This week I am joined by Tyler McCall. Tyler McCall is co-owner of Paper & Pencil at 1480 W Berwyn alongside his husband Eric Campbell. Paper & Pencil is Andersonville's friendly neighborhood stationery shop offering high-quality stationery goods and supplies including greeting cards, notebooks, and writing tools. They feature products from independent brands from around the world alongside Japanese, French, British, & German stationery favorites. Paper & Pencil is local, independent, and queer-owned.

This week, we are joined by owner of WasteNot Compost, Liam Donnelly. WasteNot Compost, Chicago’s first and only zero-emission compost collection, was born in 2015. WasteNot Compost currently serves homes and all events and business types ranging from schools, cafes, bakeries, to farmers markets, and everything in between. They take the work out of composting for you so it can not only be easy to do so in an urban setting, but is a clean experience with all tools provided every pickup.

This week, I am joined by Orion Couling and Zack Meyer, founders of Shadow Carriers storytelling collective. Their multi-decade partnership has spun tales of the supernatural for audiences nationwide from tall ships to walking tours to backyard picnic tables, and anywhere a good legend is appreciated. Their podcast of the same name amplifies their storytelling style with immersive soundscaping and music design to take you into the darkness and out again. Previous seasons have explored the lore of Chicago, New Orleans, Big Cities; and they’re well into this year’s theme of Spirit Ships and Haunted Harbors.

This week I am joined by Bill Dlugokienski & Adam Kruse, owners of Vase & Vessel in Andersonville, and Dara Schuman of Dara Schuman Ceramics. Vase & Vessel opened its doors in September 2022 and quickly became one of Andersonville’s favorite shopping destinations for plant lovers, gift givers, and those looking for that special something to create a cozy, interesting, and beautiful home. Dara Schuman is a ceramicist working full-time out of The Digs Chicago, a nonprofit, artist-run ceramic studio. She regularly pops-up at gallery events, has made dinnerware for Esme's tasting menu, and sells in local shops (including Vase and Vessel, Neybir, Wilder House) Bill & Dara have recently teamed up along with Chicago small business Vicinity Candles to create Vase & Vessels first original candle. 

Don't forget to join us for Andersonville Arts Weekend this weekend, Friday September 29 - Sunday October 1 and meet Dara at Vase & Vessel on Friday!

This week we are joined by Danny Fender and Adam Crawford, co-founders of The Understudy theatre bookstore and specialty coffeshop at 5531 N Clark. Named in honor of all the hidden work it takes to make a play happen, The Understudy is dedicated to celebrating, fostering, and uplifting artistry in our community in all its forms. Whether you’re discovering a new playwright, trying their latest single-origin coffee, or sharing thoughts in one of their book clubs, they create endless opportunities to get surprised, feel inspired, and shake something up.

This week we are joined by Hina Pitroda, founder of Bloom & Belong. Hina works with people to reduce stress, and find joy and awe in their lives. This includes taking preventative steps to attend to your whole health—movement, sleep, perspective, food, relationships/connections, and more. Her approach is compassionate, strengths based, and rooted in mindfulness through  1:1 coaching, as well as group coaching classes in mindfulness and self compassion and supporting people towards the goal of elevating themselves, and meeting their mind/body/spirit goals.

This week we are joined by Jay Schwartz, Owner of Andersonville’s custom T-shirt mainstay store Strange Cargo to discuss their history and celebrate 40 years of Strange Cargo! Strange Cargo has been a premier location for custom t-shirts since 1983. Strange Cargo is known for their extensive selection of customizable t-shirt options as well as their personable nature and sense of humor, commonly combining their custom t-shirt skills with an politically topical irreverent humor often showcased in their quintessential storefront window.

Please be advised, this episode includes one instance of an F word

This week we are joined by Jessica Tovesson, founder of Learn Swedish Now, LLC and a board member at the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce (SACC) in Chicago. Learn Swedish Now, LLC provides Swedish language educational services. Private lessons are customized with individual lesson plans and the conversational group classes are offered at multiple levels of proficiency. The customers are individuals, corporations, government organizations, and private industries to fit everyone's unique learning styles in order to meet the goals within the timeframe. Learn Swedish Now, LLC provides educational solutions that prepare customers for upcoming relocations, new work assignments, or improved communication with family and friends. From kids to adult, everyone is welcome to jump into their Swedish language learning with Jessica!

This week we are joined by Socorro King, General Manager of Big City Optical Andersonville South location at 5301 N Clark. Big City Optical is a privately owned Chicago optical practice with locations around Chicago offering optical services including annual eye exams, pediatric exams, Lasik consultations, and any number of medical optical needs while also providing a fashionable selection of eyewear. Socorro tells us all about this family owned small business and busts some of the myths and misconceptions about the optical world along with a few glasses tips to top it off!

This week we are joined by Emma Lewis, Owner of Rare Form/The Twentieth, a pop-up art and vintage shop based in Chicago. Emma works to digitally restore and reinterpret 100 year-old designs to create unique greeting cards, stationery , and more. She seeks to empower and affirm others with a brand that combines vintage images with unapologetic contemporary feminist language and over-the-top messages of affirmation. She plans to open her first brick and mortar store - called Rare Form in Andersonville this August at 5438 N Clark! Rare Form will be a vintage inspired home décor/ concept store a blend of art and home goods with vintage pieces mixed in and a European flare.