The man known as “Sweet Swinging Billy Williams” is one of the greatest Cubs ever. The Baseball Hall of Fame calls him one of the greatest players ever. Williams recently with WBEZ’s sports contributor Cheryl Raye-Stout about this year’s team, and what it would mean to all the past Cubs if this current crop could win it all. 

Comedian, actor, director, producer Negin Farsad wears many hats, and now she can add one more: author.  Her new book, How To Make White People Laugh is part memoir, part how-to for social justice comedy. As an Iranian Muslim American female comic, Farsad breaks down stereotypes one joke at a time as she takes on race relations, gender, social justice, and what it means to have a hyphenated identity.  Farsad joins the Morning Shift to talk about her new book and how she uses the power of comedy to combat bigotry.  Audio available after show airs.

Jason DeSanto, Lecturer, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, former speechwriter and debate strategist joins the Morning Shift to analyze Wednesday night's third and final presidential debate.

Comedian and podcaster Phoebe Robinson has a lot to say about living life as a black woman in America.  You can hear it in her standup and in the podcast 2 Dope Queens, which she co-hosts with Daily Show alum Jessica Williams. You can also hear it in Sooo Many White Guys, her spinoff podcast where she interviews actors, comedians, musical artists and other interesting people who are black, Hispanic, Asian and really anything but white, except for “token white guy” Mike Birbiglia.  Robinson takes a similar tack in her new book You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain. It’s a collection of essays about race, gender, and pop culture. Morning Shift talks to Robinson about her comedy career, podcasting and her latest venture as an author.

Third party candidates have a long history of trying to break the two-party mold in U.S. Presidential elections. There was Ross Perot in 1992 and Ralph Nader in 2000. This year Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson could pull six percent of the popular vote if today’s polls are any indication. But how would that affect the ultimate outcome? Morning Shift talks with Julia Azari, a political science professor at Marquette University, about the past and present state of third parties in presidential elections. 

Legendary Chicago musician Curtis Mayfield did it all.  He wrote, sang, played guitar and produced records. Whether it was for his group The Impressions, his own solo work, or for other famous artists, Mayfield put his unique sonic stamp on everything he touched.  Only a few people know more about Curtis Mayfield than Vocalo’s Ayana Contreras. One of them is Mayfield’s son Todd, who’s just released the book Traveling Soul: The Life of Curtis Mayfield. Ayana Contreras sits down with Todd Mayfield to talk about his father’s life and work

Last week, parts of Mayor Emanuel’s budget speech sounded like a list of the most important projects he’s set in motion in order to make Chicago safer and more fiscally sound. They’re also projects that need to succeed in order for him to be elected to a 3rd term. Bill Ruthhart covers the mayor and city hall for the Chicago Tribune, and joins us to talk about the dots Emanuel has laid out, and how the mayor is trying to connect them to create re-election picture. 

What are their strategies and are they working? How do the real debaters do it? As we approach the third and final presidential debate, the Morning Shift asks some pros: Northwestern University Debate Society’s coach Daniel Fitzmier and team member Chris Callahan to break down the candidates’ debate strategies. 

Earlier this year, a woman was killed while riding her bike in a crosswalk in northwest suburban Mount Prospect. The death prompted state representative David Harris to call for changes to the Rules of Road manual issued by the Illinois Secretary of State.  Those changes are in the works. The goal is to educate the public on proper crosswalk etiquette, a topic where many people in the Chicago area are in the dark.  Morning Shift sheds a little light on the crosswalk laws in Illinois with WBEZ reporter Dan Weissmann and State representative David Harris.

Photographer Mike MacDonald’s work has been published in books and major magazines. But his obsession is with the natural beauty found in the prairies, woods, and other wild places around Chicago.  We talk to MacDonald about his new book, how he captures his incredible images, and his top picks for viewing the sweeping vistas and amazing details around the area that he believes can change your life.