Natalie and Bridget

Rob Held

Kirk Bangstad

Alex Papdopoulos

Patti is joined by guest co-host Natalie Ziemba, Woodstock City Council member, and their guests are
– Bridget Belcastro, candidate for McHenry Regional Superintendent of Schools
– Robert Held, Chicago attorney, president of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, anti-ICE activist, and former Air Force fighter pilot
– Kirk Bangstad, CEO and founder of Minocqua Brewing Company and the Minocqua Marketplace

Patti also talks to Alex Papadopoulos, president and founder of Egéa Wealth Management

Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).

Patti is joined by guest co-host Natalie Ziemba, Woodstock City Council member, and their guests are &ndash; <a href="https://www.bridgetbelcastro.com/">Bridget Belcastro</a>, candidate for McHenry Regional Superintendent of Schools &ndash; Robert Held, Chicago attorney, president of the Chicago Council of Lawyers, anti-ICE activist, and former Air Force fighter pilot &ndash; Kirk Bangstad, CEO and founder of <a href="https://www.minocquabrewingcompany.com/">Minocqua Brewing Company</a> and the <a href="https://minocquamarketplace.com/?">Minocqua Marketplace</a> Patti also talks to Alex Papadopoulos, president and founder of <a href="https://www.egeawm.com">Eg&eacute;a Wealth Management</a>
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).

From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, here are full episodes of "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" (weeknights from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.), a radio talk show devoted to covering the news of the day and connecting listeners with local leaders. 

Patti Vasquez is a Chicago comedian, writer, actor, talk show host, consultant, advocate, and policy adviser. After achieving a degree in history from the University of Illinois, she set out to share her hilarious observations about how people behave, and stories about her second-generation Irish dad and Mexican immigrant mom. Patti has headlined in comedy clubs and colleges all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appeared on Nickelodeon, TBS, ABC, The Oprah Winfrey Network, and has a recurring role on NBC’s “Chicago Fire.” When her son Declan was born with a rare neurological disorder, Patti decided to take her communication and performance experience to launch her company “With Kind Words,” in which she helps medical professionals and educators communicate with compassion. For six years, Patti was the first Latina to host her own talk show on WGN Radio 720. In addition to her work as a performer and consultant, Patti began advocating for children and families throughout Illinois and helped restore funding for vital support services after massive cuts were made by former Governor Bruce Rauner. In 2020 she ran to be the state representative of the 19th District.  She is now the health care and human services liaison and assistant policy adviser for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza.  Patti lives with her family on the Northwest Side of Chicago and continues to advocate for her community.  

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago, here are full episodes of "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" (weeknights from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.), a radio talk show devoted to covering the news of the day and connecting listeners with local leaders.&nbsp;
Patti Vasquez is a Chicago comedian, writer, actor, talk show host, consultant, advocate, and policy adviser. After achieving a degree in history from the University of Illinois, she set out to share her hilarious observations about how people behave, and stories about her second-generation Irish dad and Mexican immigrant mom. Patti has headlined in comedy clubs and colleges all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appeared on Nickelodeon, TBS, ABC, The Oprah Winfrey Network, and has a recurring role on NBC&rsquo;s &ldquo;Chicago Fire.&rdquo; When her son Declan was born with a rare neurological disorder, Patti decided to take her communication and performance experience to launch her company &ldquo;With Kind Words,&rdquo; in which she helps medical professionals and educators communicate with compassion. For six years, Patti was the first Latina to host her own talk show on WGN Radio 720. In addition to her work as a performer and consultant, Patti began advocating for children and families throughout Illinois and helped restore funding for vital support services after massive cuts were made by former Governor Bruce Rauner. In 2020 she ran to be the state representative of the 19th District.&nbsp; She is now the health care and human services liaison and assistant policy adviser for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza.&nbsp; Patti lives with her family on the Northwest Side of Chicago and continues to advocate for her community.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez (Full Episodes)

From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" (weeknights from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central) is a radio talk show devoted to covering the news of the day and connecting listeners with local leaders. 

