Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Jump Capital closing a $350M fund focused on AI and cybersecurity,

Segment 3: Andrei Turea, Co-owner & CEO, Green Attic Roofing, joins John to talk about how business has been going with all the storms, the biggest roofing problems people are dealing with right now, why solar makes financial sense, what to know about solar incentives, and how Green Attic Roofing will guide you through the entire process.

Segment 2: Tim Paradis, Future of Work Correspondent, Business Insider, tells John about the era of the forever layoff.

Segment 3: José Pablo Cantillo, actor, producer, and writer (The Walking Dead, Sons of Anarchy), joins John Williams to talk about the historic Skokie theater reopening this fall as The Skokie. Jose tell John how he became involved with this project, his love of theater, how the renovations are going, the support from the village of Skokie, and who will handle the program curatioin, and what you can expect to see when it opens later this year.

Segment 2: Elliot Richardson, Co-founder and President, Small Business Advocacy Council, joins John Williams to talk about the cost of health insurance and how it is impacting small business.

Segment 4: Shraysi Tandon, Co-Founder, CEO, Kidsy, talks to John about her off-price e-commerce company, how they help brands and retailers sell their excess inventory, what types of products they sell, the market they are going after, and why she calls the company the ‘online TJ Maxx for the parenting world.’

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about the challenge companies face when deciding the best time for a business reveal. When is it better to tell people everything early, when should you telegraph/drop hints, and when should you TOTALLY surprise them? Philippe breaks it all down.

Segment 3: Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter for Crain’s, joins John Williams to talk about Illinois ranking second to last in the U.S. on building new housing, and Ex-Cub Yu Darvish’s house being back on the market.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about TechNexus launching a new product, SecondWave, that will help companies manage their existing investments.

Segment 3: Ted Rossman, Principal Consumer Finance Analyst, Money Management International, joins John to talk about how high prices and inflation are impacting consumer debt.

Segment 2: Ben Azulay, President, National Brokerage, Bradford Allen, joins John to talk about the latest Chicago area office market reports. What were the major takeaways from the report?

Segment 3: Sarah E. Needleman, Leadership & Workplace Correspondent at Business Insider, joins John Williams to talk about companies starting to use AI chatbots for job interviews.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about staffers at major AI companies asking to slow down AI development.

Segment 3: Stephen Kates, Principal, Clocktower Financial Consulting, joins John to talk about market reaction to the Fed policy announcement, his thoughts on what direction Chairman Kevin Warsh is taking the Fed, his thoughts on the inflationary pressure people are feeling, the health of the job market, why he is still fairly bullish, and what he’s telling clients about their investments.

Segment 2: Phillip Shaw, CFP, Senior Advisor, Goldstone Financial Group, joins John Williams to talk about why the market has been performing well today, what he expects to come out of this week’s Fed policy meeting, the whipsaw on oil prices, the concern over higher grocery prices and gasoline, why he’s still optimistic about the bull market, and what he’s telling his clients right now.

Segment 2: Frank Manzo, Economist at the Midwest Economic Policy Institute, joins John to talk about a new study by the Midwest Economic Policy Institute shows that federal tariffs added more than $2000 in average annual costs to each household across a six-state Midwest region.

TUNE IN to WGN Radio and listen to The Alpha Wealth Hour on Sundays at 7 AM. Catch up on previous episodes on WGNRadio.com, and subscribe to it on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Segment 2: Adam Greenberg, known as the “Diaper King of Chicago”, founder of Northshore Care Supply, makers of Northshore Adult Diapers, joins John to talk about why he came into this business, how the company helps older adults who need diapers regain their dignity, how his product differs from its competitors, the importance of having reliable protection, if they have a target audience, how they became a trusted provider, and why they don’t shy away from the term ‘adult diapers.’

Segment 3: Lynn Sapp, third-generation owner of the Original Rainbow Cone in Beverly, joins John to talk about all the events to celebrate their 100th birthday!

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about everything Samsung revealed at their Unpacked event.

