Always Andersonville: The Podcast

We're continuing our health and wellness podcast series this week talking about sexual health, aging, and menopause with Early to Bed owner and sex educator Searah Deysach, and award winning queer feminist activist, author, and educator Heather Corinna . Searah, owner of Early to Bed and Trans Essentials, Chicago’s first women-owned sex shop, is a queer sex educator. She lectures on masturbation,...

This is our second episode in our series for our Säg Hej campaign for January Health & Wellness month. In each episode, we’ll talk with local experts on different aspects of health and wellness, correct some common misconceptions, and offer some insight and resources for achieving your own state of wellness in the new year. This week, I am joined by Cat Koo, founder and operator of Chicago Hot...

We're excited to introduce this episode as the first in our series for our Säg Hej campaign for January Health & Wellness month. In each episode, we’ll talk with local experts on different aspects of health and wellness, correct some common misconceptions, and offer some insight and resources for achieving your own state of wellness in the new year. This week, we are joined by experts from Pow...

This week I am joined by Bergen Anderson, founder and primary clothier of Lilla Barn Clothing , and Krissy Calahan, owner, designer, and printer of Earth Cadets . Lilla Barn makes thoughtful, durable products for adventurous kids of all ages that create room for individuality, reflect our considered values, and last from one person to the next. They value self-expression, especially when it comes...

This week I am joined by photographer and Andersonville resident Kathleen Hinkel . Since 2005, Kathleen has been using her photography to capture stories of community and the experiences that connect us to each other with a particular focus on local Chicago communities and the global community of LGBTQ+ persons. Kathleen is a multiple Peter Lisagor award winning photographer for her work programmi...

This week I am joined by Dusty Brown, Artistic Director of Redtwist Theatre . Redtwist strives to create searing hot drama, from name-brand blockbusters, to risky new works and obscure buried treasures that pack emotional force, examine moral dilemmas, and reveal greater truths…by transforming their tiny black box and its explosive immediacy into a thematic asset, specifically tailored for every s...

This week I am joined by Tyler McCall. Tyler McCall is co-owner of Paper & Pencil at 1480 W Berwyn alongside his husband Eric Campbell. Paper & Pencil is Andersonville's friendly neighborhood stationery shop offering high-quality stationery goods and supplies including greeting cards, notebooks, and writing tools. They feature products from independent brands from around the world alongsid...

This week, we are joined by owner of WasteNot Compost , Liam Donnelly. WasteNot Compost , Chicago’s first and only zero-emission compost collection, was born in 2015. WasteNot Compost currently serves homes and all events and business types ranging from schools, cafes, bakeries, to farmers markets, and everything in between. They take the work out of composting for you so it can not only be easy t...

This week, I am joined by Orion Couling and Zack Meyer, founders of Shadow Carriers storytelling collective. Their multi-decade partnership has spun tales of the supernatural for audiences nationwide from tall ships to walking tours to backyard picnic tables, and anywhere a good legend is appreciated. Their podcast of the same name amplifies their storytelling style with immersive soundscaping and...

This week I am joined by Bill Dlugokienski & Adam Kruse, owners of Vase & Vessel in Andersonville, and Dara Schuman of Dara Schuman Ceramics. Vase & Vessel opened its doors in September 2022 and quickly became one of Andersonville’s favorite shopping destinations for plant lovers, gift givers, and those looking for that special something to create a cozy, interesting, and beautiful hom...

This week we are joined by Danny Fender and Adam Crawford, co-founders of The Understudy theatre bookstore and specialty coffeshop at 5531 N Clark. Named in honor of all the hidden work it takes to make a play happen, The Understudy is dedicated to celebrating, fostering, and uplifting artistry in our community in all its forms. Whether you’re discovering a new playwright, trying their latest sing...

This week we are joined by Hina Pitroda, founder of Bloom & Belong . Hina works with people to reduce stress, and find joy and awe in their lives. This includes taking preventative steps to attend to your whole health—movement, sleep, perspective, food, relationships/connections, and more. Her approach is compassionate, strengths based, and rooted in mindfulness through  1:1 coaching, as well...

