The Broad Cast

Experts agree: mental health in the U.S. has reached a crisis point. We’ve seen reports over the last year showing that our young adults, teenage girls, first responders, and more, are struggling more than ever when it comes to mental health. On this episode of The Broad Cast, co-hosts Becky and Eileen examine what led to this, and what is being done in our city and state to provide support and healing for those who need it. Becky and Eileen are joined by Alexa James, social worker and CEO of NAMI Chicago, and Angela Sedeño, a clinical psychologist and executive director of the Kedzie Center.

Chicago has a new mayor and 13 brand new members of City Council! The Broad Cast co-hosts Becky and Eileen do a deep dive into the election and mayoral transition along with the hopes and challenges that lie ahead. Our hosts are joined by Lisa Duarte, Lawyer and Government Relations Strategist, and Chakena Perry, Former MWRD Commissioner, Environmental Advocate and political activist.

School and library boards have become frontlines in the conflict between left and right in American politics. Co-hosts Becky Carroll and Eileen Dordek are joined by women who find themselves on the forefront of defending these institutions in the Chicagoland area. Guests are Kristina Zahorik of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association, Sheri Doniger of the Lincolnwood Library Board, and Tracy Katz Muhl of Northbrook School District 28.

For the 33rd Episode of The Broad Cast, C-Strategies CEO Becky Carroll is joined by new TBC co-host, Eileen Dordek! The pair are joined by Cook County Commissioner Josina Morita, Khem Khoeun, the first Cambodian American Woman elected to office in the United States and current Village of Skokie Trustee, and Grace Pai, Executive Director of Asian American Midwest Progressives. These women have all accomplished significant “firsts” in their work to empower Asian American communities and women.

For the 32nd Episode of The Broad Cast, host and C-Strategies CEO Becky Carroll joins Executive Director of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, Tiffany Hightower, for a conversation on how the Foundation is adapting, and even expanding their efforts to support, uplift, and advance Black Illinoisans during the pandemic and beyond. Tiffany also discusses the leadership lessons she’s learned over the years, why integrity always wins, and the importance of taking a moment for yourself. This marks the fifth episode of our six-month series dedicated to the themes of systemic racism and building an anti-racist society.

Episode 31 of The Broad Cast looks and sounds a bit different! To celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth, organizer, environmentalist, and history-lover Chakena Perry takes over as our host for a conversation on environmental justice with two women that represent the new face of leadership in Cook County bringing attention to environmental issues facing our communities, IEC Clean Water Policy Director Iyana Simba and Chief of Staff to MWRD Commissioner Davis, Dawn Walker. The episode pays homage to Hazel M. Johnson, born on the South Side of Chicago and known today as the Mother of Environmental Justice. Don’t miss this one!

For the 30th Episode of The Broad Cast, host and C-Strategies CEO Becky Carroll spoke with journalist, author, educator, and traveler Deborah Douglas to discuss her journey following the Civil Rights Trail across the southern United States, from the Mississippi Delta to Washington, D.C. Deborah drew on this experience to write her new book, “U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places, and Events That Made the Movement", which discusses notable people, places, and moments from the movement as well as offers tangible pieces of advice for readers looking to take the same journey through our nation’s history. This marks the third episode of our six-month series of conversations around systemic racism and building an anti-racist society. http://bit.ly/3i4Yavs

For our annual Year in Review episode, we sat down with Chicago Sun-Times Chief Political Reporter Rachel Hinton and broke down the major events of 2020, from racial injustice and the Black Lives Matter movement, to COVID-19 and its impact on our local and national elections. Rachel brings an important and nuanced perspective as a young Black female journalist covering everything 2020. This marks the second episode of our six-month series of conversations around systemic racism and building an anti-racist society.

The first episode in our six-month series of conversations around systemic racism and building an anti-racist society. To launch this series, we are proud to feature Illinois State Senate Majority Leader and Chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus (ILBC), Senator Kimberly Lightford! She and the ILBC are leading some of the most important work in the state of Illinois right now, building a black agenda to address systemic racism and oppression.

If you live in the state of Illinois, odds are you’re getting a majority of your COVID news and updates from Governor JB Pritzker’s daily briefings, which have become a staple for both residents and media across the state. Illinois is flattening the curve and we are getting to a level of testing needed to properly evaluate when we might be able to emerge from this period. The person who is the Governor's thought partner and trusted advisor through all of this is his Chief of Staff, Anne Caprara. On this extended episode of The Broad Cast, host Becky Carroll talks to Caprara about leading during a pandemic and much more.