Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about lessons that companies can learn from the Milwaukee Brewers ‘Timeless Ticket’ fiasco.

Segment 3: Anthony Wolf, Co-Founder, Better Bakes Company, joins John Williams to talk about their business making ‘better for you’ baking mixes, when the business officially launched, how the business started with his fiancé Grace Fahey, what made them decide to start the company, how they stand out from the competition, the biggest selling point on the nutritional side, the amount of trial and error that went in to creating products, the challenge of getting people to know the business, the impact of social media on the business, and where you can find their products.

Segment 4: Garland Lucas, Founder, Nitro Nostalgia, joins John to talk about winning the South Side Pitch competition, how they came up with the idea of the business, what makes their ice cream so unique, how long they have been in business, what they have learned since the shop has been open, and if they have plans to expand.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Chicago tech firms returning to the office, and Ag biotech startup IMIO relocating to Chicago.

Segment 3: Jennifer Phillips, CEO and President, Keshet, joins John Williams to talk about the work that Keshet does, the importance of inclusion, how families afford their services, some of the programs they offer like the Bright Apron Academy, and what you can do to support their mission.

Segment 2: Tom Appel, Publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, joins John Williams to talk about EV sales, the latest automotive news, the most reliable vehicles, and to answer your all your auto questions.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to tell us everything we should know about the iPhone Duo.

Segment 3: Phillip Shaw, Wealth Advisor and Founder, August Financial Planning, talks about the market performance this year, the economy doing well overall, how geopolitical events have impacting the markets, why he still sees market growth down the road, rising oil costs and its impact on inflation, if he’s concerned about AI spending, his belief that market will be the best place for your money over the next 10 years, and how he is helping his clients with their portfolios right now.

Segment 2: Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter for Crain’s, joins John Williams to talk about high home prices and mortgage rates, and a Lake Geneva mansion selling for $20M.

Segment 2: Arnav Dalmia, Founder and Shivana Dalmia, Founders of Tovie, join John Williams to talk about their previous business Cubii, why they decided to sell that company, what lead to their new company Tovie, what Tovie is and what it does, and the primary purpose for this particular product. Check out the Kickstarter here.

Segment 3: John Manchester, co-owner, Windy City Sweets, join John Williams to talk about how business has been leading up to Halloween, some of the specialty products they have for this season, how they have worked through tariffs and prices rising, and what separates Windy City Sweets from the competitors.

Segment 2: Carl Prouty, “The Technologist” at Abt Electronics in Glenview, talks to John about a number of products to enhance your fall TV viewing and your tailgate party. Also, it’s never too early to start your holiday shopping!

Segment 2: Elliot Richardson, Co-founder and President, Small Business Advocacy Council, joins John Williams to talk about how tariffs are continuing to impact small businesses.

Segment 3: Katie Anderson-Tedder, Co-owner, Anderson’s Candy Shop, joins John Williams to talk about how business is going, the big season of selling caramel apples, their fall favorites, and what they have planned for this weekend’s Richmond Fall Fest!

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about the loss of middle managers and how that can impact your business.

Segment 3: Alex Anderson, Owner, Oswald’s Medical Supplies, talks to John about their longtime family business, the various type of medical supplies they sell, how medical supplies and equipment have changed over the years, their mantra of ‘you should try it before you buy it,’ their ability to repair equipment, the number one item they sell, if they rent or lease equipment, the importance of being part of a community, and how business is going right now.

Segment 4: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about how Chicago built America’s marketplace engine, a Chicago startup playing (at least a partial) role in the rift between the Arizona Cardinals and Marvin Harrison Jr.

Segment 2: Matt Adams, principal at Deloitte Consulting specializing in retail, joins John Williams to talk about Deloitte’s new survey on Halloween spending. What are Americans buying this Halloween season?

Segment 3: Nancy Economou, Founder / CEO, Watts of Love, joins John to talk about the mission of Watts of Love and the upcoming premiere of the short film, ‘Light on the Water.’ For tickets to the film click here.

