Dr. Anna Pelak

Rex Huppke

Joel Ostrow

On today's show:
– Dr. Anna Pelak, DDS, of Total Dentistry in Streamwood and Palatine
– Rex Huppke, USA Today columnist
– Joel Ostrow, professor of political science at Benedictine University

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; Dr. Anna Pelak, DDS, of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.totaldentistry.org/">Total Dentistry</a>&nbsp;in Streamwood and Palatine &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/staff/6878775001/rex-huppke/">Rex Huppke</a>, USA Today columnist &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://ben.edu/faculty/joel-ostrow/">Joel Ostrow</a>, professor of political science at Benedictine University
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>).

From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central), a topical and interactive talk show 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). 

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago, here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central), a topical and interactive talk show that focuses on national, state and city politics. &nbsp;
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 &mdash; Democrats, of course. &nbsp; &nbsp;
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. &nbsp;Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).&nbsp;

Joan Esposito (Full Episodes)

From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central) is a topical and interactive talk show 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). 

From Heartland Signal and <a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/wcpt820/">WCPT AM 820</a> in Chicago, "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central) is a topical and interactive talk show 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 &mdash; Democrats, of course. &nbsp; &nbsp;
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. &nbsp;Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).&nbsp;

Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive

Joan Esposito Live Local & Progressive July 9, 2025

On today's show:

– Jonathan Alter, contributing editor of the Washington Monthly, former senior editor and columnist at Newsweek, filmmaker, journalist, political analyst, and the publisher of the Substack “Old Goats with Jonathan Alter.“ His latest pieces for Washington Monthly are “After Censoring CBS, Trump Will Go For CNN” and “The Worst President Ever”
– Pat Hynes, 2026 candidate for Cook County assessor
– Margaret Croke, Illinois state representative and 2026 candidate for Illinois comptroller
– William Muck, professor of political science at North Central College

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; Jonathan Alter, contributing editor of the Washington Monthly, former senior editor and columnist at Newsweek, filmmaker, journalist, political analyst, and the publisher of the Substack &ldquo;<a href="https://oldgoats.substack.com/=">Old Goats with Jonathan Alter</a>.&ldquo;&nbsp;His latest pieces for Washington Monthly are &ldquo;<a href="https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/17/trump-media-control-paramount-warner-merger/">After Censoring CBS, Trump Will Go For CNN</a>&rdquo; and &ldquo;<a href="https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/16/worst-president-in-us-history-donald-trump/">The Worst President Ever</a>&rdquo; &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.assessorhynes.com/">Pat Hynes</a>, 2026 candidate for Cook County assessor &ndash; Margaret Croke,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.repcroke.com/">Illinois state representative</a>&nbsp;and 2026&nbsp;<a href="https://crokeforillinois.com/">candidate for Illinois comptroller</a> &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/profile/wjmuck">William Muck</a>, professor of political science at North Central College
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 Live Local & Progressive, February 25 2026

On the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Joan Esposito is joined by Lydia Tkaczuk, president of the Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago, and Oleh John Skubiak, president of Pobratymy Foundation (one of the largest charitable foundations devoted to the development of Ukrainian scouting) and member/sponsor of the Ukrainian National Museum.

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 the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Joan Esposito is joined by Lydia Tkaczuk, president of the&nbsp;<a href="https://ukrainiannationalmuseum.org/">Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago</a>, and Oleh John Skubiak, president of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pobratymyfoundation.com/">Pobratymy Foundation</a> (one of the largest charitable foundations devoted to the development of Ukrainian scouting) and member/sponsor of the Ukrainian National Museum.
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: Lydia Tkaczuk and Oleh John Skubiak

On the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Joan Esposito is joined by Tamar Jacoby, Kiev-based director of the New Ukraine Project at the Progressive Policy Institute and contributor to Washington Monthly; her latest article is “Ukraine: Requiem for a Citizen Soldier.”

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 the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Joan Esposito is joined by <a href="https://www.progressivepolicy.org/people/tamar-jacoby/">Tamar Jacoby</a>, Kiev-based director of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.progressivepolicy.org/project/new-ukraine-project/">New Ukraine Project at the Progressive Policy Institute</a>&nbsp;and contributor to Washington Monthly; her latest article is &ldquo;<a href="https://washingtonmonthly.com/2026/02/20/ukraine-requiem-citizen-soldier/">Ukraine: Requiem for a Citizen Soldier</a>.&rdquo;
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 July 9, 2025

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