After Hours with Rick Kogan

Jeff Cree, also known as Sunny Gunn, tells Rick and Producer Elif why he writes his music, and why he wrote a song dedicated to baseball. Still celebrating the Cubs’ 2016 World Series win, Rick and Elif invite Sunny to tell his story of family, and the happiness that a sport brings him, through “Baseball Dream.” Watch for his upcoming album, summer of 2017.

Storyteller Judith Heineman talks about what inspired her love for communicating her life to audiences. Judith has hand-picked a group  of people whose goals range from getting rid of a stutter, to connecting with others in the deaf community. Catch the Tellabration Sunday at the Experimental Station Sunday afternoon, followed by an evening performance at the Logan Center Performance Penthouse.

Podcast creators Tyler Greene, Shannon Cason and Arnie Niekamp, and Chicago Podcast Festival co-founder Jonathan Pitts explain the purposes of their intricate podcasts. They talk about why people want to actually see the creators at the festival, and why they want to see their listeners. Catch the festival yourself, starting tonight at The Promontory, and ending Saturday evening at the same place.

Tom Alexander and Mary MacDiarmid have been living together for eight years. Tonight, they tie the knot. Rick asks the couple the questions a long-delayed wedding day begs.

Author Robert Emmett Smith opens up about the tragic event in his family that brought him to write his book, Justice Delayed, Not Justice Denied. Robert elaborates on why while a victim clearly existed, a killer could not be placed for 23 years.

Actors Suzanne Petri and Bob Breuler, and musician Bobby Schiff tell us about the different clubs they frequented to inspire their upcoming show, Torch, Sass and Swing: The Clubs and Artists Who Made Chicago Great. Catch the show Wednesday through Friday at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre.

Musician David Nagler describes how the poetry of Carl Sandburg inspired him to start writing his own music, despite his NU degree. Listen in for some David Nagler originals, featuring several talented vocalists like Jeff Tweedy, and David’s wife. Hear all of it live Thursday for free at the Harold Washington Library!

Megan Doherty and Jasmine Kwong are the creators of If You Weren’t Looking For It: The Seminary Co-op Bookstore, a Chicago book store. They wanted to document the Seminary Co-op before the store was moved from its unique location. The book includes contributions from writers whose hearts have a special place for bookstores.

Chopper College founder Tommy Creal has developed the Motorsports Academy, a school which allows its students to get into the machinery itself. If you are passionate about motorcycles, check out the class website now!

WGN vet John St. Augustine and David Hirsch co-authored 21st Century Dads: A Father’s Journey to Break the Cycle of Father Absence, and they talk about who or what inspired them to be good dads themselves. Check them out in Lake Barrington at their Pepper Park Coffee book signing, and learn how to up your dad game here.