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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

38:14

Rick Heidner - When Politics Get Personal

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/02/20

Businessman Rick Heidner says he can't sit on the sidelines any more. Heidner tells Thom Serafin, in an extended face-to-face interview, why he was compelled to seek the Republican nomination to be Illinois' next governor. You'll hear Heidner's passion for guiding economic success and why family drives his approach to politics. Plus, Lissa Druss joins Thom to analyze the competitive landscape in the March Republican Primary. This week's Crisis Cast heroes are the members of Girl Scout Troop

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35:35

Bela Gandhi - The Science of Finding Love

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/02/12

In this episode, Bela Gandhi, founder of Smart Dating Academy, shares her journey from being a bad dater to becoming a dating coach. Lissa & Thom get schooled on the importance of understanding partner preferences, navigating dating apps, and the significance of emotional and intellectual connections in relationships. Bela emphasizes the role of coaching in dating, shares success stories from her clients, and offers insights on finding love after loss. The conversation concludes with quickfire

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32:21

Ilyce Glink - Your Money's Wake Up Call

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/02/09

There's nothing like some fresh fiscal wisdom as we dig into a new year. Ilyce Glink is back to enlighten Lissa & Thom on the landscape of personal finance. In this episode, we'll chat about precarious markets, the 30% increase in food costs, and what to do about the record-high volume of personal debt. Plus, you'll hear some insights on China's massive economic development, as Ilyce reports on her recent three-week trip to southeast Asia. The silver lining in this conversation is the news that

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33:49

Justin Kaufmann - City Hall of Wonders

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/01/30

Join us for a wild ride through the entanglements of the Chicago City Council. Axios' Justin Kaufmann jumps into our chat room to breakdown the recent ban on hemp-derived THC products. In this episode, Mayor Brandon Johnson's budget accountability is questioned, and Lissa & Thom work through the list of issues most likely to engage voters. Plus, Justin came ready with an intoxicating number of twists that will impact the March Illinois primary and the mid-term elections in November. This week's

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31:25

Pat Brady - Reclaiming the Republican message

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/01/22

This is a conversation about political identity with a voice of reason no matter what side of the aisle you call home. In this episode, we're joined by Pat Brady, the former chair of the Illinois Republican Party. While Lissa Druss is on assignment, Thom Serafin digs into the Trump impact on Republican identity. Brady shares his journey from federal prosecutor to pure political junkie. Plus you're hear the issues that persist in Republican messaging and the names that appear to be the emerging

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26:25

Ben Szalinski - The Beltway vs. Springfield

The Crisis Cast ·

2026/01/13

We start the year with a deep dive on the price of division. Join Lissa & Thom as they visit the heart of the Statehouse with Ben Szalinski of Capitol News Illinois. During this episode, we'll troubleshoot the the Land of Lincoln's federal funding gaps and if property tax reform can save the day. We'll cover the buzz on AI and energy policy. Plus, you'll hear why Szalinski thinks you'd be proud of Illinois' legislators. This week's Crisis Cast hero is Jo Fleming creator of the solar panels that

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32:10

Kevin Matthews - Broken Mary's Roadie

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/12/24

For decades, millions of Kev-Heads were charmed by the characters and sonic genius Kevin Matthews created on the radio. Today, Kev is traveling the world as a roadie for a broken statue of the Virgin Mary. In this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom celebrate Christmas with a behind-the-scenes conversation about the "Broken Mary" that Matthews found next to a flower shop dumpster. You'll hear why Kevin insisted the statue remains "broken" — and how his spiritual transformation is now

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29:36

Jarrett Payton - I Wake Up to Give Back

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/12/18

Service to others runs deep in the Payton family DNA. There's a global reminder of that before every Super Bowl, when one NFL humanitarian is bestowed with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. In this episode of the Crisis Cast, WGN-TV's Jarrett Payton talks about the life lessons he learned from his father, and the vision he has for his own legacy. Lissa & Thom dive into Jarrett's obsession with watching game film, Ben Johnson's much-needed honesty, and JP's predictions for a Bears' playoff

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29:37

Craig Volden - The Art of Lawmaking

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/12/14

Put on your safety belts for a conversation about grading governance. In this episode, Lissa & Thom welcome Craig Volden, Co-Director of the Center for Effective Lawmaking at the University of Virginia. This discussion dives head first into the importance of civic engagement, the implications of term limits, and the perceptions of Illinois politics. Plus, you'll hear what the data says about who are Illinois' most effective lawmakers. This week's Crisis Cast Hero: Sharon McMahon. Read her story