Segment 3: Tim Scholten, SVP for BOWA and project executive for Home Court, joins John to talk about what BOWA construction does, their work building the athletic facility at the Obama Center, how building an athletic facility is different from building an office, and what the WNBA All-Star Weekend could mean for Home Court and the surrounding community.

Segment 4: Ariella Gibson, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Chicago Loop Alliance, joins John to break down the CLA’s State of the Loop Quarter 2 report.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to explain why strategically refining existing products that match changing customer needs often works better for a company than a dramatic product “shake-up.”

Segment 3: Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “The Alpha Wealth Hour” on WGN Radio, joins John to talk about the difference between income and assets, what you should know about annuities, what’s driving the market this week, if he’s concerned about President Trump imposing new tariffs on Canada, and if he’s still optimistic about 2026.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Unicorn Auctions eyeing $100M revenue mark, DubClub, a Chicago startup that helps sports bettors follow and mirror the bets of successful handicappers, hiring a DraftKings vet as its new CEO, and what he recommends to see during TechChicagoWeek.

Segment 3: Brad Henderson, CEO, P33, joins John Williams to tell us everything we need to know about this week’s Global Quantum Forum.

Segment 2: Tom Appel, Publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, joins John Williams to talk about some of the recent vehicles that he’s been test driving, why Toyota is having a nice sales quarter, the best-selling EVs of 2026, how tariffs are impacting car sales, and to answer all of your automotive questions.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about Samsung’s summer Galaxy Unpacked event. What are the big things we should be on the lookout for?

Segment 3: Mike Spriggs, Head of Consumer Insights at Fiserv, joins John Williams to break down Fiserv’s June Small Business Index.

Segment 4: Elliot Richardson, Co-founder and President, Small Business Advocacy Council, joins John Williams to talk about why Chicago needs a ‘Small Business Bill of Rights.’

Segment 2: Laura Freveletti CEO of Les Turner ALS Foundation, joins John to talk about what ALS is, who does ALS affect, what the new Illinois state budget for ALS funding provides and to share details for the ALS Walk for Life event occurring on Saturday, October 24 at Soldier Field.

Segment 2: Longtime Chicago radio veteran Harvey Wells, founder, Lower Tech Bills, talks to John about how he helps customers lower their internet, cell phone, and television costs. To request a Free Tech Check from Harvey, you can email: hmwellsradio@gmail.com or call 312-307-1700.

Segment 3: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about how artificial intelligence is driving a surge in commercial office demand, with AI firms rapidly expanding physical office space in top hubs like Silicon Valley and New York while Chicago’s AI-related office footprint, though much smaller, has grown about 45% year over year.

SEGMENT 4: Ron Saslow, Founder and Managing Partner of Thirty-5 Capital and Co-Owner of the Chicago Slice, chicagoslice.com joins John to talk about how Chicago’s professional pickleball team, the Chicago Slice, is hosting Major League Pickleball’s first Chicago tournament, with an exhibition at Wrigley Field’s Gallagher Way followed by a four-day tour event at Lifetime North Shore in Northbrook. For more information, go to www.chicagoslice.com

Segment 2: Matt Schultz, LendingTree chief credit analyst, joins John to discuss a new survey on businesses optimism and how different states stack up.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about Meta’s smart glasses privacy problems, and why game consoles are getting more expensive.

Segment 3: Faron Daugs, CFP, Founder and CEO, Harrison Wallace Financial Group, joins John to talk about the ups and downs of the market this week, why the market is rebounding today, what to expect from earnings season, and his thoughts on what the Fed will do with interest rates.

Segment 2: Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter for Crain’s, joins John Williams to talk about Chicago area homes selling fast, the health of the downtown condo market, and Tiger Woods’ former coach selling his Glencoe home.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about online payments company Stripe expanding its Chicago office, an Austin, Texas company bringing its battery systems to Illinois homes, and Philip Makotyn joining the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park after spending two decades helping build Colorado’s quantum technology ecosystem.

Segment 2: John Frank, Founder and CFO of Third Road Management, joins John to talk about how the company provides fractional management services, how the business has grown over the last 10 years, how AI has impacted their business model, and Third Road’s Future Business Leaders program at Innovation DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

Segment 3: Shruti Patel, Chief Product Officer for Business Banking at U.S. Bank, tells John the results of U.S. Bank’s Small Business Survey.

