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 Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza, newly announced candidate for Chicago mayor. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson with the June edition of “This Month with the Mayor.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) for a conversation about the war in Iran, the dishonesty of Sec. of State Marco Rubio, the cost of living, and more. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by Barbara McQuade, legal analyst, law professor, former United States attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, co-host of the “#Sisters in Law” podcast, and author of “Attack From Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America” (2024) and “The Fix:
Saving America from the Corruption of a Mob-Style Government.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee (D-TX), 2026 Democratic nominee for the 18th Congressional District of Texas. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by Louisiana Congressman Cleo Fields, a Democrat who represents the 6th District. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by John Fugelsang, actor, comedian, podcaster and radio host, TV pundit, and author of “Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by Michael Rabbitt, 45th Ward committeeperson and one of the so-called Broadview Six; last week federal prosecutors dismissed all charges against the remaining four defendants, of which Rabbit was one. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by newly elected Michigan State Sen. Chedrick Greene. (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.)
Richard Chew is joined by Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, professor, writer, activist, playwright, and author of the new book “A Protest History of the United States.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by Bryan Kennedy, mayor of Glendale, Wisconsin, national president of Democratic Municipal Officials, member of the DNC, and author of the new book “It’s All Local: Saving Democracy From the Ground Up.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by Nicholas Enrich, former civil servant who worked at USAID under four administrations and author of “Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower’s Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by Leigh McGowan, AKA Politics Girl. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by Illinois State Rep. Margaret Croke, Democratic candidate for Illinois comptroller. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Patti Vasquez is joined by U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH), candidate for re-election in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by Marvin Kalb, journalist with CBS News for 24 years, Murrow professor emeritus at Harvard, author of 18 books, most recently “A Different Russia: Khrushchev and Kennedy on a Collision Course,” and contributor to Washington Monthly; his latest article is “The Secret Plan to Murder a Pope.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)=
Edwin Eisendrath is joined by Yusef Jackson, newly appointed president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Also available: Joan Esposito is joined by Yusef Jackson, newly appointed president and CEO of Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
Richard Chew is joined in studio by Christian Mitchell, former Illinois state representative (2013-2019), deputy governor in J.B. Pritzker’s administration (2019-2023), and 2026 candidate for lieutenant governor of Illinois (as Pritzker’s running mate). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), candidate for U.S. Senate. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
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. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
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. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by comedy duo Frangela (Frances Callier and Angela V. Shelton).
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. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez” podcast.)
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 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.)
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 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. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito is joined by David Hogg, gun control activist and former vice chair of the Democratic National Committee. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Patti Vasquez is joined by U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez” podcast.)
Patti Vasquez is joined by Adam Mockler, YouTube content creator and podcaster. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez” podcast.)
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.” (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Richard Chew is joined by U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Richard Chew: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
Joan Esposito talks to U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN). (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
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. (Find this conversation and many others on the “Joan Esposito: Featured Episodes” podcast.)
