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The Career Conversations Podcast with Michael Piff episodes
- Career Conversations: Chicago Wolves President of Operations Courtney Mahoney
Courtney Mahoney started with the Chicago Wolves in 1996 as an intern. 30 years later, she worked her way up to President of Operations, has been a part of 5 championships, raised millions of dollars through Wolves charities, has helped get more then 2,000 dogs adopted, and still loves the work environment that she and her team have created with the organization.
On the Career Conversations podcast, Courtney and host Michael Piff talked about her path to working in sports, the road from her internships to becoming the Wolves’ first female president, the pride they take in their gameday experience for fans, how rewarding it is to make a difference in the community with the organization’s programs, collaborating with leadership and ownership at the Wolves, their amazing Adopt-A-Dog program, advice she has for someone wanting to work in sports, and much more! Listen below:
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8536398/8536398_2026-07-23-202438.64kmono.mp3The defending AHL Western Conference Champion Wolves start their season on October 10th. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also subscribe to Career Conversations with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and get the latest episodes first on WGNRadio.com.
Recent PostsCareer ConversationsCareer Conversations: Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Mary Van De Velde.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: Content Creator Tony Gill.cls-4{fill:#000;}How Pan American’s Frank Cerrone supports his community.cls-4{fill:#000;}Click for more35 min - Career Conversations: WGN Radio Traffic Reporter Mary Van De Velde
Mary Van De Velde’s time at WGN Radio, navigating listeners through Chicago area traffic, started in 1997, but her story goes back even farther.
On the latest edition of Career Conversations, Mary joins host Michael Piff to talk about what she was like in high school, what she thought she was going to do for a career back then, balancing her interest in radio and TV with her other activities at the University of Illinois, her first radio job out of college, how she got started at WGN, being there for her family, and much more! Trust us, there will need to be a Part II to this conversation. Listen below:
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8432597/8432597_2026-06-04-192737.64kmono.mp3You can also subscribe to Career Conversations with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and get the latest episodes first on WGNRadio.com.
Recent PostsCareer ConversationsCareer Conversations: Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Mary Van De Velde.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: Content Creator Tony Gill.cls-4{fill:#000;}How Pan American’s Frank Cerrone supports his community.cls-4{fill:#000;}Click for more31 min - Career Conversations: Award-winning journalist Sylvia Snowden is living her dream at WGN Radio
WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden knew she wanted to be a journalist when she was in grade school. No, seriously. They had their own elementary school newspaper.
After recently winning the Peter Lisagor Award for Best Investigative Reporting, Sylvia joined Michael Piff on the Career Conversations podcast to talk about where her passion for journalism began, the support she had from family, her church, teachers and her community, how the University of Missouri prepared her for her career, making the most of her opportunities, advice for aspiring journalists, and much more!
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8401112/8401112_2026-05-20-200512.64kmono.mp3You can hear Sylvia’s reporting on WGN Radio 720 AM and WGNRadio.com, and follow her on Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn.
You can also subscribe to Career Conversations with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and get the latest episodes first on WGNRadio.com.
Recent PostsCareer ConversationsCareer Conversations: Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Mary Van De Velde.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: Content Creator Tony Gill.cls-4{fill:#000;}How Pan American’s Frank Cerrone supports his community.cls-4{fill:#000;}Click for more0 min - Career Conversations: Tony Gill launches his passion project, Bleacher Theology
For more than a decade, Tony Gill was locked in as a producer at 670 The Score, and NBC Sports, and then Head of Content for CHGO. After his position was eliminated at CHGO, Tony combined his faith, his love for sports, and his expertise for creating content with his newly launched newsletter, Bleacher Theology.
As WGN Radio’s Michael Piff set to relaunch Career Conversations (formerly Career Vision), the first person he had in mind was Tony. You’ll know exactly why when you listen to the latest episode, as they discuss Tony’s career in Chicago media, putting his family and his faith first, teaming up with his wife on the newsletter, collaborations on new projects, and much more!
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8377272/8377272_2026-05-12-222212.64kmono.mp3Follow Tony Gill on Instagram and Twitter/X. And subscribe to Bleacher Theology to get his newsletter.
You can also subscribe to Career Conversations with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and get the latest episodes first on WGNRadio.com.
