Live from the Heartland

Michael James learns about Jingles for Democracy, a growing community of artists creating unifying music video shorts, from musician Corky Siegel before he talks about the undeground newspaper Chicago Seed and more with journalist Abe Peck. Learn more about Jingles for Democracy at  jinglesfordemocracy.com . Keep up with Corky Siegel’s other projects at  corkymusic.com . Heartland at Home Episode...

Michael James talks Trump’s Bill, Palestine, and ICE raids with Congressman Chuy Garcia before he hears about the new song “Begging for Change” from Chicago blues harpist Billy Branch. Get tickets to one of the Rosa’s Lounge “Begging for Change” release party shows at 9:30 and 11 on both August 1st and 2nd here . Heartland at Home Episode 263. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Str...

Michael James talks Trump’s “Big, Beautiful” Bill with Live from the Heartland’s Katy Hogan before he hears about the new documentary From Sea to Shining Sea - Katharine Lee Bates and the Story of America The Beautiful from documentary filmmaker John de Graaf. Watch a trailer for From Sea to Shining Sea - Katharine Lee Bates and the Story of America The Beautiful here . Heartland at Home Episode 2...

Michael James hears about ICE attacks on Chicago immigrants from Protect Rogers Park co-founder Torrence Gardner, gets into the Dodgers’ support of LA’s immigrants in the monthly sports report from actor and athlete Adam James, and learns about the new book Teenage Runaway from author Ronald Schulz. Learn about ways you can stand with and protect Chicago’s immigrant community by emailing Protect R...

Michael James learns about the Adoption Chronicles and its collection of stories from adoption advocate Richard Pearlman before he hears about the new book The Uptown: Chicago’s Endangered Movie Palace from author and WDCB radio host Andy Pierce. Read other’s adoption stories, share your own, and learn how to donate to the Adoption Chronicles at  www.adoptionchronicles.com . Preorder The Uptown: C...

Michael James talks the LA protests, No Kings Day, and antisemitism with political consultant and journalist Don Rose before he hears about the recently passed Illinois state budget and more from Illinois State Representative Kelly Cassidy. Subscribe to Don Rose’s weekly column by emailing him at donrose65@aol.com . Heartland at Home Episode 259. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be...

Michael James talks with young activists Miles Bennett Hogerty, Maya Odendahl, and Danny Rosa of the All-Chicago Tenants Alliance about their work organizing rent strikes before he has another chat with jazz journalist Howard Mandel about all things jazz. Learn how you can get involved with and help fund the All-Chicago Tenant Alliance at here . Heartland at Home Episode 258. This week's music, in...

Michael James talks with Muddy Waters’ son and Chicago blues legend Mud Morganfield, hears about upcoming Chicago shows with Live from the Heartland’s music producer Lynn Orman Weiss, then gets the monthly sports report from actor, athlete, and friend of the show Adam James. Mud Morganfield will perform at Chicago’s historic nightclub Fitzgerald’s on Friday, June 6th. You can reserve tickets here...

Michael James learns about telling Latin stories through puppets with Chicago multidisciplinary artist Rocio Chio Cabrera before he discusses what it’s like running an independent bookstore with Undercover Books co-owner Todd Zaruba. Learn more about Rocio Chio Cabrera’s puppet practice at www.chiocabrera.com . See information on upcoming events at Undercover Books, including Michael’s reading on...

Michael James talks the new pope and local politics with Live from the Heartland’s Thom Clark before he chats with The Assassination of Fred Hampton author Jeffrey Haas about the murdered civil rights leader and the American-Israeli genoicide in Gaza. Learn more about the Race and Equity Project  here . Learn where to purchase The Assassination of Fred Hampton  here . Heartland at Home Episode 255...

Michael James discusses resisting MAGA’s school curriculum with activist & Hitting Left host Mike Klonsky before he hears about the state of Illinois and America’s prison systems with the former executive director of the Uptown People’s Law Center Alan Mills. You can listen to Hitting Left at  hittingleft.libsyn.com . You can help the Uptown People's Law Center by making a donation at  uplcchi...

Michael James talks all things organic food with the general manager of Rogers Park’s community-owned Wild Onion Market and organic food documentary filmmaker Matt Wechsler as well as food activist and executive director of organic industry watchdog OrganicEye Mark Kastel. Wild Onion Market is open daily from 8am to 8pm at 7007 North Clark Street. Learn more, including how to become an owner, at ...

