February 16, 2021

THE VOICE OF WCGO IS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR NEXT PROJECT

Mike Michalski is director of production at and the voice of WCGO Radio. If you advertise or do a show on the station, he’s part of the package. But Mike is also available for whatever voice and production projects you might have. For rates and scheduling, please .

Recently Mike sat down in his brand new home production studio to talk about his dynamic production work, which includes station promos, show intros, and commercials familiar to regular WCGO listeners. He also recalls how a Chicago radio legend gave him his start in broadcasting, and leaves us with an award-winning haiku that pays tribute to retired Chicago Blackhawk Marián Hossa.

Examples of Mike's work are available throughout the interview. You can read a transcript of the interview here.

December 17, 2020

JOE WALSH FEATURED IN A NEW DOCUMENTARY THE GAME IS UP: THE CANDIDATE BY MELISSA JO PELTER AND THE AMERICAN DIGNITY PAC

Tune in to The Joe Walsh Show weekdays from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCGO.

December 16, 2020

WCGO’S JULIE RYAN RELEASES ANGEL MESSAGES FOR DOGS BOOK

Julie Ryan, host of the weekly call-in show Ask Julie Ryan (Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Central), has released Angel Messages For Dogs, a fun, colorful picture book with illustrations by Ros Webb, a follow-up to their 2019 collaboration Angel Messages For Kids. In the book, angels teach children about puppies and dogs.

A psychic and medical intuitive, Julie previously authored Angelic Attendants: What Really Happens As We Transition From This Life Into The Next, which describes a series of events that involves angels, multitudes of deceased family and friends, the spirits of deceased pets, and countless serendipitous and miraculous moments.

Order your copy of Angels Messages For Dogs on Amazon today.

December 3, 2020

All ears will be on “The Hannah and Fred Show” this Sunday morning (11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Central) for their exclusive live interview with broadcast agri-legends Orion Samuelson and Max Armstrong. Orion is set to retire at the end of the year.

Says WCGO general manager Chuck Duncan: "I'm thrilled that Hannah and Fred had the foresight to pay tribute to these two broadcasting legends on WCGO. Orion and Max have so positively impacted the lives of not just Chicagoans but listeners all across the country. A special thanks to Robert Feder for alerting Chicagoans to this tribute!"

October 28, 2020

WCGO introduces
"Inside The Skev™"

“A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR ALL THINGS SKOKIE & EVANSTON”

Listen Sundays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Central

First things first. "The Skev" is the area of Skokie with an Evanston mailing address, commonly referred to as Skevanston. Aaron Masliansky, host of Inside The Skev, lives in that part of town, and from there launched the podcast in late 2018. Now, with nearly 80 episodes behind him, Aaron is taking the show to Chicago's airwaves, with the debut episode set for Sunday, November 1st.

"Inside The Skev™" will air every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. Central on WCGO, AM 1590 and FM 95.9 in Chicagoland, and wcgoradio.com. The one-hour show will also be broadcast on Facebook Live and continue to be available in podcast form.

"I started this as a way to help promote my real estate business," Aaron said in a recent interview, "because I'm a realtor with Dreamtown Realty in Evanston. And I've always been searching for different ways to produce something interesting and useful for people, giving information about the community and really connecting people."

Over the past two years, "Inside The Skev™" has featured interviews with U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, WTTW anchor Brandis Friedman, Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty and Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen, Susan Abrams of the Illinois Holocaust Museum, white-supremacist-turned-human-rights-activist TM Garrett, League of Women Voters of Evanston members Kathy Tate-Bradish and Michelle Jordan, Evanston shop owner Lena Kim, and even Aaron himself.

In interviewing "real changemakers within the community," Aaron says that he's "really wanted to know their story and get to meet them," adding that "Inside The Skev™" has been "a great platform to meet some really interesting people."

