Out Chicago (Featured Interviews)

Ellen Miller and guest co-host Kathy Voltmer are joined by Tina Fakhrid-Deen, playwright, author, and educator who is the recipient of the 2026 3Arts Awards SIF Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation Award. 

Catch “Out Chicago” Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/out-chicago).

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ellen Miller and guest co-host Kathy Voltmerare are joined by Kimi Hayes, musician currently appearing in “Six the Musical” as Maggie, the guitarist. 

Catch “Out Chicago” Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/out-chicago).

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Support the show: https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/schedule/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ellen Miller and guest co-host Kathy Voltmer are joined by Cathy Richardson, singer-songwriter who is the lead vocalist for Jefferson Starship. 

Catch “Out Chicago” Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/out-chicago).

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Support the show: https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/schedule/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Duff and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by Mikael Burke, director of the Chicago premiere of Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “A Strange Loop,” a co-production of About Face Theatre and Raven Theatre playing through November 8 at Raven’s Johnson Stage.

Catch “Out Chicago” Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/out-chicago).

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Support the show: https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/schedule/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Duff and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by Coco Soodek of Q Force, an organization and community for queer and allied Chicagoans fighting to embolden Democrats and defeat Republicans. 

Catch “Out Chicago” Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/out-chicago).

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Support the show: https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/schedule/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Duff and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by Write Club Chicago host/producer Corbette Pasko and timekeeper/producer Josh Zagoran; season 17 begins with “Write Club: The Rising Price of Ghastly,” Tuesday, October 20.

Catch “Out Chicago” Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/out-chicago).

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Support the show: https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/schedule/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Duff and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by Rick Miller, LICSW, founder and executive director of Gay Sons and Mothers and director of the documentary "Mom, I Have Something to Tell You."

Catch “Out Chicago” Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/out-chicago).

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Support the show: https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/schedule/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Duff and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by Denise Poloyac, Indivisible Chicago executive committee member.

Catch “Out Chicago” Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/out-chicago).

Follow us:

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Support the show: https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/schedule/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Duff and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by Owen Keehnen, author, historian and public speaker on LGBTQ history. 

The conversation highlighted Owen’s work preserving LGBTQ history, especially Chicago’s queer communities, during LGBTQ+ History Month. He began documenting LGBTQ history during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, when people, places, and stories were disappearing quickly. His books rely heavily on interviews and oral history, covering both community struggles and moments of joy.

Last January Owen joined "Out Chicago" to talk about his book "Gay Chicago Memories: 1300 N. Wells." Find the conversation at omny.fm/shows/out-chicago/wcpt-820-interview-owen-keehnen

Catch “Out Chicago” Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/out-chicago).

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Scott Duff and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by Kyna Lenhof, 2026 candidate for Chicago Board of Education.

- Lenhof says she is running to put students first in the first fully elected Chicago school board election. Her background includes special education, teaching in Chicago Public Schools, caregiving, nonprofit arts administration, and education advocacy. She described the board’s role as providing district oversight, supporting school leaders, and ensuring neighborhood schools are fully funded.

Education Priorities
- Protect vulnerable students and make schools safe, equitable, and joyful.
- Treat arts, STEM, academics, and athletics as connected parts of a robust education.
- Maintain a balanced budget while addressing inadequate state funding through collaboration with city and state partners.

Catch “Out Chicago” Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/out-chicago).

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Support the show: https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/schedule/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.