Chicago Stories

The stories of everyday Chicagoans as told to Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Ep. 95: Mayor Rahm Emanuel 05/17/2019

Ep. 95: Mayor Rahm Emanuel Thanks for listening! On this final episode of "Chicago Stories," Mayor Emanuel swapped mics with legendary broadcaster Bill Kurtis for a look back on his own life and career, from his first steps in politics, to the countless lessons he learned in the White House, and everything else in between. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel gives his take on Chicago's larger-than-life political culture, his advice to young people, and what it was like serving the greatest people in the greatest city on Earth. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/9821045

Ep. 94: Nancy Pelosi Rules 05/07/2019

Ep. 94: Nancy Pelosi Rules How do you win the speaker's gavel twice? One vote at a time. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel sits down with the one and only Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for a wide-ranging discussion on politics and power, leadership and public service, and why after over 30 years in public life she’s still going strong. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/9681374

Ep. 93: Theaster Gates's Community Canvas 04/25/2019

Ep. 93: Theaster Gates's Community Canvas Theaster Gates is many things, but he doesn’t see it that way. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel talks to the world-famous artist about connecting art with neighborhood development, discovering the spiritual life of abandoned spaces, and the “aha” moment that brought it all together. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/9536252

Ep. 92: Chemi Peres and the Empires of Tomorrow 04/19/2019

Ep. 92: Chemi Peres and the Empires of Tomorrow Chemi Peres is a man on a mission. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel speaks with the venture capitalist and chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation about impact investing and peace through technology, Israel and its recent elections, and his work in advancing his father’s legacy of visionary leadership. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/9453503

Ep. 91: Richard Haass's Global Vision 04/15/2019

Ep. 91: Richard Haass's Global Vision Foreign policy is never what it used to be. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel joins Council on Foreign Relations president Dr. Richard Haass for a sweeping conversation on America's evolving role since the Cold War, his advice for 2020 candidates, how to prioritize big problems, and the blurring lines between foreign and domestic policy, along with much more. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/9395264

Ep. 90: Helene Gayle is Making a Difference 04/05/2019

Ep. 90: Helene Gayle is Making a Difference Dr. Helene Gayle has made a career out of making a difference. Tune in as she and Mayor Emanuel talk about her early career fighting HIV/AIDS, how to create inclusive economic growth, what brought her to Chicago, and her vision as president of the Chicago Community Trust. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/9286028

Ep. 89: David Haugh and All Things Chicago Sports 04/01/2019

Ep. 89: David Haugh and All Things Chicago Sports Chicago is the best sports town on Earth. Period. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel and sportswriter and radio host David Haugh dive into the dizzying highs and crushing lows that comes with being a fan in this city, from our greatest coaches, to our unsung teams, what they'd do if they were in the owners box, their outlook on this season, and much more. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/9230357

Ep. 88: Eddie Bocanegra's Day of Atonement 03/15/2019

Ep. 88: Eddie Bocanegra's Day of Atonement Eddie Bocanegra's life is a story of choices, mistakes, leadership, and redemption. Tune in as he tells Mayor Emanuel about his transformation from gang member and convicted felon, to trailblazing leader at the Heartland Alliance's READI Chicago program, the role of faith and family, trauma and violence, healing, opportunity, and hope. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/9019634

Ep. 87: Gerald Rosenberg, the Supreme Court and Social Change 03/08/2019

Ep. 87: Gerald Rosenberg, the Supreme Court and Social Change Think the Supreme Court brings about social change? Think again. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel sits down with Supreme Court historian and scholar Gerald Rosenberg to talk about the true impact of landmark cases, the court's long history of politicization, the big decisions he's watching, RBG, and much more. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/8923919

Ep. 86: Alex Kotlowitz and "An American Summer" 03/02/2019

Ep. 86: Alex Kotlowitz and "An American Summer" Author Alex Kotlowitz burst into the public 25-years-ago with his seminal work "There Are No Children Here." Now he's out with its bookend, "An American Summer," about the lives affected by gun violence. Tune in as Alex and Mayor Emanuel share a honest discussion about the causes and solutions of gun violence, along with the stories of love, hope, redemption, and grace that live in between. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/8848574

Ep. 85: Thomas Friedman and the "New-New" 02/22/2019

Ep. 85: Thomas Friedman and the "New-New" "Order vs. Disorder." "Non-Linear Accelerations." "Mirroring Mother Nature." Mayor Emanuel was joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author Thomas Friedman for a spirited conversation about the complex forces shaping our world, where they came from, and how to sustainably navigate where they're going. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/8746628

