Live from the Heartland

After breaking down all the bad news, Michael James learns about the uplifting blog Good News for Humankind from coach and writer Peter Schulte before he talks about the Free Speech Movement at Berkeley with sailor Skip Richeimer. Get uplifting news sent straight to your email by subscribing to the  Good News for Humankind  newsletter  here . Heartland at Home Episode 289. This week's music, i...

Happy new year! Michael James gets a rundown on the state of American healthcare from healthcare advocates Mary Driscoll & Ellen Mason, then looks ahead to the biggest sports events of 2026 with track coach Gordon Thomson. Heartland at Home Episode 288. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’ and “Doin’ The Best You Can” by Chic Street Man. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK TO...

Michael James breaks down the end of year political landscape with political consultant and journalist Don Rose before he chats about 2025’s sports highlights with actor and athlete Adam James. Subscribe to Don Rose’s weekly column by emailing him at  donrose65@aol.com . Heartland at Home Episode 287. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’ and “Doin’ The Best You C...

Michael James and guest host Euan Hague get a progressive’s take on modern antisemitism from President of Just Ventures Jane Ramsey, then learn about Legal Aid Chicago from its CEO and Executive Director Kate Shank. Legal Aid Chicago can be reached at  312-341-1070  or  legalaidchicago.org . Heartland at Home Episode 286. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’ and...

Michael James talks national politics with political consultant and journalist Don Rose then gets a detailed breakdown of the genocide in Gaza from peace activist Kathy Kelly. Subscribe to Don Rose’s weekly column by emailing him at  donrose65@aol.com . Heartland at Home Episode 285. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’ and “Doin’ The Best You Can” by Chic Street...

Michael James gets a detailed breakdown of Blank Panther Fred Hampton’s assassination on its anniversary from Flint Taylor of the People’s Law Office, learns about the politics of the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw from geography professor and guest host Euan Hague, and hears an update about ICE activity in Rogers Parks from Protect RP’s Gabe Gonzalez. Find out how you can help Protect RP’s mission to p...

Michael James talks Trump’s aggression against Venezuela and the Mamdani meeting with activist and Hitting Left host Mike Klonsky, discusses the state of progressive mayors nationally with author and educator Paul J. Draus, and hears about casinos, cannabis and flooding in Thailand from expat musician Bill Paige. Listen to Mike Klonsky’s radio show Hitting Left  here . Follow him on Substack  here...

Michael James discusses the tribute to Le Piano’s Chad Willetts and other upcoming shows with musician Barbara Bailey and Live from the Heartland’s music producer Lynn Orman Weiss, learns about the push for an eviction moratorium in response to ICE from All-Chicago Tenant Alliance’s Miles Bennett Hogerty and Danny Rosa, then hears about Kartemquin Films showing documentaries abroad from filmmakers...

Michael James learns about ICE in Evanston from Mayor Daniel Biss, guest host Euan Hague discusses the Institute for Restorative Educational Engagement with Professor Christina Rivers, and Michael hears about the new book The Plan of Chicago: A City In Stories from author Barry Pearce. Join Barry Pearce at The Plan of Chicago: A City In Stories release party at Martyrs on November 21 at 1pm. Reser...

Michael James learns about A Just Harvest and Chicago food pantries from Reverend Marilyn Pagán-Banks and discusses Democrats’ off-year election wins with political consultant and journalist Don Rose. Just Harvest is located is located at 7649 N. Paulina St. and provides daily meals from 12 to 2 pm. Call  773-262-2297  or vist  ajustharvest.org  to donate or volunteer. Subscribe to Don Rose’s wee...

Michael James hears about the documentary Sir No Sir from artist and anti-war veteran Aaron Hughes of About Face: Veterans Against the War, learns about the 2nd annual Maui Music & Food Experience from musician Nicholas Tremulis, and gets the monthly sports report from actor and athlete Adam James. Learn more about Aaron Hughes at  aarnhughes.org . Get tickets for the 2nd annual Maui Music &am...

Michael James discusses affordable housing and land trusts in Logan Square with Mia Carbajal of Here To Stay CLT, Susan Yanun of Palenque LSNA, and guest host Euan Hague, hears about cafe and community center HAIBAYÔ in Uptown from Jefferson Mok and Hac Tran, then gets a breakdown of Chicago’s No Kings protest from Indivisble’s Deb Rosenberg. Learn more about Here To Stay CLT  here . Learn more ab...

