Richard Chew is joined by H.H. Leonards and Tracy Halliday, co-founders of 51 Steps to Freedom.

 

51 Steps to Freedom, an augmented reality walking tour, transforms Washington, D.C., into the largest outdoor museum — in the world. The name stands for “50 States, One Nation,” and in the coming year, it will grow to include 51 locations. The pilot app, featuring the first 16 immersive stops in beta, is now available for public use, kicking off the countdown to America 250.

This immersive media tour brings America’s untold stories to life in the palm of a person’s hand, right where they happened. From unsung changemakers to overlooked landmarks, the app allows users to explore the powerful legacies that continue to shape our nation’s path toward liberty and opportunity.

In addition, this tour encourages visitors to explore the full breadth of D.C. and engage all neighborhoods, as many of these stops are located in spots beyond traditional, heavily trafficked areas.

Participants use the free mobile app to unlock interactive media, videos, music, artwork and archival audio that bring D.C.’s untold stories to life, in a format some supporters compare to Pokémon GO.

“As you walk the trail, your phone becomes a portal into the past,” says H.H. Leonards, co-founder of 51 Steps to Freedom. “You unlock powerful moments from America’s journey — stories of resilience, activism and innovation that continue to shape who we are and where we’re going.”

More than a tribute to the past, 51 Steps to Freedom is designed to inspire understanding and civic reflection. Along the trail, users can engage with the U.S. Constitution and digitally sign the Declaration of Independence as a recommitment to civic ideals.

The experience, when completed, will span eight miles and include over 300 stories. Some stops in the pilot app include the Washington Monument, Frederick Douglass’ home, NASA headquarters, National Archives, African American Civil War Memorial, The Howard Theatre and Lafayette Square Park.

“D.C. is more than just a historic place and 51 Steps to Freedom is the stage for our collective story. It’s not about one place or one moment — it’s about the people, principles and progress that connect every part of the country, and it invites visitors to take their step forward in the American story. Just like there’s ‘only one D.C.,’ there’s only one tour like this, anywhere, in the world,” says Leonards.

51 Steps to Freedom: Pilot App Details

Pay What You Can/Free Tickets: www.51stepstofreedom.org (ticket allows user to download the app for iOS and Android)

Watch how the trail works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cli1YD9Eeq0

Watch a featured site, The Howard Theatre: https://vimeo.com/985125041


Catch "Chew's Views with Richard Chew” weekdays from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/chews-views).

And find the "Chew's Views" Full Episodes podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, YouTube, Amazon and TuneIn.

