The Crisis Cast

For more than 30 years Nick Kass was guiding intelligence at the highest levels of U.S. government -- from the Department of State to the CIA, and the White House.  Nick's mantra is simple: question everything. Based in Bucharest, this Chicago native is now Senior Fellow for European Affairs at the Center for the National Interest .  Thanks to Nick's life's journey full of questions -- he's in our...

Sylvie Légère, co-founder and CEO of the  Policy Circle , joins our chat room to share her journey empowering women through civic engagement and policy conversations.   As the Policy Circle celebrates a decade of community service around the globe, Sylvie shares insights on the importance of abandoning labels for meaningful discourse. Plus, you'll hear why disengagement is the crisis she fears mos...

"For god's sake, take cover!" Those are the five words that catapulted  Bill Kurtis  into his illustrious career in journalism. His reporting has quite literally saved lives. During this episode, Lissa & Thom unpack six decades of the news media evolution, as documented in Kurtis' book  Whirlwind . This conversation takes you behind the scenes of Bill's work covering two legendary trials: the Chic...

"Success today is all about anticipatory thinking." Not surprisingly, those are the words of a futurist.   Donna Dupont  is the founder/chief strategist for Purple Compass and is part of the design faculty at the Canadian Forces College.  In this episode, Lissa & Thom fill our chat room with tools for embracing adaptability.  Donna teaches collective intelligence in crisis management, and shares h...

In this episode, we sit down with former Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to discuss the complexities of law enforcement in today's political climate. Eddie shares his insights on the challenges faced by police departments, the importance of communication between federal and local agencies, and the impact of political interference on public safety.  Lissa, Thom, and former superintenden...

There's a water shortage crisis brewing, and it's being driven by AI and other large water users like quantum computing. In this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin talk through a recent study from the Alliance for the Great Lakes that sounds an alarm over lack of planning. Helena Volzer has been researching the foresight and regulatory actions needed to address the many ways we take our Lake Mich...

WSCR's David Haugh isn't backing down. Haugh tells Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin he stands by a 9-win Bears season, and that was before they beat the Cowboys in week 3.   In this episode, Haugh talks coaching dynamics and questions if this roster's locker room culture will ever match head coach Ben Johnson's intensity. There's some fascinating chatter on the Bears' stadium drama, why the NFL still do...

In this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin dive head first into the complex role media plays in political polarization. Our hosts discuss recent tragedies, including the murder of Charlie Kirk, and how media narratives can amplify division.    During this visit to the Crisis Cast chat room, we explore the impact of soundbites and rhetoric on public perception and the importance of fostering civ...

Our leaders need better listening skills. That's the prescription from Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner . In this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin drill down on who the Democrats believe are their most credible messengers. Buckner represents the 26th Legislative District , and returns to the Crisis Cast to underscore why reconnecting with middle America is a huge priority for the Dem...

Ninety-four percent of school shooters posted their intentions online beforehand. That's where the conversation begins in the effort to stop the senseless killing of innocent victims. Detective Rich Wistocki is a cyber crime expert with 33 years in law enforcement, and two decades as a SWAT team member. In the wake of tragedy at a school in Minneapolis, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin learn Det. Wistoc...

"Look for the helpers" is Austin Berg's recommendation for seeking government reform. It's a lesson in hope from the legendary children's television host, Fred Rogers.   In this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin get back to discussing the critical need for a Chicago city charter. It would go a long way in addressing the crushing debt Chicago and the State of Illinois is leaving for future genera...

On the heels of President Trump's threat to send the National Guard into Chicago to reduce crime, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin address the public perception of safety.   In this episode, we consider the implications of federal authority in local governance and policing. We'll debate how perceptions of safety influence political strategies. Plus, what's to be done when the crime rate is down, but r...

In this special edition of the Crisis Cast, we'll hear the personal account of a dangerous trek across multiple borders in 2023. We invite you to listen in on Thom Serafin's intimate conversation with a couple from Venezuela, who traveled on foot and on top of train cars in search of the American Dream. Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin set the stage for this family's story with a powerful dialogue abo...