He approaches every interview with the goal of achieving "rhythm" between the guest and himself. "It's not where it's just a scripted list of questions that I'm going to go through," he says. "It's really trying to make people relax and let the listener feel like they're in on that conversation."

A realtor for the past decade, Aaron started the podcast with no prior experience in radio or podcasting. He says that in the course of conducting so many interviews he has "definitely felt a lot more comfortable achieving rhythm [in] interviewing guests, eliminating extra verbiage that's not really necessary, getting my guests comfortable, and trying to imagine the audience in my head as I'm asking the questions."

With his move to broadcast radio, he says he hopes to continue to learn. "I think that this is a tremendous opportunity for me to learn more about how to do better interviews, how the media landscape works, and how to be a bigger part of the community and share the stories, because right now it's a real tough time where we're told to be socially distanced and that's hard on people mentally, in many different ways, and it can really bifurcate us. So by listening to the stories of your neighbors, who may not have grown up next door to you but are here now, it's important and it brings us closer together."

ABOUT THE HOST

Aaron Masliansky is a realtor at Dream Town Realty in Evanston and is connected with his local and global community. He is a Young Professional Ambassador with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, a fellow with the UNA Chicago Engage an Embassy Fellowship, on the Global Real Estate Council at the Chicago Association of Realtors and the Young Professional Committee with Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, and a member of Rotary International. He is married and has two children, ages 8 and 10.

“AROUND THE HOUSE WITH ERIC G” IS ON WCGO SATURDAY MORNINGS AT 7:00 CENTRAL

Around the House with Eric G is your source for home improvement, interior design and construction answers. It doesn't matter if you’re just getting started in DIY or you’re an industry pro, we have something for you!

Catch "Around The House" every Saturday from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. Central on WCGO. Call in with your questions at ! Visit the "Around The House" show page.

Recently Eric talked with WCGO about the show, his career path, and the big life changes that have come out about for him in 2020. Find the transcript o this interview here.

“THE KEN COLEMAN SHOW” IS ON WCGO WEEKDAYS AT NOON

Do you dread going to work on Monday mornings? The Ken Coleman Show is for you! Join the conversation with Ken Coleman as he delivers practical advice to help you discover the role you were born to play — and map out a plan to get there. You have what it takes to make your dream job a reality!

The show airs on WCGO weekdays from noon to 1:00 p.m. Central. Call or email the show to talk to Ken and get answers to your career questions:   or .

Recently Ken talked with WCGO about his own career path, the career advice he offers on the air, the job market in the age of COVID-19, and more. Here’s the interview:

Read the interview transcript

WCGO’S BLANQUITA CULLUM NAMED TO THE TEXAS RADIO HALL OF FAME AND AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS SAMMY AWARD

[Article published on talkers.com]

Legendary talk radio personality and broadcast industry figure Blanquita Cullum has been named to the Texas Radio Hall of Fame Class of 2020 and is the recipient of this year’s Sammy Award. 

The Sammy Award is presented each year to a “trailblazing” female broadcaster.  In a statement made at the presentation, Josh Holstead, operations manager of the Texas Hall of Fame said: “Each year, the Texas Radio Hall of Fame recognizes the outstanding contributions and achievements of a trailblazing female broadcaster.  Named for legendary female personality Mary “Sam” Staddard, this year our Board of Directors bestow this honor on San Antonio’s Blanquita Cullum.  From humble beginnings as a copywriter at K-BUC, Blanquita became one of the most recognized and respected women in Alamo City radio, and eventually a nationally recognized figure after taking her talents to Washington, D.C.  It gives me great pride to see a person so deserving receive this accolade.”

Cullum achieved success with her program “The BQ View” in national syndication on the Radio America network in the 1990s and as a pioneer of the modern era of talk radio while serving as the executive director of the National Association of Radio Talk Show Hosts. She also received a presidential appointment by George W. Bush to the United States Broadcasting Board of Governors (now the U.S. Agency for Global Media), where she served from 2002 to 2010.  She was also the founder of the Young American Broadcasters Program, which helped identify upcoming radio talent and provided them with scholarships. She served as White House liaison to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and executive assistant to the deputy director of FEMA during President George H.W. Bush’s administration.

