The Crisis Cast

19:22

John Kass - White Sox Fever

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/10/05

Here comes the tale of two sides of town as October baseball rages onward. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin welcome the great scribe and ballyard fanatic, John Kass, to our chatroom for a conversation about the cultural significance of baseball in Chicago. You'll hear some fables of games played long ago and why the White Sox of Chris Getz have a shot at going deeper in the post season.

en

28:21

Donna Miller - Chasing A Legacy of Service

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/10/01

A sense of community was etched into Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller's journey as an "original Chicago girl." Now she's chasing a seat in the U.S, Congress. In this episode, you'll hear how she plans to serve Illinois' very complex 8-county 2nd District. Lissa & Thom dig into Donna's previous work on Capitol Hill, her vision for a better health care system, and what she's already learned from rural constituents. Plus, you'll hear the lessons she learned from her great grandfather, a

en

28:56

Henry J. Evans - Bombs, Bacon & Bankruptcy

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/09/19

This is a conversation that leans into the art of crisis leadership. Henry J. Evans shares his journey from being bullied as a boy in Brooklyn, to counter-terrorism to crisis leadership. In this episode, Henry walks Lissa Druss through finding organizational resilience, and the concept of STO (speed to objectivity). You'll hear Henry's very personal 9/11 story and the leadership experiences that inspired him to write the book "Bombs, Bacon & Bankruptcy."

en

21:07

Janet Sutherland - Nose Over Toes

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/09/10

To call Janet Sutherland a world-class crisis manager would still be an understatement. The author-journalist is a two-time brain aneurysm survivor. In this episode, Janet shares her inspiring journey with Lissa & Thom. You'll hear the importance of awareness, early detection, and advocacy for research funding. You'll hear vital insights into symptoms, risk factors, and the need for increased support and funding to prevent and treat aneurysms. Plus, Janet recalls the intensity of hearing her

en

41:12

Rod McCulloch - Straight Truth About Polling

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/08/27

Time to go behind the curtain when it comes to political polling. Liss & Thom welcome the "pollsters' pollster" Rod McCulloch to our chat room. In this episode, he shares insights into Chicago's mayoral race, signature-collection challenges, and the impact of voter behavior and ethnicity on elections. He also discusses the upcoming Democratic and Republican conventions and the political landscape in Illinois. We'll also discuss some candidates' biggest fears.

en

41:11

Grant DePorter - Calling Your Shot

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/08/13

There's a name that's synonymous with making events larger than life. It's Grant DePorter, the longtime CEO and managing partner of Harry Caray's restaurant group. In this episode, Lissa & Thom talk with Grant his inspiring journey through cancer, the legendary adventures of Harry, and how superstition and community helped him overcome adversity. Plus, you'll hear more about how Grant is the living legacy of a hospitality pioneer. This conversation offers valuable lessons on resilience,

en

31:52

Pat Hynes - On a mission to reform property taxes

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/07/30

When the property assessor's office fails to reflect market realities, the results can be chaotic. In this episode, Lissa & Thom are joined by Pat Hynes, candidate for Cook County Assessor. Pat shares his journey from firefighter/EMT to political leadership. We'll dive into the intricacies of property valuation, tax assessment reforms, and how to improve the system for taxpayers. Pat uses the metaphor of "spaghetti thrown on the floor" to describe how assessments can become erratic. Ideally,

en

28:19

Lou Sandoval - How to mend a divided Illinois

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/07/18

Tenacity and resilience are two very meaningful words in the journey of Lou Sandoval. As one of our region's most revered business leaders, Lou has insights that have guided many ledgers through troubled waters. In this episode, Lissa Druss gets Lou to share his insights on business turnarounds, drawing from his diverse experiences in crisis management, nonprofit leadership, and sailing. Discover practical strategies for navigating organizational change, and fostering tenacity. Plus, Lou has some

en

43:30

Greg Bedalov - DuPage County's Economic Growth Secrets

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/07/09

Rumors of Chicagoland's death in business development have been greatly exaggerated." Those words come straight from Greg Bedalov, President & CEO of Choose DuPage. In this episode, Lissa & Thom talk with Greg about economic development strategies and the vision for growth in DuPage County. You'll hear about key metrics, infrastructure, workforce, and regional collaboration. Plus, Bedalov shares why he and his team are passionately rooting for the City of Chicago.

