The Pat McGann Show

Brian Hicks returns to The Pat McGann Show to talk Chicago comedy, brutal winter weekends, and what it’s really like running Zanies when the weather tries to shut the city down. Pat and Brian dig into comedy club life, sold-out shows, and why winter is actually prime time for stand-up. They also get into coaching youth basketball, snow days, Fortnite “e-learning,” kids building gaming PCs, and the...

One of our all-time favorite guests is back. 🏆 Dwayne Kennedy returns to The Pat McGann Show as a charter member of the Five Timers Club, and the conversation goes everywhere.  Pat and Dwayne break down the emotional rollercoaster of Chicago Bears fandom, including that Caleb Williams play and why losing somehow still felt special. They also delve into the explosion of NFL gambling ads, sports be...

Chicago sports broadcasting legend Mark Giangreco joins Pat for a wide-ranging, old-school conversation about the golden age of local TV — when ratings were brutal, anchors were larger than life, and everyone was trying to beat each other on the 10 o’clock news. They discuss growing up in Buffalo, breaking into television, and landing in Chicago in the early 1980s, covering everything from the 198...

New year, same podcast. This week Pat talks with mental health therapist Ben Shabad to help us make 2026 slightly less chaotic. They talk anxiety, comedy as therapy, doom-scrolling, AI therapists, and why everyone feels a little on edge right now. They also discuss the impact of phones on our brains, overdiagnosis, social isolation, and how laughter might be doing more work than we give it credit...

Comedian Dwayne Kennedy joins Pat for a Christmas episode covering holiday movies, cruise-ship Christmases, Home Alone Chicago lore, mall Santas, and how It’s a Wonderful Life left him with the wrong message. We talk Southside Pope Christmas, Festivus energy, and just enough cheer to enjoy and/or get through Christmas Eve Eve.  Ideal for last-minute errands or the ad breaks during Christmas Vacati...

Happy holidays from The Pat McGann Show! Chicago sports broadcaster Pat Boyle joins Pat McGann and comedian Dwayne Kennedy for a wide-ranging conversation on Chicago Blackhawks hockey, Connor Bedard, NHL rebuilds, and the evolution of Chicago sports media.  We dig into Pat Boyle’s time at ESPN, his role on Chicago Sports Network, and what it’s like covering a franchise where a 20-year-old star dri...

Chicago royalty Robin Baumgarten drops in to talk WGN chaos, traffic-copter experiences, Catholic school PTSD, and why the town of “Lititz” will haunt her until the end of time. We cover South Side geography wars, her Tile-King father, and the words she refuses to say on TV — or anywhere else. Leave a review and email thepatmcgannshow@tiege.com for a chance at dinner & a show. Or just to tell...

Lettuce gather as Pat connects with friends and former employers, RJ & Jerrod Melman. Lotion your potato skin and stick out your broken pinky; this one will entertain you with facts and laughs. Leave a review and email us at thepatmcgannshow@tiege.com for a chance at dinner & a show! 🎧 New episodes every week — filmed in Chicago with comics, locals, and special guests.  👉 Don’t forget to...

Top Chef Season 15 champion Joe Flamm joins Pat McGann for Episode 14 of The Pat McGann Show — and this one has everything: South Side childhood, Chicago restaurant war stories, culinary risks, Top Chef drama, and some high school memories. Joe breaks down his rise from busboy to running three hit restaurants (with a fourth on the way), how he pitched a Croatian–Italian concept to skeptical invest...

WGN Morning News Announcer, Mike Toomey, joins Pat McGann for Episode 13 of The Pat McGann Show. They chat about Mike’s 40+ years in stand-up, the early Chicago comedy scene, and his path to becoming a fixture on WGN Morning News. From doing impressions in high school talent shows to creating iconic characters like The Lord of the Limerick, Mike shares how he built his career. Pat and Mike also sw...

Pat goes solo this week for A Chat with Pat — diving into listener questions, Chicago snow, and recent travel. He also gives a Veterans Day shoutout and teases a packed lineup of upcoming guests — including Mark Giangreco, Joe Flamm, the Mehlman brothers, Robin Baumgarten, and Pat Boyle. 🎧 New episodes every week — filmed in Chicago with comics, locals, and special guests (and sometimes just Pat)...

Comedian Adam Burke joins Pat McGann for Episode 11 of The Pat McGann Show — live from Chicago. They talk about Adam’s quick wit, his unmistakable accent, and what it was like adjusting to American life after growing up between Australia and Ireland. The two comics swap stories about the quirks of American culture , Chicago comedy crowds , and why Irish humor always seems to hit different. Pat als...