Ep. 84: Kyle Longley, LBJ's Legacy, and Presidential Centers 02/16/2019

Ep. 84: Kyle Longley, LBJ's Legacy, and Presidential Centers It's been 50 years since Lyndon Johnson's presidency, but his impact continues to reverberate across our culture, politics, and society to this day. Tune in as historian and director of the LBJ Presidential Library Kyle Longley takes a deep dive with Mayor Emanuel into incredible complexities and legacy of the larger-than-life 36th President of the United States. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/8666498

Ep. 83: Chris Jones and Chicago Theater 02/08/2019

Ep. 83: Chris Jones and Chicago Theater Everyone knows about the connections between politics and performance, but it turns out mayors and theater critics have a lot in common as well. At the start of both Chicago Theatre Week and the Year of Chicago Theatre, the great drama critic Chris Jones sat down with Mayor Emanuel to talk all things theater, from his favorite up-and-coming companies, to the politics of theater in new book "Rise Up,” the impact of the Internet, and—of course—what makes Chicago the greatest theater town in the world. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/8574002

Ep. 82: Martha Nussbaum and the Monarchy of Fear 02/01/2019

Ep. 82: Martha Nussbaum and the Monarchy of Fear Famed political and moral philosopher Martha Nussbaum stopped by City Hall for a conversation with Mayor Emanuel about ideas and ideals, the role of philosophers in the public arena, and the churning emotions of our political moment she laid out in latest book, "The Monarchy of Fear." /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/8485895

Ep. 81: Ben Bernanke and the Great Recession 01/25/2019

Ep. 81: Ben Bernanke and the Great Recession Ben Bernanke’s goal during the Financial Crisis was simple: get people back to work. Doing it was a lot more complicated. Tune as Mayor Emanuel and the former Fed Chair take a deep dive into the heady days of the Great Recession, its turbulent politics and policy successes, along with a look at its powerful legacy, and much, much more. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/8395163

Ep. 80: Nick Cave and the Art of Chicago 01/18/2019

Ep. 80: Nick Cave and the Art of Chicago "I look at space as I would look at the way in which one choreographs a work." Renowned visual and performance artist Nick Cave dropped by City Hall to talk to Mayor Emanuel about how he approached his immersive new work at the CTA's Garfield Green 'L' Station, as well as look back at the origins of his iconic "Soundsuits," how failure continues to be necessary to his artistic development, and much more. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/8311505

Ep. 79: Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Leadership and National Service 01/13/2019

Ep. 79: Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Leadership and National Service What makes a good leader? Do we create false leaders? What role does context play in leadership? Gen. Stanley McChrystal joined Mayor Emanuel for a fascinating conversation on the myths and realities of leadership and how they continue to shape our society today. Tune in as they also discuss striking the right balance between civilian leadership and the military, share a captivating retelling of Al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and advocate for creating a universal national service. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/8236913

Ep. 78: Comedian Pat McGann Loves His Job 12/21/2018

Ep. 78: Comedian Pat McGann Loves His Job You know Pat McGann, whether you know him or not. On this week’s episode Mayor Emanuel sits down with the Beverly-native to hear how he went from selling boxes to telling jokes, along with his take on Chicago humor, how his family's an endless supply of material, and why comedy resonates so strongly today. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/8011583

Ep. 77: Rahm Emanuel and the Ragin’ Cajun 12/14/2018

Ep. 77: Rahm Emanuel and the Ragin’ Cajun Trump! House Dems! Rural voters! Liberal hubris! Ohio! 2020! Legendary political strategist James Carville dropped by City Hall for some lively shop talk with Mayor Emanuel on everything under the political sun, from strategy and values, to the importance of story, their take on past political figures, along with a whole lot more. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7922636

Ep. 76: Josh Noel and the Craft of Beer 12/07/2018

Ep. 76: Josh Noel and the Craft of Beer Recorded in Begyle Brewing Company on Chicago's "Malt Row," Mayor Emanuel and beer writer Josh Noel plunged into Josh's new book, "Barrel-Aged Stout and Selling Out," to explore the story behind craft brewing, the community it created, which new Chicago taprooms to keep an eye on, all while sipping a few samples along the way. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7840529

Ep. 75: Derek Black's Awakening from White Nationalism 11/30/2018

Ep. 75: Derek Black's Awakening from White Nationalism Derek Black was the heir apparent of white nationalism. Now he's speaking out against it. Tune in as he and Mayor Emanuel talk about his journey of personal awakening, along with the movement's political strategy, Chicago’s place in its ideology, and how President Trump's white nationalist rhetoric forced Derek to confront the past he hoped he left behind. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7753610