Commenting on Cullum receiving the Sammy Award, TALKERS publisher Michael Harrison stated, “Ms. Cullum’s contributions to the growth of talk radio’s modern era both on air and behind the scenes are indeed worthy of this great honor.” 

At present, Cullum hosts the daily program “The Hard Question” on WCGO Chicago, which is syndicated on the SmartTalk Radio Network.

July 16, 2020

WCGO AND THE SMART TALK RADIO NETWORK INTRODUCE "ASK JULIE RYAN"

JULIE HELPS PEOPLE ANSWER LIFE'S UNANSWERABLE QUESTIONS

Tune in Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Central

Julie Ryan, psychic and medical intuitive, is ready to answer your personal questions every Thursday night from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Central as WCGO and the SmartTalk Radio Network introduce the live, two-hour weekly program Ask Julie Ryan.

Do you have a medical issue? Want to talk with a deceased loved one? Find out about your pet’s health or behavior? No matter where you are in the world, take a journey to the other side and Ask Julie Ryan.

A weekly podcast since the spring of 2016, with more than 200 episodes in its catalog, "Ask Julie Ryan" is also now available to the worldwide listening audience of the SmartTalk Radio Network through its affiliate stations and online stream.

Already heard by millions of podcast listeners throughout the world, Julie says she is "really excited" about this transition to broadcast radio "because I think it will bring the information that I talk about on my show to many more people."

The show will continue to have a call-in format, with Julie taking a broad range of listener questions, the vast majority of them typically relating to medical concerns. "A lot of people come to me that have medical conditions and they’ve seen many doctors and gotten many diagnoses and many treatment suggestions, and they still have the same symptoms," Julie says. "So I can scan and do an energetic healing which often gives them answers they haven’t been able to get from other methods."

On the show, Julie also communicates telepathically with deceased loved ones, "or any deceased person, for that matter," and even pets. She additionally tackles "past lives" questions and offers career and romantic advice. "It’s kind of like a modern-life Dear Abby meets medical intuition and psychic abilities," she says.

About Julie Ryan

In addition to being a psychic and medical intuitive, Julie calls herself a businesswoman, serial entrepreneur, and inventor. "I’ve invented surgical devices that are sold throughout the world and I’ve started nine companies in five industries in 30 years," she says, adding: "I thought I’d semi-retire after I sold my surgical device manufacturing company, and I thought, well, I’ll just talk to a few people about medical intuitive and psychic stuff. And now I do it full time, which has just been a blast. I’m loving it. I’m having a ball doing it."

Julie studied for six years to be a psychic and believes that the medical intuitive aspect of what she does came naturally to her from her decades spent in the hospital supply industry. "We all come in with the ability to have intuitive information; it’s just learning to develop it and refine it, and I think everybody has the ability to do that."

Now, in addition to hosting "Ask Julie Ryan," she teaches these skills online to people all over the world. She's also authored the book Angelic Attendants: What Really Happens As We Transition From This Life Into The Next, which describes "a series of events that involves angels, multitudes of deceased family and friends, the spirits of deceased pets, and countless serendipitous and miraculous moments." Julie’s latest release, Angel Messages For Kids, is a picture book that has angels answering kids’ tough questions.

Please visit the “Ask Julie Ryan” show page to learn more about the show and its host: smarttalkradionetwork.com/ask-julie-ryan. Find a complete Julie Ryan interview transcript at smarttalkradionetwork.com/julie-ryan-interview. Also visit askjulieryan.com.

For stations interested in adding “Ask Julie Ryan” to their weekly lineup, please email Chuck Duncan at .

July 3, 2020

WCGO and the smart talk radio network INTRODUCE "THE HANNAH & FRED SHOW"

2 great friends, 2 generations, 2 different sides of the world. 1 radio show that brings them together.

