Afleveringen
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On March 17, 2020 Lissa Druss called us together to button down the launch of this podcast. It was just days prior to the State of Illinois' official call for a "shelter in place" due to the global pandemic. In this episode, Lissa, Thom Serafin, and our producer Todd Manley met on St. Patrick's Day 2025 to discuss what we've learned about leadership and humanity over the past five years. We'll share our five most-downloaded episodes and listen back to the many voices that have been our "crisis" teachers. Plus, we'll wade in the waters of gratitude for all of you who've made our 5th anniversary possible by listening.
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Too many voices simply complain about the struggles of our state. Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski enters our chat room with solutions for Illinois. Ted's approach is driven by 16-year career in international finance, based in Poland and Mexico. During this episode, you'll hear what compelled Dabrowski to come home to engage in public policy. Plus, we'll dive into the what can be done to change the state's power dynamics, and how to engineer a turnaround in economic growth. Ted Dabrowski is a first generation American, with a master's degree from the University of Chicago and MBA from the Wharton School. This week's Crisis Cast hero is Dion Dawson, founder of Dion's Chicago Dream.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Four "sanctuary city" mayors faced a grilling before Congress this week. How did Chicago's Brandon Johnson perform? You'll hear his grade from Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Gregory Royal Pratt. Pratt is literally writing the book on City Hall, and breaks down the chaos of a 6-plus hour hearing on Capitol Hill that questioned Chicago's role in immigration reform. Lissa & Thom get into the weeds on the city's fractured political factions, and the future of reporting in the age of social media. Plus, Greg Pratt offers his list of politicians who can bridge the gaps between deeply divided power groups. Pratt is author of the book The City is Up for Grabs.
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In times of crisis, few organizations can rise to the occasion like The Salvation Army. But a $24 million budget shortfall, driven by Elon Musk's team at DOGE is putting the services "The Army" provides in peril. During this episode, we examine the impact of massive federal funding cuts on non-profits. Lissa Druss is joined by Brian Bernardoni, Executive Council Chair for the North & Central Division of The Salvation Army. We'll unravel the complexities of financing non-profits. Plus, break down how state by state, politics is driving the flow of money.
This week's Crisis Cast Hero: Jacqueline Alcántara -
We've had more than a week to digest the trial of former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan. We're still processing. Who better to guide that thinking than the Chicago Tribune's investigative reporter Ray Long. In this episode, Ray joins Lissa & Thom to explore the implications of Madigan's conviction on Illinois politics and the broader issues of corruption within Illinois' political system. We'll get into the challenges of ethical governance and the role of journalism in documenting political misbehavior. Plus, we ponder the question of whether politicians are capable of policing themselves. Ray Long is two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and author of The House That Madigan Built: The Record Run of Illinois' Velvet Hammer.
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Here's some political whiplash. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan historic corruption conviction lands just days after impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich is pardoned by President Donald Trump. Some might say, "Only in Illinois."
During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin contemplate whether Madigan's conviction signals the full closure of Springfield's legacy patronage culture. Plus, what kind of price will the state pay for J.B. Pritzker's pursuit of the national spotlight?
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How do you find the words, when events leave you speechless? That's one of the questions that faced Los Angeles-based screenwriter and producer Amy Guth during the recent wildfires. During this episode, Thom Serafin gets curious about writer's block and hidden narratives with Amy. This is a conversation about getting started on a book, on a film, on anything. Plus, you'll learn how Guth became a baroness. Amy Guth also hosts two podcasts: Crain's Daily Gist and Words Matter. You can read her blog Writing for Weird Times on Substack.
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The midair collision of an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army Black Hawk helicopter underscored the critical nature of crisis response. A space Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin live and breathe.
During this episode of the Crisis Cast, we'll discuss the hard realities facing the new Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy. Plus, we'll chat through the White House's on again-off again funding freeze and what may have fueled its demise.
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This conversation hits warp speed with Lissa's first question. Will the new economic policies of the White House bring benefits or detriments? Who better to answer that, than our financial wellness guru Ilyce Glink? We'll learn how to square public perception with economic reality as Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin dig into Ilyce's expertise on the market, and our place on the global stage relative to tariffs. Does it make sense to cap credit card interest, and should you wait before diving into your next real estate transaction? A lot of answers and even more questions on this episode of the Crisis Cast.
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Serious political junkies jump right into predicting the next ballot. Listen in as Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin trespass on 2026. We invited Axios Chicago's Justin Kaufmann back to debate the shifting tides for the 5th floor of Chicago's City Hall, the governor's mansion, and a very critical U.S. Senate seat.
During this episode of the Crisis Cast, we examine what might be the tipping point for Mayor Brandon Johnson. Plus, what's the next move for Senator Dick Durbin, and who will step up to prioritize public safety?
