The Crisis Cast

As we approach the season of giving, we're proud to bring you a conversation that explores innovation in serving community needs. During this episode, Thom Serafin digs into how one non-profit group built an alliance with the City of Chicago -- to keep the un-housed warm during the winter. Beth Amodio, CEO of One Warm Coat, shares the reinvention of how volunteers get activated. Pl

With Donald Trump poised to retake the White House, we cornered two experts to pull out their political GPS point out the path. During this episode, we tap into the deep thoughts of two great journalists: Mary Ann Ahern and Ray Hanania. Lissa & Thom uncover what the pundits missed in the 2024 vote and what the next Trump cabinet might look like. Plus, where will J.B. Pritzker's

For her entire life Hermene Hartman has been driven to stand up and stand out. Dr. Hartman's career began during the Civil Rights Movement, when she collaborated with Reverand Jesse Jackson at Operation Bread Basket. During this episode, Lissa & Thom chat with Hermene about how she channeled her activism into publishing as a media entrepreneur. Dr. Hartman has plenty to say abou

In the last gasp before election day 2024, we're pulling back the curtain on political polling. Once again we welcome Rod McCulloch of Victory Research to our Crisis Cast chat room. We'll hear what's changed in polling over the long haul, and what's different about each of the last 3 Presidential elections. You'll learn about how pollsters deal with voter cynicism, what's REALLY w

This week, we revisit a powerful conversation from Season 3 of The Crisis Cast. Listen in on the lessons learned from his forensic consortium. Our guest, Paul Ciolino, convinced Governor George Ryan to rethink the death penalty in Illinois. Ciolino is a private investigator turned DNA expert who advocates for those wrongly convicted. In this episode, Lissa & Thom dig into corrupt

On Friday October 4th mass resignations from the CPS school board rocked Chicago's political landscape. Then on Monday October 7th, Mayor Brandon Johnson's made a quick turnaround to appoint new board members. During this episode of the Crisis Cast municipal finance expert Paul Vallas joins Lissa & Thom to offer perspective and a dose of reality on the CPS turmoil. There have bee

We’ve talked a lot about candidates on the 2024 ballot, but voters in seven Illinois counties are voting this fall on whether they’d like to become their own state. 23 counties have already said, "yes." During this episode, Thom Serafin talks with G.H. Merritt, the Chairman of NEW Illinois. Merritt says this is not a divide between Democrats and Republicans. It is a movement t

At midnight, Monday September 23rd — ShotSpotter, the gun detection technology in place for more than six years in the city of Chicago was shut down as the contract expired. The city council voted to extend the contract, but Mayor Brandon Johnson exercised his veto power. During this episode, Lissa & Thom are joined by Chicago's 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale -- who advocates f

Time travel can be enlightening. During this trip through our show archives, we go back to the heals of the 2022 midterm elections. Paul Kendrick is the Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising, a grass roots grooming organization for Democrats. Their mission is training candidates and their organizations to connect with working families. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Liss

Here's a conversation that is both predictive and reflective on the potency of debates. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin are in our chat room examine the stakes for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in what may be their only Presidential debate. We'll ask the question, "Is the Commission on Presidential Debates obsolete?" Plus, how often has a single debate changed the outcome of an electi