Joan Esposito (Featured Interviews)
Politics
Here are featured interviews from "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT Chicago), a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago that focuses on national, state and city politics.
A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course.
Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC. Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
Location:
United States
Genres:
Politics
Description:
Here are featured interviews from "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT Chicago), a topical and interactive talk show from Chicago that focuses on national, state and city politics. A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course. Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago television anchor and reporter for WGN Channel 9, ABC7 and NBC5, and had a stint as managing partner at media trainer J2SC. Joan is a long-time member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).
Language:
English
Episodes
WCPT 820 Interview: Mike Nellis
12/10/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Mike Nellis, Democratic strategist and host of “Endless Urgency with Mike Nellis.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:23:34
WCPT 820 Interview: Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL)
12/9/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL).
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:24:56
WCPT 820 Interview: Texas State Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer
12/9/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Texas State Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer (D).
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:25:13
WCPT 820 Interview: Randy Manner
12/9/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Army Maj. Gen. Randy Manner (Ret.), former acting vice chair of the National Guard Bureau, and member of National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A).
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:22:15
WCPT 820 Interview: Samuel Cole of ACLU of Illinois
12/6/2025
Filling in for Joan Esposito, Turi Ryder is joined by Samuel Cole, chief immigration litigation counsel at ACLU of Illinois and retired immigration judge in Chicago.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:23:13
WCPT 820 Interview: Eleanor Ray
12/6/2025
Filling in for Joan Esposito, Turi Ryder is joined by Eleanor Ray, founder and executive director of The WasteShed, a nonprofit creative reuse organization dedicated to giving new life to art supplies and promoting sustainability.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:19:43
WCPT 820 Interview: Robert Held
12/6/2025
Filling in for Joan Esposito, Turi Ryder is joined by Robert Held, Chicago attorney recently detained by ICE but not charged with a crime; he is traveling to New Orleans to protest ICE actions in that city.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:21:58
WCPT 820 Interview: Director Wendy Lobel
12/6/2025
Filling in for Joan Esposito, Turi Ryder is joined by Wendy Lobel, producer-director of “Anxiety Club,” a “heartfelt and humorous exploration of anxiety through the lens of some of today’s most brilliant comedians.”
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:18:16
WCPT 820 Interview: Dr. Anthony Douglas
12/5/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Dr. Anthony Douglas, trauma surgeon at University of Chicago Hospital, and one of the lead organizers behind the Responsibility in Firearm Legislation Act, or RIFL Act in Illinois.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:21:47
WCPT 820 Interview: Virginia Canter
12/5/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Virginia Canter, ethics and anti-corruption chief counsel and director at Democracy Defenders Fund.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:29:15
WCPT 820 Interview: Heartland Signal's Rich Eberwein
12/5/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Heartland Signal’s Rich Eberwein with three stories you might have missed from our digital newsroom.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:17:13
WCPT 820 Interview: Tod Maffin
12/4/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Tod Maffin, online content creator and author of “From Far and Wide with Tod Maffin.”
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:23:30
WCPT 820 Interview: Lisa Stark
12/4/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Lisa Stark, former ABC News reporter who recently penned a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger calling on him to defend free press and protect ABC journalists from political pressure.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:24:58
WCPT 820 Interview: Elisha Brown
12/3/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Elisha Brown, Reproductive Rights Today newsletter author at States Newsroom.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:23:29
WCPT 820 Interview: Dr. Kristin Lyerly
12/3/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Dr. Kristin Lyerly, OB/GYN, 2024 candidate for Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin’s pre-Civil War abortion law, and host of “The Kristin Lyerly Show” on Civic Media — the show makes it WCPT debut Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Central!
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:22:50
WCPT 820 Interview: Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf, Th.D.
12/3/2025
Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf, Th.D., pastor-activist-theologian, who is senior minister at Lake Street Church of Evanston and was arrested during a November 14 protest near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview, Illinois. (Photo credit: Becca Heuer Photography)
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:20:24
WCPT 820 Interview: Stacy Kess of Equal Access Public Media
12/2/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Stacy Kess, founder and chief of editorial at Equal Access Public Media.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:20:35
WCPT 820 Interview: Dr. Roger Mitchell
12/2/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Dr. Roger Mitchell, president of the National Medical Association, the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing Black physicians and their patients.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:21:32
WCPT 820 Interview: Terry Cosgrove
12/2/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Terry Cosgrove, senior adviser to Project 50 and former president and CEO of Personal PAC.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:27:51
WCPT 820 Candidate Interview: Melissa Bean
12/2/2025
Joan Esposito is joined by Melissa Bean, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 8th District of Illinois.
Catch "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/live-local-progressive).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Duration:00:09:25