After Hours with Rick Kogan

In Jeremy McCarter’s book, Young Radicals: In the War for American Ideals, he delves into the dramatic era of the early 1900’s to focus on five ahead-of-their-time radicals: Max Eastman, Walter Lippmann, Alice Paul, John Reed & Randolph Bourne. Jeremy joined Rick in the studio to talk about his 6 year winding path to finishing the book & to explain why he chose to rewrite its epilogue after the election and the Women’s March. They also talked about Hamilton: The Revolution, which he […]

Singer and composer Laury Shelley joined Rick in the studio to preview her upcoming Jazz Showcase. She also talked about her musical influences and told Rick when and why she started to write her own music. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3369314/3369314_2017-06-25-233214.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3807.mp3

In honor of Father’s Day, Rick shared a story from Geneva-based folk musician Jim Post, who wrote about his much loved “Daddy” and how the man brought him up. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3366652/3366652_2017-06-18-232852.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3807.mp3

Rick talked to Steve Darnall, publisher of Nostalgia Digest and host of “Those Were the Days” on WDCB 90.9 FM about the magazine’s latest swimsuit edition and the golden age of radio. Then, Rick read a story written by Jim Post about growing up with his Daddy. Then, Producer Lise interviewed her dad about his musical influences. Roger Badesch joined in to share part 3 of his life story. Last, but certainly not least, director Steve James told Rick about […]

Steve Darnall is a true lover of nostalgia: he’s always been curious about old time radio & culture, largely thanks to his Dad. He joined Rick to tell his story on how he became publisher of the Nostalgia Digest, why they decided to start having a swimsuit edition & what is so special about his Saturday radio show, “Those were the Days” on WDCB 90.9 FM.  Then, Steve defines the Golden Age of Radio and comments on the state of […]

Director Shade Murray and actress Jennifer Engstrom from A Red Orchid Theatre in the heart of gold town, Rick’s very favorite Chicago theater. They talked to Rick about the theater and their upcoming benefit, a staged reading of “Angels in America: Part One, Millennium Approaches” and how it came to be. “It came out of despair and helplessness, as all good art does,” said Director Murray. Find out more about the event on A Red Orchid Theatre’s website. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3364098/3364098_2017-06-11-232238.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3807.mp3  

Frequently called the “Temple of Music,” Bronzeville’s Pekin Theatre was the very first black owned and operated stock theatre company in the United States. On June 18, 1905, they opened the first all-black show ever produced in Chicago. Now, almost 112 years later, Reginald Robinson alongside several keen musicians are going to recreate the night. He and Tim Samuelson joined Rick in the studio to talk about the show, the theatre, ragtime and how the city and its music has […]

Storytelling nights are starting to become dime a dozen in Chicago proper, but Maureen Muldoon moved from LA to the western suburbs, she felt a severe lacking in nearby storytelling outlets. So, when she saw Cathy Richardson play, she knew that together they could create a suburban sanctuary for storytellers at the picturesque & soulful Fitzgerald’s in Berwyn. They both joined Rick and Lise After Hours to talk about their journey, the structure of the special monthly night that marries […]

Mary Fons, from the likes of PBS’ Love of Quilting and the Paper Girl Blog joined Rick Kogan in the studio to talk about her journey from Iowa to Chicago to become a poet, her mother, a legendary quilter & the difference between a professional quilter and a hobby quilter. Then, Alex and Francis Key Scott White, better known as White Mystery joined Rick to talk about their latest record, their co-songwriting process, touring together around the world, being an independent band and […]

Mary Fons, from the likes of PBS’ Love of Quilting and the Paper Girl Blog joined Rick Kogan in the studio to talk about her journey from Iowa to Chicago to become a poet, her mother, a legendary quilter & the difference between a professional quilter and a hobby quilter. She reminisced about the ‘electric’ poetry slams at The Green Mill & the blessing she received from The Marc Smith on her first night there. Then, she talked about why she moved away from […]