In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons

It’s hard to find a more iconic Chicago movie than “The Blues Brothers”, and the chance to learn something new about the 1980 film? Yes please! Reset sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Daniel de Visé about the new stories he uncovered while researching the making of this cult favorite. Daniel’s book, “The Blues Brothers: An Epic Friendship, the Rise of Improv, and the Maki...

Mayor Brandon Johnson is recognizing the decades-long career of Rick Bayless and the impact he has had on the city’s restaurant scene and on making Chicago a food destination. The prolific chef owns several restaurants and brands, and he also supports small farmers and the arts in Chicagoland. Reset sits down with Bayless to reflect on his career and accomplishments. For a full archive of Reset in...

President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump each won their primaries in Illinois on Tuesday. But a growing call for a protest vote among Dems and a never-Trump wing among Republicans could mean that both candidates have to shore up their support before the general election in November. Meanwhile, other items on the ballot remain too close to call, including the Bring Chicago Home ballot...

Long before there was Bush v. Gore and the “dimpled chad” fiasco in Florida, there were Penny Pullen and Rosemary Mulligan, two suburban Chicago Republicans vying for the same state house seat in a race so close, it was decided at points by a handful of votes, a coin toss and eventually the Illinois Supreme Court. Reset talk with author Patrick Wohl about his new book “Down Ballot: How A Local Cam...

Microbes are everywhere, including in our stomachs, and they have a big influence on our overall health in a variety of ways. Reset explores the mind-gut connection with UChicago Medicine’s Alyse Bedell. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset

The latest in our series What’s That Building? takes us to the former Cabrini-Green neighborhood to visit a boarded up church that community members and preservationists are working hard to save. Reset checks in with our architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin for the story. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Officials call the 37,000 migrants who have arrived in Chicago since August 2022 an “unprecedented” situation. But a WBEZ analysis showed that earlier waves from Europe, the South and Mexico rivaled the current situation in size and scope. Reset explores the connections between current migration to Chicago and what happened in the past with WBEZ data reporter Amy Qin and UIC history professor Lili...

Tuesday, March 19, isn’t just Primary Day in Illinois — it’s also the best day to experience the phenomenon known as “Chicagohenge” when the sun aligns perfectly with Chicago’s grid. Reset checks in with Geza Gyuk, director of astronomy at the Adler Planetarium. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Music, theater, dance, art, opera, whatever your artistic bucket list includes this spring, we have something you’ll love. Reset sits down with WBEZ arts and culture senior editor Cassie Walker Burke to get the lowdown on some shows and events you may want to check out. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Southeast LA is a second home for artist and musician Neyva. The first, they say, is Saturn. “That’s my home planet,” Neyva says. Reset checks in with Neyva to hear more of their eclectic, otherworldly music ahead of their March 17 show at the Empty Bottle. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Migrants face an eviction deadline amid a measles outbreak. The State Capitol is placed in lockdown while lawmakers are in Springfield. The Illinois Supreme Court sides with the Johnson administration, denying an appeal to the “Bring Chicago Home” referendum. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears say they’re committed to keep Chicago as their home, pledging billions for a new lakefront stadium. Reset goes...

Candidates for president, Congress and state senate might be familiar, but have you ever been at a loss when voting for judges? Reset sits down with Injustice Watch managing editor Jonah Newman to learn what you should know about judicial elections in Cook County before filling out your primary ballot. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

If cacio e pepe can get a makeover with chili crisp, what else is possible? Well, according to Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful Podcast, “Anything’s Pastable.” We check in with Pashman to learn more about his forthcoming cookbook out March 19. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The City of Chicago shut down construction on a temporary shelter by the Orange Tent Project. You might recognize the group’s bright orange tents across the city. Today on the podcast, we discuss why that shelter was shut down with Chicago Sun-Times reporter Sophie Sherry. We also dig into a WBEZ analysis detailing how nearly half of Chicagoans are paying over 30% of their income on rent and utili...

A tattoo artist. Stay-at-home parents. A funeral director. A school custodian. Mark Larson talks to more than 100 people in a variety of professions for his new book “Working In The 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation.” Reset checks in with the author. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Chicago officials have confirmed five measles cases. Plus, the Chicago Bears say they want to stay in the city. Reset learns more about these and other stories from WBEZ city government and politics reporters Tessa Weinberg and Mariah Woelfel. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Your doctor says you need this treatment. But your insurance company says they don’t agree. Your pharmacist receives your prescription, but won’t fill it until your insurance provider greenlights it. This back-and-forth is called “prior authorization” and it’s how your health insurance company determines what medicines they will or will not cover. It also creates lengthy wait times for patients wh...

City records show that nearly 12,000 people are currently staying in migrant shelters. That’s down from a peak of nearly 15,000 in January, but that number could drop precipitously now that Chicago officials are preparing to enforce a 60-day shelter stay limit. The first wave of migrants is set to be moved out on March 16. Reset learns more about what this means for migrants. For a full archive of...

WBEZ got its start back in the 1940s. Reset kicks off a new bi-weekly series on Chicago history with a look inward with former WBEZ news director, program director and host Ken Davis. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

In the latest installment in our series What’s That Building, architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin shares the story of the Robert Franks Memorial building in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. Robert “Bobby” Franks was 14 years old back in 1924 when fellow teens Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb killed him and left his body outside of Chicago. The premeditated murder became known as the “crime of t...

Cadien Lake James, aka lake j, is the latest member of the Chicago indie band Twin Peaks to release a solo album. It’s called Dizzy. Reset checks in with him about his creative process and his new music. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield. Former state Senator Terry Link is sentenced to probation for tax evasion. Plus, votes will count for the “Bring Chicago Home” referendum, and former president Donald Trump remains on the primary ballot. Reset goes behind those headlines and more with WTTW political correspondent Amanda Vinicky, WBEZ city government and politics reporter Tessa Weinberg and...

Where can Midwesterners start if they want to eat seasonally? Getting a garden going can take a lot of planning, but each month on the podcast, we’ll drop a little inspiration to help you foster your green thumb and learn to eat with the seasons whether you’re gardening or just shopping for groceries. Reset check in with chef and cultural historian Jordan Wimby. For a full archive of Reset intervi...

A 2023 Supreme Court ruling removed decades-old protections for wetlands. Now, Illinois lawmakers are fighting back. Illinois lawmakers are hoping to pass protections for the state’s wetlands this spring. Reset checks in with Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, environment reporter for WBEZ and Grist. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

What made Mike Davis fly all the way from Washington state to cover Chicago’s theater scene? Reset learns more about Davis and hears his recommendations for upcoming shows, including “Port of Entry” from the Albany Park Theater Project. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.