John Williams

WGN’s Dane Neal, in for John Williams, chats with wine expert Mark Oldman to find out which wines are trending this holiday season as well as the wine that consumers should buy for their Christmas gatherings. Mark also talks about his experience as a wine professional and discusses where most wine is being purchased.

Dr. Jeffrey Kopin, Chief Medical Officer for Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, joins WGN’s Dane Neal to discuss the importance of staying healthy in a busy holiday and winter season. Dr. Kopin talks about COVID’s effect on us now compared to 2020 as well as certain health issues that tend to spike during the holidays. Dr. Kopin gives tips to stay healthy when doing physical activities in the cold.

Segment 1: WGN’s Dane Neal talks with consumer technology journalist Jennifer Jolly about technological trends from this year that have grabbed the interest of many, such as Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, new features in Apple products, and more. Jennifer Jolly also highlights kid’s technology products that do more than what the eye can see.

Segment 2: Dane Neal chats with former professional baseball player Andy Carter about his travels and favorite attractions in Charlotte, North Carolina. Andy also talks with Dane about his work with the Wanna Parlay sports book and some of the best parlays to get involved with, including this year’s NHL Winter Classic. Carson Coffman, one of Wanna Parlay’s founders, also talks with Dane and Andy about the sports book’s features.

Segment 1: Dane Neal, in for John Williams, chats with Duce Raymond, Director of Culinary at Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ, about his family ties to Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce and its success compared to other known barbecue sauces.

Segment 2: Drinking Editor for Newcity/Chicago Dave Hammond joins WGN’s Dane Neal to discuss his trip to Mexico to celebrate Thanksgiving. Dave also talks with Dane about his book, Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites, and the dishes that are appropriate for the holiday season.

Sara Tieman is not only an ace Promotions & PR Manager for WGN Radio, but she is also a voracious reader (and world traveler!) who has once again read nearly 100 books this year! She joins John Williams to discuss some of the best books she read in 2024. You can check out her entire list below. John Williams also provides a list of the books that he really enjoyed this year. Need a last-minute stocking stuffer? Look no further!

Sara’s Top Picks:
Sipsworth (2024) – Simon Van Booy
There are Rivers in the Sky (2024) – Elif Shafak
James (2024) – Percival Everett
The Women (2024) – Kristin Hannah
Demon Copperhead (2022) – Barbara Kingsolver
Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space (2024) – Adam Higginbotham
The Wide Wide Sea: Imperial Ambition, First Contact and the Fateful Final Voyage of Captain James Cook (2024) – Hampton Sides
The Year of Living Constitutionally: One Man’s Quest to Follow the Constitution’s Original Meaning (2024) – A.J. Jacobs
All the Colors of the Dark (2024) – Chris Whitaker

Sara’s Full 2024 Reading List (as of 12/20/2024):
Of the 88 books, 49 are fiction and 39 are nonfiction (11 were audiobooks)

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to [email protected]!

Author and registered dietician nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner joins John Williams to talk about a new scientific report on dietary guidelines. What are Dawn’s major takeaways from the report? (Think: beans!) Dawn also answers all of your health and nutrition questions.

Chicago native Quentin Schultze joins John Williams to talk about his new book,” You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out! Life Lessons from the Movie A Christmas Story.” Dr. Schultze explains how he came up with the idea for this book, the relationship he formed with famed storyteller Jean Shepherd, who co-wrote the screenplay for ‘A Christmas Story,’ how VCRs gave the movie a second life, how many people continue to watch the film to this day, and what we lessons we can take away from the movie.

John Williams brings you another round of Speed Jokes. Keep sending yours to [email protected].

John Williams hosts the annual Salvation Army Radiothon. Our Virtual Red Kettle goal of $200,000 was exceeded thanks to our amazing WGN listeners and all of our generous sponsors. Special thanks to the one and only David Hochberg, Major Caleb Senn, Envoy Scott Hurula, Peter Kim (and the Salvation Army band), John Donovan, Alisa Rodriguez, Major K Kendall Matthews, and Brian Duewel of the Salvation Army, Bob Coyne and Sara Tieman of WGN Radio, the Duchossois Foundation, Mary Frances Trucco from Jewel-Osco, Karen Ford, President, Sutton Auto Team, and all of the generous WGN listeners!