Love Local Chicagoland

What happens when local leaders stop competing and start building together? In this episode of the Love Local Chicagoland Podcast, Jason sits down with Lexi Schmidt for a conversation about community, collaboration, and the power of saying "yes" to something bigger than yourself. Lexi shares her personal journey of embracing life's unexpected turns, letting go of the need to control...

On this episode of the Love Local Chicagoland podcast, Jason sits down with Jose Macias, a bilingual mortgage lender whose story is rooted in family, faith, and community. Jose shares his journey from immigrating from Ecuador to building a career centered on helping local families achieve sustainable homeownership. He opens up about what it means to serve others through lending, and why homeowners...

In this episode of the Love Local Chicagoland Podcast, Jason sits down with Dr. Sunny Sharma, a local physician helping people take control of their health through Lifestyle Medicine. From overcoming a rare brain tumor to completing the Chicago Marathon, Dr. Sharma shares how his personal journey transformed the way he cares for patients and why prevention, healthy habits, and human connection mat...

Join Jason Stallard as he sits down with Giovanni, owner of Tievoli Pizza Bar in downtown Palatine, for a conversation about family, food, and following your passion. Growing up in his father's pizzeria, Giovanni developed a deep appreciation for the craft of pizza making from an early age. Today, he's carrying that legacy forward with award-winning pizzas, house-made dough, and creative f...

What happens when a community comes together to make sure no child goes hungry? In this episode of the Love Local Chicagoland podcast, Jason sits down with Emily, Ahmad, and Sydney to talk about Feed 15, a local initiative helping address food insecurity for thousands of students across District 15. They share how organizations like Blessings in a Backpack, local businesses, schools, and neighbors...

This conversation brings together Dr. Justin O'Rourke, Beth Nabors, Dr. Elizabeth Schwab, and Joe Serio for an honest discussion about the pressures so many people are feeling today and how it’s impacting our mental health. From the effects of constant doom scrolling to the importance of meaningful community connections, the panel shares practical ways to slow down, stay grounded, and take car...

Join Jason as he sits down with Dave Brandwein, Deputy Chief of Community Engagement in Palatine, for an insightful conversation about the role community policing plays in building safer, stronger neighborhoods. Together, they explore what it really means to protect and serve at the local level, and why understanding how police engage with the community matters more than ever. Dave shares how the...

What happens when people choose connection over noise? Local Talks: Transformation Through Connection brings together voices from our community for a powerful, honest conversation about what it really means to show up, listen, and build something meaningful together. In this special keynote edition of Local Talks, Jason Stallard, Kimberly Dahlem, Dave Ficken, and Karl Fay share perspectives on com...

Celebrate the power of women’s voices, leadership, and connection in this special Women’s History Month edition of Local Talks. This conversation brings together a dynamic group of leaders who share honest insights on visibility, influence, and the realities of leading in today’s world. From personal stories to practical wisdom, this event highlights the impact that happens when women come togethe...

Celebrate the power of women’s voices, leadership, and connection in this special Women’s History Month edition of Local Talks. This conversation brings together a dynamic group of leaders who share honest insights on visibility, influence, and the realities of leading in today’s world. From personal stories to practical wisdom, this event highlights the impact that happens when women come togethe...

Celebrate the power of women’s voices, leadership, and connection in this special Women’s History Month edition of Local Talks. This conversation brings together a dynamic group of leaders who share honest insights on visibility, influence, and the realities of leading in today’s world. From personal stories to practical wisdom, this event highlights the impact that happens when women come togethe...

Cathie Herwehe, founder of People Helping People Palatine, shares her story with honesty and heart—from navigating her own challenges to building something that now supports so many. What started as a simple desire to help has grown into a powerful, grassroots effort addressing food insecurity and standing alongside survivors of domestic violence. Joined by community advocate Deb Gabriel, the conv...

Join Jason Stallard on the Love Local Chicagoland Podcast as he sits down with Kristy Malone, Owner of Oasis Senior Advisors Western Suburbs, for a real, honest conversation about navigating senior living. Kristy shares how her personal journey and years in senior care have shaped the way she supports families through some of life’s toughest decisions. From common misconceptions to the green flags...

