The Block Club Chicago Podcast
The important, emotional, inspiring stories affecting Chicagoans. New episodes Tuesdays, Thursdays, or whenever a BIG story breaks.
The 1901 Project Promises A Lot. Neighbors Wonder If They Can Deliver.
Plans for a rooftop park next to the United Center that previously called for a soccer pitch and green space have been scrapped in favor of more parking, but project developers assure a new park remains in the works for the area. Are neighbors convinced?
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Michael Liptrot
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of...
Dungeons & Dragons Is Having A Moment In Chicago -- With Women
An event by the Chicago Tabletop Game Association catering to women, nonbinary and femme people sold out in five days — proof of the growing appetite among women for the roleplaying game.
Host - Iridian Fierro
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.
We amplify positive st...
The Last Minute Push To Stop Illinois' Aid-In-Dying Law
Illinois is set to become the first Midwestern state to allow terminally ill patients to seek life-ending medication from their physicians when the law goes into effect on Saturday. There's a last minute push to stop the law before it starts.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guests - Mike Leonard, Patrick Dolan
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods d...
Is Living In Chicago Detrimental To Your Health? We Ask Rush Doctors
Does Chicago's noise, extreme temperature changes, allergies and varying sunshine add up to a detriment to its residents' health? You asked these questions, and we got answers from Rush doctors!
Host - Jon Hansen
Guests -
Alana Kirby, MD, PhD, Neurologist
Lauren Kelly, AuD, Audiologist
Christopher Greb, MD, Allergist
Linna Gali, MD, Dermatologist
Lauren Cordes, DO, Family Medicine
Jon Tueting, Hand and Upper Extremity Orthopedic Surgeon
For more, head to Rush.edu
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This City Mushroom Farm Grows Fungi For Top Chefs — And ‘The Bear’
Four Star Mushrooms on the Near West Side supplies to grocery stores and some of Chicago’s most acclaimed restaurants. Its mushrooms have also appeared on the hit FX series.
Host - Iridian Fierro
Guest - Joe Weber, Four Star co-founder and president
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be co...
The Three Giant Trials Captivating The Country This Summer
On today's Sidebar podcast, federal defense attorney Mike Leonard breaks down three court cases this summer that captivated the country.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Mike Leonard, Leonard Trial Lawyers
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.
We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council m...
Yes, Mayor Johnson Can Win Re-Election. Here's How.
He hasn't announced he's running yet, but today's podcast focuses on Mayor Brandon Johnson's chances of re-election. Block Club Editor Mick Dumke and host Jon Hansen suggest many people are too quick to dismiss the possibility that he wins again.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Mick Dumke, Block Club Editor
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse n...
It's Never Been Harder To Be A Kid. How Chicago Parents Can Help.
Over 300,000 Chicago public school students started classes again this week. In Illinois, there are over 1.8 million students.
Each one of those kids is going back to school in what most experts say is an era that is tougher than any time period in recent history.
On today's podcast, sponsored by Meridian Psychiatric Partners, some help for parents.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guests - Dr. Nick Hatzis and Dr. Johnny Dominguez, Meridian Psychiatric Partners Medical and Clinical directors of their Child and Adolescent Program
Call Meridian at 312-640-7740
O...
Why One Chicago Non-Profit Wants All Your Amazon Boxes
EcoShip, which began in 2021 and operates out of an Avondale storage space, collects packaging materials and provides them to local business owners for free reuse. The nonprofit’s leaders encourage folks to save their packaging and pay them forward instead of throwing them into the landfill.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - EcoShip founder and CEO Aleksandra Plewa
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, re...
Will The Wettest Summer In South Side History Impact The Fall Election?
Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill on Friday that allows more Chicago homeowners to access financial relief for flood damage locally while many communities in the state cleaned up from damaging storms.
With the November election less than three months away, the state’s response to natural disasters has become part of Republican Darren Bailey’s campaign for governor.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois
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Bl...