Listen Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central

Nine months after launching the popular Sunday morning talk show "Gabby Road with Hannah, Fred & Justin," Hannah Stanley and Fred Weintraub have said their on-air goodbyes to co-host Justin Kulovsek and launched a new, eponymously named gabfest, "The Hannah & Fred Show." The two-hour program continues to air on WCGO Radio and the affiliated SmartTalk Radio Network Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central. WCGO broadcasts 24 hours a day on 1590 AM, covering all of Chicagoland, and is heard locally in Evanston and nearby neighborhoods of Chicago through a translator at 95.9 FM. Additionally, the station sends out a live stream of its programming on this website, as well as the TuneIn and SimpleRadio apps, and a video feed of "The Hannah & Fred Show" goes out over Facebook Live.

“'The Hannah & Fred Show' is really not any different than what it’s been for the last [nine] months," Fred says, "and really not any different than what Hannah and I have been doing for many years as a radio duo. We're journalists, so we’re interested in the facts of the day on a Sunday morning, and we really want you to grab a cup of coffee and sit with us, come on in to the radio and have a good conversation. "

Hannah and Fred combine 60 years of broadcast experience and have worked together since Fred became a regular guest on Hannah's previous radio show, sharing news and gossip on a topic they mutually adore: England's Royal Family. In 2019 they set out to create "something positive" and launched "Gabby Road"; after 39 episodes working as a trio, co-host Justin Kulovsek left the show to devote more time to his media consulting business. "We are thrilled that WCGO and the SmartTalk Radio Network remains our home," Fred says. "We look forward with respect and gratitude to be able to talk with the listeners around the country each week."

WCGO General Manager Chuck Duncan says the program has become one of the station's "franchise shows on the weekend. Each week you can expect everything from celebrity interviews to serious conversation about what's worrying Americans. Two smart broadcasters who have their pulse on America, and we are thrilled that they are part of our radio family."

Good friends off the air, Hannah says the two are "different people with very strong opinions," a result that stems in part from the difference in their ages and generations — Fred's a Baby Boomer, while Hannah is Gen X. "We are definitely taking advantage of the fact that we have such breadth of our own history and interviews and experiences, but we’re also able to put our spin on things," Hannah says.

Another key difference that separates the two hosts: time zones. Hannah broadcasts from WCGO's Evanston studio, while Fred, a part-time resident of Chicago, London, and Singapore, is usually somewhere on the other side of the world. "I’ve been in the Maldives; I’ve been in Cambodia," Fred says about past broadcasts. "When we say we’re global and we’re syndicated, we mean it in a way that no other show can mean."

Over the past nine months, Hannah and Fred (and their former co-host Justin) have chatted with an impressive list of celebrity guests, whose names include Jerry Springer, Nora Dunn, Dwayne Kennedy, D.B. Sweeney, Tom Dreesen, Sandy Duncan, Ron Insana, Ginger Zee, Tim Kazurinsky, and Katie Kadan, as well as Chicago notables Wayne Messmer, Brad Edwards, Jarrett Payton, and "gator getter" Frank Robb. "I think that what we want to do every week is we want to up our game," Fred says. "And the way to up our game is to have great guests."

For more information about the show and its hosts, please visit https://smarttalkradionetwork.com/the-hannah-and-fred-show.

Find a complete interview transcript at https://www.smarttalkradionetwork.com/hannah-and-fred-interview.

June 19, 2020

JULY 11 IS UNPLUG ILLINOIS DAY

Unplug Illinois is a public service campaign designed to help park and recreation agencies communicate the value “unplugging” offers people and communities. Unplug Illinois encourages people to get out, unplug, play, and engage one another through their local park and recreation agencies. Whether you are biking with friends on your local trails, playing a sport or taking in a class or simply cooling off at the pool, Illinois is home to thousands of parks and recreation facilities that can help you live a happier and healthier life.

