Julia Nash (daughter of Wax Trax! founder Jim Nash) joins Justin on Extension 720 to discuss the history of the great Wax Trax! Records and the new documentary, “Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records.” Julia talks about the impact that Wax Trax! Records had on her life, what Wax Trax! was like in the mid ’80’s, how Wax Trax! put industrial music on the map in Chicago, what she learned from going through the Wax Trax! archive and […]

The Daily Line‘s Heather Cherone joins Justin on Extension 720 to talk about today’s Chicago City Council meeting that approved TIF money for the highly controversial Lincoln Yards development. Heather talks about what this means for Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot, what it means for the areas that will be impacted by the development and how this will impact Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s legacy. This is the podcast for Extension 720. The show originates from Chicago on WGN Radio and features newsmakers, tastemakers […]

Psychotherapist, New York Times bestselling author, nationally recognized journalist, and weekly “Dear Therapist” columnist Lori Gottlieb joins Justin on Extension 720 to discuss her new book, “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone.” Lori talks about why she wanted to demystify therapy in the book, how stories are the way we make sense of our lives, why clients want to know more about their therapists, the difference between “idiot compassion” and “wise compassion,” her first experience as a therapist and what […]

It’s Lower Wacker Live with Justin Kaufmann! This is the podcast that makes fun of the news and can also get you from Lake Shore Drive to 290 in like 5 minutes. Today’s top stories include astronomers capturing the first ever photo of a Black Hole, the Chicago City Council approving TIF money for Lincoln Yards, the Sox losing to the Rays (again), the Cubs taking on the Pirates at chilly Wrigley Field and the Bulls (finally) ending their season.

Sports journalist Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson joins Justin on Extension 720 to discuss the end of the NBA season, Magic Johnson stepping down  as Lakers’ president, the lack of success of iconic franchises like the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls, the chances we see Derrick Rose back on the Bulls, the competitive nature of covering the NBA, the great career of Dwyane Wade and the future of the NBA. This is the podcast for Extension 720. The show […]

Tonight on Extension 720 with Justin Kaufmann: Playing Games. Governor Pritzker wants to open the state constitution to change the way we do taxes. What else should he be changing while he’s in there? David Greising from the BGA has some ideas. ReadyUP CEO Roderick Alemania discusses the future of sports…esports. What happens when you feel like your community is being played? Justin breaks down a new report that says that the CVE counter-terrorism program is doing less to prevent […]

“Off the Record” is a series of conversations with prominent Chicagoans in their communities. Tonight on Extension 720, Justin is joined by author, photographer and architecture critic Lee Bey at The Pullman Cafe in Pullman. Lee talks about how long he’s lived in Pullman, the amazing connection to history in Pullman, the issues that are most important to the residents of Pullman, how Pullman is becoming a tourist destination because of its National Monument designation, the changing demographics of the […]

Tonight on Extension 720, Justin is joined by ReadyUp CEO Roderick Alemania to discuss the future of sports…esports. Roderick talks about his career, how he made the transition from media to esports, the importance of perseverance, what he looks for when he approaches a new product, the success of Fortnite, how the success of Fortnite has helped the esports industry, when he recognized there was a need for ReadyUp, the different ways gamers approach playing video games, the incredible growth […]

Muhammad Sankari of the Arab American Action Network and Debbie Southorn of the American Friends Service Committee join Justin on Extension 720 to discuss a new report that says the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program is disproportionately targeting and criminalizing Muslim and Arab youth in Illinois. Muhammad and Debbie (who co-authored the report) talk about the origins of the new report, why they believe CVE’s don’t work, how the CVE program uses flawed indicators to criminalize constitutionally-protected speech, religious practices, […]

Owen Keehnen, writer and LGBTQ historian, joins Justin on Extension 720 to discuss his book, “Dugan’s Bistro and the Legend of the Bearded Lady.” Owen talks about why he decided to write about the incredible history of Dugan’s Bistro, why Dugan’s Bistro became so successful, the decadence of the gay nightlife scene in the ’70’s and 80’s, the impact that the AIDS crisis had on Dugan’s Bistro, what we know about Bob Theiss, the creator of the Bearded Lady, the […]