Richard Chew is joined by H.H. Leonards and Tracy Halliday, co-founders of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.51stepstofreedom.org/">51 Steps to Freedom</a>.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.51stepstofreedom.org/" data-auth="NotApplicable">51 Steps to Freedom</a>, an augmented reality walking tour, transforms Washington, D.C., into the largest outdoor museum &mdash; in the world. The name stands for &ldquo;50 States, One Nation,&rdquo; and in the coming year, it will grow to include 51 locations. The pilot app, featuring the first 16 immersive stops in beta, is now available for public use, kicking off the countdown to America 250.
This immersive media tour brings America&rsquo;s untold stories to life in the palm of a person&rsquo;s hand, right where they happened. From unsung changemakers to overlooked landmarks, the app allows users to explore the powerful legacies that continue to shape our nation&rsquo;s path toward liberty and opportunity.
In addition, this tour encourages visitors to explore the full breadth of D.C. and engage all neighborhoods, as many of these stops are located in spots beyond traditional, heavily trafficked areas.
Participants use the free mobile app to unlock interactive media, videos, music, artwork and archival audio that bring D.C.&rsquo;s untold stories to life, in a format some supporters compare to Pok&eacute;mon GO.
&ldquo;As you walk the trail, your phone becomes a portal into the past,&rdquo; says H.H. Leonards, co-founder of 51 Steps to Freedom. &ldquo;You unlock powerful moments from America&rsquo;s journey &mdash; stories of resilience, activism and innovation that continue to shape who we are and where we&rsquo;re going.&rdquo;
More than a tribute to the past, 51 Steps to Freedom is designed to inspire understanding and civic reflection. Along the trail, users can engage with the U.S. Constitution and digitally sign the Declaration of Independence as a recommitment to civic ideals.
The experience, when completed, will span eight miles and include over 300 stories. Some stops in the pilot app include the Washington Monument, Frederick Douglass&rsquo; home, NASA headquarters, National Archives, African American Civil War Memorial, The Howard Theatre and Lafayette Square Park.
&ldquo;D.C. is more than just a historic place and 51 Steps to Freedom is the stage for our collective story. It&rsquo;s not about one place or one moment &mdash; it&rsquo;s about the people, principles and progress that connect every part of the country, and it invites visitors to take their step forward in the American story. Just like there&rsquo;s &lsquo;only one D.C.,&rsquo; there&rsquo;s only one tour like this, anywhere, in the world,&rdquo; says Leonards.
51 Steps to Freedom: Pilot App Details
Pay What You Can/Free Tickets:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.51stepstofreedom.org/" data-auth="NotApplicable">www.51stepstofreedom.org</a>&nbsp;(ticket allows user to download the app for iOS and Android)
Watch how the trail works:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cli1YD9Eeq0" data-auth="NotApplicable">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cli1YD9Eeq0</a>
Watch a featured site, The Howard Theatre:&nbsp;<a href="https://vimeo.com/985125041">https://vimeo.com/985125041</a>
 Catch "Chew's Views with Richard Chew&rdquo; weekdays from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/chews-views">heartlandsignal.com/programs/chews-views</a>).
And find the "Chew's Views" Full Episodes podcast on<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2zkWlrghsVpgulp44Wsb53"> Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chews-views-full-episodes/id1772726742">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1300-chews-views-full-episodes-224677247/">iHeartRadio</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLquOHBYhhrLPJ4U4sG9hqPEyq8TZ6yK5B">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/60f89bc3-9570-4cea-86e2-30049d1112f4/chew's-views-full-episodes">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Chews-Views-(Full-Episodes)-p4553840/?topicId=433949466">TuneIn</a>.

From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, here are full episodes of “Chew's Views” (weekdays from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. Central), a pragmatic radio show that focuses on moving our political, social, economic, gender and cultural conversation forward and creating a roadmap for progressives to be more involved in their political and social destinies. With "Chew's Views" the emphasis is on positive talk and solutions – but don’t get it twisted; we may bring some smashmouth dialogue to the program just to make sure you’re awake, not just “woke.”  


Richard Chew has been a part of the WCPT family since 2017, initially as part of "The Family Meeting" and as a regular contributor to "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive."  He became WCPT's morning host in early 2024. 

A 25-plus-year wealth management and insurance veteran, Richard is well-versed in all areas of financial planning, wealth management and insurance plans designed to help clients with their financial future. Richard’s primary goal is to help consumers assess what their needs are and find the right plans and programs to protect their wealth.

Richard was born and raised in Chicago and Southwestern Michigan and is a graduate of Pepperdine University; he later pursued a master’s degree from Keller Graduate School. He is proud of the fact that he has visited all 50 of the great states of the United States of America and keeps his passport current to make sure traveling the world is always a “ready to go” item. He and his wife, Anne, love the city and suburbs of Chicago and all their greatness.  

