Send us Fan Mail

A fun chat with comedian and actor ARIES SPEARS, who is performing at The Improv in Schaumburg this weekend with 7 and 9:30 shows on Friday, 3:30, 7, and 9:30 on Saturday, and 6:00 on Sunday.

ARIES SPEARS

Biography

Ever since New York native Aries Spears was 14 years old, he has been a force to be reckoned with in the comedy scene throughout America. His quick wit, charisma and ferociously aggressive style of comedy have earned him critical acclaim, high accolades, and above all, a busy schedule. From being a regular on Fox’s Mad TV, starring in feature films, appearing on a number of national talk shows, and continually touring the country where he continually sells out each and every city, Aries’ talents are widespread as he just passed the 3 million spins played on Pandora and his podcast is one of the "Musts" in the US.

This past summer, Aries guest starred in CNN’s “See It Loud” new summer series on the history of Black Television which was one of their hit docuseries of 2023, alongside Amanda Seales, Da’Vinchi, Debbie Allen, Deon Cole, Desus & Mero, Gabrielle Union, Jimmie Walker, Judge Greg Mathis, Kevin Frazier, Loni Love, Lynn Whitfield, Mo’Nique, Naturi Naughton, Omari Hardwick, Ray J, Ruben Studdard, Sherri Shepherd, Tatyana Ali, Tiffany Pollard, Tisha Campbell, Vivica A. Fox and many more. Trailer: https://tinyurl.com/AriesCNNSeeItLoud

As a principal cast member on Fox’s hit sketch comedy show Mad TV, Aries brought a fresh, hip style to the already-edgy program from the third through the tenth season. The producers made full use of many of Aries’s talents by calling on him frequently to create new hilarious characters and write sketches where he thrived for eight seasons.

Some of the many recurring characters that Aries is famous for on the show include: Belma Buttons, Bill Cosby, Jesse Jackson, Mike Tyson, Walter (Crackheads), Reggie (Erascist), Dollar Bill Montgomery, Shaquille O'Neal, The Klumps, Michael Jackson, Sisqo, Evander Holyfield, El Diablo Negro and more. Aries also boasts a number of uproarious impersonations on the show that include James Brown, Al Pacino, and his childhood idol Eddie Murphy. The Aries-branded sketch “Talkin’ American” was Mad TV’s most popular bit, keeping fans tuned in and boosting Mad’s ratings impressively on Saturday night.

Aries has also found great success in the world of feature films. At the age of 17, after being spotted in a comedy club, Aries landed a part in the movie Home of Angels which eventually led to a starring role alongside John Leguizamo in TriStar’s The Pest followed by the notable role as Cuba Gooding, Jr.’s brother in Columbia’s blockbuster hit, Jerry Maguire.

Aries maintains a strong connection to his African roots and is involved in many charitable events, including a number of organizations that help abused women. He feels blessed to have been able to achieve everything that he has, but he in no way intends on stopping there. Given the extreme growing success rate of action comedies coming out of Hollywood, it’s safe to say that Aries Spears will be in demand for quite some time.

   https://www.ariesspears.com

Send us Fan Mail

Sandra Magsamen returns to the show for a chat about her new book Silly Witch along with her career writing for children.

SANDRA MAGSAMEN is the author and illustrator of many books for young children, including the picture book When I Grow Up I Want to Be Me, as well as a number of bestselling novelty titles, including Everybody Goes Nighty-Night, named a Best Board Book of 2018 by The Children's Book Review; Baby Love; I Love You, Little Pumpkin; and Peek-a-Boo, I Love You. As an artist, an art therapist, and a mom, she uses her creativity to remind people to express themselves and connect with others. Her lifestyle brands, products, and books are sold worldwide. Visit her at sandramagsamen.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Claribel A. Ortega, New York Times bestselling author of Ghost Squad and the Witchlings series, and Pura Belpre and Eisner Award-winning author of the graphic novel Frizzy, is a former reporter who writes middle grade and young adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. When she's not busy turning her obsession with pop culture, magic, and video games into books, she's co-hosting her podcast Bad Author Book Club and coaching authors on how to navigate publishing. Claribel has been featured on BuzzFeed, NPR, Good Morning America, and Deadline. You can find her on social media at @Claribel_Ortega and on her website at claribelortega.com.

Send us Fan Mail

Whether it's a NSFW ("not safe for work") encounter with a bra-selling pet parent or a touching farewell to a beloved family dog - DR. DAWN FILOS bring us a variety of tales underscoring the deep connection and mutual affection between pets and their owners in the new book: TALES OF A PET VET: STORIES FROM THE CLINIC AND HOUSE CALLS

Send us Fan Mail

As National Cybersecurity Awareness Month unfolds, we have an exclusive interview with Cybersecurity Expert, Grant Hansen. This is a timely and critical discussion to help understand the rising threat of cybercrime, with losses exceeding $37.4 billion in the past five years (FBI Internet Crime Report 2023). Grant Hansen brings over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, offering practical tips and proactive strategies for both businesses and consumers to stay safe in today’s digital world.

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 marketing, consumer insights, and staying ahead of the latest trends has made him a trusted figure among some of the most recognized food companies and brands found in millions of households today.

