School officials are taking measures to understand behavior that could indicate whether a student is going through a mental health crisis. Reset brings on the director of a mental health first aid workshop and a teacher who has taken the class.

GUESTS: Dr. Judth Allen, clinical director and chief operating officer of Communities In Schools of Chicago

Johnny Krug, teacher at Anshe Emet Day School

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons

Producer: Richard Requena

Reset continues to spotlight essential workers as we enter the second year of the coronavirus pandemic. Today, we talk to a grocery store worker in Logan Square who says her experience taught her how labor is valued — or not — in Chicago.

GUEST: Hannah Chavez, Logan Square resident and Whole Foods employee

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons

Producer: Meha Ahmad

James Patterson has written everything from mystery thrillers and scientific fiction to romance, young adult and children’s books. Now, he’s bringing his talents to the audio world with a slate of original projects for Audible. Reset talks to Patterson about his first release, The Coldest Case: A Black Book Audio Drama, and hears from actor Krysten Ritter about what it was like to be a part of the project.

GUESTS: James Patterson, best-selling author and creator of The Coldest Case: A Black Book Audio Drama

Krysten Ritter, actor and author of Bonfire: A Novel

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons

Producer: Stephanie Kim

Industrialized countries throw trillions of dollars at problems, like poverty, hunger, lack of connectivity and especially access to quality healthcare, but the outcomes nowhere near match the investment. Reset asks the author of the book Frugal Innovations: How To Do More With Less about how countries with emerging economies have improved life for millions of people at a fraction of the cost spent in countries like the U.S.

GUEST: Navi Radjou, French-American scholar, innovation and leadership advisor. His most recent book is Frugal Innovation: How To Do More With Less

Supriya Mehta, associate professor of Epidemiology, interim associate dean for Global Health, UIC School of Public Health

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons

Producer: Steve Bynum

In the U.S., the average Black family’s wealth is only a fraction of the average white family — about 13%. And that wealth gap between white and Black families has remained pretty constant for the last 30 years. Crain’s Chicago Business has been exploring the disparities of wealth in Chicago — what’s driving it, and what can be done about it — in its monthly Equity series. Reset dives into the series, and takes a look and what efforts are being made to close the wealth gap in Chicago.

GUESTS: Jan Parr, assisting managing editor at Crain’s Chicago Business

Audra Wilson, President and CEO, The Shriver Center on Poverty Law

Like all arts organizations, The House Theatre of Chicago and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago have been hit hard by the pandemic. But both arts organizations have taken this time to seek out and find new artistic directors to guide them. Reset talks with the new leaders about the big task of navigating The House and Hubbard Street out of the choppy waters of the pandemic.

GUESTS: Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, artistic director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Lanise Antoine Shelley, artistic director of The House Theatre of Chicago

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons

Producer: Jason Marck

One year into the pandemic, the unemployment rate in Illinois is on the decline as certain sectors are making job gains. But many still rely on resources and services from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. Reset checks in with the department’s acting director for more on what the COVID-19 relief package means for Illinois residents and the latest on tackling unemployment insurance fraud and other issues.

GUEST: Kristin Richards, acting director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons

Producer: Stephanie Kim

For more than a year, work and home life have been blended together to minimize the spread of the virus. What about those who can’t work from home? Essential workers across various industries have continued to provide for our community even when everything else shut down. Reset checks in with two Chicago Transit Authority bus drivers to hear about their experience during the pandemic.

GUESTS: Jacqueline Newman, Chicago Transit Authority bus driver

Jason Nawls, Chicago Transit Authority bus driver

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons

Producers: Stina Chang, Bianca Martin

Payday loans are criticized for worsening poverty and financial inequity, especially in Black and brown communities.

Reset hears about an Illinois legislative bill that would cap payday loan interest rates at 36 percent.

Host: Becky Vevea

Producers: Daniel Tucker, Steve Bynum

Reset checks in with an infectious disease specialist for our weekly check-in to provide clarity and answers to your questions, comments and concerns about COVID-19.

Host: Becky Vevea

Producers: Stephanie Kim