Recent PostsCareer ConversationsCareer Conversations: Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Mary Van De Velde.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: Content Creator Tony Gill.cls-4{fill:#000;}How Pan American’s Frank Cerrone supports his community.cls-4{fill:#000;}Click for more44 min - The Career Vision Podcast: How Frank Cerrone supports his community with Pan American Bank & Trust
To wrap up the first year of The Career Vision Podcast, host Michael Piff met with Pan American Bank & Trust President & CEO Frank Cerrone at his office in in Melrose Park. They discussed Frank’s career journey in banking, how he got started at a young age, what he learned, growing as a leader, how important his community is to him and Pan American Bank & Trust, and his advice to someone interested in what he does.
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7897689/7897689_2026-01-06-160429.64kmono.mp3You’ll also hear Frank read a mantra about ‘Attitude’ that is framed in his office. Below is a photo of the mantra to read for yourself.
Photo by Michael Piff / WGN RadioOur sponsor, Career Vision and the Ball Foundation help students and professionals discover their strengths and navigate their career opportunities. Learn more at CareerVision.org.
And you can subscribe to the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recent PostsCareer VisionCareer Conversations: Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Mary Van De Velde.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: Content Creator Tony Gill.cls-4{fill:#000;}How Pan American’s Frank Cerrone supports his community.cls-4{fill:#000;}Click for more28 min - The Career Vision Podcast: How Steve Dale used his platform and talents to advocate for animals
Radio and podcast host. TV personality. Columnist. Author. Certified animal behavioral consultant. Animal advocate. Those are just a few titles on Steve Dale’s resume, which makes him a perfect guest for the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff.
Steve has so many stories that we will have to do a Part II episode to cover more. But in this episode, Steve talks about where his love for both radio and animals came from, how far back he goes with WGN-TV political analyst Paul Lisnek, how he first got on the radio, the multiple writing jobs he had at Chicago newspapers, how he incorporated his love for pets and animals in his work, advice he got from Lucille Ball (YES, THAT LUCILLE BALL!), his new book (Ask The Dog!), how the Booth 46 Podcast at Petterino’s came to be, his own advice for those wanting to do what he does, and so much more!
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7833027/7833027_2025-11-26-185927.64kmono.mp3Our sponsor, Career Vision and the Ball Foundation help students and professionals discover their strengths and navigate their career opportunities. Learn more at CareerVision.org.
And you can subscribe to the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recent PostsCareer VisionCareer Conversations: Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Mary Van De Velde.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: Content Creator Tony Gill.cls-4{fill:#000;}How Pan American’s Frank Cerrone supports his community.cls-4{fill:#000;}Click for more49 min - The Career Vision Podcast: How David Hochberg brought ‘Home Sweet Home Chicago’ to life
Every Saturday from 10 AM to 1 PM, David Hochberg and his weekly guests help WGN Radio listeners and prospective homeowners with all the questions and challenges someone in the Chicagoland area could think of. David’s career on the radio spans decades, and his career as a mortgage lender goes back even further. He joined Michael Piff on the Career Vision Podcast to talk about…
- who he was in high school at Maine East
- how he got started in selling and lending
- the first time he was on the radio
- writing his own ads and how they became appointment radio
- getting his own radio show started
- how he brought it to WGN Radio
- advice for those interested in what he does
- and much more!
And if you love Chicago radio, you’re going to love listening to his stories too.
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7780260/7780260_2025-10-24-185100.64kmono.mp3Listen to Home Sweet Home Chicago on WGN Radio and WGNRadio.com. Ask him for a loan at Homeside.com!
Our sponsor, Career Vision and the Ball Foundation help students and professionals discover their strengths and navigate their career opportunities. Learn more at CareerVision.org.
