In the Loop (Segments)

The Heart of Afghanistan is a band made of three family members that tells the history of Afghan music and poetry through performance. Reset sat down with one member, Elham Fanoos, to learn more about the band's story and their current tour. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Andrew Meriwether Guest: Elham Fanoos

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Lynnea Domienik Guest: Adam Bates

The FDA says COVID-19 booster shots targeting Omicron variants could roll out to Americans 12 and up as early as the week after Labor Day. Reset breaks down everything you need to know about the boosters with an infectious disease specialist. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Sarah Stark Guest: Dr. Mia Taormina

Many students will receive loan forgiveness after the Biden Administration’s announcement last week, but how can issues with college affordability be addressed? Reset talks with policy experts about the state of college costs and we hear from a college adviser on what students can do themselves to find and apply for scholarships. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Andrew Meriwether Guest: David Feld...

The pandemic has undoubtedly affected all the relationships in our lives, our friendships in particular. So how can we get back on track and start making platonic connections or rebuilding friendships that fell to the wayside? Reset gets tips from a relationship expert. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Marie Mendoza Guest: Kat Vellos

The White House asserts that the price of a four-year university has tripled in the past forty years, creating a level of debt that prevents “access to the middle-class life that the college degree once provided.” President Biden’s student loan debt forgiveness announcement has sparked relief and ire, with some people saying it’s too much money, and prominent politicians like Senator Tammy Duckwor...

The Chicago Sky lost their first WNBA semifinal game 68-63 Sunday night against the Connecticut Sun. The Sky will need to win three of their four remaining semifinal games against the Sun to advance to the WNBA finals. Reset checks in with a reporter and a Sky superfan. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Char Daston, Meha Ahmad Guest: Cheryl Raye-Stout, Marquita Wiggins

Former Alderman Patrick Daley Thompson heads to prison in Wisconsin and a Chicago cop charged in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol rejects a plea deal. Reset goes behind the week’s headlines with local journalists on the Weekly News Recap. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Andrea Guthmann Guest: Patrick Smith, Brandon Pope, Carrie Shepherd

This week the U.S Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield spoke to the Chicago Council on Global affairs to address food insecurity and other humanitarian issues. Reset spoke to the Ambassador about her visit and how global food security issues affect Chicago and Illinois. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Andrew Meriwether Guest: Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Chicago Public Schools’ CEO Pedro Martinez unveiled his 3 year pandemic recovery plan this week. One of the points in the plan is to strengthen career and technical education, or CTE, in CPS. This is reflective of a push toward CTE happening across the nation. A recent Chalkbeat Chicago analysis looked at the potential of stronger CTE programs in schools, and the barriers for wider implementation....

Chef Jessica Pamonicutt champions Indigenous foods in her catering business. Though these ingredients have been hard for Native people living in urban areas to access for generations, factors including climate change and inflation are making them more inaccessible than ever. Reset sits down with Chef Jessica to discuss her inspiration, connecting with her cultural identity through food, and the im...

WBEZ is partnering with Illinois public radio stations to bring a special broadcast statewide for people locked up and their loved ones. The project is inspired by the fourth season of “Motive,” about prisons and prison towns in Illinois. After years of reporting on the Illinois department of corrections, host Shannon Heffernan wanted to serve people most affected by the prison system. Reset hears...

With the recent signing of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act passed last year in Illinois, residents have access to more incentives to upgrade their homes to make them more energy efficient. Reset speaks with policy experts to understand how these incentives will be implemented and who will have access to them. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Andrew Meriwether Gue...

Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Meha Ahmad Guest: Sarah Karp

When a listener called in looking for pickleball lessons in her neighborhood, we learned the basics of the country’s fastest growing sport from a pickleball program coordinator and the founder of the Association of Pickleball Professionals. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Claire Hyman Guest: Mir Rahim, Ken Herrmann

With a statewide election just over two months away, candidates are in full-on campaign mode. Reset takes a look at campaign ads and political messaging. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Andrea Guthmann Guest: Connie Mixon, Delmarie Cobb

After months of signing petitions and attending city council meetings, the Campaign to Stop Luxury Development at Weiss Hospital has now occupied the former hospital parking lot in Uptown. The campaign seeks to block a new 314-unit apartment building from breaking ground because they say it will displace Uptown residents and put the neighborhood’s affordable housing in jeopardy. Reset checks in wi...

Twitter whistleblower and the company’s former head of security, Peiter “Mudge” Zatko says the platform violated its agreement to maintain solid security practices. Reset learns more on the details of the complaint to the Securities and Exchange Commission, and how this claim could affect the company’s lawsuit against Tech billionaire, Elon Musk. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Brenda Ruiz Guest:...

In 2014, major tech companies released diversity reports that showed their workforce was made up of mostly white and Asian men, and since then, there has been a desire to change, but progress has been slow. Advocates say that before companies can recruit, diverse candidates need to have competitive experience, and that’s what Strong Start is trying to provide. Reset checks in with the director to...

Reset speaks with Danielle Douglas-Gabriel of the Washington Post about the latest in the Biden Administration’s forthcoming plans for student debt forgiveness. Then, Sasha talks with author and reporter, Josh Mitchell, and founder of the Student Debt Crisis Center, Cody Hounanian, about the ramifications of this announcement. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Andrew Meriwether Guest: Danielle Doug...

WBEZ recently held an open mic in Ukrainian Village and people with ties to Ukraine shared their stories of leaving Ukraine, living with fear and anger, and figuring out ways to help out. Reset does special coverage to lift the voices of people who participated in the open mic. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Lynnea Domienik Guest: Anna Savchenko, Olha Tsvyntama, Dania Hrynewycz, Harrison Jozefow...

In the wake of the Uvalde and Highland Park mass shootings, the safety of students is front of mind for many parents. But is more police in schools the answer? And what other approaches can work? Reset explores the role that police play in some Chicago-area schools and across the country and discusses what other models are being used to ensure students stay safe. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: M...

In the first three months of 2022, traffic deaths in the United States hit a 20-year high, according to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last week. Reset talks with an alderman and three local organizers to discuss what road safety looks like in Chicago — and what improvements can be considered. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Sarah Stark Guest: Matt Martin,...

Following a record-setting win in game two, the Sky are looking to close out their series against the New York Liberty. Reset discusses the Sky’s chances for a championship repeat. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Andrew Meriwether Guest: Cheryl Raye-Stout, Anna Costabile

It’s the first day of school at Chicago Public Schools, and COVID protocols have eased significantly since the spring. Here’s what you need to know about how to protect yourself and the kids in your life from monkeypox, COVID-19 and long COVID. Reset breaks down COVID guidelines and what to do about them with an infectious disease specialist. Host: Sasha-Ann Simons Producer: Sarah Stark Guest: Dr....