew’s Views” contributor (every Wednesday) and a social media influencer under the name HoosierBlue63
Joel Ostrow, professor of political science at Benedictine University and co-host (with Brian Endless) of “The World Discord” podcast
Brian Endless, senior lecturer and director of African Studies and the African Diaspora at Loyola University Chicago; co-host (with Joel Ostrow) of “The World Discord” podcast; and founder of The Come Together Project
Mark Pinski, WCPT general manager

The hosts also devoted a segment to remembering the late Dick Kay.
Dan Levy made live announcements throughout the broadcast.

Live Broadcast Photo Gallery
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We Want To Hear Your WCPT Story

As we celebrate WCPT’s 20th anniversary, we want to hear from you. Call 773-467-8202 and leave a voicemail sharing your WCPT story. Let us know things like: how long you’ve been listening, how and why you started tuning in, what keeps you tuning in, favorite WCPT memories, favorite hosts and shows — whatever you want to share! We’ll be playing some of the voicemails on the air.

Station History

WCPT launched the progressive talk format in 2005 as an affiliate of the Air America network and soon began airing nationally broadcast radio programs hosted by Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, Randi Rhodes, Ed Schultz, Rachel Maddow, Al Franken, Alan Colmes, Janeane Garofalo, Mark Maron, Ron Reagan (son of the former president), and even Jerry Springer.

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Beginning in 2008, WCPT produced programs hosted by Chicago media fixtures like Dick Kay and subsequently launched the station’s longest-running local shows, “The Hal Sparks Radio Program” and “Out Chicago” with Scott Duff and Ellen Miller.

Today WCPT is the only progressive outlet in the Chicago broadcast market and is the largest progressive player on the national radio scene, with the partnership of the Heartland Signal digital newsroom.

Tune in to hear programs hosted locally by Richard Chew, Joan Esposito, Patti Vasquez, Hal Sparks, and Edwin Eisendrath, as well as nationally syndicated legends Stephanie Miller and Thom Hartmann. The station is also the Chicago radio home of Rick Smith, Matt McNeil, the long-running “Democracy Now,” and much more. Find our full schedule and program times at heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/schedule.

20 Years of WCPT in Pictures

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Highlights from WCPT’s Archive