Segment 2: James McLaughlin, CEO, Intelligentsia Coffee, joins John Williams to talk about the Chicago roots of the company, how they have grown since their modest start in Lakeview, who their wholesale business got started, they way they elevate coffee to a culinary experience, how they source their coffee beans, and how business has been going this year.

Segment 3: Loredana Gianino, Director of Marketing, Rosati’s Pizza Enterprises, joins John with share some big pizza news! Loredana tells John about Rosati’s hitting 2 big company milestones and being in the midst of opening 11 stores in 90 days!

Segment 2: Benjamin Shimkus, Business News Reporter at Business Insider, joins John Williams to talk about Amazon’s new ‘About You’ feature.

Segment 3: Phillip Shaw, Wealth Advisor and Founder, August Financial Planning, talks about what is pushing oil prices up, the positive data we are starting to see in the consumer space, the concern about inflation, the market vs. the economy, and what he’s telling clients right now.

Segment 2: Gregory Haile, CEO, Upwardly Global, talks to John about the mission of Upwardly Global, why highly trained immigrant professionals who are already authorized to work in the United States remain unemployed or underemployed, and what companies should do to not overlook quality immigrant talent.

Segment 3: Alex Gailey, Data Analyst, Bankrate, joins John to share the results of a new Bankrate study that shows the borrowers most likely to overpay their mortgages are conventional loan holders, middle-to-upper-income earners ($100,000 to $199,000), those with lighter debt loads and refinancers over 55.

Segment 2: Lisa Nucci, Chief Marketing Officer at Choose Chicago, tells John why Chicago was just named the Best Big City in the U.S. for a historic 10th year in a row!

Segment 3: Tony LaPalio, Founder / CEO, Senior Tech Support, joins John to talk about the invaluable services they provide, why he started the business, how they help older adults use technology, what they typically do for their clients, the counties they serve in the area, the high number of repeat customers they help, and their plans for expansion down the road.

Segment 4: Mark Denzler, President and CEO, Illinois Manufacturers Association, tells John about the the 5th annual Illinois Manufacturers “Makers on the Move” Bus Tour.

Segment 2: Captain Kat Miller, First Lady Cruises, joins John Williams to talk about all the incredible events First Lady Cruises has planned for October!

Segment 3: Courtland Hickey, General Manager, Chicago Costume, tells John about their two locations, how business is throughout the year, the popular costumes this year, the importance of supporting your independent neighborhood business, and National Independent Costume Store Day debuting on October 10th!

Segment 2: Paul Wright, CEO, Rockford Brake Manufacturing, joins John to talk about what the business does, the type of products they manufacture, how many people they employ, how they separate themselves from their competitors, and the Illinois Economic Development Corporation honoring the company with the Governor’s Award for Local Impact. And remember, ‘The Truck Stops Here!’

Segment 3: Ilyse Strongin, spokesperson, Celebrate Highwood, joins John to tell us everything we should know about the 17th annual Highwood Pumpkin Festival!

Segment 2: Emily Stewart, Senior Correspondent, Business Insider, joins John to talk about how parents are drowning in school apps.

Segment 3: Ted Rossman, Principal Consumer Finance Analyst, Money Management International, tells John about the amount of debt people are facing amid rising costs as housing, food, transportation, insurance and other necessities are taking big bites out of families’ paychecks.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about what successful managers do when they are addressing employees who make mistakes.

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 what’s going on with the market this week, what to expect from the economic data that will be released this week, how the war in Iran continues to impact the economy, what’s the safest thing to do for people saving for retirement, the latest on the trade war with Canada, and what you need to know about taxes before the end of the year.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about AI firm Horizon3 expanding to Chicago, Chicago startup GO.AI raising $85M, and the national competition for quantum computing.