Turns Out You Can Be Discriminated Against At Work. Here's How.
Patrick Dolan joins the Block Club Chicago Podcast for our biweekly 'Sidebar' episode. Patrick lays out the protections -- or lack thereof -- for thousands Chicago workers who are often mis-classifed and mistreated on the job.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Patrick Dolan
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful w...
Chicago Has A Literacy Problem. Chicagoans Like You Can Help Solve It
DONATE TO BACK TO SCHOOL WITH BLOCK CLUB
There’s no doubt that Chicago has a literacy problem. About 43% of CPS students grades 3-8 met the state’s reading proficiency benchmarks in 2025.
But like so many things in Chicago, a lot depends on the zip code. Open Books Director of Education Paula Santos discusses how all of us can become a part of the solution.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Paula Santos
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Blo...
How The Dave Matthews Dump Actually Helped The Chicago River
Dave Matthews’ tour bus emptied its 800-pound septic tank on people taking a cruise 22 years ago this week. One boat passenger thinks the band has paid an unfair price for its driver’s error, but gets why Chicagoans won’t forget. And some people think that the incident actually helped the Chicago River.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Clint Worthington
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to del...
Finally, Chicago Is Getting A Cat Tour Of Its Own This Weekend
Lincoln Square neighbors will be able enjoy a day of cat videos followed by a street tour showcasing the neighborhood’s feline friends this August.
“Caturday” in Lincoln Square will kick off 12:30 p.m. Aug. 8 with a screening of CatVideoFest 2026 at the Davis Theater, 4614 N Lincoln Ave., followed by the first-ever Lincoln Square Cat Tour through the neighborhood from 3-5 p.m.
Host - Iridian Fierro
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) n...
Is The American Justice System The Best? An Outsider Weighs In.
Australian true crime podcaster Jack Laurence joins Sidebar to discuss the American justice system from the outside looking in.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guests - Jack Laurence, Mike Leonard, Patrick Dolan
Listen To One Minute Remaining
Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer
Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods d...
The Battle Between Chicago Renters And Landlords Is Heating Up
The fight over the future of renters’ rights in Chicago is heating up, as supporters of a proposal put forth by Mayor Brandon Johnson are blasting a competing measure as the “Chicago landlord’s big, beautiful bill.” Meanwhile, four Logan Square residents have filed the first lawsuit linked to the city’s tenants right pilot program, accusing their a landlord, his realtor and a brokerage company of running afoul of a Northwest Side anti-gentrification law.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporters - Melody Mercado, Ariel Parrella
Read More Here:
https://blockclubchicago.org/2026/07/15/logan-squa...
How Much Damage Did The Wildfire Smoke Do To Our Lungs?
The heaviest wildfire smoke in Chicago history has cleared away -- for now. But many Chicagoans are wondering just how damaging it is to our lungs, and if health experts are concerned about the smoke's growing presence during the summer months.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Dr. Samuel Fox, Rush
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods d...
Is Wildfire Smoke Now A Permanent Part Of Chicago Summers?
As Chicago saw record-breaking poor air quality last week, local leaders advised people to stay inside and mask up to avoid the potential health effects. On today's podcast, a chat with WGN-TV meteorologist Bill Snyder on if this is just a part of Chicago summers from now on.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Bill Snyder, WGN-TV Meteorologist
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, r...
Spare A Kidney? The Surprising Perks Of Becoming A Living Organ Donor
Roughly 100,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney transplant, and the times to be matched with a donor can approach a decade. On today's Block Club Chicago podcast, sponsored by Rush, Dr. Aneesha Shetty explains everything you need to know to become a donor -- and shares the personal reason she works in this field.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Aneesha Shetty, MD, MPH
READ MORE ABOUT BECOMING A DONOR HERE
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago i...
Chicago History Discovered In The Rubble Protecting Our Lakefront
Blocks of carved stone from the Walker Warehouse — early examples of famed Chicago architect Louis Sullivan’s lauded ornamentation — have served alongside other rubble for decades as a lakefront revetment near Rainbow Beach.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Maxwell Evans
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a mean...