On Saturday, July 11, 2020, people throughout Illinois will ditch their electronic devices and plug into fun and activities at their local park and recreation agencies. Unplug Illinois Day promotes parks as a place to play, and the value that parks and recreation bring in creating healthier communities.

May 29, 2020

WCGO AND THE GAB RADIO NETWORK INTRODUCE THE JOE WALSH SHOW

The former Illinois congressman and presidential candidate is reviving his popular nationally syndicated radio show

WCGO Radio and our national platform the GAB Radio Network are proud to announce a new addition to our weekday lineup: The Joe Walsh Show, making its debut Monday, June 1, 2020.

Listen in every Monday through Friday as Joe delivers two hours of straight talk and dialogue on the issues that divide us. It's radio that will be honest, unafraid, and respectful.

“I’m excited to be back on the radio,” Joe says. "This country is too divided. We need to get folks out of their corners and listening to each other. That’s what I’ve always done with radio, and I think there’s a hunger for an honest voice out there.”

WCGO and GAB Radio Network General Manager Chuck Duncan “felt that Joe's passion and patriotism come at a critical time in our nation's history, and it's important for all perspectives on America's direction be made available to every city in every state. We are honored to present this important forum to Joe at an essential time, and look forward to having Joe's voice heard throughout Chicago on WCGO as well as making ‘The Joe Walsh Show’ available to every concerned station's lineup through our GAB Radio Network.”

“The Joe Walsh Show” is broadcast live over the GAB Radio Network and WCGO Monday through Friday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m Central (please note that "Legal Eagles" will air in the 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. time slot through Labor Day).

ABOUT JOE Joe Walsh is a former Illinois congressman elected to congress in the Tea Party wave of 2010. Following his service in Congress, he became one of the most popular conservative talk radio hosts in the country, syndicated in major markets throughout the United States. In August of 2019 Joe announced his candidacy for president, waging a Republican primary challenge against Donald Trump. He is the author of F*CK SILENCE: Calling Trump Out for the Cultish, Moronic, Authoritarian Con Man He Is.

• To find out more about Joe and "The Joe Walsh Show," visit gabradionetwork.com/the-joe-walsh-show

• To listen to an interview with Joe where he talks about his experience running for president and his new radio show, visit gabradio.com/joe-walsh-interview.

May 5, 2020

CORONALERT NOW AIRING ON WCGO

Sun Broadcast Group and The SmartTalk Radio Network recently launched CoronaLert, which reached over 300 stations in its first month of broadcast, including WCGO. Veteran broadcaster Cary Harrison presents slickly-produced 60-second rapid-response features that draw from the top scientific and medical minds available today.  CoronaLert is the first of its kind with both volume of daily segments and a custom fleet of professionally produced companion videos for stations’ websites.

“Facts not fear is the basis for CoronaLerts and provides listeners on all platforms and devices with a daily topic or development that is covered in a solution-oriented, easy takeaway format,” said SmartTalk CEO Chuck Duncan. “Smart Talk Radio Network presents a forum for discussion, info and entertainment covering myriad life topics including COVID-19 and its lasting effects on our world.”

Cary Harrison is recipient of numerous awards, including the Sigma Delta Chi Award－the highest honor bestowed for public service by the Society of Professional Journalists and first place honors for "Best Commentary" from the Associated Press.

For more information, go to CoronaLert.org.

February 26, 2020

WCGO AND PLAYTIME WITH BILL TURCK & KERRI KENDALL WELCOME THE CHRIS GREENE QUARTET AT EVANSTON SPACE

Sunday, March 1 The Chris Greene Quartet plays Evanston SPACE and WCGO’s Bill Turck & Kerri Kendall, co-hosts of Playtime (Sundays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Central), will be there to introduce the show! Chris and two members of his eponymously named jazz quartet recently performed live in WCGO’s Studio B (listen to the audio player), and have been “Playtime” regulars over the years. Sunday’s show at SPACE starts at 7:30 (doors at 6:30), and tickets range in price from $12 to $20 [purchase tickets here].