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago, here are full episodes of &ldquo;<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/programs/chewviews-with-richard-chew/">Chew's Views</a>&rdquo; (weekdays from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. Central), a pragmatic radio show that focuses on moving our political, social, economic, gender and cultural conversation forward and creating a roadmap for progressives to be more involved in their political and social destinies. With "Chew's Views" the emphasis is on positive talk and solutions &ndash; but don&rsquo;t get it twisted; we may bring some smashmouth dialogue to the program just to make sure you&rsquo;re awake, not just &ldquo;woke.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
 Richard Chew has been a part of the WCPT family since 2017, initially as part of "<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/programs/the-family-meeting/">The Family Meeting</a>" and as a regular contributor to "<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive/">Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive</a>." &nbsp;He became WCPT's morning host in early 2024.&nbsp;
A 25-plus-year wealth management and insurance veteran, Richard is well-versed in all areas of financial planning, wealth management and insurance plans designed to help clients with their financial future. Richard&rsquo;s primary goal is to help consumers assess what their needs are and find the right plans and programs to protect their wealth.
Richard was born and raised in Chicago and Southwestern Michigan and is a graduate of Pepperdine University; he later pursued a master&rsquo;s degree from Keller Graduate School. He is proud of the fact that he has visited all 50 of the great states of the United States of America and keeps his passport current to make sure traveling the world is always a &ldquo;ready to go&rdquo; item. He and his wife, Anne, love the city and suburbs of Chicago and all their greatness. &nbsp;

Chew's Views with Richard Chew (Full Episodes)

From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, “Chew's Views” (weekdays from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. Central) is a pragmatic radio show that focuses on moving our political, social, economic, gender and cultural conversation forward and creating a roadmap for progressives to be more involved in their political and social destinies. With "Chew's Views" the emphasis is on positive talk and solutions – but don’t get it twisted; we may bring some smashmouth dialogue to the program just to make sure you’re awake, not just “woke.”  

Richard Chew has been a part of the WCPT family since 2017, initially as part of "The Family Meeting" and as a regular contributor to "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive." He became WCPT's morning host in early 2024.

Richard also regularly shares his views on other podcasts and radio shows, including recent appearances on Amy McGrath's "Truth in a Barrel," "The John Fugelsang Podcast," "Endless Urgency" with Mike Nellis, and "The Politics Bar."

A 25-plus-year wealth management and insurance veteran, Richard is well-versed in all areas of financial planning, wealth management and insurance plans designed to help clients with their financial future.

Richard was born and raised in Chicago and Southwestern Michigan and is a graduate of Pepperdine University; he later pursued a master’s degree from Keller Graduate School. He is proud of the fact that he has visited all 50 of the great states of the United States of America and keeps his passport current to make sure traveling the world is always a “ready to go” item. He and his wife, Anne, love the city and suburbs of Chicago and all their greatness.  

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago, &ldquo;<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/programs/chewviews-with-richard-chew/">Chew's Views</a>&rdquo; (weekdays from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m. Central) is a pragmatic radio show that focuses on moving our political, social, economic, gender and cultural conversation forward and creating a roadmap for progressives to be more involved in their political and social destinies. With "Chew's Views" the emphasis is on positive talk and solutions &ndash; but don&rsquo;t get it twisted; we may bring some smashmouth dialogue to the program just to make sure you&rsquo;re awake, not just &ldquo;woke.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Richard Chew has been a part of the WCPT family since 2017, initially as part of "<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/programs/the-family-meeting/">The Family Meeting</a>" and as a regular contributor to "<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive/">Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive</a>." He became WCPT's morning host in early 2024.
Richard also regularly shares his views on other podcasts and radio shows, including recent appearances on Amy McGrath's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWK_o2PSptQ">Truth in a Barrel</a>," "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weekend-interviews-simon-and-julie-richard-chew/id1464094232?i=1000685443232">The John Fugelsang Podcast</a>," "<a href="https://endlessurgency.com/p/pardoning-ghislaine-maxwell-trump">Endless Urgency</a>" with Mike Nellis, and "<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/is/podcast/community-vs-cankles-july-22-2025/id886656768?i=1000718522141">The Politics Bar</a>."
A 25-plus-year wealth management and insurance veteran, Richard is well-versed in all areas of financial planning, wealth management and insurance plans designed to help clients with their financial future.
Richard was born and raised in Chicago and Southwestern Michigan and is a graduate of Pepperdine University; he later pursued a master&rsquo;s degree from Keller Graduate School. He is proud of the fact that he has visited all 50 of the great states of the United States of America and keeps his passport current to make sure traveling the world is always a &ldquo;ready to go&rdquo; item. He and his wife, Anne, love the city and suburbs of Chicago and all their greatness. &nbsp;