Who Is Running For Chicago Mayor?
The mayor’s race is months away, but a crowded field of potential candidates is already forming to challenge incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson.
The 2027 mayoral election is Feb. 23. A runoff election will take place April 6 if no candidate garners at least 50 percent of the vote in the first round — a highly likely possibility with so many people expected to run.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Quinn Myers
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Block Club...
How O'Hare Expansion Built A Thriving Home For Wildlife — 19 Miles Away
Mandated by the Federal Clean Water Act, the O’Hare Modernization Wetlands Mitigation Project resulted in the restoration of more than 500 acres of wetlands, now a thriving home for birds and other wildlife.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Molly DeVore
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a...
50,000+ Laws Have Been Passed In American History. These Are The Best.
Congress has passed roughly 50,000 laws since its founding. Some of them were objectively terrible, and have been repealed or allowed to expired. Some have been deemed "good" laws for some, but not all.
Federal defense attorney Mike Leonard and employment lawyer Patrick Dolan do their best to pick "the best three laws in American history," on today's episode.
Guests:
Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer
Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a...
The New Laws That Just Went Into Effect
July 1 marks a second New Year’s Day in Illinois as a new budget takes effect along with more than a dozen new state laws.
In addition to the state’s nearly $56 billion fiscal year 2027 budget being implemented and the 1-cent motor fuel tax increase being suspended for the remainder of the year, 14 news laws went into effect on Wednesday.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Ben Szalinski, Capitol News Illinois
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Chicago Could've Bought Back Its Parking Meters. The Mayor Said No.
Alderpeople learned last Thursday that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration secretly offered about $3.3 billion last fall to reclaim control of the city’s parking meters — a whopping $800 million more than the next-highest bidder. In a statement afterward, a spokesperson for the mayor said when Johnson decided to drop the city’s bid in January, he highlighted the high cost of regaining control of the meters.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Mick Dumke
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Blo...
Why Men Die First — Discussing What Men Need To Know About Their Health
A lot of men are wired to solve problems privately—and health is one area where that instinct can backfire. Today's episode, sponsored by Rush, a conversation with Dr. Edward Qian about men's health.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Dr. Edward Qian
More on Rush HERE
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be...
Why Have Two Men Been Able To Assault North Siders For Years?
In a new petition, neighbors say officials and police have done little to address safety concerns stemming from encounters with Leon Jackson and Willie Wright, who have cycled through arrests and court hearings.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Patrick Filbin
Read More Here
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in...
Sidebar: The Pope Is Critical Of AI, So Can You Stop Using It At Work?
On this week's Sidebar episode, employment lawyer Patrick Dolan on the story of a woman who claimed a religious exemption from using AI -- and her company agreed! Federal defense attorney Mike Leonard discusses a part of his practice that defends college students during disciplinary hearings -- a system Leonard refers to as a 'kangaroo court'.
Guests:
Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer
Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney
Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE
Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) no...
Will The Obama Center Deliver What It Promised To South Siders?
“Hope,” like the Obama campaign slogan, is a common feeling for nearby residents awaiting this week’s opening. Others question what community benefits will come with the global destination.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Maxwell Evans
Read More Here
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.
We a...
Is Chicago Part Of 'Tornado Alley' Now?
Illinois has seen nearly 150 tornadoes so far in 2026, leading the nation. It’s the fourth year in a row where the state has surpassed 100 twisters, many in the Chicagoland area. WGN-TV's Bill Snyder answers the question -- is Chicago part of 'Tornado Alley' now?
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Bill Snyder, WGN-TV Meteorologist
Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE
Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We bel...
Heading To The Vatican? You’ll Probably Run Into Some Chicagoans
As the sun rose over Vatican City, hundreds — including many Chicagoans — lined up to enter St. Peter’s Square ahead of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV.
