Podcasts
Welcome to the WCPT Podcasts page, which brings together the station’s eleven regularly updated podcasts. We offer full episodes and featured interview feeds of our five main shows, and the WCPT Weekend podcast, which is where you can find all of your favorite programs from our eclectic Saturday and Sunday lineups.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
Joan Esposito is joined by Gregory Royal Pratt, investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune. He is one of the Tribune reporters recently awarded, as Staff of the Chicago Tribune, the 2026 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting.
Joan Esposito is joined by U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Patti Vasquez is joined by Carl Deal, Oscar-nominated filmmaker who directed the 2025 documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” and Amy Goodman, host of “Democracy Now!” weeknights at 11:00 p.m. Central on WCPT. The film opened at Chicago’s Music Box Theatre Friday, May 8.
Richard Chew is joined by comedy duo Frangela (Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton).
Patti Vasquez is joined in studio by Joel Ostrow, professor of political science at Benedictine University, and Rima Ziuraitas, sergeant and combat medic in the Foreign Legion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Joan Esposito is joined by Thom Hartmann, author and host of “The Thom Hartmann Program,” weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Central on WCPT.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Ohio State Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati), minority leader of the Ohio House of Representatives.
Richard Chew is joined by Chris Hayes, host of “All In with Chris Hayes” on MS NOW and the “Why Is This Happening?” podcast, and author of “The Sirens’ Call: How Attention Became the World’s Most Endangered Resource.”
“Out Chicago” host Scott Duff and guest co-host Tania Richard are joined by Guy Branum, comedian, actor, and Emmy and Golden Globe-winning writer/producer of “Hacks.”
Joan Esposito is joined by Yusef Jackson, newly appointed president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, ahead of the May 1st day of “economic non-cooperation” that Indivisible is co-organizing. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by Justin J. Pearson, Tennessee state representative and candidate for Congress in the 9th District of Tennessee. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Patti Vasquez is joined by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), who spoke about the WELLS (Women Expansion for Learning and Labor Safety) Act that she recently introduced in Congress, and her work on Black maternal health. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Patti Vasquez: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by Jaime Harrison, political strategist, former chair of the Democratic National Committee, and host of the “At Our Table with Jaime Harrison” podcast. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by Chris Matthews, former host of “Hardball with Chris Matthews” (now on Substack), and author of “Lessons from Bobby: Ten Reasons Robert F. Kennedy Still Matters.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by Eugene Robinson, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist, former columnist, political analyst, and author of the new book “Freedom Lost, Freedom Won: A Personal History of America.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Speaking from Margaret Croke Election Night headquarters, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins WCPT’s Patti Vasquez and Joan Esposito.
Richard Chew is joined by Amy McGrath, 2026 candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky, former fighter pilot and U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, author of “Honor Bound: An American Story of Dreams and Service,” co-host of the politics and national security podcast “Truth in the Barrel.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by Russel L. Honoré, retired Army lieutenant general who served as the 33rd commanding general of the U.S. First Army and designated commander of Joint Task Force Katrina.
Joan Esposito is joined by David Hogg, gun control activist and former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.
Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL).
Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA).
Patti Vasquez is joined by U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL).
Patti Vasquez is joined by Minnesota State Sen. Erin Murphy, majority leader of the Minnesota State Senate.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Adam Mockler, YouTube content creator and podcaster
Joan Esposito is joined by Mark Wolf, former U.S. district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. In November 2025 Judge Wolf resigned and wrote an op-ed for The Atlantic entitled “Why I Am Resigning.”
Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY).
Joan Esposito is joined by Rohit Chopra, former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and resident fellow at the The Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School. Earlier this month The States Forum recently published his article “De-Gouging the Economy: How States Can Deploy Dormant Authorities to Alleviate the Cost-of-Living Crisis.”
Joan Esposito talks to U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN).
Joan Esposito is joined by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).
Joan Esposito is joined by Joyce Vance, author of “Giving Up is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy“; distinguished professor of the Practice of Law at the University of Alabama; author of the “Civil Discourse” newsletter on Substack; and former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama.