Tune in as Jason sits down with Caleb from First Light Home Care for a real conversation about what quality senior care looks like right here in our community. They dive into how personalized care plans make all the difference, the early signs families should watch for, and the critical support available for veterans. Caleb shares why helping seniors stay independent at home isn’t just a service,...

Join Jason from Love Local Chicagoland as he sits down with Matt Frank, Director of Economic Development for the Village of Schaumburg, to talk about what’s really happening behind the scenes in one of the Northwest suburbs’ most active communities. From Schaumburg’s diverse roots to the thoughtful planning shaping its future, they dive into how new residential conversions, expanded healthcare, an...

Step inside something truly different right here in our own backyard. In this episode of the Love Local Chicagoland podcast, we sit down with Ralph, CEO & President of Inspired by Somerset Development, and Lead Designer & Creative Director of Bell Works Paola to talk about the vision behind Bell Works Chicagoland. What was once a former AT&T campus has been completely reimagined into a...

Liz Karsten joins the Love Local Chicagoland podcast for a thoughtful conversation about community, belonging, and what it means to truly do life together. Drawing from her experiences living in Russia, Israel, and the United States, Liz shares insights on staying grounded in a world full of constant noise and information. We explore the importance of deep, genuine conversations, the growing divid...

On this episode of the Love Local Chicagoland podcast, Jason sits down with Dan Eiden, a local personal trainer and strength coach who’s all about doing fitness the right way. They talk through why one-size-fits-all workout plans miss the mark, how to spot fitness myths and misinformation, and what actually matters when it comes to staying healthy and strong. Dan shares why safety, proper assessme...

Join Jason on the Love Local Chicagoland podcast as he sits down with Dave Wisniewski and Gianna Hernandez from Waxing the City Schaumburg. They get real about self-care, confidence, and why waxing and skincare are for everyone. Dave and Gianna share the story behind bringing Waxing in the City to Illinois, clear up common myths around waxing, and explain what makes their serologist-led approach s...

Jason sits down with Joe Weisman of the Ill Noise Business Playbook for a conversation that hits close to home. Together, they talk about why small businesses and local nonprofits matter so much and how they show up every day for the people and neighborhoods that need them most. From championing the underdog to sharing stories that actually mean something, Jason and Joe dig into what it takes to b...

Jason sits down with Katie Davis, a true trailblazer in the sales world, for a real and refreshing conversation about what happens when teams choose collaboration over competition. They dive into why diverse teams matter, how the right systems can lift everyone up, and what it looks like to build a culture rooted in trust and shared goals. Katie opens up about her journey navigating male-dominated...

Kevin Kramer, Director of Economic Development for Hoffman Estates, sits down with Jason Stallard on the Love Local Chicagoland podcast for a heartfelt conversation about what truly brings people together. They talk about why being present matters more than being perfect, how technology can sometimes make us feel more alone, and simple ways we can all build deeper, more meaningful relationships. K...

Jason sits down with Louie Sharp for a conversation that feels honest, hopeful, and full of heart. Louie opens up about the lessons he’s learned along the way, from his time in the US Marine Corps to building a business and hosting his own podcast. Together, they talk about what it really takes to grow as a person — doing the inner work, facing adversity head-on, and choosing forgiveness even when...

Palatine Police Officer Erica Amezcua opens up about her story in a way that stays with you. Sitting down with Jason on the Love Local Chicagoland podcast, she shares how perseverance, faith, and the right people in her corner helped her rise above a tough upbringing. Erica talks about breaking generational cycles, finding mentors who truly see you, and why community policing matters so deeply. He...

Kelly DeGrazia has spent 29 years teaching kids, lifting them up, and helping them grow, and on this week’s Love Local Chicagoland podcast, she sits down with Jason for a heartfelt conversation about what really matters in education today. Kelly shares how she builds kindness, confidence, and community in her classroom, and why emotional learning is just as important as academics. They talk about...