Segment 3: U of I engineering student Nicholas Militello, co-founder, VORO, to talk about his company that created a credit-card-shaped lip balm. Nick tells John about how he came up with the idea for this product, what the product does and why it’s so unique, what he’s learned throughout the entire process, the work they do with influencers, and the future plans for the product.

Segment 2: Elliot Richardson, Co-founder and President, Small Business Advocacy Council, joins John Williams to talk about the Chicago City Council passing an order that will help streamline the permit process that will help small businesses.

Segment 3: Tim Coffey, President & CEO, OMI Industries, joins John to talk about OMI’s consumer brand, Fresh Wave, now being placed in 1,358 Walmart stores around the country.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to share his thoughts on all the new Meta glasses that he has tried recently.

Segment 3: JR Berger, President, Magellan Development Group, joins John to talk about developing Chicago’s first geothermal, all-electric residential high-rise in the Fulton Market neighborhood. JR explains what a geothermal building is, what these apartments will look like when finished, and why this type of development means to the city of Chicago.

Segment 4: Charles Isbell, Chancellor of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, tells John about the state of Illinois creating an AI Cabinet to advise and prepare for emerging risks posed by AI. Chancellor Isbell talks about the U of I’s role in the AI Cabinet, and what the cabinet hopes to accomplish.

Segment 2: Faron Daugs, CFP, Founder and CEO, Harrison Wallace Financial Group, joins John to talk about why he wasn’t shocked that the Fed raised interest rates, what he expects the Fed to do the remainder of the year, where people are feeling pinched right now, the disconnect between the market and what consumers are feeling, how energy costs are impacting the overall economy, if he sees a recession down the line, and what’s causing the Dow to slip in recent days while the Nasdaq hit an all-time high, and what he’s telling investors right now.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about the major benefits of AI and quantum technology, the differences between AI and quantum, a Chicago 3D printing startup raising $40M, and Nara Health, a Chicago AI health insurance startup, raising $14M from a famed Silicon Valley VC.

Segment 3: Scott Sanaghan, Co-founder, Bitter & Sweet Cocktail Boutique, in Arlington Heights tells John about their business that combines a mixology classroom and an upscale liquor store, how business has been going, why people are seeking experiences when they go out, and what makes the experience special.

Segment 2: Elizabeth Barnett, Co-founder, PRÉS Protein Coffee, joins John to talk about her coffee company, what makes their coffee drink unique, how they increase the protein quotient of coffee, when she became passionate about coffee, her love of hospitality and the food industry, how she ended up co-founding this company, and how PRÉS is launching in Target stores nationwide!

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

Segment 2: Aristotle Makris, Certified Financial Planner, Goldstone Financial Group, joins Jon to talk about the major takeaways from the Fed raising interest rates, Chairman Warsh still being concerned about persistent inflation, why the markets are rebounding today, what it means when interest rates rise, if he believes there will be more rate hikes in the future, why he believes the economy is still strong, how elevated oil prices are impacting consumers, when he sees oil prices coming down, if it’s important to look at the national debt, and what he’s telling his clients these days as they head towards retirement.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about how companies can turn a crisis into a business advantage.

Segment 3: Phillip Shaw, Wealth Advisor and Founder, August Financial Planning, talks about his new business, the clients he’s working with right now, the biggest issues that his clients are concerned with right now, if he thinks we are poised for a market correction, the ongoing concern about inflation, and what he expects from the Fed policy decision.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about John Deere launching an AI chatbot for farmers, and Chicago’s Tempus getting a $9.5M grant to build the first AI agent for patients with heart failure.

Segment 3: Saurabh Narain, president and CEO of National Community Investment Fund (NCIF), joins John to talk about what NCIF does, how they support community banks, small businesses, and local development projects, the importance of creating stable communities, how community banks differ from bigger banks, and where they get their funding.

