Live from the Heartland

Michael James talks with musician Gerald Dowd about his new album Father’s Day and upcoming show at Space in Evanston on July 15 before talking with friend of the show and Illinois State Representative Kelly Cassidy about nationwide attacks on LGBTQIA+ rights from conservatives. You can purchase tickets to see Gerald Dowd & Richard Knight, Jr. at Space in Evanston on July 15  here  and hear mo...

Michael James discusses the Supreme Court and Biden’s debate performance with activist and journalist Don Rose before talking sports with athlete Gordon Thompson. Heartland at Home Episode 211. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’, "Lonesome Cowgirl Blues" by Bayou Seco, "Sold American" by Kinky Friedman, and “Doin’ The Best You Can” by Chic S...

Michael James talks the Black Panther Party Heritage Trail Bus Tour with author & DePaul professor Euan Hague before being updated on the legal status of the Dakota Access Pipeline from progressive lawyer Pat Handlin. You can learn more about the Historical Preservation Society of the Illinois Chapter Black Panther Party and stay updated on future Heritage Trail Bus Tours  here . You can find...

Michael James talks women in sports with retired basketball player Deb Weinreis, hears about the upcoming blues cruise on the Tall Ship Windy with musician Michael Charles, then catches up with musician Terry Abrahamson to learn about the various projects he’s been working on. Catch Michael Charles on the Tall Ship Windy between June 24 and August 12 by purchasing tickets here . Check out Terry Ab...

Michael James talks Chicago politics with Live from the Heartland’s very own Thom Clark before hearing about the new book Beating the Odds: Stories of Truth and Justice from its author, Olympic athlete Phil Shinnick. Purchase a copy of Beating the Odds: Stories of Truth and Justice  here . Heartland at Home Episode 208. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’, &quot...

Michael James talks with activist, journalist, and political analyst Don Rose about  upcoming elections before hearing about the Unconventional Film Fest from  HotHouse founder Marguerite Horberg. Learn more about HotHouse and how to see the various Unconventional Film Festival screenings  here . Heartland at Home Episode 207. This week's music, in order: “Stand Up (And Be Strong)” by Keb’ Mo’...

Michael James talks with musician and photographer Dave Specter about his upcoming exhibit The Blues and Jazz Photography of Dave Specter, catches up with artist and musician Nicholas Barron about his upcoming exhibit Nicholas Barron: Hue Man, and gets a sports report from Live from the Heartland sports correspondent, actor and athlete Adam James. The Blues and Jazz Photography of Dave Specter wil...

Michael James talks about the book I Surrender: A Memoir of Chile’s Dictatorship, 1975 with its author Kathleen Osberger, who taught at a Catholic grade school in Chile whose nuns were secretly sheltering political dissidents being hunted by Pinochet’s secret police. I Surrender: A Memoir of Chile’s Dictatorship, 1975 is published by Orbis Books. You can purchase it here . Heartland at Home Episod...

Michael James talks journalism, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the upcoming presidential election with Live from the Heartland’s very own Thom Clark before learning about the upcoming documentary Loyal to the Truth about Katharine Lee Bates and her classic song “American the Beautiful” from filmmaker John de Graaf. You can support Loyal to the Truth by pledging to its Kickstarter  here  and watch a tra...

Michael James talks to Rinda West of Jobs With Justice and the Workers’ Rights Board along with Jackie Guataquira of the Debt Collective about the Labor Film Series’ screening of excerpts from the documentary “You Are Not a Loan”, learns about the youth ensemble performance “Mothering the Movement” from Free Street Theater’s Artistic Director Coy Paz, then gets the rundown on May Day in France fro...

Michael James hears about the immersive, sensory multi media exhibition experience “Tangible Sound: A Visual Celebration of Creative Improvised Music” from photographer Lauren Deutsch, former Executive Director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago, before learning about the family-run neon studio Lightwriters Neon Workshop from father/daughter duo Jacob Fishman and Zoelle Nagib. You can watch a traile...

Heartland at Home Episode 200. Michael James hears about an upcoming screening of the documentary "The Hand That Feeds" from Warehouse Workers for Justice's Tommy Carden. The 2012 film, part of the Labor Film Series presented by Chicago Jobs for Justice, shows the journey of undocumented immigrant workers in New York to achieve fair wages and better working conditions. Michael thens...