This week we are joined by Jay Schwartz, Owner of Andersonville’s custom T-shirt mainstay store Strange Cargo to discuss their history and celebrate 40 years of Strange Cargo! Strange Cargo has been a premier location for custom t-shirts since 1983. Strange Cargo is known for their extensive selection of customizable t-shirt options as well as their personable nature and sense of humor, commonly c...

This week we are joined by Jessica Tovesson, founder of Learn Swedish Now , LLC and a board member at the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce (SACC) in Chicago. Learn Swedish Now , LLC provides Swedish language educational services. Private lessons are customized with individual lesson plans and the conversational group classes are offered at multiple levels of proficiency. The customers are indi...

This week we are joined by Socorro King, General Manager of Big City Optical Andersonville South location at 5301 N Clark. Big City Optical is a privately owned Chicago optical practice with locations around Chicago offering optical services including annual eye exams, pediatric exams, Lasik consultations, and any number of medical optical needs while also providing a fashionable selection of eyew...

This week we are joined by Emma Lewis, Owner of Rare Form/The Twentieth , a pop-up art and vintage shop based in Chicago. Emma works to digitally restore and reinterpret 100 year-old designs to create unique greeting cards, stationery , and more. She seeks to empower and affirm others with a brand that combines vintage images with unapologetic contemporary feminist language and over-the-top messag...

This week, Charlie and Colman are joined by Jessica Katz, Founder and Executive Director of Chicagoland Exotic Animal Rescue . CLEAR’s mission is to rescue and rehabilitate abandoned and stray bird, reptile, and fish species that are commonly found in the pet trade, and rehome them to a household that will be the very best fit for their needs. CLEAR also strives to educate the community about the...

Today we are joined by Maria Shclover, Producer of the Mozart Immersive Soul of a Genius exhibit and the Live @ Lighthouse Chicago Jazz series shows. Mozart Immersive: The Soul of a Genius takes the immersive medium in a new and exciting direction utilizing the latest technology to amplify timeless music. Mozart Immersive stands out from previous Lighthouse Immersive productions in that Mozart’s i...

This week, Charlie and Colman are joined by Stephanie Weddell, Owner and CEO of Swell Virtual Assistance . Swell Virtual Assistance provides administrative, communication, and marketing services for small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and entrepreneurs. A virtual assistant provides business services on a contract, remote basis. By working with a virtual assistant, your company gains access...

This week, Laura and Charlie are joined by Efrat Dallal, Chief Marketing officer of the Selfhelp Home. Near Lake Michigan, The Selfhelp Home has housed Chicago's retiring Jewish Seniors since 1951. The retirement community offers a continuum of care services within a historic multi-story building that originally housed Holocaust refugees. Closeby, residents can enjoy lakeside activities, hit the p...

Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2010 and received national attention as a Shop Small Movement. Did you know that a study done in 2004 titled The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics was used as the supporting document for the movement? We hope you enjoy this episode featuring Lynn Mooney, Co-owner of Women and Children First, in conversation with former ACC Executive...

This week, David and Nate welcome Executive Director, Gregory Gross from Care For Real . Care For Real has been serving the Greater Edgewater and surrounding northside communities for 50 years. They provide free programs and services to our neighbors in need including food distribution using a client choice model, deliveries to the homebound, a clothing shop, a pet pantry, a lending library, case...

This week, Kaylee and Nate welcome teachers and administration from Chicago Waldorf School . Chicago Waldorf provides a diverse PreK-12th grade education that supports the development of self-directed young adults dedicated to the pursuit of ongoing learning and eager to contribute positively to the global society of the 21st century. Teachers in Waldorf schools are dedicated to generating an inne...

This week, Kaylee talks to Song Chae, Business Development Manager at Founders First Capital Partners . The company focuses on supporting businesses led by women, ethnic minorities, and military veterans, inclusive teams and businesses located in low to moderate income areas. From being an events specialist to a current innovative team member committed to creating a thriving and inclusive economy,...

This week, Kaylee and David are joined by Alex Jones and Abby Millner, owners of Fad2Fresh , the fan favorite vintage swag from the 80s, 90s, and early 00s that has joined us for our Andersonville Vintage Market. Fad2Fresh offers the most bodacious and extreme selection of vintage shirts and memorabilia on the north side of Chicago and suburbs. If you are looking for your favorite Chicago Bulls sh...