As the Bears gear up to face the Packers, we sit down with Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jim McMahon to talk about the city that adopted him, the team that defined a generation, and what it means to live with the long-term impact of the game he helped shape.

Jim takes us from San Jose to Soldier Field to Lambeau: how a kid who loved baseball wound up under center for the 1985 Bears, why he saw rebellion as a form of leadership, and what it was really like inside that famously intense Ditka–Buddy Ryan locker room. Along the way, we get the stories behind the headbands, the sunglasses, and the day he wore a Bears jersey to the Packers’ White House visit.

If you grew up hearing the ’85 Bears described like Greek gods, if “Go Bears” has ever been your version of “hello,” or if you’ve ever wondered what happens to a body and brain after football, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Bears–Packers, from both sidelines: How a player who spent seven years as the ultimate Bear ended up in Green Bay and why he wore a Chicago jersey to the Super Bowl ring ceremony at the White House.
• The legend of #9: Jim’s journey from BYU record-breaker to the swaggering, sunglasses-wearing quarterback of the 1985 Bears, and why he saw “us against them” as pure Chicago energy.
• Cannabis over opioids: How he and other former players got off pain pills, what he’s learned about the body’s endocannabinoid system, and why he calls marijuana a medicinal plant, not a drug.
• Troops, USO tours, and perspective: The story of visiting bases in Iraq during wartime, staying in Saddam’s palaces, meeting wounded soldiers in autograph lines, and how that reshaped his sense of service and sacrifice.
• The headband heard ’round the world: From getting fined for an Adidas band to trolling NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle on national TV, then turning the spotlight to charities during the Super Bowl.
• Hockey dads and golf trips: Raising kids in Northbrook youth hockey, early memories of brutal ’70s hockey fights, and dream foursomes that include Michael Jordan and rounds at Augusta, St. Andrews, and Pebble Beach.

Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.

Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman

This episode is a love letter to Chicago’s lakefront icon. As we head into the holidays, we sit down with Marilynn Gardner President & CEO of Navy Pier, to talk about what it means to steward “Chicago’s front porch”, a place where history, culture, and core memories all collide.

Marilynn takes us on a journey from freight to festivals: how a municipal pier built in 1916 became a Navy training site, a University of Illinois campus (a.k.a. “Harvard on the Rocks”), and eventually one of the most visited spots in the city — complete with the Centennial Wheel, public art, theater, restaurants, FlyOver Chicago, and more.

If you’ve ever flown into Chicago, seen Navy Pier out the window, and thought, “Okay, I’m home,” this one’s for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• A pier with a thousand lives: Marilynn traces Navy Pier’s evolution from shipping hub to Navy training ground, university campus, and finally the civic space we know today.
• Why Navy Pier is “Chicago’s front porch”: How the pier brings people together across neighborhoods, backgrounds, and generations, and why Marilynn sees her role as stewarding a mission-based cultural center, not just a tourist attraction.
• Winter WonderFest is back: The beloved holiday tradition returns after a five-year hiatus, with indoor ice skating, rides, and family-friendly fun for those long Chicago winter days.
• FlyOver Chicago & falling in love with the city (again): Nick shares his unexpectedly emotional experience on FlyOver Chicago, and Marilynn explains why it captures the grit, resilience, and beauty of the city so well.
• Events that shape the city’s cultural life: From EXPO CHICAGO to volleyball tournaments, weddings, fundraisers, and everything in between, how Navy Pier balances public space, local businesses, and significant events.
• Balancing history and what’s next: How Marilynn and her team protect the pier’s legacy while reimagining underused spaces and bringing in new experiences that keep people coming back.

Episode Resources:

Navy Pier

Winter Wonderfest Tickets

Marilynn Gardner LinkedIn

Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.

Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman

This week, we got DIBS on Rocky Horror at the Music Box, the Midnight Madness shadow cast that’s been turning a 35mm print, a midnight showtime, and a lot of fishnets into one of Chicago’s longest-running queer rituals. From a scrappy 1990s Rogers Park crew to five sold-out Halloween shows in 2024, this is the story of how a “weird little movie” became a pillar of the city’s cultural fabric and a home for anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.

In this episode, Nick takes you inside the Music Box on Halloween night, live from the lobby, the balcony, and backstage, to talk with cast president Marnie Thompson, Franks Elise and Amy, historian/DJ/security chief Chris, veteran cast members Bones and Billy, newer faces like Mark, Sarah, and Colby, staging manager Logan, and Music Box special events director Matt Carr. Together, they unpack why Rocky still matters 50 years later, what it means to build a truly welcoming “padded room” for self-expression, and how a volunteer cast keeps this tradition alive month after month.

In this episode, we cover:

• The first time it hits you: cast “Rocky stories” that start with high school theater, late-night TV, strict parents, anime conventions, and end with joining the cast.
• Why it endures: Rocky Horror as queer sanctuary, counterculture church, and a rare third space where you don’t have to drink to belong.
• Halloween vs. every other month: what makes the October run feel like “our Christmas,” how five shows sold out by early October, and why the energy on Halloween is unlike anything else in the city.
• Behind the corsets: staging managers juggling five nights of casting Tetris, months of rehearsals, handmade prop bags, and the nerves that never quite go away.
• Life on stage: playing Frank, Riff Raff, Eddie, Rocky, and more, embodying confidence, messiness, and joy, and what it feels like to have 700 people scream and dance with you at midnight.
• Queer history in real time: Midnight Madness as a 40-year Chicago institution, a place to figure out gender and sexuality long before language caught up, and a space where new generations keep finding themselves.
• The Music Box as home: how a once-run-down neighborhood theater became a thriving, analog, all-year destination, from Rocky at midnight to White Christmas sing-alongs and why people “just keep coming back.”
• If you’ve never been: how to pick your first show (Halloween chaos vs. deep-cut regulars), what to expect from the callbacks and crowd, and why the only real rule is simple: don’t be a dick.

Episode Resources:

The Music Box

Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.

Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman

This week, we got DIBS on filmmaker Gabe Polsky. It’s just me and Gabe in the room talking through his new documentary, The Man Who Saves the World? — the unbelievable, real-life story of Reverend Patrick McCollum and his mission to protect the Amazon. We delve into why Gabe was drawn to this journey, how the film came together, the moments that shook him, and what it means when one person decides to undertake something this significant.

It’s a straight, honest conversation about belief, impact, and Chicago roots — the kind of talk you only get when it’s one-on-one.

Episode Resources:

Follow Gabe: @gabepolski

Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.

Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman

This week, we got DIBS on Kevin Shaw—Emmy-winning director, cinematographer, and one of Chicago’s most essential storytellers. From ESPN field producer to red carpets at the Chicago International Film Festival, Kevin has spent a career capturing the city’s heart. His latest documentary, One Golden Summer, revisits the 2014 Jackie Robinson West Little League team—how they united Chicago, what really happened when the headlines turned, and why this story is bigger than baseball.

In this episode, Kevin pulls back the curtain on making the film without easy access to TV archives, centering the players’ voices a decade later, and challenging lazy narratives about the South Side. We talk youth sports as a media product, the whiplash from hero to “cheater,” and the resilience of young men who still love the game despite the spotlight’s burn.

In this episode, we cover:

• The summer that gripped Chicago: Jackie Robinson West’s run, the joy of Williamsport, and kids sneaking in wiffle ball between interviews.
• When the cameras turned: media incentives, racial stereotyping, and how a complex residency rule became a national “gotcha.”
• Centering the players: why Kevin stepped back on premiere night, and what it means to let the team tell their own story now as adults.
• Youth sports on TV: visibility vs. exploitation; why putting 12-year-olds on a national stage can help and harm.
• Chicago myths vs. reality: Morgan Park, community, and the cost of a single-story narrative about the South Side.
• Life after the storm: mental health, rebuilding identity, and the players’ paths—in baseball, music, and beyond.
• What’s next for Kevin: a new project on Oscar Robertson, labor rights, and how the NBA changed forever.

Episode Resources:

Vision Construction & Consulting

One Golden Summer

Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.

Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman

Join us for a limited series called Chicago Unsolved, where hosts Nick Sarantos (co-host of the DIBS Podcast) and Kerry Karic explore one of Chicago’s strangest true-life mysteries — the Max Headroom Incident.

In 1987, during a Sunday night Bears broadcast, WGN’s signal was hijacked by a figure in a rubber Max Headroom mask. Two hours later, it happened again—this time on PBS affiliate WTTW during Doctor Who. What followed was a bizarre, 90-second pirate transmission filled with cryptic phrases, eerie laughter, and a fly swatter.

No one was ever caught.

Joining Nick and Kerry is Professor Paul Booth, DePaul University’s professor of media and pop culture, who helps unravel how this low-tech act of rebellion became one of the most infamous unsolved hacks in television history. Together, they revisit the analog world of 1980s Chicago, decode the cultural impact of Max Headroom, and explore what this moment reveals about media, technology, and the rise of counterculture in America’s third-largest city.

In this episode:

• The night Chicago TV went dark: how two local stations were hijacked in real time.
• Why the Max Headroom Incident still fascinates tech historians and pop-culture fans nearly 40 years later.
• The eerie connection between the hacker’s message, media consolidation, and today’s digital echo chambers.
• What the analog age can still teach us about creativity, rebellion, and control.

Chicago Unsolved is brought to you by Vision Construction and Consulting, Inc. and One Tale at a Time Animal Rescue.

Be sure also to check out our sister show, DIBS, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow @Chicago_History on Instagram, Facebook, and X for more stories, behind-the-scenes content, and clips from both podcasts. Like, comment, and be a part of @Chicago_History.

