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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

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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41:01

Kam Buckner - Unity Doesn't Mean We All Agree

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/09/05

Our leaders need better listening skills. That's the prescription from Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner. In this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin drill down on who the Democrats believe are their most credible messengers. Buckner represents the 26th Legislative District, and returns to the Crisis Cast to underscore why reconnecting with middle America is a huge priority for the Democratic Party. Plus, our discussion hits on the reason for Illinois' outmigration, the role of wealth in

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40:03

Det. Rich Wistocki - How To Stop School Shootings

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/09/02

Ninety-four percent of school shooters posted their intentions online beforehand. That's where the conversation begins in the effort to stop the senseless killing of innocent victims. Detective Rich Wistocki is a cyber crime expert with 33 years in law enforcement, and two decades as a SWAT team member. In the wake of tragedy at a school in Minneapolis, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin learn Det. Wistocki's proven path to identify threats online and prevent the violence they signal. In the past two years

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33:29

Austin Berg - Seeking Governance Grown-ups

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/08/25

"Look for the helpers" is Austin Berg's recommendation for seeking government reform. It's a lesson in hope from the legendary children's television host, Fred Rogers. In this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin get back to discussing the critical need for a Chicago city charter. It would go a long way in addressing the crushing debt Chicago and the State of Illinois is leaving for future generation. Berg says no more bailouts, and identifies the Chicago Public Schools as the nation's largest

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25:13

The Politics of Safety

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/08/19

On the heels of President Trump's threat to send the National Guard into Chicago to reduce crime, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin address the public perception of safety. In this episode, we consider the implications of federal authority in local governance and policing. We'll debate how perceptions of safety influence political strategies. Plus, what's to be done when the crime rate is down, but residents and visitors don't feel any safer? Learn more about this week's Crisis Cast heroes: A House

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27:28

FLASHBACK: Seeking Refuge - A Migrant Family's Journey

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/08/11

In this special edition of the Crisis Cast, we'll hear the personal account of a dangerous trek across multiple borders in 2023. We invite you to listen in on Thom Serafin's intimate conversation with a couple from Venezuela, who traveled on foot and on top of train cars in search of the American Dream. Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin set the stage for this family's story with a powerful dialogue about the challenges of managing immigration. We'll hear why a young family would risk it all to leave

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34:36

Chris Bury - Shepherding Next Gen Journalism

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/08/06

For 30 years, Chris Bury was at the forefront of covering the biggest global and national stories at ABC News. Today he's teaching the next generation of journalists at DePaul University. Chris says the two most important words in journalism are still -- go there. In this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin talk about why the best reporting is still done on the scene. Bury says AI can be a valuable tool, but human interaction is still the best resource journalists have. Plus, you'll hear how

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31:15

Richard Porter - Defending Americanism

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/07/28

Richard Porter believes this is a moment worth seizing in the shifting landscape of Illinois politics. That's why Porter is passionately testing the waters as a potential Republican candidate for Dick Durbin's U.S. Senate seat. In this episode, Porter joins Lissa Druss to preach bipartisanship as essential for effective governance. You'll hear how he defines Americanism. Plus, why he's concerned about government's penchant to rule over people, instead of serving their needs. Richard Porter is a

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36:21

Andrew Stroth - The Cost of Injustice

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/07/21

Civil rights attorney Andrew Stroth made a bold pivot. His path switched from representing superstar athletes like Dwyane Wade to advocating for justice for marginalized communities. In this episode, Lissa & Thom dig into the alarming statistics surrounding wrongful convictions in Chicago, the financial burden on taxpayers, and the need for systemic change in police practices and legal frameworks. Andrew emphasizes the importance of data-driven approaches to address police misconduct, while

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42:31

FLASHBACK: Dagmar Braun Celeste - Women & The Priesthood

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/07/14

Dagmar Braun Celeste was born in Nazi-occupied Austria, she authored her own Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies, which led her to collaborative human rights work with both Rosalyn Carter and Mother Theresa. Dagmar eventually made her home in Ohio, and fed her passion for politics as the state's First Lady. In 2002, she was secretly ordained as a Catholic priest on the Danube River with six other women. The ordination led to her excommunication by the Roman Catholic Church. During this episode of

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25:18

Amy Jacobson - Crushing the Dream Crushers

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/07/07

After nearly 16 years as a magnetic voice on Chicago radio, Amy Jacobson is turning the page to a digital platform all her own. The former WIND morning host joins Lissa and Thom in our chat room to share her vision for Amy Jacobson Live. Amy also reflects on the journey that took her from television journalism across seven states to conservative talk radio in her hometown. Join us for this conversation about demanding truth from powerful politicians, and denying power to those who seek to crush

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30:34

LauraJane Hyde - Community is our "C" Word

The Crisis Cast ·

2025/06/30

Gilda's Club Chicago has a remarkable business story to tell about innovative perseverance. How did CEO LauraJane Hyde's team survive and thrive post-pandemic? They looked inside the work they've been great at for nearly three decades -- serving families and individuals impacted by cancer. In this episode, Lissa Druss talks with LauraJane about the 27-year evolution of Gilda's Club, their meaningful outreach inside schools, and the moment in LauraJane's childhood that defined her calling as a

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183 results

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