On today's show:
– Chris Fitzsimon, host of the Stories from the States podcast


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; Chris Fitzsimon, host of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/podcast/stories-states">Stories from the States podcast </a>
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).

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 | March 6, 2026

Frank Figueroa

Harold Gatewood

Jean Kaczmarek

Katherine Bissell Cordova

Qasim Rashid

Ken Mejia-Beal fills in for Joan and his guests include:
– Dr. Frank Figueroa, mayor of Coachella, California
– Harold Gatewood, chair of the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus
– DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek
– Katherine Bissell Córdova, executive director of Chicago Fair Trade
– Qasim Rashid, author, activist, human rights lawyer, SiriusXM host, and creator of “Let’s Address This” on Substack


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).

Ken Mejia-Beal fills in for Joan and his guests include: &ndash; Dr. Frank Figueroa, mayor of Coachella, California &ndash; Harold Gatewood, chair of the Chicago Black Gay Men&rsquo;s Caucus &ndash; DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek &ndash; Katherine Bissell C&oacute;rdova, executive director of Chicago Fair Trade &ndash; Qasim Rashid, author, activist, human rights lawyer, SiriusXM host, and creator of &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s Address This&rdquo; on Substack
 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 with guest host Ken Mejia-Beal | April 29, 2026

Filling in for Joan Esposito, Turi Ryder is joined by Forrest Claypool, former chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools, and author of “The Daley Show: Inside the Transformative Reign of Chicago’s Richard M. Daley.”

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).

 

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Filling in for Joan Esposito, Turi Ryder is joined by Forrest Claypool, former chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools, and author of &ldquo;The Daley Show: Inside the Transformative Reign of Chicago&rsquo;s Richard M. Daley.&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>).
&nbsp;
Follow us:
Website:<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/"> https://heartlandsignal.com</a>
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WCPT 820 Interview: Forrest Claypool

Tina El Gamal

Forrest Claypool

Maya Lilly

John Huber

David Levine

On today's show Turi Ryder fills in for Joan and her guests include
– Tina El Gamal, director of First Floor Theater Company's “Work Hard Have Fun Make History,” opening May 7 
– Forrest Claypool, former chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools, and author of “The Daley Show: Inside the Transformative Reign of Chicago's Richard M. Daley” 
– Maya Lilly, producer with The Years Project, a multimedia storytelling and education effort designed to inform, empower and unite the world in the face of climate change
– John Huber, music teacher at Chicago's Old Town School of Music on their teen open mic night
– David Levine, professor of law, UC Law San Francisco

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).

 

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 Turi Ryder fills in for Joan and her guests include &ndash; <a href="http://www.tinaelgamal.com/">Tina El Gamal</a>, director of First Floor Theater Company's &ldquo;<a href="https://www.firstfloortheater.com/work-hard-have-fun-make-history">Work Hard Have Fun Make History</a>,&rdquo; opening May 7 &ndash; Forrest Claypool, former chief executive officer of Chicago Public Schools, and author of &ldquo;The Daley Show: Inside the Transformative Reign of Chicago's Richard M. Daley&rdquo; &ndash; Maya Lilly, producer with <a href="https://theyearsproject.com/about">The Years Project</a>, a multimedia storytelling and education effort designed to inform, empower and unite the world in the face of climate change &ndash; <a href="https://www.oldtownschool.org/teachers/John-Huber/">John Huber</a>, music teacher at Chicago's Old Town School of Music on their teen open mic night &ndash; David Levine, professor of law, <a href="https://www.uclawsf.edu/people/david-levine/">UC Law San Francisco</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>).
&nbsp;
Follow us:
Website:<a href="https://heartlandsignal.com/"> https://heartlandsignal.com</a>
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Heartland Signal X:<a href="https://x.com/HeartlandSignal"> https://x.com/HeartlandSignal</a>
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Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | March 6, 2026

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