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, Rep. Nikki Budzinksi (D-IL), 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, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), Pennsylvania State Rep. and DNC Vice  Chair Malcolm Kenyatta, actor Jason Kravits, Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Politics Girl Leigh McGowan, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker, actor Michael Rooker, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, state Rep. James Talarico (D-TX), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), legal analyst Jill Wine-Banks

About Patti
Patti Vasquez is a Chicago comedian, writer, actor, talk show host, consultant, advocate, and policy adviser. After achieving 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 in comedy clubs and colleges all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appeared on Nickelodeon, TBS, ABC, 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 decided to take her communication and performance experience to launch her company “With Kind Words,” in which she helps 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. In addition to her work as a performer and consultant, Patti began advocating for children and families throughout Illinois and helped restore funding for vital support services after massive cuts were made by former Governor Bruce Rauner. In 2020 she ran to be the state representative of the 19th District. She is now the health care and human services liaison and assistant policy adviser for 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. 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 is joined by Chicago Ald. Jessie Fuentes.

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Patti and guest co-host Jesse Rojo are joined by John Fugelsang, actor, comedian, podcaster and radio host, TV pundit, and author of the New York Times bestselling book “Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds.”

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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 live video stream 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 4/27
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– Dr. Jason Bussell, director of Chicago Community Acupuncture
–  Jenny Korotko, The Approachable Healer

Tue 4/28
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– Rodney Gibbs, Heartland Signal executive director
– Julian Crews, former WGN-TV reporter and founder of “Old Havana Foods” 
– John Fugelsang, actor, comedian, podcaster and radio host, TV pundit, and author of the New York Times bestselling book “Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds“
– Jacob Morrison, member of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 1858, president of the North Alabama Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and host of “The Valley Labor Report,” Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Central on WCPT

Wed 4/26
– Car Guy Tom Appel, host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast
– During the 6:00 hour Patti participates in the Up North podcast with Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad and special guests

Thu 4/27
Patti is joined by guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal; guests TBA

Fri 4/28
Patti is joined by guest co-host Dr. Suzana Flores (psychologist and author) and their guests are
– Anne-Michele Boyle, social science teacher at Chicago’s Whitney Young High School and recipient of the 2026 AFS-USA Global Educator Award
– Karina Ayala-Bermejo, president and CEO of Instituto del Progresso Latino (Instituto), a leading community-based organization that provides education and social and legal services

Last week on the show:

Mon 4/20
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– Dan Shafer, creator of The Recombobulation Area and political editor at Civic Media in Wisconsin
– Ryan Kominakis, Marine veteran, steelworker, and union leader running for the Indiana House of Representatives; the primary is May 5th [Listen to the conversation]

Tue 4/21
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– Julie Fortier, candidate for Congress in the 12th District of Illinois; she is trying to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Bost [Listen to the conversation]
– Tom Turner, Army veteran, attorney, and Democratic candidate for Michigan’s 57th House District; he is trying to unseat incumbent Republican Rep. Tom Kuhn [Listen to the conversation]
– Elizabeth Thielen, senior director at Nicasa Behavioral Health Services in Lake County, Illinois, and Dr. T. Celeste Napier, professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Rush University; they talk about the Are You Really Winning? problem gambling-awareness campaign [Listen to the conversation]

Wed 4/22
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– D.J. Byrnes, publisher of The Rooster, the largest independently owned media operation in Ohio politics
– In hour two Patti joins the Up North Podcast with the Minocqua Brewing Company and contributors Kirk Bangstad, Ben Cominos, Amy Thomas and more

Thu 4/23
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Todd Belcore (executive director of Social Change) and their guests are
– Michael McMurray, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) [Listen] 
– Kansas City-based attorney Cecilia Nuby Brown on the $71 million discrimination lawsuit she’s filed on behalf of Westport, Missouri Black business owners [Listen]
– Dr. Kristin Lyerly, OB/GYN, 2024 candidate for Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, plaintiff in alawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s pre-Civil War abortion law

Fri 4/24
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Dr. Suzana Flores (psychologist and author) and their guests are
– Comedian Marc Price, best known for his role as “Skippy from Family Ties”; he is performing Sunday, April 26 at the Comedy Plex in Oak Park [Listen]
– Jessica Crouch, registered nurse at St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital in Bryan, Texas, and union organizer
– Whitney Ridel, U.S. Navy veteran, WCPT intern, and the founder of Yes And Adventures, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering children through improv, storytelling, confidence-building, and community service. On May 9th Yes and Yes Adventures presents Stand Up For Freedom, a comedy show dedicated to raising awareness about and fighting against soldier suicide, hosted by The Pocket at Surge Billiards Logan Square. [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.