With some last-minute scheduling changes, Pat McGann brings in two special guests — his kids, Josephine and Elliot McGann . They talk Halloween costumes, favorite candies, Catholic school stories, and how kids really feel about their dad’s stand-up career. From AI in the classroom to serving at Mass , rage baiting , and dad life behind the scenes , it’s one of the funniest and most relatable episo...

Chicago’s own Pat Tomasulo — WGN Morning News anchor, comedian, and host of Laugh Your Face Off — joins Pat McGann for Episode 9 of The Pat McGann Show , filmed at Tiege Hanley Studios in Chicago. They talk about life as a 3:15 a.m. wake-up guy, the chaos of live TV, and covering Chicago sports fans who treat Soldier Field like a frat party. Tomasulo shares stories from his years on WGN, the evolu...

Chicago native Jeff Mauro — a.k.a. the Sandwich King — joins Pat McGann and co-host Dwayne Kennedy for Episode 8 of The Pat McGann Show , live from Chicago. They talk about Jeff’s rise from the Chicago comedy and restaurant scene to becoming a Food Network star , hosting shows like The Kitchen and Sandwich King , and what it’s really like behind the camera. Jeff shares stories about growing up in...

Comedian Kevin Bozeman joins Pat McGann for Episode 7 of The Pat McGann Show — live from Chicago. They talk about Bozeman’s journey from stand-up to teaching comedy at DePaul University, hitting all 49 states on tour (with one left to go), and the wild reality of doing comedy on cruise ships. Pat also shares his week in front of the camera before the two dive into everything from AI in entertainme...

Comedian Chad Daniels joins Pat McGann for Episode 6 of The Pat McGann Show , live from Chicago. They cover Chad’s early days in Minneapolis, opening for Mitch Hedberg , his breakout success on Pandora, raising kids through stand-up life, and why quitting drinking changed everything. Chad also opens up about divorce, parenting, and the evolving relationship with his kids as they grow older. Along...

Episode 5 of The Pat McGann Show brings in Chicago comedian Calvin Evans — a new dad balancing diapers, stand-up, and late-night shows at Zanies. Pat and Calvin dig into the realities of fatherhood, how comedy shifts after 40, and what it takes to keep material fresh. They trade stories about auditions that don’t go as planned, moving to LA and back, and why the 11:15 crowd might be the best in th...

Episode 4 of The Pat McGann Show is packed. Pat and Dwayne welcome Chicago comic Maggie Hughes DePalo , who shares how she went from recruiting and motherhood to selling out shows and performing on Nashville’s Nateland . The crew also dives into celebrity stories and pop culture — from Robert Redford and The Natural to John Hughes’ suburban Chicago classics, Portillo’s chocolate cake at the Vatica...

Dwayne Kennedy returns for Part 2 of Episode 3, joined by special guest KWOE (Kareem “Quo” Wells) — nationally recognized MC, entrepreneur, and motivational leader. KWOE shares his incredible journey from growing up on Chicago’s West Side to building Flow Entertainment, becoming the “King of the Mitzvahs,” and using his platform for mentorship and community impact. From dancing and music to launch...

Chicago legend Dwayne Kennedy joins Pat McGann for Part 1 of Episode 3 of The Pat McGann Show. They dig into Dwayne’s 25+ years in stand-up, his iconic guest spot on Seinfeld, and what makes Chicago comedy so unique. From working Chicago comedy rooms to sharing stages with Bernie Mac, writing for Arsenio and W. Kamau Bell (United Shades of America), and still hustling for the next gig — Dwayne has...

Chicago comedian Brian Hicks of the legendary Zanies Comedy Club — joins Pat McGann for Episode 2 of The Pat McGann Show. With more than 25 years in stand-up, Brian brings smart writing, quick wit, and razor-sharp crowd work to every stage. Pat and Brian swap stories about life in comedy, managing one of Chicago’s most iconic clubs, and what it takes to keep audiences laughing night after night. A...

Chicago comedian Kristen Toomey joins Pat McGann for the very first episode of The Pat McGann Show . They dive into life on the road, Pat’s “lightbulb revenge” on a landlord, and why Chicago still owns the word " Jagoff" . Along the way, they hit everything from moon landing conspiracies to mushrooms, skin care, and Kristen’s brand new special Shriller (now streaming on Apple TV). 🎧 New...