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PODCAST

The Crisis Cast

Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin

The Crisis Cast is a conversational journey in business leadership during a crisis. Our cast of experts review crisis management scenarios and provide resources for navigating uncharted waters. Each episode is moderated by renowned crisis communicators Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin.

business management

All Episodes

37:52

Dr. Tasha Green Cruzat - Driving Emotional IQ

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/11/22

This year at Thanksgiving, we are grateful for the dedication of those compelled to change the lives of young people. Dr. Tasha Green Cruzat is leading solutions to our youth mental health crisis. Among the most staggering statistics is 30% of female students nationally reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past 12 months. Dr. Cruzat, a U.S. Navy veteran, is President of Children’s Advocates for Change and shares a vision for getting our kids better access to mental health care

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24:47

Ben Bradley - The "New" News Paradigm

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/11/15

Many of the television newsroom characters have moved on, but there are fresh eyes and ears still holding truth to power. One of them is Emmy Award-winning reporter Ben Bradley of WGN. During this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin get Ben's take on the shifting tides of news gathering and consumption. Plus, we'll flash back to his job at the 1996 Democratic National Convention. Those were the days when United Center was only two years old. Ben was not a reporter covering the DNC, but he was

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23:49

Crisis Whiteboard - Migration Task Force

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/11/08

In a span of just 14 months, more than 20-thousand migrants have arrived in Chicago. Add that to the thousands of residents who are already unhoused and tensions keep rising. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin get out our whiteboard to brainstorm solutions to this crisis. The bus loads of asylum seekers keep coming and the dangers of a Windy City winter are also approaching. Our team suggests regional leaders from all sectors should be locked in a room until we

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40:47

Hanania & Lipinski - The Reagan Democrats

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/10/26

Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin are back to do more work examining what divides us — and what might bring us together. Their guests are an award-winning columnist, and a 23rd Ward Alderman turned U.S. Congressman. Together, Ray Hanania and Bill Lipinski host the Two Guys on Politics podcast. In this episode, we answer dozens of potent questions. How do we put an end to Chicago's crime crisis? Is the city ready for the reality of the 2024 Democratic National Convention? Why is accountability so

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34:48

Bob Berlin - Guarding & Guiding Victims' Rights

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/10/19

Bob Berlin is a career prosecutor. For more than three decades, he's been focused on guarding the rights of crime victims. As DuPage Country State’s Attorney, he’s on the front lines of a new provision of the Safe-T Act. In September of 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled to eliminate cash bail in the state. In this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin ask the tough questions tied to the impact of the court ruling. Plus, State's Attorney Berlin responds to which violent crime offenders are the

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37:52

Greg Hinz - Covering The Rooms Where It Happened

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/10/12

Crain’s Greg Hinz has been tracking the political scene in Illinois for a half-century. As Greg steps back from his regular column at chicagobusiness.com, Lissa & Thom get a download on his past adventures and his next adventure. For Hinz, politics is the business of getting things done. During this visit to the chat room, Greg weighs in on the politicians he believes possess that power. Hinz also grades the digital transformation of journalism. Plus, he gives up some of names that have reported

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56:24

Nick Kass - Question Everything

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/10/04

For more than 30 years Nick Kass was guiding intelligence at the highest levels of U.S. government -- from the Department of State to the CIA, and the White House. Nick's mantra is simple: question everything. Based in Bucharest, this Chicago native is now Senior Fellow for European Affairs at the Center for the National Interest. Thanks to Nick's life's journey full of questions -- he's in our chat room with a lifetime full of anwers for Lissa & Thom. Nick Kass is an award-winning analyst,

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24:41

Crisis Whiteboard - Full Disclosure

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/09/27

The topics of full disclosure and conflict of interest leaped center stage mid-month. It was triggered by reporting from the Chicago Tribune and NPR. Their stories revealed some crisis communications assistance provided for then Speaker of the House Michael Madigan, five years ago. The communications firm is SKDK, which is co-owned by Anita Dunn — now a top advisor to President Biden. Simultaneously, SKDK was also involved in a high profile effort to assist victims of sexual harassment through the

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35:24

Crisis Whiteboard - White Sox Lifering

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/09/19

In this episode, we contemplate the unthinkable for Chicago sports fans. What if we were a city with just one Major League Baseball team? OUR team won't have it. Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin get out our Crisis Cast "whiteboard" to brainstorm solutions and locations for a White Sox ballpark village. Hint: It isn't at 35th & Shields. The whole debate ignites a conversation about what works and what doesn't work for 21st century sports franchises and their playgrounds.