Patti Vasquez is a Chicago comedian, writer, actor, talk show host, consultant, advocate, and policy adviser. After achieving a degree in history from the University of Illinois, she set out to share her hilarious observations about how people behave, and stories about her second-generation Irish dad and Mexican immigrant mom. Patti has headlined in comedy clubs and colleges all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appeared on Nickelodeon, TBS, ABC, The Oprah Winfrey Network, and has a recurring role on NBC’s “Chicago Fire.” When her son Declan was born with a rare neurological disorder, Patti decided to take her communication and performance experience to launch her company “With Kind Words,” in which she helps medical professionals and educators communicate with compassion.

For six years, Patti was the first Latina to host her own talk show on WGN Radio 720. In addition to her work as a performer and consultant, Patti began advocating for children and families throughout Illinois and helped restore funding for vital support services after massive cuts were made by former Governor Bruce Rauner. In 2020 she ran to be the state representative of the 19th District.  She is now the health care and human services liaison and assistant policy adviser for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza.  Patti lives with her family on the Northwest Side of Chicago and continues to advocate for her community.  

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago, "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" (weeknights from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central) is a radio talk show devoted to covering the news of the day and connecting listeners with local leaders.&nbsp;
Patti Vasquez is a Chicago comedian, writer, actor, talk show host, consultant, advocate, and policy adviser. After achieving a degree in history from the University of Illinois, she set out to share her hilarious observations about how people behave, and stories about her second-generation Irish dad and Mexican immigrant mom. Patti has headlined in comedy clubs and colleges all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appeared on Nickelodeon, TBS, ABC, The Oprah Winfrey Network, and has a recurring role on NBC&rsquo;s &ldquo;Chicago Fire.&rdquo; When her son Declan was born with a rare neurological disorder, Patti decided to take her communication and performance experience to launch her company &ldquo;With Kind Words,&rdquo; in which she helps medical professionals and educators communicate with compassion.
For six years, Patti was the first Latina to host her own talk show on WGN Radio 720. In addition to her work as a performer and consultant, Patti began advocating for children and families throughout Illinois and helped restore funding for vital support services after massive cuts were made by former Governor Bruce Rauner. In 2020 she ran to be the state representative of the 19th District.&nbsp; She is now the health care and human services liaison and assistant policy adviser for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza.&nbsp; Patti lives with her family on the Northwest Side of Chicago and continues to advocate for her community.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez

Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez | July 24, 2026

Patti Vasquez is joined by Estrelitta Harmon, executive director of Center for Better Aging.

Harmon explains that the clinic opened in July 2024 within St. Bernard's Hospital to serve 22 zip codes on the Greater South Side of Chicago. The organization utilizes a "four Ps" model—predictive, preventative, personalized, and participatory—to provide whole-person care.

* Preventative Care: Focuses on health education to move away from reactive medicine and reduce emergency department visits.
* Social Connection: Addresses loneliness, which is linked to higher rates of hypertension and diabetes, noting that one in three older adults lives alone.
* Impact Metrics: In under two years, the center has reached 18,500 individuals through approximately 2,000 patient visits and 600 enrolled members.

Harmon highlights significant disparities in aging outcomes across Chicago. While the city's average life expectancy is nearly 80 years, certain neighborhoods on the South and West Sides see averages as low as 67 or 68 years.
* Life Expectancy Gap: The gap is driven by environmental factors including access to primary/specialty care, nutritious food, transportation, and general healthcare availability.
* Caregiver Support: Many family members do not identify as caregivers due to societal norms or guilt regarding seeking respite care. The center provides support to address this "sandwich generation" stress and the massive amount of unpaid labor involved.
* Workforce Shortage: There is a critical shortage in home care services, leading to long waitlists.

Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).

 

