On today's show
– John E. McDonough, professor of practice in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and author of “America’s Wrong Turn: US Health Care in the Neoliberal Era“
– Steve Moore, of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention of Illinois

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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On today's show &ndash; John E. McDonough,&nbsp;<a href="https://hsph.harvard.edu/profile/john-e-mcdonough/">professor of practice in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health</a>, and author of &ldquo;<a href="https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/53872/americas-wrong-turn?srsltid=AfmBOoo-g4dBrC2QXV_dVa1x91BWiqzfOv8_tPPBMgvyKE5re3iBgaRk">America&rsquo;s Wrong Turn: US Health Care in the Neoliberal Era</a>&ldquo; &ndash; Steve Moore, of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention of Illinois
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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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 | September 15, 2026

Patti Vasquez is joined by Jackie Mader, journalist at The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit newsroom covering issues of inequality and innovation in education. The discussion examined how school device use expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing concerns about its effects on learning, behavior, and transparency.

Here is a brief summary of the conversation:
- Schools’ one-to-one device programs expanded during the pandemic and continued after students returned to classrooms.
- Device policies, filters, monitoring software, and restrictions vary widely among districts, allowing students to access games, videos, and shared documents during class.
- Research is still unclear about how much academic screen time is effective; one district found distracted screen use represented 31 lost instructional days.
- Educators commonly connect challenging behavior to excessive home screen use, while research also points to impacts on executive function and missed playtime; poverty and other stressors are additional factors.
- Parents, teachers, and students are raising concerns at school board meetings and asking districts to measure device use and review the research.

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).

 

Follow us:

Website: https://heartlandsignal.com

WCPT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820

Heartland Signal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal

Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@heartlandsignal 

Heartland Signal X: https://x.com/HeartlandSignal

WCPT 820 X: https://x.com/WCPT820

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartlandsignal

Threads: threads.com/@heartlandsignal

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartlandsignal

Patti Vasquez is joined by Jackie Mader, journalist at The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit newsroom covering issues of inequality and innovation in education.&nbsp;The discussion examined how school device use expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing concerns about its effects on learning, behavior, and transparency.
Here is a brief summary of the conversation: - Schools&rsquo; one-to-one device programs expanded during the pandemic and continued after students returned to classrooms. - Device policies, filters, monitoring software, and restrictions vary widely among districts, allowing students to access games, videos, and shared documents during class. - Research is still unclear about how much academic screen time is effective; one district found distracted screen use represented 31 lost instructional days. - Educators commonly connect challenging behavior to excessive home screen use, while research also points to impacts on executive function and missed playtime; poverty and other stressors are additional factors. - Parents, teachers, and students are raising concerns at school board meetings and asking districts to measure device use and review the research.
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;
Follow us:
Website:<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/"> https://heartlandsignal.com</a>
WCPT Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820"> https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820</a>
Heartland Signal Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal"> https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal</a>
Tiktok:<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@heartlandsignal?is_from_webapp=1&amp;sender_device=pc"> </a><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@heartlandsignal">https://www.tiktok.com/@heartlandsignal</a>&nbsp;
Heartland Signal X:<a href="https://x.com/HeartlandSignal"> https://x.com/HeartlandSignal</a>
WCPT 820 X:<a href="https://x.com/WCPT820"> https://x.com/WCPT820</a>
Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/heartlandsignal/"> https://www.instagram.com/heartlandsignal</a>
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WCPT 820 Interview: Jackie Mader of The Hechinger Report

Patti Vasquez is joined by Heidi Stevens, nationally syndicated columnist, director of External Affairs at the TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health, and fellowship coach at The OpEd Project. Stevens discussed her writing, marathon training, community advocacy, and recent work on family secrets and public anxiety.

Here is a brief summary of the conversation:
- Stevens compared writing and running as disciplines that require showing up consistently despite difficulty.
- She is training for the Chicago Marathon (October 11) and is running to support Nourishing Hope Chicago, which provides food, mental health and social services.
- The conversation also addressed climate change and warnings that artificial intelligence could threaten human life.
- Stevens said industry warnings about AI need more context and concrete guidance about what people and lawmakers should do. 
- She talked as well about B.K. Jackson's "Relative Strangers," an anthology about family secrets revealed through DNA testing, adoption records, and other discoveries. It was the topic of a recent Stevens column.
- The discussion emphasized that these experiences are common, emotionally complex, and potentially less isolating when people share their stories.

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).

 

Follow us:

Website: https://heartlandsignal.com

WCPT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820

Heartland Signal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal

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Heartland Signal X: https://x.com/HeartlandSignal

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Patti Vasquez is joined by Heidi Stevens, nationally syndicated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/author/heidi-stevens/">columnist</a>, director of External Affairs at the<a href="https://tmwcenter.uchicago.edu/"> TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health</a>, and fellowship coach at <a href="https://www.theopedproject.org/bio/heidi-stevens">The OpEd Project</a>. Stevens&nbsp;discussed her writing, marathon training, community advocacy, and recent work on family secrets and public anxiety.
Here is a brief summary of the conversation: - Stevens compared writing and running as disciplines that require showing up consistently despite difficulty. - She is training for the Chicago Marathon (October 11) and is running to support <a href="https://nourishinghopechi.org/">Nourishing Hope Chicago</a>, which provides food, mental health and social services. - The conversation also addressed climate change and warnings that artificial intelligence could threaten human life. - Stevens said industry warnings about AI need more context and concrete guidance about what people and lawmakers should do.&nbsp; - She talked as well about B.K. Jackson's "Relative Strangers," an anthology about family secrets revealed through DNA testing, adoption records, and other discoveries. It was the topic of a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/04/heidi-stevens-family-secrets-book/">recent Stevens column</a>. - The discussion emphasized that these experiences are common, emotionally complex, and potentially less isolating when people share their stories.
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;
Follow us:
Website:<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/"> https://heartlandsignal.com</a>
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WCPT 820 Interview: Heidi Stevens

Heidi Stevens

Jackie Mader

On today's show
– Heidi Stevens, nationally syndicated columnist, director of External Affairs at the TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health, and fellowship coach at The OpEd Project
– Jackie Mader, journalist at The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit newsroom covering issues of inequality and innovation in education

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).

 

Follow us:

Website: https://heartlandsignal.com

WCPT Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPT820

Heartland Signal Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal

Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@heartlandsignal 

Heartland Signal X: https://x.com/HeartlandSignal

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartlandsignal

Threads: threads.com/@heartlandsignal

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@heartlandsignal

On today's show &ndash; Heidi Stevens, nationally syndicated<a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/author/heidi-stevens/"> columnist</a>, director of External Affairs at the<a href="https://tmwcenter.uchicago.edu/"> TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health</a>, and fellowship coach at<a href="https://www.theopedproject.org/bio/heidi-stevens"> The OpEd Project</a> &ndash; Jackie Mader, journalist at The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit newsroom covering issues of inequality and innovation in education
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;
Follow us:
Website:<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/"> https://heartlandsignal.com</a>
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Heartland Signal Facebook:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal"> https://www.facebook.com/HeartlandSignal</a>
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Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez | September 15, 2026

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