Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez

“Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez” is a progressive talk show with heart and humor. Patti engages guests and listeners in discussions about the issues that matter most to them, shining a spotlight on local and national stories, never steering her audience astray.  The show is also broadcast on AM 950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota KTNF and Alternative Talk 1150 KKNW Seattle.

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Notable interviews: W. Kamau Bell, Sec. of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinksi (D-IL), U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), Wisconsin Judge Susan Crawford (as candidate), former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, comedian John Fugelsang, Fatima Goss Graves, radio host and podcaster Jody Hamilton, Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), Pennsylvania State Rep. and DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta, actor Jason Kravits, U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Politics Girl Leigh McGowan, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker, actor Michael Rooker, U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, state Rep. James Talarico (D-TX), U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), comedian Damon Williams, legal analyst Jill Wine-Banks

About Patti
Patti Vasquez is a Chicago comedian, writer, actor, talk show host, consultant, and advocate. After earning a degree in history from the University of Illinois, she set out to share her hilarious observations about how people behave, and stories about her second-generation Irish dad and Mexican immigrant mom. Patti has headlined comedy clubs and colleges across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appeared on Nickelodeon, TBS, ABC, and The Oprah Winfrey Network, and has a recurring role on NBC’s “Chicago Fire.”

When her son Declan was born with a rare neurological disorder, Patti took her communication and performance experience and launched With Kind Words, helping medical professionals and educators communicate with compassion.

For six years, Patti was the first Latina to host her own talk show on WGN Radio 720. She now hosts Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez on WCPT 820 AM weekdays from 5–7 PM, syndicated to Minneapolis and Seattle, and has joined the WCPT sales team. She also provides commentary for the Heartland Signal newsroom.

In addition to her work as a performer and consultant, Patti has long advocated for children and families throughout Illinois — helping restore funding for vital support services after massive cuts under former Governor Bruce Rauner. In 2020 she ran for state representative of the 19th District, and she previously served as health care and human services liaison and assistant policy adviser to Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. Patti lives with her family on the Northwest Side of Chicago and continues to advocate for her community.

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Featured Interviews

Patti is joined by U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH), candidate for re-election in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District.

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Patti is joined by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL). Kelly 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.

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Patti is joined by U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL).

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Patti and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL).

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Patti is joined by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

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Patti is joined by Peggy Flanagan, lieutenant governor of Minnesota and candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

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Patti and guest co-host Jaime DeLeon are joined by comedian Paula Poundstone.

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 Click here for all of Patti’s Featured Interviews.

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Listen live weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 820 AM, on TuneIn, right here on the Heartland Signal website, or watch the video stream (live or on demand) on Facebook or YouTube. You can also tell Alexa to play WCPT from TuneIn.

Text or phone 773-763-9278.
Email pvasquez@wcpt820.com.

Also follow Patti on TikTok.

“Driving It Home” is sponsored by:
Minocqua Brewing Company
Pride Coffee Roasters
Source Solar
Are You Really Winning? Illinois gambling helpline

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This week on the show:

Mon 5/18
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– U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH), candidate for re-election in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District [Listen]
– Dan Shafer, Civic Media political editor and founding editor of The Recombobulation Area in Wisconsin
– Scott Stantis, editorial cartoonist

Tue 5/19
Patti is joined by guest co-host Dwayne Kennedy and their guests include
– Joel Bleifuss, editor and publisher of Barn Raiser, and Justin Perkins, editor and publisher of Barn Raiser

Wed 5/20
Patti is joined by guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal and their guests include
– Michael Frustini and Ricky Martel of Second City Outlaws
– Peter Coolidge, Democratic candidate for sheriff of DuPage County 
– Kate Morrissey, endoscopy RN at Rush University Medical Center; she discusses Rush University Medical Center nurses’ Monday vote to join the National Nurses Organizing Committee, an affiliate of National Nurses United

Thu 5/21
Patti is joined by guest co-host Dr. Kathy Tynus, internist at Alivio Health Services, and their guests include
– Zia Varajon, Chicago-based author, whose debut book, “Love, Your Trans Big Sister: Advice on the Transfeminine Journey,” was released May 12

Fri 5/22
– Sheri Reda, Chicago-based author of “Diaspora,”  a new collection of poems

Last week on the show:

Mon 5/11
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Kevin Ryan, the New Deal Democrat who recently ran for U.S. Senate in Illinois, and their guests include
– Joyce Mahoney, regional vice president of memory care at Belmont Village Senior Living
– Dr. Chris DeRienzo, senior vice president and chief physician executive at the American Hospital Association, to talk about National Hospital Week (May 10-16) [Listen]

Tue 5/12
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Dan Schaefer and their guests are
– Reid McCollum, chair of the Democratic Party of DuPage County
– Dan Tully, attorney, former judge advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve, recently elected Democratic Precinct Committee person in Bloomingdale Township (DuPage County), and 2026 candidate for Congress (he was defeated in the March 17 Illinois primary) [Listen]

Wed 5/13
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Patti is joined by guest co-hosts Dwayne Kennedy and Ken Mejia-Beal and their guests are
– Ben Cominos, WHBY “Outside the Box” host

Thu 5/14
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Dwayne Kennedy and their guests are
– Tennessee Brando, Meidas Touch contributor, social media commentator, and singer-songwriter from East Tennessee [Listen]
– Philip Martinez, board chair for the Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
– Comedian Damon Williams, who will be doing a special event at Zanies Rosemont this Sunday, May 17 [Listen]

Fri 5/15
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– Mika Stambaugh, a melanoma survivor and advocate who is the namesake of Mika’s Melanoma Monday, a statewide initiative launched in May 2025 [Listen]
– Tangela Enyia, Meridian Health’s vice president of Governmental and Community Relations
– Dave Bushaw, independent candidate for Congress in Iowa’s 2nd District [Listen]
– Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson, author of “Climate Wayfinding: Healing Ourselves and the Planet We Call Home” (2026), and co-founder of The All We Can Save Project [Listen]

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“Driving It Home” now has its very own podcast. Two, in fact: Driving It Home (Full Episodes), available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon, and Driving It Home (Featured Interviews), also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon. Subscribe to one or both!  “Driving It Home” is also available at Omny.fm.