Justin Kaufmann

Tonight on Extension 720: We explore language, poetry and performance. Avery R. Young released an album and a book at the same time. The great Chicago poet performs live with his band. Michael Warr talks about how his new book “Of Poetry & Protest: From Emmett Till to Trayvon Martin.” Also Storycatchers Theatre wants to improve the communication between youth and police. How? By role playing with police cadets. And Lulu Wang is in studio to discuss her new film […]

Filmmaker Lulu Wang joins Justin on Extension 720 to discuss her new movie, “The Farewell.” Lulu talks about why she decided to make this film, the way she was able to get the film made, the challenge of making a movie from a story that is so personal, how the people in her family reacted to the film and the way a specific story can be a universal story. This is the podcast for Extension 720. The show originates from […]

Tonight on Extension 720: The Good Life. A group of friends from Kalamazoo College came to Chicago and started a restaurant club. 20 years later, they celebrated their 1000th restaurant. They share their story tonight. Resident philosopher Al Gini joins Justin to explore what it means to pursue the good life. Mr. Hudson has collaborated with Kanye West, Jay-Z  and Janelle Monae (just to name a few). He stops by the studio to talk about creativity and his new album […]

Singer, songwriter and producer Mr. Hudson joins Justin on Extension 720 to talk about his career and new record, “When the Machine Stops.” Mr. Hudson talks about why it’s been so long since he has put his own music out, the road he took to become a producer, the reasons he chose to work mostly solo on his new record, the importance of creating relationships in the music business, why this record feels like a debut record, where he finds […]

Sun-Times entertainment editor Darel Jevens joins Justin on Extension 720 to discuss MAD magazine announcing they will be scaling back production. Darel talks about his love of MAD magazine, if he was surprised to hear the news of MAD leaving newsstands, why people were attracted to MAD, the way MAD took on politicians, the iconic covers of MAD, the origins of MAD mascot Alfred E. Neuman, the impact that MAD had on the comedy community and how MAD influenced SNL […]

Gretchen Helfrich joins Justin on Extension 720 to discuss the death of influential film critic, commentator and founder of Facets Multimedia Milos Stehlik. Gretchen talks about when she met Milos Stehlik, the influence he had on her life and career, the impact of Facets on the Chicago film community, how Facets changed the landscape of film in Chicago, why Milos Stehlik dedicated his life to film, the impact Milos had on bringing international film to Chicago and Milos’ commitment to […]

Tonight on Extension 720: End of an era. Journalist Gretchen Helfrich remembers the legacy of Facets Multimedia founder Milos Stehlik who passed away on Saturday. Sun-Times entertainment editor Darel Jevens talks about Mad magazine scaling back production and its impact on the comedy world and journalist Glenn Redus discusses the history of the Chicago Defender as they announced they will be moving to a digital-only format. All that plus an update on the WGN Softball team’s highly-anticipated contest against rival […]

Tonight on Extension 720: A great pre-4th of July show! Rick Atkinson, bestselling author of the Liberation Trilogy, talks about his terrific new book, “The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777.” Do you need plans for the 4th? Well, you are in luck because Paul Winberg, CEO of the Grant Park Music Festival, tells us about the Grant Park Music Festival’s “Independence Day Salute” show this Thursday night. We also get a recap of the […]

Chicago icon and LGBT Hall of Famer Marge Summit joins Justin on Extension 720 to discuss being named the Legacy Grand Marshal of the upcoming Pride Parade, how the Pride Parade has changed over the years, how she’s been fighting for gay rights since the 1950’s, the great history of the gay club scene in Chicago, the rift between some gay men and some gay women, why there are not as many lesbian bars in Chicago, her work creating the […]

Jonathan David Katz joins Justin on Extension 720 to discuss the “About Face: Stonewall, Revolt and New Queer Art,” exhibit currently running at Wrightwood 659. Jonathan talks about how this is the largest queer exhibit of all-time, how the queer movement has been about the erasure of barriers, why the exhibition is organized around the word “trans,” why he believes we are at a significant cultural turning point, how the word “queer”has evolved, how he was able to amass the […]