Segment 2: Tom Appel, Publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, joins John Williams to talk about the latest buzz in the car industry including Nissan and Honda signing a joint development agreement, Ford working with Chinese manufacturers, and how the trade war with Canada is impacting the auto industry. Tom also answers all of your automotive questions.

Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to tell us everything he saw at Apple’s September event.

Segment 3: Harold Redman, CEO, ECHO, tells John about the innovative new products they recently introduced at their Power-On-Athon event. Harold also talks about how business has been going, some of the other great products they sell, where you can find their products, and why they are proud of being a Chicago-area business and the work they do providing products for the community.

Segment 4: Joey Morelli, owner and operator of Max’s Deli in Highland Park, talks to John about what distinguishes their deli from other deli’s in the area, why his chef skills separate them from the crowd, the mission of Joey’s Food Fight, and the items they have for sale for upcoming Jewish holidays.

Segment 2: Dennis Rodkin, residential real estate reporter for Crain’s, joins Wendy to talk about a variety of real estate stories including ‘Project Hail Mary’ writer Andy Weir buying his 4th North Shore home in five years, an Astor Street mansion being offered in a new configuration, a mansion built by Mrs. O’Leary’s son being headed to demolition court. Dennis also talks about the competitive condo market in Chicago.

Segment 2: Shane Rachman, president of Cross Street, joins John Williams to talk about their residential real estate company, what the apartment rental business is like in Chicago, the occupancy rate in Chicago being close to 100%, and what the most attractive type of rentals are right now.

Segment 3: Michelle Edmonson, Vice President of Exhibitions for AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and leads for the IMTS – International Manufacturing Technology Show brand, joins John to talk about how many people and exhibitors the show brings to Chicago, the types of manufacturing they showcase, what will we see when we stroll through McCormick Place, why industrial AI is creating the most buzz, and what you should know if you want to attend the show.

 Segment 2: Scott Stein, Editor at Large, CNET, joins John Williams to talk about Apple’s ‘Surprise and Shine’ Event next week.

Segment 3: Amanda Hoover, Senior Correspondent, Business Insider, tells John Williams about how internships will be changing thanks to AI.

Segment 4: Alex Gailey, Data Analyst, Bankrate, joins John to share the results of a new Bankrate study that shows Chicago homebuyers overpay for their mortgages by $4,457 annually.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about business lessons to be learned from the great Dolly Parton.

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 impact of the war in Iran on the economy, why the market has been resilient despite the uncertainty, why he thinks the market is poised for growth, what he expects from the Fed policy decision in September, if he believes the midterm elections will have any impact on the stock market, and the projections for this Friday’s August labor report.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about a Chicago VC fund investing in AI startups, Pie, the Chicago-based app from Bonobos founder Andy Dunn pivoting to a social network, and Northwestern getting $30 million to open a new center to study cellular aging and memory.

Segment 3: Denise Smith, agent, Insureon, joins John Williams to talk about Insureon’s 2026 Cyber Report that found that cyber insurance adoption among small businesses is increasing. Denise explains what Insureon does, what cyber liability insurance protects against, and why cyber insurance is becoming necessary for small businesses.

Segment 2: Tom Appel, Publisher, Consumer Guide Automotive and host of the Consumer Guide Car Stuff podcast, joins Jon Hansen to talk about how the U.S. trade war with Canada could impact the auto industries in both countries. Tom also talks about EV production in the U.S. and answers all of your automotive questions.

Segment 2: Emily Stewart, Senior Correspondent, Business Insider, joins Jon Hansen, to talk about how Google’s AI Overviews are rapidly becoming consumers’ first impression of businesses.

Segment 3: Darts legend Alex ‘The Jackal’ Spellman, joins Jon to talk about professional darts hitting Chicago area this weekend at the Holiday Inn in Oakbrook Terrace! Alex tells Jon when he first started getting into darts, how the game has grown through the years, and what you can expect if you head out to Oakbrook this weekend.

