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 6/8
– Dylan Conmy, executive director of The HumanKIND Initiative and founder of Ottawa Family Pride Festival, happening this Saturday
– Dr. Jason Bussell, director of Chicago Community Acupuncture 
– Kristine Binder of Free Mom Hugs
– John B. Boss, actor appearing as Roger DeBris in Bright Side Theatre‘s new production of the Mel Brooks musical “The Producers,” opening Friday, June 12 in Naperville

Tue 6/9
Patti is joined by guest co-host Joe Kilgallon and their guests are
– Comedian Soli Santos
– Bushra Amiwala and Anabel Mendoza, two Chicago-area activists who recently ran for Congress

Wed 6/10
Patti is joined by guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal and their guests are
– Precious Brady-Davis, commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
– Morgan Coghill, former candidate for the Illinois 10th Congressional District (he was defeated in the March primary) and founder of Northern Illinois Progressives, along with activist Augusta Guffroy 

Thu 6/11
– Alana Billingsly, flight attendant and Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) representative

Fri 6/12
– Jen Van Valkenburg of Garfield Park Conservatory, which just reopened their children’s garden
– Samantha Jayne of Baked By Jane Chicago cafe

Last week on the show:

Mon 6/1
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– Dan Shafer, Civic Media political editor and founding editor of The Recombobulation Area in Wisconsin
– Chaney Mosley, congressional candidate in Tennessee’s 6th District [Listen]
– Jenny Korotko, The Approachable Healer

Tue 6/2
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Austin May, candidate for McHenry County Board District 5, and their guests are
– Mike Nellis, Democratic strategist and host of “Endless Urgency with Mike Nellis”
– Vicci Rodgers, AFS Intercultural volunteer, with Adele Bertrand from France and her host mom, Beth McDowell; regular hosts Mary Furman (mother) Claire June Lesiowski (daughter); and on the line from Washington, D.C., Amr (from Egypt), Selin (from Turkey) and Qis (from Malaysia)

Wed 6/3
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal and their guests are
– Demi Palecek, community activist and candidate for Illinois House in the 13th District, and Channyn Lynne Parker, CEO of Equality Illinois [Listen]

Thu 6/4
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– Scott Stantis, editorial cartoonist
– Alison Dyer of the Double Good Kids Foundation, promoting Double Good Days 2026, a free, sensory-friendly event brings together kids of all abilities and their families for a day of play, connection, and pure joy, Sunday, June 7 at Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview, Illinois 
– Dan Kotowski, former Illinois state senator and president and chief executive officer of Kids Above All – he interviews Patti!
– Melissa McMahon, Woodstock Pride board member; Woodstock PrideFest happens June 12-14 [Listen]

Fri 6/5
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– Mike Mercado, co-host of “The Sports Cubicle” on WCPT (Sundays at 9:00 p.m. Central), and “The Bear Era Podcast” [Listen]
– Casey Aden-Wansbury, vice president of Policy and Government Affairs at Instacart
– Jen Wirt, founder and CEO of Coral Care
– Marcus Walsh, president of Preservation Rockford Company
– David Greenberg, distinguished professor of History and Journalism & Media Studies at Rutgers-New Brunswick and author of “John Lewis: A Life“; he recently wrote the article “Liberalism and Patriotism” for The States Forum journal [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.