In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

For Erin Kilmurray and Kara Brody, “Knockout” began as a passion project before the pandemic in 2020. Through their combined experiences growing up with pop culture icons like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charlie’s Angels, they found themselves intrigued and inspired by the femme fatale archetype. Through exploring their own lives and friendship, they created the hourlong dance performance “Knocko...

Chicago City Council gears up to vote on more than $39 million in settlements for police misconduct cases. Reset was joined by Director of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic Sheila Bedi and WBEZ criminal justice editor Patrick Smith to look at how much progress has been made on mandatory reforms in CPD – and how much money a lack of progress is costing...

It’s freezing now, but in a few weeks, cabin fever is likely to set in. But the outdoors beckon. Reset gets a roundup of winter activities from freelance outdoor and travel journalist Erica Zazo to put in your back pocket. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Some insurers are denying mental health treatment when they deem the patient has started to improve. A ProPublica investigation shows that the level of improvement is hard to measure, and the guidelines insurers are using to make these decisions do not always match mental health providers’ standards of care. Reset gets the story from ProPublica reporter Duaa Eldeib. For a full archive of Reset int...

Karina’s Bill was passed by the Illinois General Assembly last Tuesday, closing a loophole that allowed those accused of domestic violence to keep their guns. The measure is named in honor of Karina Gonzalez, a woman from Little Village who – along with her daughter, 15 – was fatally shot by her husband in July 2023. To learn more about what the legislation changes in Illinois, Reset sits down wit...

The beginning of the year is a great time to start making your calendars for theater you won’t want to miss. Also, Chicago Theatre Week tickets are now on sale! Reset learns more from WBEZ theater reporter Mike Davis. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

With the U.S. Surgeon General calling for warning labels on alcohol, there’s plenty of reasons to consider scaling back. And the good news? There are a lot of tasty things to drink instead. Reset gets a roundup of some great non-alcoholic drinks to sip all year long from Pat Corcoran, co-founder of Years, a craft non-alcoholic beer company and Carrie May, a nurse practitioner and founder of the so...

Nearly 300 new laws are now in effect in Illinois in 2025. Chicago Public Schools parents are under the microscope after a damning report from the district’s inspector general. Meanwhile, former Illinois House speaker Michael Madigan spoke candidly about his life and work for the first time in years during his federal corruption trial. Reset discusses those stories and much more with Chicago Sun-T...

Drivers in New York City will now have to pay $9 to enter the “congestion relief zone” below 60th Street in Manhattan. The tolls are expected to generate billions of dollars for the city and alleviate congestion for drivers. So, could it work in Chicago? Reset discusses with director of the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University Joseph Schwieterman, research professor...

Finding the truth could get harder on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, now that Mark Zuckerberg says Meta will no longer be fact-checking. Executive editor at NewsGuard Jim Warren and lecturer at Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism Michael Spikes join Reset to discuss. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In Illinois, Black residents are eight times more likely to be homeless than white residents. The lack of affordable housing, the racial wealth gap, the legacy of redlining all drive these high rates. This is outlined in a report from the Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, commissioned by the Illinois Office to Prevent and End Homelessness. Reset hears more about these structural fa...

After a nine-year battle, James Rudisill won his Supreme Court case. Veterans who have reenlisted are now entitled to 48 months of college payments for themselves or eligible family members, up from 36 months. Yet, Rudisill’s legal team claims that the VA’s new process is still leaving out veterans who should qualify for additional benefits. Reset learns who the case will impact, how veterans can...

The U.S. Surgeon General is recommending warning labels on alcohol, just like you’d see on a pack of cigarettes. Reset examines the health risks of moderate drinking with President & CEO of Sinai Chicago Dr. Ngozi Ezike and vice-chair of education in the Department of Medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine Dr. Aashish Didwania. For a full archive of Reset interviews, hea...

Jimmy Carter, America’s 39th president, died a little more than a week ago at the age of 100. Today, Carter lies in state at the U.S. Capitol. Back in 1988, Carter stopped by WBEZ to promote his latest book “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections.” In the wide-ranging interview that’s more than 36 years old, Carter shares his concerns about issues that are still relevant today: presidentia...

Chicago Public Schools start off the new year with more controversy as the teachers union accuses CEO Pedro Martinez of being responsible for stalled contract negotiations, a claim he disputes. “In fact, it’s just the opposite,” he says. So, what’s next? And could there be a strike? Reset gets the latest from Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Reema Amin. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over...

From an Afro-pop show at Promontory to a deep dive into David Bowie’s catalog at the Metro to an opportunity to participate in a live album recording at Rosa’s, there are plenty of concerts around Chicago this month worth checking out. Reset gets a roundup of shows you don’t want to miss from Mark Guarino, author of “Country & Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Reviva...

The state minimum wage is increasing, Gov. Pritzker’s healthcare reforms are going into effect, and digital IDs are now legal for Illinoisans. Reset got a round up of some of the most notable laws of 2025 from WBEZ statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Rock critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot can be called the Siskel and Ebert of music. And for more than 25 years, they’ve made a space for people who love music to come together. That space is the radio talk show and podcast Sound Opinions. This month, they celebrate a major milestone for the show: 1,000 episodes. Reset checks in with the hosts about the legacy of the show, standout moments, and wh...

Women who work full time earn, on average, 83.6 cents for every dollar men do. When factoring in race, women of color earn even less on the dollar. To address this persistent gender wage gap, lawmakers amended the Illinois’ Equal Pay Act to make the job application process more transparent. Reset spoke with Sharmili Majmudar, Executive Vice President of Policy, Programs, and Research for Women Emp...

New Year’s is a time for resolutions, and there are oodles of cleanses and detoxes out there all promising quick results – for a price. But are they legitimate or physiologically useful? Does your body ever need a detox at all? Reset chats with clinical assistant professor of nutrition at UIC Shayna Oshita about what’s legit, and how to engage safely. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head o...

The Reset team has gone through our year of conversations and hand-selected our personal faves to share with you before 2024 wraps up. In September, Reset sat down with writer Josh Noel to talk about his book, Malort: The Redemption of a Revered and Reviled Spirit. His book asks how a spirit that “tastes like bandaids” and has been the butt of many jokes survive generations and go from a lone bott...

The Reset team has gone through our year of conversations and hand-selected our personal faves to share with you before 2024 wraps up. Back in February, we spoke with award-winning journalist and writer Charles Duhigg. He stopped by to talk about his new book, which focuses on the neuroscience and psychology of how we communicate with one another. It’s called Supercommunicators: How To Unlock The...

All during this holiday week, enjoy some of our favorite Reset conversations of 2024 – like this one, from Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco. Lupe Fiasco is a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist, rapper and producer, known for his rhymes, lyrics and storytelling with albums like his 2006 debut Food & Liquor, his 2007 project The Cool and his highly anticipated 2011 album Lasers, which features hit song “...

Happy Boxing Day! All during this holiday week, enjoy some of our favorite Reset conversations of 2024 – like our conversation with Grammy winner Laufey. A jazz icon to some, a breakout pop star to others, the Icelandic-Chinese singer Laufey has skyrocketed into popularity. Her debut album dropped in 2020, and just three years later she won a Grammy for her 2023 album “Bewitched.” Reset revisits o...

As thousands of Starbucks and Amazon workers go on strike, Reset gets a snapshot of union organizing in Chicago and beyond from Bob Bruno, director of the labor education program at the School for Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.