WGN - The Download with Justin Kaufmann Podcast

The Daily Line‘s Mike Fourcher joins Justin for his weekly visit to break down the top local political stories making news this week. Tonight, Mike and Justin are joined by Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin who talks about his efforts to repeal the sweetened beverage tax and if this issue is going to spur him to run for Cook County Board President. 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 […]

We have another amazing show for you tonight! The Daily Line’s Mike Fourcher joins Justin as they chat about the sweetened beverage tax with Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, the great Dean Richards chats about his great career, the hilarious actor and comedian David Koechner tells us about his show this Saturday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, influential musician John Doe of the legendary punk band X talks about the band celebrating their 40th anniversary ahead […]

The great John Doe from the legendary and influential Los Angeles punk band X joins Justin to talk about his career, his familiarity with Chicago’s great punk rock scene, the connection he has with Chicago’s alt-country style of music, the band celebrating its 40th anniversary, the differences between the New York punk sound and the Los Angeles punk sound, how they wanted to write about a less glamorous Los Angeles scene, how the band was able to evolve their sound, […]

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 wooing Democrats on tax reform, Cardinal Cupich banning guns in all Chicago churches and schools, a new study saying family income is rising, Chicago issuing tickets for window signs without permits, Apple announcing the new iPhones, Ted Cruz’s twitter account “liking” a pornography tweet, the Cubs taking on the Mets at Wrigley, the White Sox losing to […]

Author and minister Kenneth Bedell joins Justin to discuss his fascinating new book, “Realizing the Civil Rights Dream: Diagnosing and Treating American Racism.” Kenneth talks about his career, working as a senior advisor in the Obama administration at the U.S. Department of Education, why we need to think of racism in a different way, why the civil rights hopes of the 1960s have not yet been realized and what Americans can do to finally achieve the civil rights dream. Follow Justin on Twitter and […]

We have another fabulous show for you this evening! On tonight’s episode of The Download, Justin chats with Portillo’s CEO Keith Kinsey about taking an iconic Chicago brand national, writer Eve Ewing discusses her new book “Electric Arches,” Kenneth Bedell talks about his new book, “Realizing the Civil Rights Dream: Diagnosing and Treating American Racism,” playwright Jay Deratany tells us about the new musical, “The CiviliTy of Albert Cashier” and since it’s Tuesday, we end the show with “The Worst,” where we […]

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the news so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin looking to repeal the Cook County Soda Tax,  Steve Bannon saying that if President Trump gets his wall he’ll win 2020 in a landslide, Illinois Education Secretary Beth Purvis announcing she is stepping down, Apple introducing a new iPhone tomorrow, the new DePaul stadium featuring a concert by Bob Dylan, Hurricane Irma messing up […]

Adam Jahns, Chicago Sun-Times Bears writer and co-host of the Hoge and Jahns podcast, joins Justin for the premiere episode of “Monday Evening Quarterback.” Adam and Justin break down all aspects of the Bears opening game loss to the Atlanta Falcons including John Fox’s game plan, the play calling during the last drive of the game, the performance of Mike Glennon, Tarik “The Human Joystick” Cohen’s coming out party, the injuries to Kevin White and Jerrell Freeman, the Bears front […]

The tremendous bass clarinetist Jason Stein joins Justin in Studio 435 to talk about his career, how he came to play the clarinet, starting to play the clarinet later in his life, if he minds being called “avant-garde,” the style of music he prefers playing, continuing to learn new things about his instrument, Chicago’s great history of jazz, his forthcoming record, “Lucille” and his upcoming record release show at Constellation! Jason and bassist Joshua Abrams also perform a few songs including “Darn […]

Food and Travel writer, editor and author Matt Kirouac joins Justin to discuss his new book, “Unique Eats & Eateries of Chicago.” Matt talks about where this project comes from, how going to culinary school informs his writing style, why he chose the writing path rather than the chef path, the way he chose the restaurants that appear in the book, Chicago becoming a culinary power and if the city is close to restaurant saturation. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him […]