EPISODE 32: Tom Hush, co-host of much-loved No Coast Cinema podcast on WGN Plus, graces me with his presence on the show this week and we take a stroll through memory lane in compiling his eclectic list of film influences. We start where we, 1993-babies, should start: The Lion King, and Tom talks about just how obsessed he was with that special movie. We move on to talk about Tarantino, Roger Ebert, Breathless and the Chicago film community which he has fallen deeper and deeper in love with as he records each episode of NCC.

Music by the wonderful @officialimotep on @palettes <3 <3 <3

EPISODE 31: Founder & Executive Director of Chicago Detours Amanda Scotese joins me on the show this week to talk about the winding path that lead her to give amazing, story-rich tours of Chicago, of course noting her influences along the way. She brings us back to her first "solo" trip to Cancun her senior year of high school and then flies us over to the South of Italy to talk about working with Rick Steves and his tour company for 10 years. She also attributes certain writers and Chicago reporters with teaching her how to find stories in an urban geography. In the end, she talks about what sets her tours apart from others and why it's so important and special to spread hundreds of Chicago stories to her tour groups.

EPISODE 30: You know what they say: thirty, flirty & thriving! Real talk though, super cool that my podcast has exited its 20s before I myself have. And what better way to celebrate than with Chicago's own DJ Ca$h Era, of Louder Than a Bomb, Northwestern, & WGN Radio fame! She joins me in studio to talk about when and why she started mixing music, we compare DJ naming experiences (mine is DJ Graham Cracker) and she tells me how Chance the Rapper, DJ INC an Kevin Coval have all shaped her DJ career.

Music mixed by @DJCashEra herself!

This week, the amazing Lauren Engel joins me to talk about her YouTube series Sidewalk Talk, where she has interviewed artists like Ryan Hemsworth, Gnash, Y2K & Skylar Spence while walking around sunny LA. She tells me about growing up in Hong Kong in her own little musical bubble and we talk about how her background in photography, loving music and her natural introversion influenced her to take up vlogging. Lauren also cites some of her favorite photographers and interviewers that have inspired her style and committment.

Music by @aobeats <3

This week, the lovely Ash Kordik (who happens to be one of my best friends from college) joins me for a chat on what drives her spontaneous creativity. We talk about the powerful law of attraction, Ashley's undying curiosity and fascination with possibility over reality, and she cited a couple influential sources: from Audrey Hepburn to her dear Grandfather. She also previews some upcoming storytelling projects she's working on in and around Chicago, and shares her new favorite song by Chicago's own @ne-hi and @jamilawoods, "The Times I'm Not There."

This week, I get to talk to rising pop-star and producer Boy Sim, who calls in from LA. He tells me about seeing Britney Spears put on a kick ass show when he was only 4 and, from then on, thinking, "shit, I can do that." He walks me through his several musical identities and their accompanying influences and tells me how he finally landed on Boy Sim. He also talks about the magic of performing live and how his background in theatre brought out his confidence and helped him thrive in the spotlight.

@boysim @palettes

EPISODE 26: Chicago’s first ever Youth Poet Laureate, E’mon Lauren joins me on the show this week to talk about her brand new book of poems, Commando! She tells me about finding and embracing writing and poetry at a young age, participating in different Louder Than a Bomb teams throughout high school and finding confidence in her unique and powerful voice. Then, she walked me through her influences, which range from the streets of Chicago to her artistic and strong—willed Mother, Laura, to Gwendolyn Brooks, Kanye West and re-runs of ’A Different World.’ Finally, E’mon shares a couple of her poems (and I get the chills).

On episode 25 of the show, stylist, author and motivational speaker Sam Sparks, joins me in the studio alongside the lovely Nadia Torrence. Sam tells me about how he became Steve Harvey's assistant personal stylist and in what amazing ways his life has changed since then. He also shares his main style and philosophical influencers, and tells me the beautiful story of his little sister, whose spirit guides him through his journey.

music by @palettes and @statues <3

This week I'm joined by Scott Smith, who co-wrote and directed 'Chasing the Blues,' which premieres this weekend at the Chicago Film Festival. He tells me about how he found himself writing and making films, how he met his co-writer Kevin Guilfoile and explains why he looks up to director Steven Soderbergh (it's not just because they have similar glasses). He also explains the film's storyline, talks about why blues is so central to the story and tells me what it's like to work with Jon Lovitz, Catch Scott, Jon and the film at the Chicago Film Festival!

Episode 23 - This week I'm joined Rich Cohen to talk about his new book, "The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse." Rich tells me about how he found his writing idols and what he learned from each of them - from Joan Didion to Tom Wolfe - and he reflects on his early days as a writer, working as a receptionist at The New Yorker. Then, of course, we talk Cubs baseball: he tells me about his first time at Wrigley Field, growing up a Cubs fan in a Yankees household and getting his heartbroken time and time again by the team (until, of course, the fateful 2016 World Series win).

Music this week from the @palettes Relief compilation - "Without You by @crapface, @thisiszackbruce & @moistbreezy <3 <3 <3