The ALL NEW Big Wakeup Call with Ryan Gatenby

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Comedy Legend Tommy Davidson joins the show for appearance #4 and is only one visit away from a voluminous quantity of The Big Wakeup Call merchandise! Tommy is at the Chicago Improv on Sunday, April 12, for two shows benefitting  Omega Phi Psi Fraternity.  

Tickets here.

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Tom Papa called in for a fun chat about his new book Your Dad Stole My Rake...and Other Family Dilemmas. We discussed why he wanted to put down his thoughts into convenient book form, writing for a specific audience, dealing with "wacky" morning radio shows, and the eternal dilemma of juggling work and family. (From 6-7-18)

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Former major league infielder, Emmy-award winning MLB Network analyst, and proud “old school” baseball guy, Bill Ripken wants you to get off of his lawn. Kidding…maybe.

Today’s Major League Baseball lives and dies by its “new school” numbers. Over the last few decades, newly established statistics and on-field measurables have become so influential that they have infiltrated front offices, baseball operations departments, player development and scouting, and have significantly changed the game’s landscape. Major League Baseball measures everything now and relies less and less on baseball experience and the wisdom established over years of playing and coaching. The power dynamic has changed. Stats are now king.

 This shift is the root of Major League Baseball’s growing culture war and the impetus behind Ripken’s new book “STATE OF PLAY: The Old School Guide to New School Baseball”   (From 4-2-20)

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In HEAD BALL COACH, Steve Spurrier, college football legend, shares his story of a life in football: from winning the Heisman Trophy to playing and coaching in the pros to leading the Florida Gators to six SEC Championships and a National Championship to elevating the South Carolina program to new heights -- all by coaching like nobody else. He’s been called cocky, arrogant, brash, pompous, egotistical, and hilarious, but, mostly, he’s known as the Head Ball Coach, a self-ordained term introduced to the lexicon of football by none other than the man himself, Steve Spurrier. (From 9-1-16).

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In addition to being a "Dancing With The Stars Champion," Donald Driver played 14 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, went to four Pro Bowls, and caught 64 touchdowns (I think 62 of them against the Bears).  Donald called in to discuss his book The 3D Body Revolution.  I tried talking Donald out of retirement since the Bears could use a wideout, but I failed.  Still, I had to ask. (From 9-20-17)

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Baseball legend Mookie Wilson called into talk about his memoir. MOOKIE is the inside story behind the man, the franchise, and a golden age of a sport; a story that can only be told by Mookie Wilson himself. In this stunningly honest memoir, Mookie provides insight into the minds of other players both on his team and elsewhere that season; his feeling about the decisions of the franchise regarding his career and the careers of Mets veterans over the past few decades; his time in Toronto and with the Mets as a coach and Ambassador; and the current state of Major League Baseball. (From 4-2-15)

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Nick Selby is a police detective with more than 20 years of experience fighting cyber criminals.  He's also the author of "The Cyber Attack Survival Manual."  We discussed the dark web, the biggest mistakes people make when it comes to protecting their identities, how hacking is not just a kid in a basement anymore, and why you maybe shouldn't have a smart adult toy. (From 10-24-17)

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Brett Tutor is the newest member of the crew on "Trading Spaces," which has returned to TLC with new episodes Saturday nights at 8/7c.  Brett talked about hazing the newcomer, how his career as a singer, stuntman, survival specialist, and Air Force veteran led him to the show, and handling surprise requests from Ty Pennington. (From 4-13-18)

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Sports betting expert Chad Millman called in to reminisce wistfully about the '85 Bears and share his thoughts on when the Bears might actually be competitive again, plus talked about the latest Super Bowl odds, prop bets, and the prospects of national legal sports betting in the NFL and NBA. (From 1-25-18)

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Jake Borelli called into talk about the fall finale of Gray's Anatomy, which we tried to do tactfully without revealing any spoilers if it's still awaiting you on your DVR. We discussed Levi's character development, how he portrays the perfect combination of strength and vulnerability, and his decision to come out publicly around the same time as Levi and Nico finally acted on their feelings. (From 11-16-18)