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

Patti is joined by Indiana State Rep. Phil GiaQuinta, minority leader of the Indiana House.

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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 8/10
– Reid McCollum, chair of the Democratic Party of DuPage County
– Tennessee Brando, Meidas Touch contributor, social media commentator, and singer-songwriter from East Tennessee

Tue 8/11
– 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” (out today)
– Anita Loch, chair of the Democratic Party of Walworth County Wisconsin

Wed 8/12
Patti is joined by guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal and their guests include:
– Hilario Dominquez, candidate for Chicago School Board President

Thu 8/13
– 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

Fri 8/14
TBA

Last week on the show:

Mon 8/3
Listen to the full show
Watch the video stream
Patti is joined by guest co-host Austin May, candidate for McHenry County Board District 5, and A.J. Johnson, Democratic candidate for Illinois House, District 64, and their guests are
– Paul Chivari, co-host of “The Sports Cubicle” on WCPT (Sundays at 9:00 p.m. Central)
– Kaylee Peterson, candidate for Idaho’s 1st Congressional District
– Adam Hamilton, United Methodist pastor and 2026 U.S. Senate candidate in Kansas (the Kansas Democratic primary election is Tuesday)

Tue 8/4
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– Morgan Coghill, former candidate for the Illinois 10th Congressional District (he was defeated in the March primary) and founder of Northern Illinois Progressives [Listen]
– Steve Minchuk, president of Northern Indiana Area Federation of Labor [Listen]
– Corbin Trent, Democratic strategist who served as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s communications director and is currently the founder and executive director of  afightworthhaving.com, a progressive super PAC

Wed 8/5
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal and their guests are
– Chicago muralists Amoz and Malachi Wright [Listen]
 – Jared Ploger, Democratic candidate for Illinois State Senate, District 42 [Listen]

Thu 8/6
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Watch the video stream
– Sebastian Vargo, Chicago-based chef behind Vargo Brother Ferments (featured at the Jefferson Park Sunday Market), along with Jackie and Patty from Pride Coffee Roasters
– Ben Cominos, host of “Outside The Box with Ben Cominos” on Substack
– Joel Dinerstein, professor of English at Tulane University and author of “The Last of the Ellis Island Jews: A Brooklyn Memoir” (2026) [Listen]

Fri 8/7
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Patti broadcasts live from the McHenry County Fair and her guests include
– Dee Darling, candidate for McHenry County Board District 1
– Ken Bauman, member of the McHenry County Board of Directors
– 4-H kids Tim Hofth, Chris McKee and Lily Behrens
– Ruth Scifo, chair of the Democratic Party of McHenry County
– Natalie Ziemba, member of the Woodstock City Council
– Bridget Belcastro, candidate for McHenry County School Board

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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.