WGN - The Download with Justin Kaufmann Podcast

Eric Sedler, Managing Partner at Kivvit, a public strategies and communications firm, joins Justin to talk about his illustrious career, the candidates who are lining up to replace Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, the importance of using media to win elections, the idea of the campaign ad changing, the evolution of public policy advertising, the strategy involved in putting out corporate fires, how visible companies should be on social media, if Chicago is a unique city when it comes to public […]

The Hideout‘s co-owners Tim and Katie Tuten join Justin to preview this weekend’s big Hideout Block Party. Tim and Katie talk about why they are bringing the festival back in this iteration, the themes they are putting forward this weekend, how a lot of the artists that are participating are turning 60 this year, the great Steve Albini curating Sunday’s Electrical Audio anniversary celebration and how this weekend celebrates the community around The Hideout. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a […]

We have another incredible show for you tonight. The Daily Line’s Mike Fourcher stops by for his weekly chat to break down the race to replace Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Public Relations powerhouse Eric Sedler talks crisis management in the corporate world, The Hideout’s Tim and Katie Tuten preview the 21st Hideout Block Party and since it’s Wednesday, The DuPage Picker is here to evaluate your stuff on “The Swap Meet!” Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like on Facebook. The Download with […]

We have a truncated version of The Download following  the Blackhawks preseason victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. On tonight’s show, Justin recounts an awful experience (think of it as a 5 minute version of #TheWorst) at the movie theater seeing, “It,” we check-in with Alderman Ed Bus to find out if he is going to run for attorney general and we introduce you to rising Chicago musician Rich Jones! Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like on Facebook. The Download with […]

The tremendous Chicago musician Rich Jones joins Justin to talk about his career, how he started out a bit later than most musicians, where his interest in hip hop comes from, the evolution of his sound, his effort to continue to push boundaries, the pressure of producing art as an independent artist, how his age helps him in the business, his upcoming EP, “Light Work” and his monthly showcase, “All Smiles” at the Tonic Room. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him […]

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the news so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include the city of Chicago recording its 500th homicide, Hurricane Maria heading towards the Caribbean and the United States, Toys ‘R’ Us possibly filing for bankruptcy, a new study saying the secret to why your diet won’t work is in your feces, the Emmy Awards ratings being down, the Bears getting blown about by the Tampa Bay Bucs, the Cubs […]

It’s Monday so it’s time to Touché! Political analysts Chris Varones and  Dave Lundy  join Justin to debate the top political stories making news this past week including the GOP possibly taking one more shot at repealing Obamacare, Donald Trump re-tweeting a Hillary Clinton meme and two new reports about Donald Trump’s former campaign chair Paul Manafort and the possibility he could be indicted in relation to the ongoing investigation into Russia’s involvement in the 2016 election. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like […]

We have a stacked Monday show for you this evening! On tonight’s episode of The Download, political analysts Chris Varones  and Dave Lundy are back to duke it over the top national political stories making news this week. WGN Bears Insider Adam Hoge breaks down the Chicago Bears brutal loss against Tampa Bay, Musical director Abdul Hamid Royal tells us about the Court Theatre’s production of “Five Guys Named Moe,” fabulous foodie & cocktail connoisseur Audarshia Townsend gives us the […]

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the news so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include President Trump inviting Democrats to the White House for dinner, ESPN host Jemele Hill calling President Trump a white supremacist on Twitter, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders saying that ESPN’s Jemele Hill should be fired for anti-Trump tweets, Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin wanting to repeal the sweetened beverage tax, Equifax promising protections after their date breach, […]

WGN-TV entertainment reporter and critic and 2016 WGN Radio Walk of Fame inductee Dean Richards joins Justin at The Big Table to talk about his marvelous career, what he liked at the Toronto International Film Festival, being a critic in the age of social media, how we have lost the art of discourse, the challenge of covering Hollywood from Chicago, how he handles celebrity interviews that aren’t going well, the changing landscape of covering Hollywood, Chicago’s great history of criticism […]