For 30 years, Chris Bury was at the forefront of covering the biggest global and national stories at ABC News. Today he's teaching the next generation of journalists at DePaul University . Chris says the two most important words in journalism are still --  go there .  In this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin talk about why the best reporting is still done on the scene. Bury says AI can be a val...

Richard Porter believes this is a moment worth seizing in the shifting landscape of Illinois politics. That's why Porter is passionately testing the waters as a potential Republican candidate for Dick Durbin's U.S. Senate seat.  In this episode, Porter joins Lissa Druss to preach bipartisanship as essential for effective governance. You'll hear how he defines Americanism. Plus, why he's concerned...

Civil rights attorney Andrew Stroth made a bold pivot. His path switched from representing superstar athletes like Dwyane Wade to advocating for justice for marginalized communities.   In this episode, Lissa & Thom dig into the alarming statistics surrounding wrongful convictions in Chicago, the financial burden on taxpayers, and the need for systemic change in police practices and legal framework...

Dagmar Braun Celeste was born in Nazi-occupied Austria, she authored her own Bachelor's degree in Women's Studies, which led her to collaborative human rights work with both Rosalyn Carter and Mother Theresa.   Dagmar eventually made her home in Ohio, and fed her passion for politics as the state's First Lady. In 2002, she was secretly ordained as a Catholic priest on the Danube River with six oth...

After nearly 16 years as a magnetic voice on Chicago radio, Amy Jacobson is turning the page to a digital platform all her own. The former WIND morning host joins Lissa and Thom in our chat room to share her vision for  Amy Jacobson Live .   Amy also reflects on the journey that took her from television journalism across seven states to conservative talk radio in her hometown. Join us for this con...

Gilda's Club Chicago has a remarkable business story to tell about innovative perseverance. How did CEO LauraJane Hyde's team survive and thrive post-pandemic? They looked inside the work they've been great at for nearly three decades -- serving families and individuals impacted by cancer. In this episode, Lissa Druss talks with LauraJane about the 27-year evolution of Gilda's Club , their meaning...

Lou Sandoval knows how to navigate rough seas and the seas of change in the economy.   In the episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin learn which way the wind is blowing for Illinois businesses.   As President and CEO of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Lou Sandoval insists on working from the inside without partisan politics. How does he do it? What's "good" about Illinois as a hub for tech? What...

Born into a family of art collectors, Clinée Hedspeth advocates that creative expression is in Chicago's DNA.   In this episode, Lissa & Thom visit with a renowned global art curator who is driven to prove the economic impact of cultural spaces. Why would Clinée leave Paris to lead DCASE for Mayor Brandon Johnson? How does she intend to change the city's narrative around the world? What does crisi...

What fueled the public feud between Donald Trump and Elon Musk? Journalist Ray Hanania suggests reporters are spending too much time on the rhetoric, and not seeking the real story. In this episode of the Crisis Cast, Thom Serafin chases answers to what sent President Trump and his DOGE leader Musk into a relationship tailspin. Hanania reminds us of what he says is the President's major motivator:...

There's a ton of great stories about someone "blowing up" on the internet. Our favorite tale is what we'll cover in this week's episode. Matthew Serafin is a corporate strategist by day, and a concert streaming superstar by night. In this edition of the Crisis Cast, we'll learn how Matthew went viral all because of his passion for the music of Beyoncé. How is this a crisis? Well, the planet is hur...

It's true. Our guest this week has the pope's cell phone number. But long before cell phones, Father Anthony Pizzo was a close confidant of Cardinal Robert Prevost. In this episode, Father Pizzo shares the story of his 50-plus year friendship with the first American pontiff. Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin explore the depths of the Augustinian order, what the world stage can expect from Pope Leo XIV,...

The United States Oath of Citizenship is the destination of some of the brightest minds and biggest hearts that call our nation home. Inspired by the naturalization ceremony at Ellis Island's Great Hall on Constitution Day 2022, this episode traces the paths of our hosts' ancestors.  We'd like to honor every family's story by sharing the origins of Lissa & Thom from their roots in Italy and Poland...