And you can subscribe to the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recent PostsCareer VisionCareer Conversations: Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Mary Van De Velde.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: Content Creator Tony Gill.cls-4{fill:#000;}How Pan American’s Frank Cerrone supports his community.cls-4{fill:#000;}Click for more56 min - The Career Vision Podcast: How Dave Eanet became the voice of Northwestern athletics and WGN Radio’s sports director
As WGN Radio sports director Dave Eanet prepares for his last morning shift, he sits down with Michael Piff on the Career Vision Podcast to talk about his career in Chicago media and play-by-play broadcasting. Dave’s career story deserves its own podcast series, but they were able to cover the following:
- What Dave was like in high school
- The broadcasters he listened to growing up
- The beautiful weekend in Chicago that convinced him to go to Northwestern
- His experience as a student broadcaster and working in college radio
- His first job out of college and his early work in radio
- How he got the play-by-play job at Northwestern and bringing it to WGN Radio
- His day-to-day and “coaching tree” as sports director at WGN
- What it was like when he first started working on the morning show and how it evolved over his career
- His advice for aspiring, young broadcasters and anyone wanting to work in sports media
…and so much more. Listen to the full conversation below:
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7680173/7680173_2025-08-26-213413.64kmono.mp3Our sponsor, Career Vision and the Ball Foundation help students and professionals discover their strengths and navigate their career opportunities. Learn more at CareerVision.org.
And you can subscribe to the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recent PostsCareer VisionCareer Conversations: Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Mary Van De Velde.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: Content Creator Tony Gill.cls-4{fill:#000;}How Pan American’s Frank Cerrone supports his community.cls-4{fill:#000;}Click for more0 min - The Career Vision Podcast: How Marv Ritter went from a stock exchange innovator to luxury home builder
Marv Ritter, co-founder of Rite-Way Custom Homes, joined Michael Piff on The Career Vision Podcast to talk about his professional life, which has taken turn, after turn, after turn…
When he graduated from Drake University, Marv had no idea that he would end up where he has, but he knew he didn’t want to sell insurance like his dad did in his hometown of Winterset, Iowa. From consulting for the predecessor of Accenture, to CIO of Fossett Corporation, to president of a subsidiary of Hull Trading Company, to the inventor of the first handheld stock execution device, to CIO and CTO of the world’s largest advertising organization, to leaving the corporate world and running his luxury home building business…there’s a lot to Marv’s story to learn from. Listen to the full episode below:
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7649393/7649393_2025-08-15-010433.64kmono.mp3Our sponsor, Career Vision and the Ball Foundation help students and professionals discover their strengths and navigate their career opportunities. Learn more at CareerVision.org.
And you can subscribe to the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recent PostsCareer VisionCareer Conversations: Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Mary Van De Velde.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: Content Creator Tony Gill.cls-4{fill:#000;}How Pan American’s Frank Cerrone supports his community.cls-4{fill:#000;}Click for more0 min - The Career Vision Podcast: Jimmy ‘Mac’ McInerney’s road from Chicago radio producing to successful Star Wars podcast hosting
At a young age, Jimmy ‘Mac’ McInerney loved music, radio and Star Wars. Little did he know that he would eventually make those things into an incredible career, with tons of stories that deserve to be told as their own podcast stories. Fortunately for us, we get to enjoy a number of them on the latest episode of the Career Vision Podcast.
Jimmy Mac joined fellow WGN Radio teammate and Career Vision Podcast host Michael Piff for a long, entertaining and insightful conversation that covers his humble beginnings growing up in the area where John Hughes was filming his famous ‘Brat Pack’ era films, going to Kansas University for radio and finding his groove at Columbia College, breaking into the industry at WLUP The Loop, producing for Jonathon Brandmeier, meeting his wife/Chicago radio legend Wendy Snyder, getting in on the ground floor of the podcasting industry, developing and growing the premiere Star Wars podcast, Rebel Force Radio, trips around the world (including Skywalker Ranch), and much more! Listen below:
https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7512703/7512703_2025-07-09-190703.64kmono.mp3For anyone interested in starting a podcast and making it into a serious part of their career, take notes. Lots of notes.
Our sponsor, Career Vision and the Ball Foundation help students and professionals discover their strengths and navigate their career opportunities. Learn more at CareerVision.org.
And you can subscribe to the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Recent PostsCareer VisionCareer Conversations: Chicago Wolves’ Courtney Mahoney.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Mary Van De Velde.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden.cls-4{fill:#000;}Career Conversations: Content Creator Tony Gill.cls-4{fill:#000;}How Pan American’s Frank Cerrone supports his community.cls-4{fill:#000;}Click for more1 hr 27 min
About The Career Conversations Podcast with Michael Piff
From the publisher's feed
On the Career Conversations Podcast, Michael Piff talks to his guests about where they started, where they are now, and everything in between. Speaking with professionals from a wide range of…
industries, we learn about what they wanted to do before their careers started, their talents and interests, lessons they’ve learned along the way, how they’ve grown and more.