Heartland at Home Episode 199. Michael James talks politics with Live from the Heartland's Thom Clark before remembering his friend, the poet and activist John Sinclair, who passed on April 2nd, 2024 at the age of 82. We're resharing an interview Michael did with John from November 5th, 2022 in his honor. Rest in peace, John - and keep doing good, wherever you are! Live from the Heartland...

Heartland at Home Episode 198. Michael James talks with Professor Paul Draus, former member of the Live from the Heartland crew, about the political climate of Michigan and what he's been up to. He then hears about the upcoming documentary "The Murals" about the Uptown Post Office mural from its director, filmmaker T.G. Jamroz, and gets a sports report from Live from the Heartland sp...

Heartland at Home Episode 197. Michael James visits Hawaii and interviews his two friends, musician Michael "Piranha" McGraw and retired NFL player Guy Benjamin, about each of their respective careers and experiences in the Aloha State. Live from the Heartland can also be found on Apple Podcasts at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/live-from-the-heartland/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

Heartland at Home Episode 196. Michael James talks with lawyer Flint Taylor about the John Burge torture case and Jackie Wilson's wrongful convinction before he catches up with his son Cadien Lake James to hear about their debut solo record "Dizzy" released under the name lake j. You can learn more about the history of police torture in Chicago in Flint Taylor's book "The To...

Heartland at Home Episode 195. Michael James talks with jazz musician Steven Hashimoto before learning more about entertainment unions from Shelby Brand of the Paramount Theatre and cinematographer Peter Kuttner of Chicago Filmmakers. If you'd like to receive Steven Hashimoto's weekly newsletter "News from the Trenches", reach out to him at: steven.hashimoto@sbcglobal.net You can...

Heartland at Home Episode 194. Michael James catches up with attorney for the Uptown People's Law Center and friend of the show Alan Mills to hear about some of their current cases before he talks politics with Live from the Heartland's very own Thom Clark. You can help the Uptown People's Law Center by making a donation at: uplcchicago.org Live from the Heartland can also be found on...

Heartland at Home Episode 193. Michael James talks politics and the Bring Chicago Home initiative with Live from the Heartland's very own producer and occasional co-host Katy Hogan before chatting with Democratic Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County candidate Mariyana Spyropoulos. Learn more about the Bring Chicago Home initiative at bringchicagohome.org . Learn more about Mariyana Spyrop...

Heartland at Home Episode 192. Michael James hears about the WRB Labor Film Series from Tommy Carden of Warehouse Workers for Justice before discussing Fred Anderson and other jazz artists with Andy Pierce, host of "About Time" on 90.9FM WDCB. You can catch the screening of "Finally Got the News" February 29 at 6PM at 333 S. Ashland Ave in Chicago. RSVP at: https://actionnetwor...

Heartland at Home Episode 191. Michael James learns what led us to America's modern conservatism from Professor Jack Bloom, hears about the upcoming trial of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández for drug trafficking from activist Victoria Cervantes, and gets a breakdown of the superbowl from actor, athlete, and friend of the show Adam James. If you want to keep up with the campaign...

Heartland at Home Episode 190. Michael James talks politics with Live from the Heartland's very own Thom Clark, learns about the impending demolition of a building that houses the Roman Susan Gallery from its co-founders Kristin Abhalter and Nathan Smith, then gets a sports report from friend of the show Adam James. Help support the Roman Susan Gallery and sign a message to Loyola University a...

Heartland at Home Episode 189. Michael James catches up with 6th Police District Council candidate & jazz musician David Boykin, discusses the new book "Making Waves: The Rag Radio Interviews" with host and author Thorne Dreyer, and has Live from the Heartland's very own music producer Lynn Orman Weiss share a special message from the 66th annual Grammys. You can buy a copy of Th...

Heartland at Home Episode 188. Michael James talks "Bring Chicago Home" with Live from the Heartland's very own Katy Hogan, learns about a fundraiser to help migrant students from Loyola professor Amy Nelson Christensen, and discusses the book "The Labor Guide to Retirement Plans" with its author James W. Russell. Learn about how you can support the Bring Chicago Home campa...

Heartland at Home Episode 187. Michael James talks with author and former alderman Dick Simpson about his new book "Chicago's Modern Mayors" before chatting with filmmaker and musician Warren Leming about beatniks and bohemians. You can can RSVP to attend the "Chicago's Modern Mayors" signing at the Book Cellar on February 1st at 7PM by visiting here . Live from the Hea...