WGN - The Download with Justin Kaufmann Podcast

Mark Carman and Harry Teinowitz filled in for Justin Kaufmann on The Download and talked all things sports, airlines and grilled cheese. They started things off with a tribute to David Letterman’s late mother. Sam Panayotovich called in to talk about the Cubs’ ring ceremony. Then, Harry and Mark take calls on the United crisis and ask listeners about their worst ever plane stories. Steve Johnson, Culture Reporter for the Tribune talked to the guys about the new Rolling Stones exhibit at […]

Chicago Tribune’s Culture Reporter Steve Johnson joined Harry & Mark to tell them about his day at the new Rolling Stones Exhibition at Navy Pier. He also told them about talking with the legends Mick and Keith themselves.

Matt took over The Download tonight. First, he talked to Katie Rose and Mark Johnson from Best Buddies Illinois, who help children with special needs connect with friends and get more out of life. Crisis communications specialist Lissa Druss Christman from Serafin joined Matt to weigh in on the big news story on United’s treatment of a passenger. That conversation continues with John Williams and airline travel expert Johnny Jet, and listeners called in to contribute their new slogan ideas for United. […]

Mark Johnson and Katie Rose from Best Buddies joined Matt in the Allstate Showcase Studio to tell him about their special organization that aims to build a global volunteer movement working on one-on-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. They also tell him about the organization’s upcoming walk at Brookfield Zoo.

It’s Esmeralda’s Birthday-eve, and what better way to celebrate than hanging with Jon Hansen in the Allstate Showcase Studio for the night? For starters, Antonio Fiasche from Nduja Artisans Salumeria stopped by with a platter of delicious sausages and spreadable salami to try. Then, Kam Buckner from World Sport Chicago joined them to talk about the organization’s event Spin to Break the Cycle at the House of Blues. In light of the recent news from Syria, Suzanne Sahloul, Founder & […]

Antonio Fiasche and his dad Agostino started Nduja Artisans about 5 years ago when they realized there was no where in Chicago to get this delicious traditional spreadable salami. Jon and Esmeralda were more than excited to hear Antonio’s story and taste the delectable end-product. http://serve.castfire.com/audio/3338775/3338775_2017-04-08-015715.64kmono.mp3?ad_params=zones%3DPreroll%7Cstation_id%3D3779.mp3

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the news so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include the U.S. saying they will lead an international effort to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Senator Mitch McConnell enacting the “Nuclear Option” to help Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch get confirmed, J.B. Pritzker announcing his candidacy for Illinois governor, former police superintendent Garry McCarthy saying people are urging him to run for Chicago mayor, comedian Don Rickles passing away […]

Host and producer Christopher Johnson and co-producer Derek L. John join Justin to discuss the new Audible audio documentary series, “100:1 The Crack Legacy.” Derek and Christopher talk about where this project began, the origins of the crack epidemic and it’s relationship to police brutality, why they named the series, “100-1” and the story of Chicagoan Eric Wilson, who was sentenced to a mandatory lifetime of imprisonment for 7.6 kilograms of crack cocaine. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like […]

Sportscaster and “Inside the NBA” host Ernie Johnson Jr. joins Justin to discuss his great new book, “Unscripted: The Unpredictable Moments That Make Life Extraordinary.” Ernie talks about the lessons he learned as a youth about living an unscripted life, how his life changed when he and his wife adopted a special needs child from Romania, the marvelous E: 60 documentary about his life and why he decided to do it, some of the similarities between his life and the […]

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the newspaper so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include President Trump coming out and railing against President Bashar Assad after the chemical attack in Syria, the White House removing Steve Bannon from the National Security Council, President Trump bashing Chicago schools, the Chicago Teachers Union announcing they aren’t going to strike on May 1st, Speaker Ryan recently sending a bill to President Trump requiring drug testing for anyone […]