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You're only as smart as the people around you. So, in the midst of 2020's global pandemic we went searching for voices smarter than us. We wanted to learn how compassionate leaders navigated uncharted waters. The Crisis Cast with Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin was born, and 185 episodes later we're grateful to have you along for the ride. During this conversation, we'll revisit the wisdom of our favorite voices. Lissa, Thom, and producer Todd Manley also consider whether the lessons learned are making a difference in our world and the streets where we live. While our favorite places are the neighborhoods of Illinois, we'll celebrate our stops in Italy, Ukraine, Israel, and Washington D.C., among others. Plus, you'll hear how Lissa's concept for this podcast was originally going to be a show on WGN Radio. Welcome to Season 6 of the Crisis Cast!
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We close out 2024 and our fifth season with some humorous wisdom from our archives.
Al Gini is an archaeologist of ideas, and renowned author. In this episode of The Crisis Cast, he shares his adventures in training future leaders as professor of Business Ethics at Loyola University of Chicago.
You'll meet his Uncle Joe, a teacher of survival through laughter. Prof. Gini schools us on what we truly need from politicians and what we might do about historical figures and their monuments. Al Gini has authored seven books on ethics and more, including 10 Virtues of Outstanding Leaders and The Importance of Being Funny. This episode was originally released in November of 2020.
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We got a wake-up call during this episode of the Crisis Cast. On a show about problem solving during a crisis, Father Greg Sakowicz reminds us, "Life is a mystery to be lived, not a problem to be solved."
Father Greg is rector of Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral, and gives Lissa, Thom, and all of us some mysteries to ponder. During his 40-plus years as a priest, Father Greg has fed his passion for humor and stories through his radio show and his weekly essays to parishioners. This episode leans into slowing life down enough to keep the kindness of Christmas alive year round.
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On heals of the 2024 election, there's a lot stirring in our neighborhoods about the federal funding that may vanish. All of which collides with the City of Chicago's nearly $3 billion budget deficit. Durning this episode, Justin Kaufmann of Axios Chicago joins Lissa & Thom to talk about our present day council chaos. Justin sees it as a hearkening back to the "council wars" of the 1980s. What's driving this dysfunction? Can Mayor Brandon Johnson actually be a collaborator in chief? These are just some of the answers we're chasing. Plus, is Governor J.B. Pritzker helping with his harsh tones for the incoming Trump administration?
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Music therapy is innovating every day. Yet much of the practice is misunderstood. Clare Takash joins Lissa & Thom during this episode to explain her journey to becoming a music therapist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Music therapy provides the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions for patients with autism, trauma survivors, Parkinson's disease, and more. Clare can even be seen soothing families in Rush Hospital's neo-natal unit. Patients may need a rhythmic "prescription" or a melody — the methods are never as simple as they seem. Listen as Clare shares her strategies, and some soul-stirring survival stories.
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There's one powerful statement you'll always hear from the leader of Illinois' 2nd largest city.
"Don't tell me. Show me."Richard Irvin is in his 2nd term as the Mayor of Aurora, and touts the city's innovative approach to empowering its citizens. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin revisit Mayor Irvin's interests in statewide office and explore his passion pitch for the Bears to make Aurora home. Plus, we'll have a conversation about gratitude with some guidance on why the Democratic Party shouldn't take Black voters for granted.
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As we approach the season of giving, we're proud to bring you a conversation that explores innovation in serving community needs.
During this episode, Thom Serafin digs into how one non-profit group built an alliance with the City of Chicago -- to keep the un-housed warm during the winter. Beth Amodio, CEO of One Warm Coat, shares the reinvention of how volunteers get activated. Plus, you'll hear how an interactive map is uniting churches, youth groups, and more in collecting and distributing coats and more.
You can read the story of this week's Crisis Cast heroes here.
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With Donald Trump poised to retake the White House, we cornered two experts to pull out their political GPS point out the path. During this episode, we tap into the deep thoughts of two great journalists: Mary Ann Ahern and Ray Hanania. Lissa & Thom uncover what the pundits missed in the 2024 vote and what the next Trump cabinet might look like. Plus, where will J.B. Pritzker's fortunes land after his second term, and what's the next move for Senator Dick Durbin? Hear the answers on our special post-vote edition of the show.
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For her entire life Hermene Hartman has been driven to stand up and stand out. Dr. Hartman's career began during the Civil Rights Movement, when she collaborated with Reverand Jesse Jackson at Operation Bread Basket. During this episode, Lissa & Thom chat with Hermene about how she channeled her activism into publishing as a media entrepreneur. Dr. Hartman has plenty to say about what's going on at City Hall, the divisive political landscape, and her advocacy for Chicago's Black middle class.
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In the last gasp before election day 2024, we're pulling back the curtain on political polling. Once again we welcome Rod McCulloch of Victory Research to our Crisis Cast chat room.
We'll hear what's changed in polling over the long haul, and what's different about each of the last 3 Presidential elections. You'll learn about how pollsters deal with voter cynicism, what's REALLY wrong with negative campaigning, and why he gives candidates the harsh reality. - Laat meer zien