The Chris Greene Quartet has been a highly visible part of Chicago’s jazz scene since 2005, and has maintained a stable lineup from the beginning, with the exception of Steve Corley, who has held the drum chair since 2011. Damian Espinosa (piano and keyboards) and Marc Piane (acoustic and electric basses) have been on board since the beginning. Unique among Chicago bands, most of whom feature, by necessity, constantly shifting personnel, the CGQ has been able to develop a true group sound and feel, harking back to bands from the classic age of jazz when groups could stay together for long periods of time. While honoring the tradition, the CGQ incorporates elements of funk, hip-hop, rock, pop, the blues and reggae, reflecting their diverse backgrounds.

CGQ was recently honored at the 2018 Chicago Music Awards with an award for “Best Jazz Entertainer” and won the “Best Jazz Band” category in the Chicago Reader “Best of Chicago” poll.

Visit the CGQ website.

February 20, 2020

NEW VEGAN COOKING SHOW “NEW DAY NEW CHEF” FEATURES WCGO’S ELYSABETH ALFANO

“New Day New Chef” is an entertaining, fast-paced cooking show set to air on public television stations throughout the nation and is now available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. From Olympic medalists to movie stars, muscular body builders to sinewy yoga masters, “New Day New Chef” entertains Americans while helping them reinvent their diets, boost their energy, lower their carbon footprints, and transform their lives with a simple switch to plant-based foods. 

Special guests include some of America’s best-known vegans, including:

• NBA legend John Salley

• Olympic medalist and “Game Changers” star Dotsie Bausch

• Marco Antonio Regil, host of Spanish-language versions of “The Price Is Right” and “The Wall”

• “Vanderpump Rules” star and trans-activist Billie Lee

• “SpongeBob” and “Family Guy” voice actress Lori Alan, and more 

• TV chef, syndicated radio host and producer Elysabeth Alfano (pictured center)

"Food is what unites us," notes Elysabeth Alfano, who hosts The Elysabeth Alfano Show on WCGO every Sunday from 3:00 top 4:00 p.m. Central.  "There is no better connection than the connection we experience over cooking together and sharing a meal.  If that meal is healthy for us, the planet and animals, it's a triple win!"  Alfano cooks her recipe of spicy stuffed Italian peppers for Velez-Mitchell and episode co-host Marco Antonio Regil in Episode 5.

Read the press release.

February 14, 2020

INTO THE GAP CELEBRATES BERWYN AT THE WIRE

Wednesday, February 19 join us at The Wire in Berwyn for a live recording of Into The Gap, when we will be celebrating all things Berwyn with Mayor Robert J. Lovero. We’ll talk about living and growing up in Berwyn, the current state of the city, and what the mayor envisions as he embarks on a fourth-term re-election campaign. Additionally, we will be opening up the floor for questions from the audience! The event will be recorded and split into two separate "Into the Gap" episodes.

Come on out, meet the mayor, and be heard. The event takes place at The Wire, 6815 W. Roosevelt Road! It starts at 7:00 p.m. FREE admission, cash bar, and fun conversation! Hope to see you there!

February 6, 2020

DARIAN AMERICA TAKES HIS SHOW ON THE ROAD for VALENTINE’S DAY

Friday night, February 14, join WCGO’s Darian D. Silk Sims for a special episode recording of The Darian America Show at the Falcon Inn, 1601 East 53rd Street in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood! The episode will air on “The Darian America Show” as the second part of a two-week series Darian is doing on the STATE of RELATIONSHIPS. Part one, to be broadcast live in studio, will air Saturday, February 15, and part two, recorded Valentine’s Day night at the Falcon, will air the following Saturday, February 22, from noon to 1:00 p.m.