Segment 2: Jeff Nydegger is the Co-Founder & CEO at Jeff Buys Your House, the leading
house-buying company in Chicagoland, joins John Williams to talk about how an appointment typically works and the areas they serve, the importance of being an integrity band, the importance of listening to find the clients needs, and how experience informs what they do. Jeff also talks about his military service, how his military service helps him in business today. Jeff will buy your home, no matter the condition. Call or text 630-552-6603 for more information or visit jeffbuysyourhouse.com

Segment 2: Jim Glueckert, Co-chair of Frontier Days Festival in Arlington Heights, tells John everything you should know about this year’s festival!

Segment 3: Jack Ablin, Founding Partner & Chief Investment Strategist, Cresset Capital, talks to John about the market rebound the last couple of days, what is propelling the markets right now, and if he expects the Fed to raise rates in 2026.

Segment 4: Elliot Richardson, Co-founder and President, Small Business Advocacy Council, joins John to tell John about some of the positive things that came out of the spring legislative session in Illinois that will assist small businesses.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Chicago’s quantum campus beginning to take shape, a Chicago-based tech investor that made early bets on SpaceX raising $2.5B for its next fund, and The University of Chicago, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois and five other leading research universities have officially opened the Third Coast Foundry in San Francisco

Segment 3: Rich Gentile, Founder, Santa for a Day, tells John about the mission of their organization, how they provide Christmas gifts to low-income, marginalized, and vulnerable communities, and their upcoming ‘Christmas in July’ fundraiser at Evanston SPACE next month.

Segment 2: David Saffrin of Sunrun Solar, joins Jon to talk about the history of the company, the the stability of solar power, how the pricing and installation works, how much a typical home can save on costs, and the many benefits of the Sunrun home battery.

Segment 3: Lenny Feil, Designated Managing Broker and Owner at Century 21 Harthside Realtors, joins Jon Hansen for the Front Porch Report. Lenny talks about the health of the Chicago area real estate market, and some areas that are seeing steady growth for homebuyers. For more information, visit lennyfeil.com or call 708-870-0514.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about Apple abruptly raising prices on some of their most popular products.

Segment 3: Tom Fortino, Founder and Principal, Alpha Wealth Group, and host of “The Alpha Wealth Hour” on WGN Radio, joins John to talk about how the market is performing today, why he thinks there is opportunity for investors, the concern over rising inflation, and why it’s an appropriate time to discuss taxes in retirement, and his thoughts on the viability of Social Security.

Segment 2: Carl “Gus” Porter III, President/CEO, WGN Flag & Decorating Co., talks to John about the history of their business, the types of products they make, where you see their work around Chicagoland, how many people they employ, what kind of flags they sell, and how business has been going as the country celebrates 250!

Segment 3: Joe Cicero, President of Marketing and Promotions, McHenry Outdoor Theater, joins John to talk about their big MLB event on the 4th of July that features a showing of ‘The Sandlot,’ the Cubs-Cardinals game, and fireworks! Joe also tells us what other movies you can see this summer!

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about why businesses need to think twice before adding a second name to the company. The controversy surrounding the Kennedy Center serves as a timely reminder that names attached to organizations can carry consequences far beyond their original intent.

Segment 3: Jenny Dalton-Hill, General Manager, Chicago Bandits, joins John Williams to tell us about Chicago’s professional softball team, the AUSL season, the home games being played in Rosemont, their partnership with MLB, and how the sport has grown through the years.

Segment 4: Maple Walker Lloyd, VP of Partnerships, Block Club Chicago, tells John all about Block Club’s upcoming workforce development fair.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells Jon about Chicago startup EeroQ saying it has demonstrated a new approach to building a quantum computer, the University of Chicago partnering with a Paris startup campus to connect the city to the French tech scene, and Formic Technologies opening new Bolingbrook headquarters.

Segment 3: Daryn Schwartz, Co-Founder, The Space Together, talks to Jon about their new concept that brings together the trifecta of wellness, co-working, and community. Daryn tells Jon what makes The Space Together stand out from the competition.