Michael James talks ICE in Rogers Park and the upcoming No King’s Rally with Live from the Heartland’s Katy Hogan, discusses John Brown and what we can learn from him with author and educator Paul J. Draus, and remembers actor Ron Dean and artist Tony Fitzpatrick with director Andrew Davis. Heartland at Home Episode 277. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’ and “...

Michael James gets another update on ICE activity in Chicago, this time from 49th Ward Alderwoman Maria Hadden, learns about the Black Panther Party Heritage Trail from journalist and preservationist Leila Wills, discusses Indigenous Peoples’ Day with indigenous activist Les Begay, and talks Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl and all things cross country and track and field with Gordon Thomson. Heartland...

Michael James is updated on ICE activity in Chicago by 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez, discusses Trump and Hegseth’s recent speeches to military generals with political consultant and journalist Don Rose, and learns about the documentary  The 9 Lives of Barbara Dane  from Barbara Dane’s son, Cuban musician Pablo Menendez. You can register to participate in a community defense workshop hosted by...

Michael James discusses ICE’s attack on Chicago and the road of resistance with activist and former Minister of Education for the Young Lords Omar Lopez before guest host Euan Hague learns about new book  The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploitation, and Dispossession in America  from historian and author Andrew Kahrl. You can purchase Andrew Kahrl’s  The Black Tax: 150 Years of Theft, Exploita...

Michael James is updated on recent rent strikes and the national movement by All-Chicago Tenant Alliance before he discusses the state of politics in Detroit and Michigan with author and educator Paul J. Draus. Learn how you can get involved with and help fund the All-Chicago Tenant Alliance at  chicagotenants.com . You can purchase Paul J. Draus’s newest book Forging Identity: The Story of Carlos...

Michael James learns about upcoming Sun Day Solar Fest from Jean Bryan of Third Act Illinois before discussing the new novel Great Disasters with author and poet Grady Chambers. This year’s Sun Day Solar Fest is Sunday, September 21st at Montrose Beach from 12 to 4. Learn more at  thirdact.org/illinois . You can preorder Grady Chamber’s debut novel Great Disasters, out September 30th, from Tin Hou...

Michael James discusses the forthcoming National Guard and ICE deployment in Chicago with political consultant and journalist Don Rose before he learns about the rise of New York mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani from former teacher, union leader, and recent New York transplant Fred Klonsky. Subscribe to Don Rose’s weekly column by emailing him at  donrose65@aol.com . Subscribe to Fred Klonsky’s Subs...

Michael James talks Ireland’s refugees and sports with author Rus Bradburd, interviews Chicago’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District candidate Sarah Bury, and hears about upcoming Chicago music from Live from the Heartland’s Lynn Orman Weiss. Pick up a copy of Big Time: A Novel, All the Dreams We’ve Dreamed and Rus Bradburd’s other books at  rus-bradburd.com . Find out how you can help Srah Bu...

Michael James hears about the dangers of nuclear energy in Illinois from Nuclear Energy Information Service’s founder and director David Kraft before he learns about the connections between indigenous history and modern geography from geographer and author Maxim Samson. Learn more about the Nuclear Energy Information Service at  neis.org . Preorder Earth Shapers and get a copy of Invisible Lines a...

Michael James discusses Vance’s visit to Scotland from DePaul University’s Assistant Dean Euan Hague, hears about the new album It’s My Time Now from blues musician Garry Burnside, and gets the monthly sports report from actor, athlete and friend of the show Adam James. You can see Garry Burnside perform at the North Shore Vinyl Club in Norfield, Illinois this Saturday, August 16th at 8pm - learn...

Michael James discusses the attempted gerrymandering in Texas and potential national responses with former Chicago alderman Dick W. Simpson before he talks biographies about Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Ella Jenkins from professor and author Gayle Wald. You can purchase Dick W. Simpson’s book Democracy’s Rebirth: The View from Chicago  here . Purchase his newest book, Chicago’s Modern Mayors: From Ha...

Michael James gets a breakdown of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and starvation in Gaza from political consultant and journalist Don Rose, is updated on the world of track and field and the Tour de France by track coach Gordo Thomson, and hears about the Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest from festival director Jim Ginderske. Subscribe to Don Rose’s weekly column by emailing him at  donrose65@aol.com . The Gl...

Michael James is off on a road trip after his youngest daughter’s wedding, so this week we’ll be reairing two of our most popular interviews from the year so far: his April 18th interview with journalist, best-selling author, and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker and television producer Jonathan Alter about his books "His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life" and "American Reckoning: In...