 Throughout his career, including over 20 years at Conagra Foods and Smithfield Foods, Mike has consistently driven growth and innovation. Paribello is now helping Grecian Delight | Kronos into its next 50 years, focusing on innovative and convenient solutions for both retail and foodservice operators making it easy for them to bring the finest Greek and Mediterranean food options to tables and menus everywhere.

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 perceived!

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 curator of Allida Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. She serves on the advisory boards of We Need Diverse Books and the Rabbit Hole museum project, and created the kiBooka website, www.kibooka.com, to highlight children’s books created by the Korean diaspora. In her travels to promote reading and writing, she has visited more than 30 countries and 49 states. Linda Sue knows very well that she will never be able to read every great book ever written, but she keeps trying anyway. Visit her website at www.lindasuepark.com; follow her on Twitter @LindaSuePark.

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 and Crushing OCD Workbook for Kids. She also hosts the AT Parenting Survival Podcast and has a Youtube channel, Ask the Child Therapist. You can find her work at https://www.socialanxietyreality.com/; www.ATparentingsurvival.com or on social media @Atparentingsurvival.

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 she was shortlisted for the 2020 Impress Prize for New Writers. Her first novel, The Dance of the Dolls, was published in 2023. She lives in New York City.

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 Story behind the Monsanto Trials and the Search for Justice and is the creator and host of the weekly Healthcare Unfiltered podcast.

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, and Duran Duran. Facebook: SBTS: Instagram: @anniezaleskiauthor, @thunderbaypress, Annie’s website is anniez.com

Send us Fan Mail

Naeem Bari is Co-Founder & President of Linxup. Linxup provides easy-to-use tracking and dash cam solutions for vehicles, tools, and workers. Trusted by 20,000+ businesses since 2004, Linxup delivers reliability, flexibility, and live US-based support across industries like field service, construction, and logistics. Prior to Linxup, Naeem founded two technology startups and steered them from early stages through profitable maturity and eventual exits. He has served on several boards and participated in M&A activity at executive management and board levels. 

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 one-fifth get help. Research has shown that there is a significant relationship between hearing loss, cognitive decline and depression in the elderly, so in 2022, the FDA announced that hearing aids can be sold over-the-counter without a prescription. Professor Swanepoel share some timely info about this serious issue that affects so many families.

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 Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).
Find more information at  www.Propane.com/ForMyHome

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-pace thriller with endless, threatening twists and turns--all laced with a little welcomed humor.

Lumina's back story includes:  the first feature filmed entirely in Morocco, one of the few movies completed during the first year of the pandemic and the exclusive single release of "Everything to Me," which is featured on the official soundtrack of the film

Arriving at the start of the annual wave of Halloween films, "Lumina" hits the theaters in a special return engagement on Friday, September 20, 2024. 

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

Ryan La Sala is a bestselling and award-winning author known for his genre-defying, queer-centered horror and fantasy, including The Honeys and Beholder. His work has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, and more. He writes to you from New York, overseen by his cat, Haunted Little Girl. He can hold his breath for one minute and three seconds. You can ping him on his shell phone at ryanlasala.com.  Ryan discussed his new book The Dead of Summer.

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 helped him in the early days.

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 Before Christmas, and played Bob in Bob the Builder. He has been a guest on @Midnight on Comedy Central; Red Eye; The Late, Late Show; and Chelsea Lately. He lives in Hollywood.

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 across the globe -- from D.C. to Berlin to Paris and beyond – tracking sleeper agents as they’re mysteriously “awakened” to resume their dangerous missions.

One of the show’s leads is British-Nigerian actress Tracy Ifeachor.Tracy plays Tara Coleman, an investigative journalist who turned her back on her career after getting too close to a dangerous truth. Now she must put the past behind her to get to the bottom of an international conspiracy.

Tracy recently completed a season-long arc on CW’s Legends of Tomorrow and starred in ABC’s hit series Quantico. She was the female lead in NBC’s Crossbones opposite John Malkovich and also appeared in the UK cult favorite, Doctor Who.

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)

Send us Fan Mail

Comedy and musical legend Weird Al Yankovic returned to the show for a chat about the success of his album "Mandatory Fun" and an upcoming tour. (From 5/20/16)

Send us Fan Mail

Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro visited the show for a chat about his career, a summer tour, and his first-ever solo album. (From 5/13/16)

Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Jen Wademan joined the show to talk back-to-school eye exams and her partnership with Zeiss to recognize Children's Eye Health and Safety Month.  

Dr. Jen Wademan, OD, is an optometrist dedicated to promoting a modern approach to eyecare with cutting-edge technology and innovative products while showcasing a general love of eyewear.  Dr. Wademan is an author and eye health contributor covering topics like nutrition and eye health, contact lens practical insights and the importance of comprehensive eye exams in children.

Send us Fan Mail

Former Newsweek legal affairs editor and best-selling author David A. Kaplan called in to discuss his new book "The Most Dangerous Branch: Inside the Supreme Court's Assault on the Constitution."  It's too bad the Supreme Court wasn't top of mind for most of us as we talked about his book.

