Bill Kurtis

Heidy Moran

Jen Weigel

Steve Rizzo

Jane Goodall

On today's show: John St. Augustine fills in for Joan and his guests are:
– Bill Kurtis, retired news anchor and author of “Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News”
– Heidy Moran, principal at Carl Schurz High School
– Jen Weigel, Chicago radio and television personality
– Steve Rizzo, motivational speaker, author, and former stand-up comedian
Plus, John played an interview he recorded with Jane Goodall.

Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

On today's show: John St. Augustine fills in for Joan and his guests are: &ndash;&nbsp;Bill Kurtis, retired news anchor and author of &ldquo;Whirlwind: My Life Reporting the News&rdquo; &ndash;&nbsp;Heidy Moran, principal at Carl Schurz High School &ndash; <a href="https://www.jenweigel.com/">Jen Weigel</a>, Chicago radio and television personality &ndash; Steve Rizzo, motivational speaker, author, and former stand-up comedian Plus, John played an interview he recorded with Jane Goodall.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

Here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT Chicago), a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago that focuses on national, state and city politics.  

A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course.    

Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC.  Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). 

Here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT Chicago</a>), a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago that focuses on national, state and city politics.  
A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course.    
Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC.  Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

Joan Esposito (Full Episodes)

"Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT Chicago) is a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago that focuses on national, state and city politics. A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course.    

Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC.  Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). 

"Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT Chicago</a>) is a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago that focuses on national, state and city politics. A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course.    
Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC.  Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

Joan Esposito Live, Local & Progressive

Joan Esposito Live Local & Progressive with guest host John St. Augustine, October 8, 2025

Mike Nellis

Joel Willett

Pete Dominick

Rich Logis

On today's show:
– Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, candidate for U.S. Senate
– Mike Nellis, Democratic strategist and host of “Endless Urgency with Mike Nellis
– Joel Willett, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Kentucky
– Pete Dominick, news commentator, stand-up comic, and host of the “Stand Up! with Pete Dominick” podcast
– Rich Logis, founder and executive director of Leaving MAGA

Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

On today's show: &ndash; Illinois&nbsp;<a href="https://ltgov.illinois.gov/">Lt. Gov.</a>&nbsp;Juliana Stratton,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.julianastratton.com/">candidate</a>&nbsp;for U.S. Senate &ndash;&nbsp;Mike Nellis, Democratic strategist and host of &ldquo;<a href="https://endlessurgency.com/">Endless Urgency with Mike Nellis</a> &ndash; Joel Willett, Democratic&nbsp;<a href="https://joelforkentucky.com/">candidate</a>&nbsp;for U.S. Senate in Kentucky &ndash; Pete Dominick, news commentator, stand-up comic, and host of the &ldquo;<a href="https://standupwithpete.com/">Stand Up! with Pete Dominick</a>&rdquo; podcast &ndash;&nbsp;Rich Logis, founder and executive director of&nbsp;<a href="https://leavingmaga.org/our-founder/">Leaving MAGA</a>
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive">heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive</a>).

Joan Esposito Live Local & Progressive November 10 2025

Joan Esposito is joined by Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, candidate for U.S. Senate, who talks about the Senate deal to end the government shutdown. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), whose seat Stratton is seeking to win next November, has joined a group of Senate Democrats and one Independent to give Republicans the votes they needed to pass a continuing resolution that most Senate Democrats opposed.  Republicans have refused to work with Democrats to negotiate an extension of expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits. The deal the Senate Democrats brokered with Republicans, which Stratton said she would have voted against, did not extend the credits.      

"I really believe that this is one of those moments that reminds us that people really want to make sure that their needs are centered when we talk about what's important for them and their communities and their families," she said. "Affordability is important, and I can't think of another issue that really affects people's households and affordability than health care. And we were right there. We had to hold firm. And instead, we had eight Senate Democrats that bailed to Donald Trump and Republicans. And what did we get out of it? Nothing."  

Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

Joan Esposito is joined by Illinois&nbsp;<a href="https://ltgov.illinois.gov/">Lt. Gov.</a>&nbsp;Juliana Stratton,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.julianastratton.com/">candidate</a> for U.S. Senate, who talks about the Senate deal to end the government shutdown. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), whose seat Stratton is seeking to win next November, has joined a group of Senate Democrats and one Independent to give Republicans the votes they needed to pass a continuing resolution that most Senate Democrats opposed.&nbsp; Republicans have refused to work with Democrats to negotiate an extension of expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits. The deal the Senate Democrats brokered with Republicans, which Stratton said she would have voted against, did not extend the credits.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;
"I really believe that this is one of those moments that reminds us that people really want to make sure that their needs are centered when we talk about what's important for them and their communities and their families," she said. "Affordability is important, and I can't think of another issue that really affects people's households and affordability than health care. And we were right there. We had to hold firm. And instead, we had eight Senate Democrats that bailed to Donald Trump and Republicans. And what did we get out of it? Nothing."&nbsp;&nbsp;
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive">heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive</a>).

WCPT 820 Interview: Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton

Joan Esposito is joined by Jennifer Silverton, co-founder of Xceptional Heroes (XH).

Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).

 

Joan Esposito is joined by Jennifer Silverton, co-founder of&nbsp;<a href="https://xceptionalheroes.org/xceptional-heroes-founders/">Xceptional Heroes</a> (XH).
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (<a href="http://heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive">heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive</a>).
&nbsp;

Joan Esposito Live Local & Progressive with guest host John St. Augustine, October 8, 2025

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