Reporter Ariel Parrella and Photographer Colin Boyle were there with the mayor and met many Chicagoans who also made the journey.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporters - Ariel Parrella, Colin Boyle
Read More Here
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organizat...
Illinois Banning Cellphones From Classrooms — Will It Work?
Illinois is set to join a growing number of states that have barred cellphone use in the classroom.
Just as the Illinois General Assembly reached its deadline to wrap up its legislative session Sunday, the state Senate passed legislation that would largely restrict cellphones in Illinois schools. The legislation would go into effect for the 2027-28 school year, meaning school districts will have a year to plan before the restrictions are implemented.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Makiya Seminera
Read More Here
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Sidebar: Will US Attorney Resign? + Many Chicagoans Fall For New Scam
The local U.S. Attorney’s Office is instituting “sweeping internal reforms” to its handling of grand jury proceedings after a high-profile case against a group of protesters crumbled due to prosecutorial misconduct. But will it save Andrew Boutros' job?
And an employment scam promising "pay for likes" costs hundreds of Chicagoans thousands of dollars.
Federal Defense Attorney Mike Leonard and Employment Law Lawyer Patrick Dolan break it all down.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guests:
Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney
Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer
ABC-7's Repor...
Why The Chicago Accent Is Dying
The so-called “Chicago accent” is one of the city’s greatest exports, alongside Italian beef, deep-dish pizza and up-and-coming sketch comedians.
Most associate a particular kind of sound to the average Chicagoan. But there are actually many Chicago accents with different origins. And many of them are dying out.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Tanera Marshall
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chic...
How The Bears Got Nothing From Springfield
Despite a Hail Mary heave from the Illinois Senate in the final hours of the spring legislative session, state lawmakers ultimately failed to reach the end zone on a bill incentivizing the Chicago Bears to build a new stadium in Illinois.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Ben Szalisnki, Capitol News Illinois
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all...
Field Trip! The Smart Museum Celebrates Alma Thomas' Dazzling Abstracts
Alma Thomas (1891–1978) is a singular figure of twentieth-century American art. She developed her form of abstraction – characterized by the dazzling interplay of pattern and hue – late in life, after retiring from a long career as a schoolteacher.
Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas draws on the extensive holdings of the artist’s paintings at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and offers an intimate view of Thomas’s evolving practice during her most prolific period.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - His Mom, Marcia
Guest - Galina Mardilovich, Curator
Learn More H...
Why Women Have More Strokes Than Men — And How You Can Survive One
A stroke that might have killed you 50 years ago — or left you permanently disabled 20 years ago — can now sometimes be treated so effectively that patients go on to live long, healthy lives. But timing is everything… and increasingly, so is understanding your personal risk factors.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Dr. Sarah Song
More, at Rush.edu
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan covera...
'Broadview 6' Charges Dropped After Feds Admit To Errors And Misconduct
Charges against four Broadview protesters accused of impeding immigration officers were dropped Thursday after the U.S. Attorney’s Office made the extraordinary admission that federal prosecutors had committed misconduct during the grand jury proceedings that led to charges being filed in the first place.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Madison Savedra
Read More Here
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Ch...
Sidebar: Tipped Wage Hike Paused + DOJ's New 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund
The City Council decisively moved to delay a planned phaseout of the subminimum base wage for tipped workers by two years, stymying one of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s most significant legislative wins during his first term in office.
The Department of Justice settled a tax lawsuit from President Trump, establishing a fund to pay Americans who feel they were prosecuted unfairly by the government.
Host - Jon Hansen
Guests:
Mike Leonard, Federal Defense Attorney
Patrick Dolan, Employment Lawyer
Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HER...
How Lowrider Bikes Are Bringing Together Teens Impacted By ICE Raids
Teens at nonprofit Bikes & Roses, many children of immigrants or immigrants themselves, are creating unique bikes to help heal after the violence their communities experienced during operations Midway Blitz and At Large.
Host - Iridian Fierro
Reporter - Alex V. Hernandez
Read More Here
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Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in...
