Bob Sirott

Veteran Chicago food writer and historian Michael Gebert joins Bob Sirott to talk about his new book, “The Chicago Way: An Oral History of Chicago Dining.” Across 587 pages, this book chronicles six decades of Chicago’s culinary evolution, beginning in the 1960s. It draws on nearly 200 firsthand accounts from the people who shaped the scene—ranging from legendary figures like Charlie Trotter and Rick Bayless to the essential line cooks, servers, and purveyors who worked behind the scenes.

Vice President of Lending for Team Hochberg at Atlantic Coast Mortgage and host of WGN’s “Home Sweet Home Chicago” David Hochberg joins Bob Sirott to the increase in delinquency for auto loan rates and this weekend’s WGN Radio Vest-A-Thon . He hosts “Home Sweet Home Chicago” on Saturdays from 10am to 1pm on WGN Radio. You can call him at 855-56-David, or check out the Team Hochberg website.

Dean Richards, entertainment reporter for WGN, joins Bob Sirott to provide the latest news in entertainment. Bob and Dean share details about Bad Bunny’s new movie role, new music from U2, and a trailer for a final movie with James Van Der Beek. They also discuss the twentieth anniversary of “Hannah Montana,” Dean’s interview with Morgan Neville, and Robert Wagner’s 96th birthday.

VP of Public and Board Relations of the BBB Tom Johnson joins Bob Sirott to talk about the rise of spring break travel scams and dent repair scams in the south suburbs. He also shares details about spotting a fake apartment rental, unemployment benefits letters that people didn’t file for, and how you can protect yourself against an AI scam.

Columnist and film critic Richard Roeper joins Bob Sirott to talk about what Olympians typically do with their medals and why they will most likely not put it on display. They also discuss how many times Bruce Springsteen has stopped in Chicago and remember when Richard met with Robert Duvall.

Michael Liptrot, reporter for Block Club Chicago, joins Bob Sirott to share the latest Chicago neighborhood stories. Michael has details on:

Mahjong Is Having A Moment — And Uniting Chicagoans In Chinatown And Beyond: The parlor tile game created in 19th-century China is sweeping the city, providing strategic gameplay and social connection.

Funkytown Brewery Bringing Black-Owned Taproom To Lake Street: After operating for five years at Logan Square’s Pilot Project Brewing, the award-winning brewery will open the city’s only freestanding Black-owned taproom with help from a city grant.

19th Ward Pancake Breakfast To Help Chicago Officers Buy Bulletproof Vests: Ald. Matt O’Shea’s 12th annual Get Behind The Vest Pancake Breakfast will be held this weekend in support of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation. 

Sponsored by Great Lakes Credit Union – Committed to financially empowering local communities. For more info go to GLCU.org.

Joseph Lenzie, Senior Vice President, Treasury Management Officer Lead at Associated Bank, joins Steve Grzanich on this week’s Thought Leader conversation to break down why traditional fraud detection isn’t enough anymore, and how the financial world is evolving, from smarter fraud defense to the broader economic and risk trends shaping 2026.

On February 19th, 2026, Steve Grzanich shares today’s potential market drivers:

Dr. Aileen Marty, Infectious Disease Specialist and Professor at Florida International University, joins Bob Sirott to talk about the latest health news. Dr. Marty discusses the likelihood of a measles outbreak and answers a question from a listener asking about COVID vaccines.

Anna Davlantes, WGN Radio’s investigative correspondent, joins Bob Sirott to share what happened this week in Chicago history. Stories include the E2 nightclub stampede, Marina City’s landmark status, Walter Jacobson’s final newscast, and more.