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51:40

Ray Long - The Mapes Tapes

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/09/06

Time to get back to examining public trust in state government, through the reign of the former Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives, Michael Madigan. In this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin bring Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune back to our chat room. Ray spent nearly three weeks covering the perjury trial of Tim Mapes, who was Speaker Madigan’s Chief of Staff for over two decades. What did the Mapes verdict signal about Madigan's upcoming trial? Is Illinois getting any closer

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25:51

Crisis Whiteboard: Grading Northwestern

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/08/21

When is silence golden? That is perhaps the most nuanced question, when it comes to crisis communications. During this episode, we use our Crisis Cast Whiteboard to grade how Northwestern University has been communicating publicly, during the crises in its athletic department. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin also interpret who wins and who loses, when you don't get out in front of a crisis. Plus, we'll answer this question: should the Wildcat football hazing story put a pause on their $800 million

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41:31

Parliament of the World's Religions

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/08/09

The Parliament of the World’s Religions is the world’s premier interfaith convening of civic, spiritual, and grassroots changemakers. It's roots are in Chicago, where it first convened during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin document the return of spiritual leaders representing more than 80 nations, to the shores of Lake Michigan. Their guests are part of this summer's "call to conscience" when it comes to human rights. In

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33:44

Kelly Richmond Pope - Watching The Whistleblowers

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/07/31

Renowned forensic accounting expert Kelly Richmond Pope shows fraud in action, uncovering what makes perps tick -- and she returns to the Crisis Cast to define the archetypes of the fraudster. Kelly also applauds the bravery of whistleblowers, and explains their peril. With Lissa Druss on assignment, Thom Serafin flies solo with Kelly to dig further on what was so fascinating and maddening about the story of former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes. Plus, you'll learn the newest lessons she's

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25:26

Mark Carman - Northwestern In A Haze

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/07/19

This is a moment of reckoning for Northwestern University. In the wake of a hazing scandal within its football program, players on and off the field are immersed in a crisis. In this episode, Lissa & Thom are joined by sports journalist Mark Carman. Not only has he been studying the evolution of college athletics for decades — he's also reported from the Northwestern football sidelines for over ten years. Mark calls former Wildcat coach Pat Fitzgerald a unicorn, but trouble has been simmering for

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21:00

Mike Flannery - Chicago's Future Shock

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/07/05

During part two of our send off for political journalist Mike Flannery, we dive into his analysis of Chicago's path forward. Lissa & Thom get to the heart of whether Flannery thinks the Brandon Johnson administration can bring down Chicago's murder rate. Plus, how do the best reporters separate personal opinion from their pursuit of the truth? In this follow-up episode, you'll also learn what Mike's father did at the dinner table to catapult his career choice.

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24:21

Mike Flannery - The Ultimate Political Safari

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/06/28

For half a century, this kid from D.C. has been chasing alders, mayors, and senators. Mike Flannery, has even questioned every president since Richard Nixon. Flannery has been on the Chicago political beat since 1973, and now he's turning the page. In this episode of the Crisis Cast, you'll hear how Mike landed his first gig at the Chicago Sun-Times -- just two weeks after graduating from Georgetown. During part one of this chat with Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin, Flannery shares a patented Mike

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29:49

Alex English - Changing Your Shot

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/06/09

Alex English is one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history. But the points he's made as a humanitarian surpass ALL his basketball records. Alex even made a movie with Jamie Lee Curtis that earned two thumbs up from Siskel & Ebert. In this episode, Thom Serafin charts Alex English's journey from the racism of South Carolina to his crusade to stop famine in Ethiopia. You'll hear why his grandmother chose "Alex" as his name, and which NBA opponent was the most formidable defender. While Lissa

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19:50

Larry Doll - EV Speed Bumps

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/05/31

As more EV's hit the market, the manufacturer vs. auto dealer relationship road is laced with potholes. In this episode, Lissa & Thom dig into the evolution and revolution of electric vehicles. Their guest has been driving this rocky road trip for the past 15 years as legal counsel for the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association. Larry Doll sees dealers as the bridge to happy motoring. Our conversation with Larry lays out the sea of change for car owners, that may include a manufacturer

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31:32

The Fate of AM Radio

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/05/22

Has the end of a broadcast era arrived? More EV manufacturers are leaving AM radio out of their electric vehicles -- their motors interfere with AM signal reception. Now, lawmakers on Capitol Hill want to require automakers to keep AM radio in the dash with new legislation. In this episode of The Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom, debate and reminisce the value of driving with AM radio through your car speakers. Their guest is our producer, Todd Manley, the former VP of Content at WGN Radio. For over a

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46:24

Ray Long - The ComEd Four

The Crisis Cast ·

2023/05/16

Has the "House of Madigan" finally collapsed? During this episode, Lissa & Thom go inside the courtroom for the trial of the so-called "ComEd Four" with Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune. What do the guilty verdicts of Anne Pramaggiore, John Hooker, Jay Doherty, and Michael McClain mean for the fate of former Speaker of the House, Mike Madigan? Ray Long says Pramaggiore, the former ComEd CEO, was 98% perfect on the witness stand. What went wrong with the other 2%? Has the jury actually sent a

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188 results

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