The event is free and begins at 7:30 p.m. The recording will go about an hour. We’ll have an audience microphone set up in the room, so come to the mic to ask your pressing relationship questions — or stay after the recording and sing your favorite karaoke tunes! Darian, one Chicago’s top karaoke MCs, will be hosting his regular Friday at the Falcon karaoke night beginning at 9:00 p.m.

The Darian America Show: Fixing America’s Issues … One State at a Time!

January 14, 2020

INTO THE GAP HAS A NEW TIME AND NEW CO-HOST

We’re excited to announce that starting this Saturday, January 18, Into The Gap has a new time and new co-host! The new time is 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Saturdays, and the new co-host is Dr. Jason Hill.

“Into the Gap” is committed to reigniting the conversation for men as leaders and entrepreneurs, as parent-providers, and as people partnering with women in creating a better world. The show explores the connections between the personal and the universal. Through causal analysis, critical thinking and self-examination, they go into the current topics of the day in depth, fleshing out how what we do as individuals can have a much broader impact than we ever thought possible.

Jason hopes to bring a sense of moral and political depth to the various topics presented on “Into The Gap.” His biggest desire is to emancipate many listeners from their curated silos and to challenge them by deliberately triggering them to think beyond their comfort zones. Jason sees “Into The Gap” as a great opportunity to get listeners to re-experience a sense of mental and bodily vitality through the sheer power of in-depth discussion of current events. He wants listeners to leave the show with a heightened and exalted sense of what they actually think and believe, and thus to re-commit to the value of joy in living.

Jason D. Hill is a professor of philosophy at DePaul University, where he is an Honors Distinguished Faculty. He is also a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, where he writes a weekly column on American and international politics, race and culture, and issues in sexuality and social psychology and higher education. He specializes in ethics, American politics and foreign policy and philosophical psychology.

Jason is the author of four books. These include Becoming a Cosmopolitan: What It Means to Be a Human Being in the New Millennium and Civil Disobedience and the Politics of Identity: When We Should Not Get Along. His most recent bestselling book is We Have Overcome: An Immigrant’s Letter to the American People (Boomabardier BOOKS, 2018). He also writes for The Federalist, Commentary Magazine, Spike Magazine, The American Thinker, The Hill, and Salon. 

Jason has lectured and taught extensively on his areas of expertise in the United States, Europe, and Asia. He is also a well-respected motivational speaker. Jason is a regular contributor to Fox News and has been interviewed by various media outlets, including NBC’s “Today Show,” “Bill O’Reilly’s “No Spin News,” Fox Business, and NPR. 

He came to the United States at the age of 20 from Jamaica and has thrived beyond his wildest dreams. He remains incredibly grateful to this country for its bountiful opportunities and considers himself a great patriot of our exceptional republic. 

“Into the Gap” airs live on WCGO Saturdays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Central. Listen from 1590 AM, 95.9 FM, the SmartTalk app (Android | Apple), the live stream on this website, TuneIn, or catch the Facebook Live feed from WCGO’s Facebook page. Call in live at ! Find episodes on the Into The Gap show page.

January 8, 2020

WCGO LAUNCHES THE ELYSABETH ALFANO SHOW

Starting this Sunday, January 12, WCGO will be the proud home of the nation’s first plant-based radio show! Airing Sundays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., The Elysabeth Alfano Show will feature the foremost leaders in the plant-based arena who are making the world a better place for people, the planet and animals. CEOs, doctors, politicians, environmentalists, athletes, celebs, musicians, chefs, and influencers all take the stage and dish with Elysabeth on their most recent endeavors. Plus, each week Elysabeth will break down the latest in plant-based food and news and serves us recipe and lifestyle tips you won’t want to miss!

On the debut episode, Elysabeth will sit down with renowned voiceover actress Lori Alan (“SpongeBob SquarePants” and “Toy Story”) to dish on her inspiring tale of finding her way to plants . . . and Pixar! Then, these two “meatless-hams” will serve up recipe, snack and on-the-fly cooking tips. Join in and keep it locked! Find more about Lori Alan at www.lorialan.com.