Michael James talks Trump, Mayor Johnson, the American-Israeli genocide in Gaze and more with both activist and Hitting Left host Mike Klonsky and longtime community organizer Jane Ramsey. You can listen to  Hitting Left   here . Heartland at Home Episode 250. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’, "Our World" by Twin Peaks, and “Doin’ The Best You Can” by Chic Street...

Michael James talks politics - including the Wisconsin election, Elon Musk, and Cory Booker’s filibuster - with Live from the Heartland’s very own Thom Clark & Katy Hogan, then discusses a project he’s working on about Uptown’s organizing history with activist and organizer Jefferson Mok. Heartland at Home Episode 249. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’, "Tell...

Michael James discusses the documentary Above and Beyond: The Story of Cpl. William T. Perkins, Jr. USMC, about the only combat photographer to ever receive the Medal of Honor, from filmmaker and author Debora Masterson before he talks to Krystine Hansen and Francis Limoncelli of Roger’s Park legendary Lifeline Theatre and learns about their upcoming benefit. Reserve your free ticket to the live s...

Michael James talks politics with Live from the Heartland’s Katy Hogan, gets the monthly sports report from actor and athlete Adam James, then learns about Allen Ginsberg’s landmark poem “Howl” with Finn Halpern of Heirloom Books. Hear Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” performed live, followed by a discussion, at Heirloom Books on Sunday, March 30th, at 2 pm. Learn more  here . Heartland at Home Episode 247...

Michael James talks the impact of Trump’s policies with friend of the show, political consultant and journalist Don Rose, before he hears about the president’s attempts to dismantle DEI from DePaul professor Euan Hague. Subscribe to Don Rose’s weekly column by emailing him at  donrose65@aol.com . Read a breakdown of Euan Hague’s 2008 book Neo-Confederacy: A Critical Introduction and how the fringe...

Michael James talks Democrats and women in politics with veteran media and political consultant Demarie Cobb before he catches up with author, educator, and former Live from the Heartland host Paul J. Draus to discuss his new book Forging Identity about craftsman, artist Carlos A. Nielbock and the upcoming March On! 2025 event in Detroit. You can purchase Paul J. Draus’s newest book Forging Identi...

Michael James talks Louisiana politics and Rivers Answer Moons’ new album Louisiana Stories with activist, athlete and musician Don Paul before he discusses the organization Indivisible Chicago and the path of resistance in Trump’s second term with activist Kathy Tholin. You can buy Don Paul and Rivers Answer Moons’ new 2-CD album online exclusively through Louisiana Music Factory here and keep up...

Michael James talks politics, Rogers Park and music with Live from the Heartland’s very own Thom Clark, Katy Hogan & Lynn Orman Weiss. Heartland at Home Episode 243. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’, "Bristol Stomp" by The Dovells in honor of Gene Barge, and “Doin’ The Best You Can” by Chic Street Man. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK TO SEE HOW YOU CAN SUPPO...

Michael James talks Concerts for Cuba 2025 with HotHouse cofounder Marguerite Horberg, discusses the legacy of legendary saxophonist Gene Barge with director & author Andrew Davis, then gets the monthly sports report from actor and athlete Adam James. You can purchase tickets to HotHouse’s Chicago show for its Concerts for Cuba: Benefit to Raise Humanitarian Aid series at Constellation at 8:30...

Michael James talks ICE raids and the response of grassroots Rogers Park organization Protect RP with its co-founders, activists Torrence Gardner and Gabe Gonzelez, then discusses the new book The Genius of Ted Haydon and the University of Chicago Track Club with its author and former college track coach Jim Knoedel. To learn how you can get involved with Protect RP and help counteract ICE’s depor...

Michael James talks the GRAMMYS and LA musicians’ response to the fires with Live from the Heartland’s musical correspondent Lynn Orman Weiss, interviews Chicago-born, GRAMMY-nominated musician Matt B, and discusses Trump’s second term so far with activist and journalist Don Rose. Learn where you can purchase Matt B’s GRAMMY-nominated album ALKEBULAN II at mattbworld.com . Subscribe to Don Rose’s...

Michael James talks the past, present, and future of Chicago-based documentary producing powerhouse Kartemquin Films with producer Mar Garvey and original member Peter Kuttner. Learn more about Kartemquin Films and where you can watch their many documentaries at kartemquin.org . Heartland at Home Episode 239. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’, "Born In Ch...

Michael James talks politics with Illinois State Representative Kelly Cassidy before he gets a thorough breakdown of the LA fires from actor and athlete Adam James. Heartland at Home Episode 238. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’, "Workin' on a World" by Iris DeMent, "Fire On the Mountain" by Grateful Dead, and “Doin’ The Best You Can” by Chic Street Man. PLEASE T...