WGN - The Download with Justin Kaufmann Podcast

Comedy legends Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff aka The Mads from Mystery Science Theater 3000 join Justin to talk about their careers, the shows that influenced them when they were younger, being cult favorites, the process of putting on a show, how they come up with the films that they use, tapping into the obscure film world, how surprised they were that they caught lightning in a bottle with the concept, the connection made with the audience, the generations that […]

Hair metal god Sebastian Bach was supposed to join Justin to talk about his new memoir, “18 and Life on Skid Row,” but unfortunately, an emergency kept him from being on the show. Luckily, Justin is here to read the book so you don’t have to! 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

We’ve put together another amazing show for you this evening! On tonight’s episode of The Download, Justin speaks with the one and only Sebastian Bach about his new memoir, “18 and Life on Skid Row.” Unfortunately, Sebastian had to cancel last minute, so instead, Justin reads from the book to give you a taste of the memoir. Dave Awl, Rachel Claff and Phil Ridarelli discuss the past, present and future of The Neo-Futurists, comedy legends Trace Beaulieu and Frank Conniff from […]

The Carry Out is the nightly segment where Justin reads the newspaper so you don’t have to. Tonight’s top stories include Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke appearing in court, Donald Trump’s Cabinet continuing to round into form, ISIS losing fighters over a two-year period, Donald Trump keeping his role on “Celebrity Apprentice,” stocks continuing to surge, life expectancy declining, Mick Jagger fathering his eighth child, rumors circulating about a Kim Kardashian-Kanye West divorce, the Bears preparing for their game […]

It’s Wednesday so that means we are treated to a visit from The Daily Line‘s Mike Fourcher to break down all the local political stories making news this week. Mike talks about Mayor Emanuel’s trip to New York City to meet with President-elect Trump, Donald Trump’s latest round of Cabinet nominees, the ongoing drama over CPS pension funding and the Chicago City Council’s attempt to get rid of honorary street signs. Follow Justin on Twitter and give him a like […]

We have a great show for you this evening! On tonight’s episode of The Download, The Daily Line’s Mike Fourcher gets us up to speed on all the local political stories making news this week, author Richard Cahan tells us about his new book, “Un-American: The Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II,” mental health expert Kelley Kitley talks about her new autobiography, “My Self,” poet, organizer and rap artist Malcolm London talks about his new record, “Opia” and […]

Poet, organizer and hip hop artist Malcolm London joins Justin to discuss his career and his debut record, “Opia.” Malcolm talks about music being another creative outlet for him, the similarities and differences between poetry and rap, the explosion of talent coming out of Chicago, what attracted him to the poetry scene, the importance of having friends that live in all areas of the city, how being from the West Side has influenced his art, the role activism plays in […]

Former Chicago Bears great Doug Plank joins Justin to recap the Bears victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Doug talks about the performance of quarterback Matt Barkley, the great game from running back Jordan Howard, the effort made by the group of  wide receivers, the continued lackluster play of the Bears special teams, the Bears defense dominating the 49ers offense, Leonard Floyd’s development and the chance the Bears play spoiler for the remainder of the season. Follow Justin on Twitter […]

We have an incredible show to get your week started! On tonight’s episode of The Download, Justin recaps the Bears win over the 49ers with the great Doug Plank, former Chicagoan and “How to Get Away with Murder” star Behzad Dabu talks about his life on stage and in front of the camera, film directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck chat about their new holiday movie, “Office Christmas Party” and we end the show in Studio 435 with some live […]

Behzad Dabu, Jeff-nominated actor, former Chicagoan and star of the ABC drama “How to Get Away with Murder,” joins Justin to talk about his career, playing a character on “How to Get Away with Murder” that people love to hate, preparing himself for being on TV in the age of social media, how he prepared for his role, attending Columbia College, what brought him to Chicago to go to school, starting his acting career working on the theater stages of […]