(From 9-5-18)

Send us Fan Mail

Returning guest Tucker Perkins visited the show once again to talk back-to-school bus safety and how propane-fueled busses lead to healthier kids who don't choke on a cloud of diesel fumes like I did for most of my school years.

Tucker Perkins is the president and chief executive officer for the Propane Education & Research Council, a position he’s held since 2017. He has extensive experience in the propane industry, including operating his own propane retail company in Virginia, Premier Propane, as well as holding executive positions at Inergy Propane and Columbia Propane. Perkins holds a B.S. in civil engineering from Virginia Tech and an MBA from the University of Richmond.

Send us Fan Mail

Kathryn Nicolai's podcast "Nothing Much Happens" was literally a life-changer for me, as I've been able to have more consistent and restful sleep night after night. I couldn't recommend it more highly.  (From 10/20/20).

KATHRYN NICOLAI, the Michigan-based writer and creator of the enormously successful podcast Nothing Much Happens, is an architect of coziness, writing soothing stories that both ease the reader into peaceful sleep and teach the principals of mindfulness so that waking hours likewise become sweet and serene. She leans on her seventeen years of experience as a yoga and meditation teacher to seamlessly blend storytelling with brain training techniques that build better sleep habits over time. She is the owner of Ethos Yoga.

Send us Fan Mail

Joanna Ho is one of our favorite guests, and it was a pleasure to have her on the show once again, this time to talk about her book "We Who Produce Pearls: An Anthem for Asian America." Joanna is now a member of our 4-Timers Club!

Send us Fan Mail

Longtime Rolling Stone columnist Rob Sheffield joined us in 2016 to discuss his book "On Bowie."

Send us Fan Mail

We unlock the massive and highly-secured Big Wakeup Call Vault and retrieve my 2014 interview with "Karate Kid" and "Cobra Kai" star Ralph Macchio.

Send us Fan Mail

We celebrate the opening of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and the U.S. Women's Gymnastics team and revisit  my 2018 interview with 7-Time Olympic Gymnastics medalist Shannon Miller. Shannon talked about her career, and we shared our experiences as cancer survivors as we recognized National Cancer Survivors Month.

Send us Fan Mail

From 2018: "Kids In The All" legend Mark McKinney joined the show (appearance #2!) to chat about the season finale of his show "Superstore" and some favorite KITH sketches

Send us Fan Mail

We go deep into the archives to 2012 for a chat with comedian, actor, and "Bob's Burger's" star Eugene Mirman.

Send us Fan Mail

Jenny Boyd, model, actress, sister-in-law to George Harrison & Eric Clapton and wife of Mick Fleetwood (twice), discusses her memoir Jennifer Juniper.

(From 4-2-20)

Send us Fan Mail

Baseball legend Dave Winfield discusses his Hall-of-Fame career as one of the few people to be drafted in three major sports.  (From 5-23-17)

Send us Fan Mail

Stand-up comedian Dan Crohn called in to talk about his appearance on a new compilation comedy album, "Valentine's Day is for Suckers."  Dan also has a solo comedy album called "It's Enough Already." We discussed whether or not a comedy show is good for a first date, dealing with second show Friday, the Boston and Chicago comedy scenes, and how teaching 4th graders has provided him with almost endless material.

(From 2-6-20)

Send us Fan Mail

Chicago's very own Josh Johnson returned to the show for a chat about his first one-hour Comedy Central special, Trevor Noah Presents Josh Johnson.
(From 6-15-21)

Send us Fan Mail

We're back from our Summer break and happy to once again have consumer expert Alanna Shipley for DoorDash to share some fun and helpful travel tips.

About Alanna: Alanna Shipley is the Head of Audience Insights and Consumer Insights Expert at DoorDash, where she is responsible for establishing, defining, and growing the Marketing Insights function. Alanna discovered her appreciation for insights (or as she calls it, “the psychology of business”) early on in her career and has been building on her research expertise since 2005 through work across a variety of categories and industries, including P&G and Levi Strauss & Co. Alanna is also passionate about using her skillset to inform brands’ social responsibility and workplace diversity efforts, and was the co-founder of LS&Co’s Black ERG (Project Onyx); a group that influenced many changes by using research to challenge the norms and shed light on opportunities for the organization and its leaders.  She is a midwest born (Cincinnati, OH), California hearted (because she strongly dislikes winter), nomad traveler (because she loves experiencing different cultures), who is also an extreme extrovert (ENFP Myers Briggs) that would love to be a talk show host if insights didn’t work out (which is why she self identifies herself as “Corporate Oprah”).

Send us Fan Mail

Bestselling author Dan Gutman joins the show to discuss the 20th anniversary of the "My Weird School" series and the 100th "My Weird School" book Miss Nichol Is in a Pickle! 

Dan Gutman is the New York Times bestselling author of 185 books for young readers, including the "My Weird School" series, the "Baseball Card Adventure" series, and the "Genius Files." Dan’s books have received nineteen state book awards and ninety-two state book award nominations. Called “an expert at merging humor with history” by School Library Journal, Dan’s books now span many subjects, including history, sports, science, and humor.