Today, we are joined by Karen Carney, Head of School at Chicago Friends School, along with students Violet and Imogen.

Chicago Friends School, located at 1315 W Berwyn, is a K–8 independent school grounded in Quaker values: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, equity, and stewardship. Those aren’t just words on a wall. They shape how students learn, how teachers teach, and how the entire community shows up for one another.

In a supportive and intentionally diverse environment, students are nurtured to reach their full academic, creative, and spiritual potential. Curiosity is encouraged. Voices are respected. Character is built alongside strong critical thinking skills.

Graduates of Chicago Friends School leave not only prepared for high school, but equipped with the confidence, empathy, and real-world experience to help build a better world.

Today we are joined by Brian Mamassian and Tyler Leasher, co-owners of Cowboys and Astronauts, Andersonville’s independent lifestyle and gift shop. Founded in 2017 and relaunched in 2025, the shop offers a curated mix of apparel, accessories, home décor, and gifts blending rugged grit with cosmic imagination, a welcoming hub for the community known for its warm hospitality, thoughtful curation, and inclusive spirit. Tyler brings over a decade in retail, while Brian draws on 15 years in tech and finance. Known for warm hospitality and thoughtful curation, Cowboys and Astronauts features popular and local brands alike and has earned four consecutive Chicago Reader “Best of Chicago” honors.

7th District Senator Mike Simmons has been a champion of our community since first taking office in 2021. Senator Simmons made history as the first openly gay member of the Illinois Senate and the first person of color to represent his district. He’s a dedicated advocate for equity, housing, and public health, working to uplift communities and ensure every voice is heard in state government.

We're thrilled to welcome back former Andersonville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Sara Dinges for a discussion with Senator Simmons on the work he's done for our community and his running campaign for Congressman of the Illinois 9th District.

This week, we're joined by Brandon Mensing. Owner and head donut fryer at Andersonville’s newest donut business, The Good One who is also our lead sponsor for Taste of Andersonville on Wednesday, August 6 and a stop on the Nosh Route.

Brandon Mensing, Andersonville resident, a queer Midwesterner born just south of Chicago, spent nearly two decades wrangling start-ups before deciding life is better glazed. Hear about Brandon's transition from the tech world to the fried one, overcoming the hurdles of starting a small business, and The Good One's delicious future ahead.

A particularly exciting episode. We're joined by multi-talented performer Anthony Rapp who will be performing at Midsommarfest this year on Sunday, June 15 on our Summerdale Stage.

Anthony hardly needs an introduction with a decades long performance career across stage, screen, music, and even a couple of video games. A Chicago native, Anthony, his husband, and kids have recently joined our great Andersonville neighborhood as new residents and we couldn’t be more excited to have them as a part of our community.

In this episode, we’re exploring the world of pop-ups as Andersonville’s InSidewalk Sale returns, bringing deals indoors and debuting the first InSidewalk Sale pop-up market at 5117 N Clark, with over a dozen vendors showcasing their creative products from jewelry to florals, pet supplies to soaps and more.

This week, we are joined by Hannah Wilson, owner of Andersonville’s new yarn hobby store, The Dropped Stitch!

This week, I am joined by internationally acclaimed magician David Parr and Joey Cranford, CEO, Founder, and co - owner of Chicago Magic Lounge.

Joey Cranford is an actor, director, and marketing executive, best known as the founder and CEO of the Chicago Magic Lounge. Trained at The Second City, he performed with I.O. and the Annoyance Theater before transitioning to film and TV, including roles in “Man of Steel” and “Better Call Saul.” His passion for Chicago history and close-up magic inspired the creation of the Chicago Magic Lounge, a top venue celebrating the city's historic magic bar scene.

This week, I'm joined by Janine Ramirez and Mike Waszkowski, owners of Rivers & Roads Cafe. Chicagoans Janine and Mike share a passion for adventure, food, and community. Janine, raised in a Puerto Rican household, discovered her culinary passion early, while Mike's adventurous spirit led him to rugby and philosophy. After a stint in LA, they returned to Chicago to realize their dream of creating a vibrant community hub with Rivers & Roads.

You know them, you love them, but what's their story?! This week, I am joined by one of Chicago’s favorite premier bands, Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute!