Dynasty Podcasts: Chicagoverse

Jason Lesniewicz, Senior Director Cultural Tourism at Choose Chicago, guests on Dynasty Podcasts to reflect on the city's highlights in 2023.

Lesniewicz speaks on the past year in Chicago, reflecting on everything from the state of the local F&B industries to the value of exploring the city’s diverse neighborhoods to the importance of Chicago’s performing arts. He also offers insight into what the city offers to both creative communities and local, national, and international businesses.

The Senior Director Cultural Tourism reflects on some of Chicago’s notable wins in 2023, including being ranked Best Big City in the U.S. for the seventh consecutive year by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, as well as the economic impact of Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour in Chicago.

Lesniewicz also previews notable events happening in Chicago in 2024, including Chicago Restaurant Week, Chicago Theatre Week, CIVL Fest, the 2024 Democratic National Convention, and more.

Jen Dorman, Executive Creative Director at Critical Mass, guests on Dynasty Podcasts talk agency life, AI, and the changing shape of social media in the 2020s.

Dorman discusses Critical Mass' Trailhead and AIR initiatives, with the former offering internal growth opportunities for both students and career-changers and the latter redesigning the Artist-In-Residency experience. The ECD also speaks on the power of collaboration both within the nationwide Critical Mass offices and across the aisle with other agencies, and shares that the agency is currently hiring.

LaForce Baker, VP, Community Impact at World Business Chicago guests on Dynasty Podcasts to talk business development in Chicago's South and West Side neighborhoods.

Baker speaks on World Business Chicago's Small Business Tech Symposium event, happening Tuesday, November 14th at Polsky Exchange North, and shares how the event will benefit Chicago's small business owners and South and West Side communities with tech-focused learnings. The World Business Chicago VP also shares challenges businesses in those neighborhoods face, and reveals how developer support will benefit South and West Side communities by attracting both local and national businesses.

In an interview recorded at Shure HQ in Niles, IL, Jaime Black sits down with Shure Corporate Historian Michael Petterson to discuss the audio company's iconic microphone, the SM7.

Petterson recalls the mic's humble beginnings in the early '70s and shares how the SM7B reached its current popularity with the rise of podcasting in the 2000s. The Corporate Historian also details the 50th anniversary celebration of the mic with a limited box set edition of the SM7B featuring custom backplates, a signature from company founder Sidney N. Shure, and more.

Toni Witt and Andrew Gunderman of Chicago-based startupGENESISguest on Dynasty Podcasts to talk all things entrepreneurship.

The co-founders share their respective backgrounds and how they came to form GENESIS, a startup focused on connecting and empowering Gen Z talent. The duo discuss their journey learning and launching outside of the traditional college system, and preview their future plans for GENESIS and young tech talent in and beyond Chicago.

Anton Jeludkov, Creative Director at Someoddpilot, guests on Dynasty Podcasts in an interview recorded at the creative agency’s Wicker Park offices.

Jeludkov details Someoddpilot’s work producing the branding for this year’s Lollapalooza, from drawing inspiration from the festival’s early ‘90s origins to including Chicago touchpoint in the design work for the festival’s assets.

The Creative Director also shares his advice for pursuing the career you want, and previews what’s next for the creative agency and its Public Works Gallery art space.

ThinkChicago Program Manager Beatriz Kauffmann guests on a Dynasty Podcasts interview recorded at World Business Chicago’s downtown offices.

Kauffmann details how World Business Chicago and its ThinkChicago initiative support the city's Get Z students via student-focused programming, including the annual three-day Lollapalooza initiative, which connects students with business leaders and professional opportunities in Chicago.

The PM also speaks on how Chicago as a business ecosystem can best support Gen Z students, and shares why she feels strongly about her work in support of the city’s college talent.

Bruce Finkelman returns to Dynasty Podcasts to speak on spaces for Chicago’s music communities.

The live music professional revisits the early days of the Empty Bottle, including the “Next Seattle” era of Chicago music in the early ‘90s. Finkelman also details the evolution of the 16 on Center music, F&B, and nightlife collective that he co-founded with Craig Golden, including Pilsen’s Thalia Hall.

Elsewhere, the lifelong Chicago music veteran reveals the origins and future vision of the Salt Shed, and shares the motivation behind expanding into the food hall space, including Chicago’s From Here On and Revival Food Hall.

@properties co-founders Mike Golden and Thad Wong guest on a Dynasty Podcasts interview recorded at the real estate agency's offices.

Golden and Wong revisit how a shared sense of professionalism brought them together in the ‘90s, and emphasize the importance of relationships in @properties’ business model from the company’s early days up through now.

The duo also speak on the importance of Chicago as a business market and a home for creatives, while discussing @properties’ growth into other markets and the company’s acquisition of Christie’s International Real Estate.

Hyperlocal media personality Brandon Pope makes his Dynasty Podcasts debut to talk about his work across Chicago TV, digital, and more.

Pope talks about his role hosting WBEZ’s Making podcast and shares his thoughts on hosting the recent episodes deconstructing the rise and fall of Kanye West. He also delves into his work telling Chicagoans’ stories as host of On The Block, a collaboration between WCIU and Block Club Chicago. Finally, Pope speaks on his work mentoring the next generation of journalists in his roles as an instructor at Columbia College Chicago and as the President of the Chicago chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.