WGN - The Download with Justin Kaufmann Podcast

It has been a busy Chicago Blackhawks week so that means we have a special Wednesday edition of “The Download on Chicago Business” sponsored by Signature Bank. Tonight, Justin speaks with DyMynd CEO and Co-Founder Carolyn Leonard and DyMynd Chief Strategy Officer Monika Black about their goal to revolutionize the financial industry through a new empowerment framework to support women and their emotional relationship with money. Carolyn and Monika talk about narrowing the gender gap in business, changing the narrative when […]

We are packing a week’s worth of shows into one episode of The Download! On tonight’s show, Justin speaks with DyMynd CEO and Co-Founder Carolyn Leonard and DyMynd Chief Strategy Officer Monika Black about narrowing the gender gap when it comes to business funding, the NRDC’s Henry Henderson tells us about what Chicago is doing to deal with the impact of climate change, “On the Media” co-host Bob Garfield discusses the firings of both Matt Lauer and Garrison Keillor, Whitney Young […]

It’s Tuesday night so that means it is time to come together and collectively complain and bemoan about #TheWorst things in society…for prizes! Tonight, Justin is joined by comedians Blake Burkhart and Bobby Condon! Do you know what’s the worst? Mimes. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like on Facebook. The Download with Justin Kaufmann airs Monday through Friday from 7 pm. to 11 pm on @WGNRadio

We have another terrific show for you! On tonight’s episode of The Download, Justin chats with 1871 CEO Howard Tullman about what he’s learned running the tech incubator for the last 4 years, Professor Al Gini talks about how the pursuit of happiness sometimes causes unhappiness, Agate Publishing founder Doug Seibold tells us about the reissue of Dempsey Travis’ incredible authorized biography of Mayor Harold Washington, “Harold, The People’s Mayor,” comedian, journalist and former City Hall reporter Ray Hanania remembers […]

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the news so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include the Justice Department suing to block AT&T’s merger with Time Warner, Todd Stroger announcing he will run against Toni Preckwinkle for Cook County Board President, Senator Al Franken being accused by another woman of inappropriate behavior, Uber buying up Volvo’s to form a fleet of driverless cars, the Bears losing to the Detroit Lions, the Bulls starting a West Coast road […]

Award-winning journalist and broadcaster Mara Tapp joins Justin to discuss Cool Classics!, which uses classic books to connect children to a unified world of reading, art, culture, humanities and ideas. Mara talks about why and how she founded Cool Classics!, the goal of teaching children to love books as well as ideas and receiving a 2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like on Facebook. The Download with Justin Kaufmann airs Monday through Friday from 7 […]

Jason Patera, Head of School at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, joins Jon Hansen and Esmeralda Leon (in for Justin Kaufmann) for a discussion on the school- which blends traditional academia and intense study of a discipline.  He talks about how finding the school as a young wannabe-rock star helped him find his own path in life as a music instructor, the school’s mission to provide practical experience along to go along with big dreams, the disappearing arts programs […]

Jon Hansen and Esmeralda Leon (in for Justin Kaufmann) talk with The Takeout managing editor Jen Sabella about showcasing career-driven and influential women in the stage show and podcast The Girl Talk, the hole in local journalism created by the shutdown of DNAinfo, the highs and lows of running a feral cat colony, and more.

We have a wonderful show for you tonight! Justin chats with Jiobit CEO and Co-founder John Renaldi about improving ways we monitor our kids, journalist and author Jonathan Eig tells us about his new book, “Ali: A Life,” the hilarious Jordan Klepper talks about his Chicago roots and his new Comedy Central series, “The Opposition with Jordan Klepper,” Calvin Johnson, indie-rock royalty and the founder of the iconic K Records, discusses his great career and recent Selector Dub Narcotic record and since […]

Calvin Johnson, indie-rock legend and owner of the influential K Records in Olympia, Washington, joins Justin to discuss the memories he has of playing in Chicago, the history of K Records, why he decided to start a record label, the relationship between K Records and Sub Pop Records, what the music scene was like in the Pacific Northwest in the early 1980’s, why a lot of the most interesting music came from places outside of major cities, the balance between running […]