Vocalo Radio

May 17 2024 25
Vocalo Radio Podcast artwork

Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM is Chicago’s only NPR Music affiliate and only Urban Alternative station — the first of its kind in the country. We strive to highlight and uplift artists and changemakers breaking through the noise, both in and out of Chicago. Our goal is to make listeners say: This is what Chicago sounds like. Get to know our team and dig deeper into our stories and conversations at Vocalo.org.

Vocalo is a subsidiary of Chicago Public Media, and is the sister station to WBEZ Chicago.

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Jesse De La Peña Is What Chicago Sounds Like

May 17 2024 16 mins  
Chicago DJ and all-around music man Jesse De La Peña hosts Vocalo’s 5 O’Clock Mix and Friday Night DJ Series, and plays a key part in shaping the station’s sound. Growing up all around Chicago, Jesse started out as a DJ in his early teens — inspired by his mother’s disco records, Chicago’s hip-hop scene and the diverse music broadcasting on local radio stations. He joi

The Reel Critic: ‘Back to Black’ Champions Winehouse’s Music

May 17 2024 3 mins  
Reggie “The Reel Critic” shares his thoughts on ‘Back to Black,’ Sam Taylor-Johnson’s new biopic on the life, legacy and untimely death of renowned singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse. From rising star to five-time Grammy winner, ‘Back to Black’ documents Winehouse’s journey and humanizes her struggle with substance abuse. The film fills in the gaps in Winehouse’s lif

Inside The DePaul University Encampment

May 15 2024 4 mins  
Since April 30, DePaul University students and pro-Palestinian protesters have been camped on the school’s Lincoln Park campus, joining hundreds of students internationally in solidarity with Gaza. Vocalo audio and community storytelling producer Ari Mejia spoke with participants about their goals, their thoughts on the importance of solidarity with Gaza and what the encampment m

RUIZ Atelier Transcends Time And Memory Through Scent

May 15 2024 9 mins  
Danny Ruiz is a candle maker whose artistry transcends wax and wick. As the founder of RUIZ Atelier, he creates memory-driven candle scents steeped in the essence of his grandmother’s Mexico home. For Ruiz, crafting candles is more than just a business and each candle in his collection serves as a vessel for memory. This segment was produced by contributor Edgar Lopez, a past par

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Brings Forth A New Reign

May 13 2024 3 mins  
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ continues the franchise's thought-provoking commentary on humanity — and Reggie “The Reel Critic” Ponder shares his thoughts on the new film. Directed by Wes Ball, the film opens to a newly-emerged power dynamic with the apes, once subjugated, reigning supreme over the humans. It follows the struggle for power and freedom as Proximus Ca

Bekoe Is What Chicago Sounds Like

May 10 2024 9 mins  
Bekoe has been Vocalo’s morning host for the last four and a half years. From his teenage years of making beats for aspiring high school rappers to his commitment to local music discovery at iLLANOiZE and Vocalo, Bekoe’s passions have always centered on uplifting Chicago’s music scene. Through highlighting Chicago talent, Bekoe hopes to create a platform for the local artists

The Reel Critic: ‘The Fall Guy’ Falls A Bit Short

May 06 2024 3 mins  
‘The Fall Guy’ follows Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), a stuntman for world-famous actor Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who abandons the industry and his girlfriend, Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt), following an accident on set. When Ryder is cast in a new film directed by Moreno, Seavers is lured back into the game later by producer Gail Meyer (Hannah Waddingham) at what he believes

Kenn Cook Jr. Shares His West Side Story

May 03 2024 7 mins  
Chicago photographer Kenn Cook Jr. highlights the beauty of his West Side home with new project #MyWestSideStory. Already a community advocate, working with organizations benefiting the West Side like the NAACP, Cook found his advocacy niche in documenting the everyday life of his family and neighbors through photography. He showcases the spirit of the West Side with rich, authenti

South Chicago Dance Theatre Seeks “New Horizons” In Seventh Season

May 02 2024 12 mins  
On April 27, the South Chicago Dance Theatre leapt into its seventh season at the Auditorium Theatre. Founded by Kia Smith in 2017, the dance company has performed on stages across the globe. Their 2024 performance, titled “New Horizons,” included six works by five outsourced choreographers, and one by Smith herself. The company centers on concert dance, a culmination of styles

‘We Grown Now’ Is Rooted In Hope And Resilience

Apr 30 2024 3 mins  
Set against the backdrop of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green public housing project in the early ‘90s, ‘We Grown Now' (written and directed by Minhal Baig) follows the lives of two young boys as they navigate the trials and tribulations of their community. Reggie "The Reel Critic" Ponder spoke with Blake Cameron James and Jurnee Smollett, who play the characters Malik and Dolores, to