WGN - The Download with Justin Kaufmann Podcast

OneGoal‘s Sarah Berghorst joins Justin to talk about bridging the educational divide, getting students prepared for success after high school, how Illinois is leading the nation in funding inequity, training teachers to help lower income students finish college, the importance of changing the mindset of students so that they can achieve their goals and how OneGoal offers an innovative and proven solution at a low cost to help students succeed in college. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like […]

We are coming up on a long, holiday weekend so we are going to try to stuff the next two shows with four days of content! On tonight’s episode of The Download, Justin speaks with OneGoal Executive Director Sarah Berghorst about her effort to get low income students to finish college, outgoing Cook County Clerk David Orr discusses his career and why he is choosing not to seek re-election, the hilarious comedian Artie Lange talks about his career, his role […]

Cook County Clerk David Orr joins Justin to talk about his career in politics, why he is choosing to not run for re-election, his ongoing quest to make it easier for citizens to vote, the history of voter suppression in Illinois, the problem with the enormous amount of money spent on political campaigns, his 7-day stint as Mayor of Chicago after Mayor Harold Washington passed away and if he’s going to miss being so heavily involved in Illinois politics. Follow […]

It’s Wednesday night so that means it’s time for the Swap Meet sponsored by Wolff’s Flea Market!  Greg Flamm aka The DuPage Picker is here to evaluate your junk! Have something old and cool that you want to brag about? Been wondering how much that old transistor radio is worth? How about that classic cassingle collection? Let’s talk about your stuff! Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like on Facebook. The Download with Justin Kaufmann airs Monday through Friday from 7 […]

Now this is another gem of a show! On tonight’s episode of The Download, The Daily Line’s Mike Fourcher tells us if we are close to getting a state budget deal done, Michael Darling, the James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art talks about the immensely popular Takashi Murakami exhibition, Darienne Page Rakestraw gets us excited about the Warrior Games, which are being held in Chicago starting on Friday, we are introduced to rising Chicago music producer […]

Michael Darling, the James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, joins Justin to discuss the hugely popular Takashi Murakami exhibition, “The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg.” Michael talks about what drew him to Murakami’s work, why he wanted to bring this exhibit to the MCA, the challenge in trying to get people to look at Murakami’s work differently, the popularity of the exhibit, trying to find exhibitions that have broad appeal while not compromising the integrity […]

Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin joins Justin to talk about his great career in music, how he grew up playing jazz music, what he learned from jazz that is still with him today, auditioning for the Smashing Pumpkins, the transition the band was making from “Gish” to their major label debut, “Siamese Dream,” going from local darlings to being one of the biggest rock bands in the world, his well-documented battles with addiction, the relationship between rock and roll and […]

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the news so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include Mitch McConnell delaying a vote on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act, GOP Senators being called to the White House to speak to President Trump, the Washington Post reporting that President Trump has a fake Time Magazine cover that hangs in at least four of President Trump’s golf resorts, Speaker Madigan presenting a budget proposal, the Cubs beating […]

The tremendous Chicago musician Show You Suck joins Justin in Studio 435 to talk about his great career, his creative approach to putting out music, learning to say “yes” to opportunities, not pigeonholing himself,  Air Credits, his new collaboration with The Hood Internet, how his music has evolved through the years, the process of creating a song, where he draws inspiration, being a part of a thriving Chicago musical community, his forthcoming record, “Vacation Forever,” and his upcoming show at […]

Paul Biasco and Dan Salls of the great, new Logan Square restaurant Quiote join Justin to talk about their restaurant, their previous careers (Paul as a journalist, Dan in the restaurant/food truck industry) before opening Quiote, the growing popularity of mezcal, the independent spirit of making mezcal, how the business can be all-consuming and the challenges of running a popular restaurant. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like on Facebook. The Download with Justin Kaufmann airs Monday through Friday […]