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30:36

FLASHBACK: Frank Main - The Long Tail of Justice

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/12/04

Pulitzer prize-winner Frank Main has been covering criminal justice in Chicago since 1998. Readers of the Sun-Times are drawn to his work for heeding the journalism mantra "inflict the comfortable, and comfort the afflicted." In this episode of The Crisis Cast, we travel back to a discussion with Lissa & Thom about COVID's lasting impact on crime in upper Midwest cities like Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit. They also examine two behaviors that began surging in the early 2020s at alarming rates:

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16:08

Gratitude Is Great Medicine

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/11/26

We're celebrating Thanksgiving week with a conversation about the power of human relations. In this episode, Lissa reflects on how the recent passing of her mom revealed her treasured and growing extended family. Thom provides some comic relief in sharing famous last words. Plus, we'll relive and rewind to the gratitude we've found in our guests' personal stories.

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28:47

Bonnie Jordan - The Rock For The Most Vulnerable

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/11/13

There's a remarkable place in Glen Ellyn known both affectionately and functionally as The Rock. Born out of Illinois law 50 years ago, to serve deafblind students — the Philip J. Rock Center and School has a brand-new home. In this episode of the Crisis Cast, The Rock's executive director Bonnie Jordan shares the compelling stories of the families and students who receive their life-changing services and education. You'll hear how the German measles epidemic of the mid-1960s drastically changed

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56:24

FLASHBACK: Nick Kass - Question Everything

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/11/06

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 answers for Lissa & Thom. Nick Kass is an award-winning analyst,

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29:34

Sylvie Légère - Dialogue Without Labels

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/10/30

Sylvie Légère, co-founder and CEO of the Policy Circle, joins our chat room to share her journey empowering women through civic engagement and policy conversations. As the Policy Circle celebrates a decade of community service around the globe, Sylvie shares insights on the importance of abandoning labels for meaningful discourse. Plus, you'll hear why disengagement is the crisis she fears most.

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39:04

Bill Kurtis - The Truth Will Always Matter

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/10/22

"For god's sake, take cover!" Those are the five words that catapulted Bill Kurtis into his illustrious career in journalism. His reporting has quite literally saved lives. During this episode, Lissa & Thom unpack six decades of the news media evolution, as documented in Kurtis' book Whirlwind. This conversation takes you behind the scenes of Bill's work covering two legendary trials: the Chicago Seven and the Charles Manson murders. Plus, you'll hear why Kurtis thinks the current news climate is

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31:19

Donna Dupont - Finding Our Collective Intelligence

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/10/15

"Success today is all about anticipatory thinking." Not surprisingly, those are the words of a futurist. Donna Dupont is the founder/chief strategist for Purple Compass and is part of the design faculty at the Canadian Forces College. In this episode, Lissa & Thom fill our chat room with tools for embracing adaptability. Donna teaches collective intelligence in crisis management, and shares how to achieve it. Plus, you'll hear insights from her experiences in emergency management and what

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27:04

Eddie Johnson - Where Are The Adults In The Room

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/10/08

In this episode, we sit down with former Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson to discuss the complexities of law enforcement in today's political climate. Eddie shares his insights on the challenges faced by police departments, the importance of communication between federal and local agencies, and the impact of political interference on public safety. Lissa, Thom, and former superintendent Johnson also walk through the timeline of a near tragic clash involving ICE agents last weekend on

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17:55

Helena Volzer - Big Data's Drain On Our Water

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/09/30

There's a water shortage crisis brewing, and it's being driven by AI and other large water users like quantum computing. In this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin talk through a recent study from the Alliance for the Great Lakes that sounds an alarm over lack of planning. Helena Volzer has been researching the foresight and regulatory actions needed to address the many ways we take our Lake Michigan water abundance for granted. Ms. Volzer is the Alliance for the Great Lakes Senior Source Water

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35:51

David Haugh - Bullish on the Bears

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/09/24

WSCR's David Haugh isn't backing down. Haugh tells Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin he stands by a 9-win Bears season, and that was before they beat the Cowboys in week 3. In this episode, Haugh talks coaching dynamics and questions if this roster's locker room culture will ever match head coach Ben Johnson's intensity. There's some fascinating chatter on the Bears' stadium drama, why the NFL still dominates U.S. fans, and the Chicago sports events that defined Haugh's journalism career at the Trib.

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14:26

Whiteboard: Seeking Civility

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/09/16

In this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin dive head first into the complex role media plays in political polarization. Our hosts discuss recent tragedies, including the murder of Charlie Kirk, and how media narratives can amplify division. During this visit to the Crisis Cast chat room, we explore the impact of soundbites and rhetoric on public perception and the importance of fostering civility in political discourse. This dialogue revisits the forgotten lessons of the late 1960s, as we face

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194 results

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