en

31:41

Jennifer Custer - Reforming Chicago Schools

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/06/26

When it comes to funding Chicago Public Schools, many believe we have a crisis of fiscal responsibility. In this episode, Lissa & Thom talk with CPS board candidate Jennifer Custer about how to best use $10 billion to better serve students. Jennifer shares her journey from student to educator to school board candidate, discussing the challenges of smart governance, and improving outcomes for students and teachers alike. Plus, you'll hear why you can't lead, if you don't do your homework. Then, Jenni

en

37:56

Dean Richards - Truly Chicago's Very Own

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/06/08

His voice behind a microphone soothed a million smooth jazz lovers in Chicago. Then, his deep southside roots made him a key personality on the WGN-TV morning news. Dean Richards' thousands of A-list celebrity interviews, and his award-winning WGN radio show only scratch the surface of his adventures in media. In this episode, Lissa & Thom go behind the curtain with one of the most treasured voices in broadcasting. We'll hear about the community he built with listeners and viewers. Plus, Dean

en

26:56

FLASHBACK: Sgt. Allen Lynch – Unimaginable Heroism

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/05/28

Allen Lynch spent his childhood in Chicago's south suburbs with fond memories of walks to his grandmother's house in Roseland. Lynch was often bullied, and at age 18, to test his strength he enlisted in the U.S. Army. That was 1964, and one year later the United States had troops on the ground in Vietnam. In 1966, Sgt. Allen Lynch began a tour of service that would earn him the Medal of Honor. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom hear the experiences that led Sgt. Lynch to write

en

23:07

Amy Jacobson - Stadiums, Safety, & Summer

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/05/21

The NFL and never-ending Bears passion has stirred up more debate on a new stadium for the Monsters of the Midway. In this episode, Lissa Druss is joined by radio host, community advocate, referee, and coach Amy Jacobson. Many questions are on the table about the Bears tolerance for taxes, the crisis of community safety, and what kinds of leaders Chicago needs most. Plus, Amy takes Lissa's personal pop quiz to stir the pot a bit more. This week's Crisis Cast Hero is Naperville's Rima

en

43:01

Thom Mayer - How to find your superpower

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/05/08

This conversation takes multiple twists and turns on where and when true leadership is revealed. Lissa & Thom welcome Dr. Thom Mayer, medical director of the NFL Players' Association. You'll hear about his journey through crisis management on 911 at the Pentagon, during the war in Ukraine, and on the football field. Plus, we'll explore the evolution of concussion protocols, and the importance of human relations and how to lead with kindness. Dr. Mayer is author of the book Leading at the Speed of

en

34:44

Ray Long - Tracking Illinois' corruption makeover

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/05/01

In this episode, veteran Springfield reporter Ray Long joins Thom Serafin to breakdown the recent developments in the Illinois political corruption cases involving former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and the ComEd Four. Ray does a deep dive on the legal proceedings, court decisions, and implications for Illinois politics, providing insights into the federal judicial process and political accountability. Plus, we'll revisit the lingering question — how will Madigan's legal consequences

en

29:59

Jessica Biggs - How to improve education in Chicago

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/04/23

The biggest problem facing Chicago Public Schools is they're focused on a pension crisis, and not whether second graders can read. In this episode, Lissa & Thom are joined by Jessica Biggs — a candidate for CPS board president. Jessica is a CPS parent, former principal, and veteran educator with a practical vision for serving students instead of the system's debt. You'll hear how Jessica plans to engage communities to take ownership in their schools, and why her experience with Teach For America

en

38:32

Austin Berg - Chasing Reform

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/04/15

Put on your safety belts for a conversation about the Land of Lincoln's tax and population crisis. Austin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center, joins Lissa & Thom to examine Illinois' fiscal challenges and potential reforms for Chicago's governance. He highlights the impact of high taxes, overspending, and the importance of local action to revitalize the city and the region.

en

23:07

Leigh Giangreco - Stories That Need To Be Told

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/04/09

You've seen her byline reporting for the New York Times, Forbes, Crain's Chicago Business, Block Club, and many more great destinations for news. Leigh Giangreco has superpower when it comes to unraveling complex stories. In this episode, Lissa & Thom go behind the scenes with Leigh on her recent work covering the tragic murder of Loyola student Sheridan Gorman for the New York Times. Plus, you'll hear what it's like to navigate in-depth journalism in a world ruled by doom-scrolling and short

en

33:07

Rod McCulloch - Why Voters Are Smarter Than You Think

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/03/19

This week's Illinois primary election underscored that "campaign cash is not a strategy." Veteran political pollster and advisor Rod McCulloch from Victory Research joins Lissa & Thom to dig through the rubble of recent voter behavior. How does one candidate outspend an opponent three-to-one, and still lose? Why do endorsements fall short? Who benefits from low voter turnout? All the answers and many more questions are inside this episode of the Crisis Cast. Plus, you'll hear predictions for the

en

30:54

John Kass - Words To Live By

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/03/11

Our friend John Kass, the venerable columnist, always says what he feels. During this episode, he takes the conversation with Lissa & Thom to a whole new level. Kass is full of caution on surviving a stroke, avoiding media overload, and his passion for coaching culinary arts. You'll learn why he's sworn off Fox News, CNN, and others — and how he plans to double down on writing at John Kass News.

en

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

TaxTalent.com The Golden Rule Podcast

Adam Golden

TaxTalent.com Podcast

Tony Santiago

Best of Business

Newstalk ZB

Ouribank

Ouribank

SoldiOnline

Mondadori Digital