WGN - The Download with Justin Kaufmann Podcast

Justin’s dear friend Amy Krouse Rosenthal passed away this morning at the age of 51 and Justin shares his memories of her work and their time together. Always Trust AKR By Justin Kaufmann “Whatever you Do will be insignificant But it is very important that you do it.” That’s a quote from Ghandi. But it was shared by my friend Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Amy Krouse Rosenthal spent the better part of today trending on the internet. Mostly because of a […]

Actor, comedian, Second City veteran and Joliet native Tim Baltz joins Justin to chat about his new Seeso series, “Shrink.” Tim talks about coming up with the idea for this show, how long he’s been working on this project, what it took for him to get this show to Seeso, working in Chicago at Second City, forging connections to get on shows like “Veep,” why people from Chicago tend to do well in Los Angeles and what it means for […]

We have a spectacular show to start the week! On tonight’s episode of The Download, political analysts Chris Robling and Kitty Kurth debate the merits of the new GOP health law, DePaul Women’s Basketball Head Coach Doug Bruno talks about his team and the chances they make a run in the upcoming NCAA Tourney, Justin remembers his friend Amy Krouse Rosenthal, actor and comedian Tim Baltz discusses his new Seeso series, “Shrink” and we end the show in Studio 435 […]

WGN’s Sam Panayotovich joins Justin to recap a busy week in sports including the surging Northwestern Wildcats and their march to their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament, the chances the Illinois State Redbirds make the tournament and what happens next for the Fighting Illini. Sam also tells us about the disappointing week in Bulls basketball that, at this time, puts them outside of the NBA playoffs. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like on Facebook. The Download with […]

Melissa Thodos, founder and artistic director of Thodos Dance Chicago, joins Justin to discuss her life in dance, what Chicago’s dance scene was like in the early 90’s, what differentiates Chicago’s dance scene from others around the world, closing a chapter for the Thodos Dance company and this weekend’s “Full Circle” 25th Anniversary Performance. 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

What an incredible show we have for you this evening. On tonight’s episode of The Download, The Daily Line’s Mike Fourcher takes us through another big week in local politics, Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Telander chats about his award-winning career in sports journalism and his latest series on the Orr Academy High School basketball team and Chicago violence, Melissa Thodos tells us about her life in dance and this weekend’s “Full Circle” 25th Anniversary performance, we are treated to some […]

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the newspaper so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include Wikileaks dumping the biggest set of classified documents in its history, the GOP replacement for Obamacare running into some in-party disapproval, organizers preparing for tomorrow’s “Day Without Women,” a mumps virus spreading in the Chicago area, the beaked whale finally being captured on video, a new study saying more Americans aren’t trying to losing weight, Toppers pizza chain closing up […]

Author Edward McClelland joins Justin to discuss his book, “How to Speak Midwestern.” Edward talks about where he came up with the idea for this book, the unique accents of people from the Midwest, how accents are always changing and how people from Chicago talk more like people from Buffalo than people from southern Illinois. 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 […]

Jason Erkes joins Justin to talk about medical marijuana, the state of Illinois and what entrepreneurs need to prepare for under the President Trump administration. 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

Reboot Illinois publisher Madeleine Doubek joins Justin to discuss the continuing Illinois budget crisis, the failure of the “Grand Bargain,” Chance the Rapper meeting with Governor Rauner, the fractured relationship between Governor Rauner and Comptroller Susana Mendoza and if Democrats are feeling any pressure to finally get a deal done. 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