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Patti Vasquez is joined by Estrelitta Harmon, executive director of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centerforbetteraging.org/">Center for Better Aging</a>.
Harmon explains that the clinic opened in July 2024 within St. Bernard's Hospital to serve 22 zip codes on the Greater South Side of Chicago. The organization utilizes a "four Ps" model&mdash;predictive, preventative, personalized, and participatory&mdash;to provide whole-person care.
* Preventative Care: Focuses on health education to move away from reactive medicine and reduce emergency department visits. * Social Connection: Addresses loneliness, which is linked to higher rates of hypertension and diabetes, noting that one in three older adults lives alone. * Impact Metrics: In under two years, the center has reached 18,500 individuals through approximately 2,000 patient visits and 600 enrolled members.
Harmon highlights significant disparities in aging outcomes across Chicago. While the city's average life expectancy is nearly 80 years, certain neighborhoods on the South and West Sides see averages as low as 67 or 68 years. * Life Expectancy Gap: The gap is driven by environmental factors including access to primary/specialty care, nutritious food, transportation, and general healthcare availability. * Caregiver Support: Many family members do not identify as caregivers due to societal norms or guilt regarding seeking respite care. The center provides support to address this "sandwich generation" stress and the massive amount of unpaid labor involved. * Workforce Shortage: There is a critical shortage in home care services, leading to long waitlists.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home">heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home</a>).
&nbsp;
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WCPT 820 Interview: Estrelitta Harmon of Center for Better Aging

Patti Vasquez is joined by Jen Schroeder, workplace advocate for professionals over 45 and founder of The Unobsolete, where she fights age bias and builds exit strategies.

Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).

 

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Patti Vasquez is joined by Jen Schroeder, workplace advocate for professionals over 45 and founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://theunobsolete.com/">The Unobsolete</a>, where she fights age bias and builds exit strategies.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home">heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home</a>).
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WCPT 820 Interview: Jen Schroeder  of The Unobsolete

Dan Ashurst, executive director of FairVote Illinois, joins Patti Vasquez in studio to discusses the advantages of ranked choice voting and its current legislative status in Illinois. 

Benefits of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)
- Ashurst explains how ranked choice voting mitigates "zombie votes," citing the recent Wisconsin Democratic primary election for governor where more than 68,000 votes were cast for candidates who had already withdrawn from the race before Election Day.
- The system allows voters to express a second choice, ensuring their vote remains effective if their primary candidate drops out or cannot win a majority mandate.
- Ashurst argues that RCV promotes diverse representation; he notes that after implementing RCV in New York City, female City Council representation increased from 16 to 31 members out of 50.
- By rewarding candidates who build broader consensus rather than just appealing to a small plurality, the system aims to reduce political extremism and vicious negative campaigning.

Implementation Status 
- Cities including Evanston (with 82 percent approval), Oak Park (79 percent approval), and Skokie have passed referendums to adopt RCV.
- A legal tension exists regarding implementation authority; while municipalities have broad authority under the Illinois Constitution, the Cook County Clerk has expressed concerns because the current election code does not explicitly provide for RCV procedures.

Legislative Goals
- FairVote Illinois is working on state legislation to establish clear standards for clerks and ensure election security through transparent, hand-recountable data processes.
- Although previous attempts have not yet moved out of committee, Ashurst expressed optimism about passing an RCV local option bill during the next legislative session by engaging with clerks early in the process.

Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).

 

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Dan Ashurst, executive director of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fairvoteillinois.org/">FairVote Illinois</a>, joins Patti Vasquez in studio to discusses the advantages of ranked choice voting and its current legislative status in Illinois.&nbsp;
Benefits of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) - Ashurst explains how ranked choice voting mitigates "zombie votes," citing the recent Wisconsin Democratic primary election for governor where more than 68,000 votes were cast for candidates who had already withdrawn from the race before Election Day. - The system allows voters to express a second choice, ensuring their vote remains effective if their primary candidate drops out or cannot win a majority mandate. - Ashurst argues that RCV promotes diverse representation; he notes that after implementing RCV in New York City, female City Council representation increased from 16 to 31 members out of 50. - By rewarding candidates who build broader consensus rather than just appealing to a small plurality, the system aims to reduce political extremism and vicious negative campaigning.
Implementation Status&nbsp; - Cities including Evanston (with 82 percent approval), Oak Park (79 percent approval), and Skokie have passed referendums to adopt RCV. - A legal tension exists regarding implementation authority; while municipalities have broad authority under the Illinois Constitution, the Cook County Clerk has expressed concerns because the current election code does not explicitly provide for RCV procedures. Legislative Goals - FairVote Illinois is working on state legislation to establish clear standards for clerks and ensure election security through transparent, hand-recountable data processes. - Although previous attempts have not yet moved out of committee, Ashurst expressed optimism about passing an RCV local option bill during the next legislative session by engaging with clerks early in the process.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home">heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home</a>).
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Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez | July 24, 2026

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