Engaging, off-the-cuff, entertaining and informational — hold on to your bootstraps because no matter if you’re veg-curious, flexi-veg, vegetarian, vegan, or just thinking about reducing your meat intake, this show will inspire you to take back your health and the health of the planet!

“The Elysabeth Alfano Show” will air Sundays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Central. Visit the show page to learn more; there you can read about the show and the host and listen to a recent interview she did on WCGO’s Gabby Road with Hannah, Fred & Justin. Also listen to Elysabeth tell her story in a December interview she did in WCGO’s studio.

January 1, 2020

Lake home & cabin show ticket giveaway

All this weekend we will be giving away tickets to the 2020 Lake Home & Cabin Show, which takes place January 10-12 at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois! We have a stack of these free-admission passes to give away, and our weekend shows will have them for you to call in and win at ! We expect tickets to be given away in pairs and fours during The Darian America Show (Saturday noon to 1:00 p.m.), Into The Gap (Saturday 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.), Mike Jackson Outdoors (Sunday 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.), The Mike Nowak Show with Peggy Malecki (Sunday 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.), Gabby Road with Hannah, Fred & Justin (Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.), Playtime with Bill Turck & Kerri Kendall (Sunday 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.), and Roll The Dice (Sunday 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.).

The 16th annual Lake Home & Cabin Show takes place at the Schaumburg Convention Center Friday, January 10 2:00-8:00 p.m.; Saturday January 11 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; and Sunday 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The show offers an engaging three-day lifestyle experience with more than 100 exhibitors showcasing everything you need and want for your lake home, cottage or cabin. Tickets have a value of $12 each for adults, $5 for youth 5 to 15 years old. (Children under five get in free.) Visit lakehomeandcabinshow.com.

The Lake Home & Cabin Show: Life Should Always Be This Fun!

December 28, 2019

WCGO PRESENTS A SWINGING NEW YEAR’S EVE

Be sure to join us New Year's Eve for the NEW YEAR'S EVE BIG BAND DANCE PARTY hosted by Chicago’s award-winning Denny Farrell from 11:00 P.M. TO 2:00 A.M. CENTRAL! This three-hour extravaganza will feature the best big band music from the 1920s all the way up through today’s newest big bands! This ALL-REQUEST WORLDWIDE BROADCAST will keep you jumpin’ as you ring in the new year!

Send your requests to or call toll free at . Don’t miss it!

December 26, 2019

WCGO LAUNCHES THE DARIAN AMERICA SHOW THIS SATURDAY AT NOON

Beginning Saturday, December 28, The Darian America Show is on the air!

Whatever the hot-button issue of the time is, “The Darian America Show” will take a look at it through the eyes of our host.  This fun-loving, thought-provoking hour will give you things to think about and discuss with your peers, or just sit back, listen and warm your soul.

Darian America is for the people, by the people, and a part of the people!  Come along for a wonderful ride Saturdays from noon to 1:00 p.m. Catch the Facebook Live feed from WCGO’s Facebook page. Visit The Darian America Show page to learn more!

December 24, 2019

WCGO WISHES YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HANUKKAH!

Below we’ve included two holiday programming treats from our Sunday lineup. First up is The Mike Nowak Show with Peggy Malecki’s "It's a Wonderful Slice of It's a Wonderful Life” starring the WCGO weekend crew, headed by Mike (pictured in tie). In the second audio player you’ll find Bill Turck’s original, just-written-and-recorded-last-week holiday radio play, “Santa, You’re Fired!” Bill, the co-host (with Kerri Kendall) of Playtime (Sundays 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.), is joined by Lainie Petersen in performing the piece. Enjoy!

Pictured left to right: Bill Turck, Ron Cowgill, Peggy Malecki, Hannah Stanley, Justin Kulovsek, Mike Nowak.

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