Segment 2: Jamal Malone, CEO, Ada S. McKinley Community Services, joins John to talk about the mission of their nonprofit organization, the type of students they serve, what we should know about the Trunk Scholarship Program, and the upcoming Truck Scholarship celebration the Obama Presidential Center in July.

Segment 3: Chris Atiyah, CEO and co-founder of Chicago-based Engtal, joins John to talk about running one of the fastest-growing staffing firms, their focus on some of the highest-demand markets, how AI is helping their company, and what makes Engtal so unique.

Segment 4: Katie Anderson-Tedder, Co-owner, Anderson’s Candy Shop, joins John Williams to talk about Anderson’s 100th anniversary celebration!

Segment 2: Owen Poole, Senior Video Producer, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about Fox announcing that it will acquire Roku, and Apple’s Tim Cook saying price increases are ‘unavoidable.’

Segment 3: Michael Miller, Economics Professor, Western Washington University and Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, joins John to analyze how the hike in energy prices due to the Iran war has impacted the economy, if he’s generally optimistic about the state of the economy, and how one day can make an impact on the labor market when it comes to remote work.

Segment 2: Phillip Shaw, CFP, Senior Advisor, Goldstone Financial Group, joins John Williams to talk about how the market has been performing this week, the potential end of the war with Iran, why he believes we are in the middle of a bull market, earnings continuing to be strong, how concerned he is about inflation, and what he expects from the Fed meeting this week.

Segment 2: Verónica Herrero, City Colleges of Chicago executive vice chancellor and president of the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, joins John Williams to talk about how City Colleges of Chicago is creating a curriculum that will help students on their career path and how they are working with community partners who will assist in the transition from student to employee.

Segment 3: Ryan Coppola, Vice President and General Manager, Bally’s, talks to John about the hiring push for Bally’s future casino site at the former Chicago Tribune Freedom Center location.

Segment 2: Carl Prouty, “The Technologist” at Abt Electronics in Glenview, tells John about some of the best gifts for Father’s Day.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to break down everything he learned from Apple’s WWDC and why everyone was talking about Siri AI.

Segment 3: Mike Spriggs, Head of Consumer Insights at Fiserv, joins John Williams to break down Fiserv’s May Small Business Index. 

Segment 4: Bob Broskey, Executive Chef Partner for RPM Restaurants, tells John everything you should know about the 10th Annual Beefsteak event taking place this weekend!

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about how businesses and bosses benefit from using simulations and role-plays in their own manager and employee training and meetings.

Segment 3: Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter for Crain’s, joins John Williams to talk about how data centers are impacting the real estate market, recent high-end home sales in the Gold Coast, a Lake Forest mansion used in ‘Ordinary People’ selling for millions off asking price, a Glencoe mansion that sold last year for $9.2 million is back with a 60% markup, and Elk Grove Village’s first new subdivision in the 21st century will sell to locals via raffle.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about where Chicago ranked in the latest startup rankings, startup Kosmos raising $5M to fix software outtages faster, and Motorola Solutions buying a drone-technology maker.

Segment 3: Dawn Melchiorre, Executive Director, Cradles to Crayons, joins John Williams to talk about the mission of Cradles to Crayons, and how they provide children in low-income situations the essential items they need to thrive.

Segment 2: Tom Appel, Publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, joins John Williams to talk about some of the latest automotive news, if EV’s are doing better business as fuel prices rise, how auto sales are going generally, and to answer all of your automotive questions. Tom also talks Bears stadium.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to tell us what he expects Apple to introduce at the next WWDC developer conference.

Segment 3: Steven Esposito, President of Yellowstone Wealth Management in Lake Forest, joins John to talk about the Dow hitting record highs again today, where the strength in the market is right now, what he thinks about the new chairman of the Federal Reserve, what he expects to happen with interest rates, if there is concern about inflation, and why he’s bullish once the war with Iran comes to and end.

Segment 2: Faron Daugs, CFP, Founder and CEO, Harrison Wallace Financial Group, joins John to talk about the markets continuing to hit all-time highs, why we are seeing some broadening of the market, the importance of being patient as investor, what to know about SpaceX IPO, his takeaways from the JOLTS report, and the cost of the war in Iran on American consumers.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Illinois passing an AI safety bill that is among the strongest in the nation, and how Chicago: Blend is making the Chicago venture capital industry more diverse.

Segment 3: Jodi Zombolo, Associate Vice President, Visitor Events & Programs, Chicago Botanic Garden, tell John everything about their Shimmering Summer theme this season!

Segment 2: Steve Bass, Executive Vice President, NAI Hiffman, talks about what their firm does and who they represent, how their business is growing, and why industrial tenants are fleeing O’Hare for the northwest suburbs.

Segment 3: Michelle Dupretti, Managing Partner, Gene & Georgetti, tells John about the legal battle they are having with the company that handles concessions at Midway Airport.

Segment 2: Mark Hamrick, Washington Bureau Chief and Senior Economic Analyst for Bankrate.com, and author of ‘The Hamrick Brief‘ on Substack, gives John the broad takeaways from the release of today’s economic data. Mark breaks down the latest readings on consumer spending, inflation, jobs, and new home sales.

Segment 3: Michael Miller, Economics Professor, Western Washington University and Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, joins John to talk about the large income gap between the people who are doing the majority of spending, his thoughts on new Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh and Fed independence, and the impact of data centers on their communities.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about how some of the most enduring business lessons come from the simplest, catchy ideas.

Segment 3: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about a Chicago startup that helps brands measure how effective their sports team sponsorships are performing raising $8M, and two quantum companies operating in Chicago each receiving $100M as part of a $2B federal funding quantum plan.

Segment 4: Jeff Benach, Principal, Lexington Homes, talks to John about the health of spring homebuying market, the lack of inventory in the Chicago area, home prices increasing, and why townhomes are a hot housing product right now.

Segment 2: Carl Prouty, ‘The Technologist,’ at Abt Electronics in Glenview talks about the best deals on grills and graduation gifts.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins Jon Hansen to tell us everything to know about new Google smart glasses.

Segment 3: Tim Paradis, Future of Work Correspondent, Business Insider, tells Jon about how managers are imploring their employees to embrace AI.

Segment 4: Kathy Kwak, COO of Proper Title, talks to Jon about the rise in deed theft and the red flags buyers, realtors, attorneys and property owners should watch for.

Segment 2: Katie Simpson, Central Regional Executive for the U.S. Bank Institutional Client Group, joins Jon Hansen to talk about a recent survey of CFO’s that shows sentiment is muted short term, but CFO’s have a strong feeling about the economy long-term.

Segment 3: Phillip Shaw, CFP, Senior Advisor, Goldstone Financial Group, joins Jon Hansen to talk about a dip in the market the last couple of dates, if he thinks this will be a major pullback, the disconnect between how the consumer feels and how the economy is performing, what he expects the Fed to do with interest rates, and what he’s telling his clients right now.

Segment 2: Ted Rossman, Bankrate.com Senior industry analyst, joins Jon to break down the Wells Fargo/NAHB Housing Market Index. Ted talks about how the report showed modest month-over-month improvement in current sales conditions, traffic of prospective buyers and sales expectations in the next six months.

Segment 3: Maria Thomas, GM Technician Excellence Manager, tells Jon about the shortages of skilled trade worker in the auto industry. Maria explains what’s behind the shortage, how people are getting trained and hired faster, what the EV market means for employment growth, and why this matters for drivers, repair wait times, and local economies.

Segment 2: Morgan Lerner, Co-Founder, GoNanas, talks to Jon about creating their banana bread company and how they’ve grown over the 10 years they have been in business. Morgan tells Jon about their partnership with Target, how the company remains innovative, and their plans for future growth.

Segment 3:  Sarah E. Needleman, Leadership & Workplace Correspondent at Business Insider, joins Jon to talk about the most layoff-prone job in tech right now.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins Jon to talk about how Google is looking to shake up the laptop market with Googlebooks.

Segment 3: Michelle Reisdorf, Chicago-based hiring and consulting expert, Robert Half, joins Jon Hansen to talk about their new study on the health of small businesses in the Chicago area.

Segment 4: Christy George, President and CEO of the Illinois Economic Development Corporation, talks to Jon Hansen about Governor Pritzker and IBM announcing a major investment at the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park that will bring 750 new full-time jobs in fields like AI, cybersecurity, data science and quantum computing to Chicago’s South Side. Christy tells Jon what types of jobs will be available, the commitment to hiring students from Chicago city colleges, and the importance of bringing good jobs to the community.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about the closure of Spirit Airlines and how the spike in oil prices had an effect on Spirit going out of business.

Segment 3: Longtime Chicago radio veteran Harvey Wells, Founder, Lower Tech Bills, talks to John about how he helps customers lower their internet, cell phone, and television costs. Want Harvey to help you lower your tech bills? You can email him at hmwellsradio@gmail.com or phone / text him at 312-307-1700. Harvey gives an update on how you can watch your favorite sports teams, and AT&T now offering a senior plan that was recently only available in Florida.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications at TechNexus Venture Collaborative, talks with John about how University of Michigan and other university endowments are cashing in on AI investments, the growing number of AI startups and tools, Uber’s $600 million acquisition of Chicago-based SpotHero, and startup InstaSwitch opening a new Chicago office.

Segment 3: Mike Spriggs, Head of Consumer Insights at Fiserv, joins the show to explain how inflation and rising gas prices are impacting Chicago consumers, why small business foot traffic is declining, and how spending habits are shifting as people adjust to higher costs.

Segment 2: Carl Prouty, “The Technologist” at Abt Electronics in Glenview, tells John about some great items they have for the mom in your life. Carl also gives John the details on Abt’s third annual Grill Fest.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John to talk about Google’s newest health announcements including the new Fitbit Air.

Segment 3: Michael Miller, Economics Professor, Western Washington University and Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, joins John to talk about the health of the labor market and how few people are being laid off right now, the connection between working and cognitive health, and study that showed illegal immigration had no significant effect on local wages.

Segment 2: Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter for Crain’s, joins John Williams to talk about spring homebuyers have one-third the choices they had before the pandemic, and Illinois cities fighting Governor Pritzker’s housing plan with their own proposal.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about IBM deepening its commitment to Chicago, West Coast tech firm Databricks expanding their Chicago office, and Chicago AI startup Loop raising $95M.

Segment 3: Dr. Chevy Humphrey, President and CEO, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, tells John everything you should know about the new Anne Frank exhibit that just opened at the museum.

Segment 2: Rich Gamble, Interim President & CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance, joins John to break down the numbers of Chicago Loop Alliance’s recently released quarter one 2026 State of the Loop report.

Segment 3: Ramzi Hassan, CEO, Edwards Realty, tells John about the Burr Ridge Village Center and how suburban shopping malls are evolving.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John to give us his review of two new products: Viture Beast glasses and Valve’s Steam Controller. Scott also tell John why the state of gadgets is so weird right now.

Segment 3: Sarah E. Needleman, Leadership & Workplace Correspondent at Business Insider, joins John Williams to talk about how companies are trimming even the most prized benefits.

Segment 4: Ryan Easter, Executive Manager at Bob Jass Chevrolet, joins John Williams to talk about their family-owned dealership, how business has been going in the rapid growing area, the strength of working in a small town, if it’s necessary to keep as many cars on the lot, the benefits of being in Kane County, his forecast for EV’s, and the hottest selling vehicles at the dealership right now.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about the trend of companies consolidating the top tier of their organizational charts. Philippe tells John about the risks involved in this reorganization and what companies should know to make the consolidation successful.

Segment 3: Craig Bolanos, Founder and Wealth Advisor at VestGen Wealth Partners, joins John Williams to talk about the stock market still hitting all-time highs, the economy looking strong overall, consumer confidence ticking higher while consumer sentiment dragging, the health of the labor market right now, how he is feeling about the Iran war and its impact on the markets and economy, and what he’s telling clients who want to get retired and stay retired.

TUNE IN to WGN Radio and listen to The Alpha Wealth Hour on Sundays at 7 AM. Catch up on previous episodes on WGNRadio.com, and subscribe to it on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Morningstar mulling a relocation to the revamped Thompson Center, Rivian beginning production of its new R2 electric vehicle, and UK startup Housr opening a Chicago location.

Segment 3: Katalin Rodriguez Ogren, nationally respected fitness and nutrition coach, owner of Pow! Gym in the West Loop, joins John to talk about they gym she’s run for 25 years in Chicago, how many people work for her at the gym, the typical programs adults are seeking, the importance of strength training as you age, and her new book, ‘Nutrition for Women Navigating Menopause: The Power of Addition: An Anti-Diet Strategy.”

Segment 2: Tom Appel, Publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, joins John Williams to talk about the overall health of the EV market, the latest news on Rivian, and to answer all of your automotive questions

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, talks to John about the tenure of Apple CEO Tim Cook, who announced this week that he will be stepping down.

Segment 3: Phillip Shaw, CFP, Senior Advisor, Goldstone Financial Group, joins John to talk about the choppiness of the market over the last number of days, the overall health of the economy, spending not slowing down, his thoughts on economic policy and what he believes the Fed will do with rates next week, and what he’s telling clients right now.

Segment 2: Alex Papadopoulos, President of Egéa Wealth Management and Egéa SRI (Socially Responsible Investments), joins John Williams to talk about how their investment firm focuses on sustainability and companies that are socially responsible. Alex says there is an appetite for this type of investing and why sustainable funds can be great for your portfolio.

Segment 3: Michael Lai, co-founder and CEO, SmartCustomer, talks to John about what Smart Customer does, their mission to keep shoppers safe online, their focus on authentic consumer reviews, how AI is confusing consumers, and how to keep yourself safe from falling prey to summer travel scams.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Blockchain firm Ripple opening a big new office in River North, Chicago startups raising just $385M last quarter, and a Chicago fertility care startup raising $20M.

Segment 3: Tony Kahan, owner, Tide Laundromat in Portage Park, joins John to talk about how many Tide Laundromat locations are in Chicago right now, how the opportunity to work with Tide came about, the way they separate themselves from other laundromats around town, and how business has been going since they opened their new location in Portage Park.

Segment 2: Matt Schultz, LendingTree chief credit analyst, joins John to break down a new Lending Tree study that shows 1 in 5 U.S. businesses close within the first year.

Segment 3: Cassandra Brown, Senior Vice President, Market Manager, Bank of America Chicago, tells John how to spend your tax refund wisely.

Segment 2: Emily Stewart, Senior Correspondent, Business Insider, joins John to talk about why this summer might be the ‘summer of staycations.’

Segment 3: Mike Abt, Co-President of Abt Electronics, joins John this Earth month to talk about Abt’s recycling center and green initiatives.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, tells John what businesses can learn from the failing U.S.-Iran ceasefire. Philippe says that cease-fire between the Trump administration and Iran offers a vivid, real-world case study in the complexities of negotiation—and the costly consequences of misalignment.

Segment 3: Michael Miller, Economics Professor, Western Washington University and Professor Emeritus at DePaul University, joins John to talk about the relative number of hours worked by American labor declining, the Fed’s effort to keep inflation down near 2%, and why the Fed looks at ‘core inflation’ when setting policy.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about the University of Chicago getting a $50M donation to recruit AI experts, and the state of VC funding in the Midwest.

Segment 3: Kelly Clancy, Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants’ Managing Partner and Divisional Supervisor for The Oakville Grill & Cellar, 167 Events and RPM Restaurants, joins John Williams to talk about Lettuce Entertain You’s sustainability efforts.

Segment 2: Mark Steber, Chief Tax Officer of Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, joins John Williams to talk about what we need to know as we approach the April 15th tax deadline.

Segment 3: Jeff Morse, Co-owner, Partners in Crime bookshop, joins John to talk about why he decided to open this bookshop, why they have a focus on the romance and mystery genres, the importance of creating a welcoming space for customers, the passion they see from Chicago book lovers, and how business has been going since they opened in February.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, tells John about Artemis II astronauts using iPhones to capture stunning space images, and what we should know about Anthropic’s new AI model.

Segment 3: Aki Ito, Chief Correspondent at Business Insider, joins John Williams to talk about how many workers are taking a pay cut to stay employed.

Segment 4: Maran Nalluswami, Chief Strategy Officer, Synchrony, joins John to talk about the company’s Chicago footprint and why they were just ranked #1 on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For in the U.S.

Segment 2: Tim Coffey, President & CEO, OMI Industries, joins John to talk about their chemical company, their consumer line called Fresh Wave, their recent feature on NBC News that spotlighted their relationship with a local charity Horizons for Youth.

Segment 3: Jessica Smart, President and CEO, Clearbrook, joins John to talk about their mission to support children and adults impacted by intellectual/developmental disabilities, the types of services they provide, how they are funded, and their annual fundraiser, and The Shining Star Ball.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Chicago VC firm Corazon Capital raising $100M for its latest fund that focuses on AI for the consumer, and the founder of Grubhub being behind a roadside assistance startup that aims to take on AAA.

Segment 3: : Mike Spriggs, Head of Consumer Insights at Fiserv, joins John Williams to break down Fiserv’s March Small Business Index. 

Segment 2: Colleen Ceh Becvar, Co-Founder, Trinity Advocacy Group, joins John Williams to talk about how they help seniors with no family to make an estate plan, financial plan or a care plan.

Segment 3: Beth Swanson, CEO, A Better Chicago, joins John to break down their 2026 State of Chicago Youth Report. Beth also talks about the launch of the ‘Every Day Counts‘ initiative to combat chronic absenteeism.

Segment 2: Patrick Talty, CEO, Indiana Sports Corp, talks to John about what their organization does, what it takes to bring big events to Indiana, why they believe Indianapolis is uniquely prepared to host these type of events, and what Indianapolis has planned for Illinois fans that will be coming to the city to root on their Illini basketball team.

Segment 3: Longtime Chicago radio veteran Harvey Wells, founder, Lower Tech Bills, talks to John about how he helps customers lower their internet, cell phone, and television costs. Harvey tells John about how streaming services are taking over sports distribution, what you need to do to watch your favorite Chicago sports teams, and Netflix announcing a rate increase. Call or text Harvey for a FREE tech check.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about salary growth cooling and the clear shift in the trajectory of wage growth over the last few years.

Segment 3: Faron Daugs, CFP, Founder and CEO, Harrison Wallace Financial Group, joins John to talk about why the market is soaring today, when he thinks the market and economy will return to a more stable environment, why this could be an opportunity for the long-term investor, the importance of being diligent in diversifying your portfolio, the market broadening out, and the likelihood the Fed will hike interest rates.

Segment 2: Amanda Hoover, Senior Correspondent, Business Insider, tells John Williams about how the AI-driven rise in freelance work is creating new opportunities for women in the workforce.

Segment 3: Katie Anderson-Tedder, Co-owner, Anderson’s Candy Shop, joins John Williams to talk about all the great products they have available for Easter!

Segment 2: Tom Appel, Publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, joins John Williams to talk about rising car prices and interest rates, how much the war in Iran is impacting the auto industry, and to answer all of your automotive questions.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, tells John about the Federal Communications Commission banning all foreign-made Wi-Fi routers, saying they pose “unacceptable risks” to national security, and OpenAI discontinuing Sora.

Segment 3: Brad Feldman, Senior Managing Partner, Interra Realty, to talk about Chicago’s multifamily investment landscape, the large appetite in the city for these types of investments, the market being strong overall, Chicago having good value for renters and good opportunity for investors, why Rogers Park, Hyde Park, and Logan Square are good areas for investment, the shortage of housing in Chicago, and what the city needs to do to be more pro-business and pro-development.

Segment 4: Patrick Nerja, owner of Neighborsgrid, joins John Williams to talk about the inspiration for starting their business that specializes in authentic Chicago sports gear from the 80s and 90s, when they decided to open a brick and mortar shop, and some of the hottest selling items a the store.