Segment 2: Elliot Richardson, Co-founder and President, Small Business Advocacy Council, joins John Williams to talk about the impact of AI on small business. What can the legislators in Springfield do to help small business in Illinois?

Segment 3: Dave Lundy, CEO of O’Hare Flyer, tells John about the effort to build an express train that would take travelers from downtown to O’Hare Airport in 15 minutes.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Amazon expanding its drone delivery service, the acquisition of Pluie, the maker of the world’s first self-sanitizing diaper changing table, and an Australian quantum firm opening an office in Chicago.

Segment 3: Nancy Economou, Founder / CEO, Watts of Love, joins John to talk about the mission of their organization, how solar lighting can help families who are living in ultra-poverty, how the lights work, why she decided to start Watts of Love, the impact of the Watts of Love program around the world, the inspiration for the lighting design, how they are able to fund their mission, and the upcoming premiere of ‘Light on the Water,’ a short film that highlights the plight of women living in Kenya.

Segment 2: Carl Prouty, “The Technologist” at Abt Electronics in Glenview, talks to John about the most popular tech items for back-to-school season.

Segment 2: Kathy Kwak, COO of Proper Title, talks to John about the rise in deed theft scams and what you need to know about protecting yourself so it doesn’t happen to you.

Segment 3: Austin Fletcher, CEO and Co-Founder of Momento, joins John to talk about how their new technology captures real, in-the-moment reactions from live events and turns them into high-quality photos. Austin explains how the technology works, how they have launched at Wrigley Field, how they have grown since January, how the business is structured, and when they hope to get into the Rate or the United Center.

Segment 2: Philippe Weiss, President, Seyfarth at Work, joins John to talk about when a ‘disappearing act’ is sometimes the best decision for a company.

Segment 3: Faron Daugs, CFP, Founder and CEO, Harrison Wallace Financial Group, joins John to talk about what’s going on with the markets this week, inflation cooling off, how wages are keeping up with inflation, the continued conflict in Iran and the pressure on oil, why we are seeing the consumer slow down, a nice string of earnings reports, and what the Fed will likely do with rates in September.

Segment 2: Jim Dallke, Director of Communications, TechNexus Venture Collaborative, tells John about Loop, an AI logistics platform, ranking as Chicago’s fastest-growing private company, and MHub planning a massive West Side campus.

Segment 3: Charlie Alfarah, Founder, ProjectLeo, talks to John about creating a new AI-powered platform designed to help patients and caregivers understand medical records, prepare for appointments, coordinate care and challenge insurance denials.

Segment 2: Matt Adams, principal at Deloitte Consulting specializing in retail, joins John Williams to talk about Deloitte’s 2026 Back-to-School Survey.

Segment 3: Jon Gordon, Chicago Bitcoin Collective + Fork & Coin Restaurant in Portage Park, joins John to talk about his interest in Bitcoin, what the Chicago Bitcoin Collective is, what type of food the restaurant is focused on, why everything at the restaurant is cooked in beef tallow, the ability to pay in Bitcoin for your food, the benefits of accepting Bitcoin, and how business has been going at the restaurant and their focus on the local community and supper clubs.

Segment 2:  Mike Spriggs, Head of Consumer Insights at Fiserv, joins John Williams to break down Fiserv’s July Small Business Index.

Segment 3: Colleen Ceh Becvar, Co-Founder, Trinity Advocacy Group, joins John Williams to talk about how they usher older adults and their families through difficult times, the two sides of their business, the various types of services they provide, how they charge for their services, and how they come up with sustainable care plans that is accessible to all families.

Segment 2: Andrew Pentis, Bankrate Lead Watchdog Reporter, joins John Williams to talk about a new Bankrate report that shows some senior homeowners may be paying more to refinance.

Segment 3: Longtime Chicago radio veteran Harvey Wells, founder, Lower Tech Bills, talks to John about what you need to know about switching cell phone providers, why watching football this year is getting more expensive, and the deals for internet service that are available right now.

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.

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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.