Ep. 74: Doris Kearns Goodwin's American Leadership 11/21/2018

Ep. 74: Doris Kearns Goodwin's American Leadership For our special Thanksgiving episode, Mayor Emanuel welcomed the great American historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to City Hall to talk about her new book, "Leadership in Turbulent Times," as well as the lessons of history, the responsibility of historians, and their shared dream of creating a sense of national purpose through universal national service. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7648463

Ep. 73: Governor-Elect J.B. Pritzker's Vision for Illinois 11/16/2018

Ep. 73: Governor-Elect J.B. Pritzker's Vision for Illinois J.B. Pritzker wants to be the best Chief Marketing Officer Illinois has ever had--and a whole lot more. Fresh off his win for Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker dropped by City Hall to talk to Mayor Emanuel about his big plans for the state, starting with early-childhood education, budget reform, and job creation. They also look back at some of his early set-backs, his family’s philanthropy, and how he almost didn’t get a second date with his wife M.K. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7589810

Ep. 72: Fatima Farheen Mirza's Place For Us 11/10/2018

Ep. 72: Fatima Farheen Mirza's Place For Us Belonging, identity, faith, and self-acceptance. These are only some of the themes Fatima Farheen Mirza explores in her masterful debut novel, "A Place For Us." Tune in as she and Mayor Emanuel--a big fan himself--share a funny and sensitive conversation about her own story and journey as a novelist, the moment that sparked her book, the writers that inspire her, and what she plans on doing next. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7509827

Ep. 71: Steve Dolinsky's Tour of Pizza City, USA 11/02/2018

Ep. 71: Steve Dolinsky's Tour of Pizza City, USA Chicago is Pizza City, USA. Just ask Chicago food critic Steve Dolinsky who went on an epic journey to over 100 pizza spots in search of the perfect slice. Tune in as he and Mayor Emanuel deep-dive into Chicago's 10 unique styles, even sampling four right on air. Along the way they tackle some of the burning questions on every pizza-lovers mind, like when is it acceptable to use a knife and fork, does Detroit really warrant its own style, and—most important of all—how Steve still manages to stay so th /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7418207

Live from the Joffrey Ballet: Ashley Wheater 10/26/2018

Live from the Joffrey Ballet: Ashley Wheater Right on the heels of their opening night performance of "Swan Lake," Mayor Emanuel visited the Joffrey Ballet's artistic director Ashley Wheater in their downtown studio for a live conversation on this year's new works and reinvented classics, the importance of craft, his own influences and inspirations, and how he plans to continue take the celebrated dance company to new heights. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7328318

Ep. 69: Michael Beschloss, Presidents of War 10/19/2018

Ep. 69: Michael Beschloss, Presidents of War What makes a great war president? Can U.S. presidents be great without a war? Mayor Emanuel sits down with presidential historian Michael Beschloss to tackle these questions and a lot more in a rollicking discussion that stretches from the birth of our Constitution to the Vietnam War, and how the lessons of the past continue to inform our present day. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7244447

Ep. 68: Mario Van Peebles: Making America Think Again 10/13/2018

Ep. 68: Mario Van Peebles: Making America Think Again Multi-talented director, actor, producer and writer Mario Van Peebles is known for creating seminal movies like New Jack City and Baadasssss!, where he portrayed his father Melvin Van Peebles, who spearheaded African American filmmaking and directing in the 1970’s. Mario is in Chicago to discuss his latest work, Armed, focusing on America’s obsession with guns. Hear his conversation with Mayor Emanuel on the roots of mass shootings in the United States, the evolution of filmmakers of color and more. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7171070

Ep. 67: Love, Destruction, Creation, Power, and Jane M. Saks 09/28/2018

Ep. 67: Love, Destruction, Creation, Power, and Jane M. Saks Jane M. Saks wants all of us to participate in our own stories. Mayor Emanuel sits down with the President and Artistic Director of Chicago-based arts collective Project& to talk about its upcoming opera "Pan," creating social impact through artistic collaboration, and what it was like to ride around Chicago with her dad and Studs Terkel. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7104561

Ep. 66: Electrifying Education with Mario Miller and Javier Lopez 09/21/2018

Ep. 66: Electrifying Education with Mario Miller and Javier Lopez 30 years ago trades were pushed out of public schools, but today they’re roaring back. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel sits down with Dunbar Career Academy High School instructor and IBEW electrician Mario Miller and one of his students, Javier Lopez, to hear about what it’s like in the classroom, the importance of trades, and getting every Chicago student to believe in themselves. /episode/index/show/chicagostories/id/7074698

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