Nick's Instagram - @chiniko312

Kerry's Instagram - @Kerryc9

This week, we got DIBS on Larry Potash, WGN Morning News anchor, creator/host of the Emmy-winning series Backstory, and a Chicago media institution. From Boston roots to 30+ years in the Midwest, Larry has had a front-row seat to the stories (and characters) that shape this city.

In this episode, Larry pulls back the curtain on how WGN’s morning show actually gets made, why “great storytelling beats podium soundbites,” and how Backstory uses history to decode today’s headlines. We discuss journalism’s evolution (and erosion) in the social era, the difference between accountability and viral noise, and how Chicago maintains its sense of humor both on and off the air during heavy news cycles.

In this episode, we cover:

• The WGN way: chemistry, authenticity, and why “news is a conveyor belt,” not a script.
• Backstory, explained: using history to make sense of now, plus standout episodes (Bozo, antisemitism in Oak Park, lost archives).
• From film to phones: the tech shifts Larry’s life, from tape and bike couriers to real-time feeds and misinformation.
• Politics & sports, Chicago-style: Daley-era obsessions, Obama’s rise, and how the Bears/Bulls/Cubs change the city’s mood.
• Heavy to light (for real): balancing tragedy with levity, why cancel culture misses the point, and Larry’s advice for young storytellers.

Episode Resources:

Vision Construction & Consulting

Purchase Tickets for Mr. Wolf at Steppenwolf Theater

Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.

Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman

Join us for a limited series called Chicago Unsolved, where hosts Nick Sarantos(co-host of the DIBS Podcast) and Kerry Karic dive into one of Chicago’s most infamous mysteries: the disappearance of candy heiress Helen Brach. In 1977, Brach vanished without a trace, leaving behind whispers of fraud and foul play tied to the horse-racing world and a case that has gone unanswered for nearly fifty years. Joining the conversation is legendary Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter Chuck Goudie of NBC 5 Chicago, who shares his insight into the twists, theories, and lasting impact of this haunting story.

Be sure also to check out our sister show, DIBS, on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow @Chicago_History on Instagram, Facebook, and X for more stories, behind-the-scenes content, and clips from both podcasts. Like, comment, and be a part of @Chicago_History.

Nick's Instagram - @chiniko312

Kerry's Instagram - @Kerryc9

This week, we got DIBS on Audrey Francis and Glenn Davis, the dynamic co-artistic directors of Chicago’s legendary Steppenwolf Theatre. From its scrappy beginnings in a Highland Park church basement to its 50th anniversary season, Steppenwolf has redefined American theater, launching iconic productions, shaping generations of actors, and making Chicago a global cultural force.

In this episode, Audrey and Glenn pull back the curtain on how the ensemble operates, what it means to nurture bold new voices, and how they’re keeping Steppenwolf’s rebellious spirit alive while planning a boundary-pushing season. We talk about their own journeys from actors to artistic leaders, the delicate balance between honoring classics and debuting new work, and what makes Chicago audiences so uniquely special.

In this episode, we cover:

• The origin story: How three young actors built Steppenwolf into a world-class theater company.
• Building an ensemble: Why long-term relationships and artistic trust fuel their success.
• Behind the season: A preview of Mr. Wolf, Feet, Windfall, Catch as Catch Can, and a revival of Amadeus.
• Life onstage: Their advice for aspiring actors, and how they keep the work honest, brave, and alive.

Steppenwolf’s 50th season celebrates its storied past while boldly embracing the future—and Audrey and Glenn are steering the company with passion, humor, and a fierce love for Chicago.

Episode Resources:

Learn more and explore upcoming shows at Steppenwolf.

Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.

Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman

This week we’ve got dibs on Anthony Rapp, actor, singer, activist, and Chicago-area native best known for originating Mark Cohen in RENT and for Lt. Cmdr. Paul Stamets on Star Trek: Discovery. From community theater in Joliet at age six to Broadway, film, TV, and concerts, Anthony shares a generous, funny, and deeply personal look at craft, legacy, and life back in Chicago.

In this episode, we cover:

• Chicago roots to Broadway stages: Summer-camp Wizard of Oz at six, Equity card at nine on the Evita tour, and early gigs at the Goodman, plus the teacher and community directors who opened doors.
• On-screen favorites: How Richard Linklater’s collaborative style made Dazed and Confused a career favorite and a bracing (and unforgettable) Yul Brynner story from The King and I tour.
• The making & meaning of RENT: Honoring Jonathan Larson, processing loss on the cusp of success, and how the show widened empathy, representation, and allyship for a generation.
• Activism as purpose: From early HIV/AIDS advocacy to marriage-equality work and how fatherhood has sharpened his lens on community and belonging.
• Star Trek & storytelling: Building TV’s quietly groundbreaking queer partnership with Wilson Cruz, why sci-fi is the perfect empathy machine, and portraying trauma, love, and repair on screen.

Episode Resources:

• City Winery Chicago Presents Anthony Rapp of the original Broadway cast of RENT live on Sunday, September 21st at 7:00 PM!

Listen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.

Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman