The ALL NEW Big Wakeup Call with Ryan Gatenby

Send us Fan Mail We celebrate 50 years of local area company Grecian Delight | Kronos as they Honor Greek American Cuisine, Culture, and Heritage with Community Events.  Mike Paribello is a seasoned marketing, sales, and innovation leader with over 25 years of experience in the consumer products and food industry. His extensive expertise in brand management, advertising, shopper and retail marketi...

Send us Fan Mail Compiled acclaimed anti-racist educator Liz Kleinrock and celebrated author Caroline Kusin Pritchard, and illustrated by Iris Gottlieb, WHAT JEWISH LOOKS LIKE is a powerful intersectional anthology celebrating thirty-six Jewish heroes—from Tracee Ellis Ross, and Victor Perez, to Doña Gracia Nasi. A first-ever collection that disrupts the narrative of how a Jewish person is perceiv...

Send us Fan Mail Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award winning singer-songwriter) that’s 3/4 of an EGOT!) Cyndi Lauper called in to talk about some of her newest projects as well as her work as a spokesperson for the 8 million Americans dealing with symptoms of psoriasis. (From November 14, 2019)

Send us Fan Mail Linda Sue Park visits the show to discuss her book Gracie Under the Waves. Linda Sue Park is the author of many books for young readers, including the 2002 Newbery Medal winner A Single Shard and the New York Times bestseller A Long Walk to Water. Her most recent title for middle grade readers is The One Thing You’d Save , a collection of linked poems. Linda Sue is the founder and...

Send us Fan Mail An informative discussion with Natasha Daniels about her memoir OUT OF MY SHELL: Overcoming Social Anxiety from Childhood to Adulthood. Natasha Daniels is an anxiety and OCD child therapist and has published six other books including How to Parent your Anxious Toddler, Anxiety Sucks: A Teen Survival Guide, Social Skills Activities for Kids, It’s Brave to Be Kind, The Grief Rock an...

Send us Fan Mail Lucy Ashe discusses her new book The Sleeping Beauties. Lucy Ashe is an English teacher. After training at the Royal Ballet School, she decided to change career plans and go to college. She studied English literature at St. Hugh’s College, Oxford, before receiving her teaching qualification. Ashe’s poetry and short stories have been published in a number of literary journals, and...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Chadi Nabhan discusses his book THE CANCER JOURNEY: Understanding Diagnosis, Treatment, Recovery, and Prevention. Chadi Nabhan, MD, MBA, FACP, is a board-certified hematologist and a medical oncologist who practiced hematology and oncology for years. He has authored or co-authored over 300 peer-reviewed manuscripts and abstracts. He is the author of Toxic Exposure: The True St...

Send us Fan Mail It's a lively chat with Annie Zaleski as we talk all things Taylor Swift and her new book Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs. Annie Zaleski is an award-winning music journalist and author based in Cleveland, Ohio. Her writing has appeared in Rolling Stone , the Guardian , Time , and the Los Angeles Times , and she has written books on artists including Lady Gaga, Pink...

Send us Fan Mail As someone who has worn headphone for nearly 30 years of a radio career and who plays in a band in loud venues, hearing protection is very important to me, so I called in an expert. We have world-renowned hearing expert Professor De Wet Swanepoel to discuss the critical hearing issues facing many Americans. It’s estimated that 44 million Americans experience hearing loss, but only...

Send us Fan Mail HGTV star Matt Blashaw joins our 6-Timers Club as we talk about sustainable energy for your home.  Matt shares tips on the many benefits of using propane in both new construction and remodeling/renovating homes. Matt will share his own experience of living in a propane-equipped homestead that includes appliances, energy sources and back-up power. This episode is supported by the P...

Send us Fan Mail Director, writer, comedian, singer and songwriter Gino McKoy called in to discuss his directorial debut on the sci-fi-horror-comedy, "Lumina." Also written and produced by McKoy with a cast headed by veteran Eric Roberts, the film follows an odd foursome who desperately search for their friend who's mysteriously disappeared.  Their quest evolves into a change-of-pac...

Send us Fan Mail William King, founding member of the Commodores, called in to chat about his career and the band's participation in the upcoming 2020 Ultimate Disco cruise.  Topics: How "Night Shift" wasn't originally considered to be released as a single, opening for the Jackson 5, and the dedication of their fans.  (From November 18, 2019)

Send us Fan Mail Comedy legend Judy Gold called in to chat about her new book "YES, I CAN SAY THAT: When They Come for the Comedians We Are All In Trouble." (From July 28, 2020)

Send us Fan Mail Legendary best-selling author Dean Koontz joined us for a chat about dogs and his new book, "Devoted."  (From April 2, 2020)

Send us Fan Mail 25 years after the death of Kurt Cobain, former Nirvana manager Danny Goldberg discusses his book "Serving the Servant: Remembering Kurt Cobain." (From April 2, 2019)

Send us Fan Mail From March 11, 2020: Film and TV director Barry Sonnenfeld ( Men In Black, Addams Family, Get Shorty ) talks about his career with some slightly naughty talk, as well as his book "Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother: Memoirs of a Neurotic Filmmaker."  Enjoy one of my final pre-covid interviews where we are blissfully unaware of the garbage insanity ahead.

Send us Fan Mail In my most popular, most shared, and most downloaded interview of all time, featuring my favorite comments from YouTubers about my "annoying Chicago accent," Dan Howell and Phil Lester (Dan and Phil) talk about their book "The Amazing Book is Not on Fire" and an upcoming appearance at the Chicago Theater. (From April 21, 2016)

Send us Fan Mail We remember TV legend Phil Donahue with this interview from July 29, 2020, where he was joined by his wife and fellow legend Marlo Thomas to discuss their book "What Makes a Marriage Last."

Send us Fan Mail Sam Calagione is the legendary brewing superstar who started Dogfish Head, who has written four books and is considered the man behind the massive growth of the micro-brew industry. Sam shared his super secrets for a great party and his innovative takes on classic drink recipes that can take any Labor Day celebration to the next level.  We also discussed two famous roommates that...

Send us Fan Mail Comedian and actor John Fugelsang called in to discuss his new tv show Page Six TV, shared stories of interviewing George Harrison and Paul McCartney, and talked about his upcoming appearance in Chicago at the Athenaeum Theatre as part of the "Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour." (From Sep. 25, 2017)

Send us Fan Mail Tracy Wilson and Holly Frey talk about their popular podcast,  Stuff You Missed in History Class.  (From November 6, 2019)

Send us Fan Mail Greg Proops discusses his career and new book "The Smartest Book In the World." (From May 7, 2015) Greg Proops is a revered stand-up comic from San Francisco, and he records his chart-topping podcast “The Smartest Man in the World” from live shows around the world as well as Cleveland. Mr. Proops has been a voice actor in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, The Nightmare Befo...

Send us Fan Mail Tracy Ifeachor visits the show to promote her USA Network series "Treadstone." USA Network’s new series Treadstone explores the origin and present-day actions of the infamous covert program – as seen in the Jason Bourne movies -- that uses behavior modification protocol to turn recruits into nearly superhuman assassins. The action-packed thriller follows the action acros...

Send us Fan Mail We go way, way back into the archives for a fun (and funny) visit with Kristen Schaal that almost got me fired! We discuss a "Bob's Burgers" live tour and her appearances on "30 Rock."  (From May 1, 2013)

Send us Fan Mail Emmy Award-winning comedy writer  Jill Twiss ("Last Week Tonight with John Oliver")  returns to the show for a lively chat about her book "Major Makes History." (From September 28, 2021)