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; Indiana State Rep. Phil GiaQuinta; minority leader of the Indiana House; 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; 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; U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH); state Rep. James Talarico (D-TX); U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL); comedian Damon Williams; legal analyst Jill Wine-Banks; reproductive rights activist Amanda Zurawski

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

Filling in for Patti, Elliott Serrano and Ken Mejia-Beal chat with Stormy Daniels, ahead of her appearance at Zanies Rosemont.

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Patti is joined by Michigan State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou. The East Lansing Democrat talks about allegations of sexual abuse at Interlochen Center for the Arts. 

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Patti is joined by John E. McDonough, professor of practice in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and author of “America’s Wrong Turn: US Health Care in the Neoliberal Era.”  From 1985 to 1997, McDonough served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he co-chaired the Joint Committee on Health Care. He later helped craft the state and federal health care laws that became known, respectively, as Romneycare (after then Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney) and Obamacare.

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Patti and guest co-host Ken Mejia Beal are joined in studio by Chicago artists Amoz and Malachi Wright, who recently unveiled their community mural, “Kennicott Unity,” at the front entrance of the Kennicott Fieldhouse (4434 S. Lake Park Avenue in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood). The artwork celebrates the Chicago Park District’s positive impact and promotes a message of community unity. 

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Patti is joined by Adam Hamilton, United Methodist pastor and 2026 U.S. Senate candidate in Kansas, days before the August 4 Kansas Democratic primary that Hamilton won. He faces incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall in the November midterm election.

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Patti and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are 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).

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Patti is joined by Iowa Senator Catelin Drey, a Democrat from Sioux City.

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On the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by Amanda Zurawski, reproductive rights activist who was the lead plaintiff in the landmark Zurawski v. State of Texas case. She is also a Free & Just storyteller. 

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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 8/31
Comedians Dwayne Kennedy and Adam Burke fill in for Patti

Tue 9/1
Paul Chivari fills in for Patti with guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal

Wed 9/2
Patti is joined by guest co-host Ken Mejia Beal and their guests are
– Warren Hawk Preis and Peter Sarelas of Source Solar
– Jordan Parker, founder of Triveni Institute

Thu 9/3
– Erin Bosak, president of Chicago Area Peace Action (CAPA); on Sunday, September 6 CAPA presents “An Afternoon with Amy Goodman: Independent Media in a Time of Elections, War, and Rising Authoritarianism” at the University of Illinois Chicago
– Mark Gevaart, producer-host of My Labor Radio, an independent Community Access Radio program that airs every Wednesday on WELT 95.7 FM in Fort Wayne Indiana, and Sundays at 6:00 a.m. Central on WCPT
– James Loeffler, Felix Posen Professor of Modern Jewish History at Johns Hopkins University, and Kogod Senior Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute of North America; his book, “Exceptional Hatred: Antisemitism and the Fight over Free Speech in Modern America,” came out August 25

Fri 9/4
– Ernie Marcelain, 2026 candidate for Illinois Senate District 38
– Samantha Jayne of Baked By Jane Chicago café

Last week on the show

Mon 8/24
Listen to the full episode
Watch the video stream
– Chris Fitzsimon, publisher, CEO and founder of States Newsroom and host of the Stories from the States podcast [Listen]
– Brandon Wu, director of Policy and Campaigns at ActionAid USA [Listen]
– Daniel Squadron, president and co-founder of Future Now and author of “The Fourth Branch: How State Government Can Save Our Union” (2026) [Listen]

Tue 8/25
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Watch the video stream
Paul Chivari fills in for Patti with guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal, and their guests are
– Kevin Schmit, associate sports editor of the Daily Herald and columnist; he is a member of the Daily Herald News Guild organizing committee
– Paul Nolley, candidate for Congress in the 16th District of Illinois [Listen]
– Illinois State Rep. Diane Blair-Sherlock, Democrat representing the 46th District
– Tres Savage, editor-in-chief of NonDoc Media

Wed 8/26
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Elliott Serrano fills in for Patti with guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal and their guest is
– Car Guy Tom Appel, host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast

Thu 8/27
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Elliott Serrano fills in for Patti with guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal and their guests are
– Stormy Daniels, who will be doing a special event at Zanies Rosemont, Monday, August 31 [Listen]
– Greg O’Neil of Q Force Midwest Action Group
– Kyle Stern, president of the West Suburban Teachers Union, Local 571

Fri 8/28
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Elliott Serrano fills in for Patti with guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal and their guests are
– Jody Ann Martin, The Snarky Correspondent
– Kate Rice, columnist, podcaster and activist

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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.