Thanks for listening! On this final episode of "Chicago Stories," Mayor Emanuel swapped mics with legendary broadcaster Bill Kurtis for a look back on his own life and career, from his first steps in politics, to the countless lessons he learne

Nancy Pelosi Rules

May 7th, 2019 31m 55s

How do you win the speaker's gavel twice? One vote at a time. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel sits down with the one and only Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for a wide-ranging discussion on politics and power, leadership and public service, and why

Theaster Gates's Community Canvas

Apr 25th, 2019 36m 41s

Theaster Gates is many things, but he doesn’t see it that way. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel talks to the world-famous artist about connecting art with neighborhood development, discovering the spiritual life of abandoned spaces, and the “aha” momen

Chemi Peres and the Empires of Tomorrow

Apr 19th, 2019 35m 54s

Chemi Peres is a man on a mission. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel speaks with the venture capitalist and chairman of the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation about impact investing and peace through technology, Israel and its recent elections, and h

Richard Haass's Global Vision

Apr 15th, 2019 34m 33s

Foreign policy is never what it used to be. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel joins Council on Foreign Relations president Dr. Richard Haass for a sweeping conversation on America's evolving role since the Cold War, his advice for 2020 candidates, how t

Helene Gayle is Making a Difference

Apr 5th, 2019 27m 1s

Dr. Helene Gayle has made a career out of making a difference. Tune in as she and Mayor Emanuel talk about her early career fighting HIV/AIDS, how to create inclusive economic growth, what brought her to Chicago, and her vision as president of

David Haugh and All Things Chicago Sports

Apr 1st, 2019 29m 8s

Chicago is the best sports town on Earth. Period. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel and sportswriter and radio host David Haugh dive into the dizzying highs and crushing lows that comes with being a fan in this city, from our greatest coaches, to our un

Eddie Bocanegra's Day of Atonement

Mar 15th, 2019 41m 34s

Eddie Bocanegra's life is a story of choices, mistakes, leadership, and redemption. Tune in as he tells Mayor Emanuel about his transformation from gang member and convicted felon, to trailblazing leader at the Heartland Alliance's READI Chicag

Gerald Rosenberg, the Supreme Court and Social Change

Mar 8th, 2019 28m 59s

Think the Supreme Court brings about social change? Think again. Tune in as Mayor Emanuel sits down with Supreme Court historian and scholar Gerald Rosenberg to talk about the true impact of landmark cases, the court's long history of politiciz

Alex Kotlowitz and "An American Summer"

Mar 2nd, 2019 36m 26s

Author Alex Kotlowitz burst into the public 25-years-ago with his seminal work "There Are No Children Here." Now he's out with its bookend, "An American Summer," about the lives affected by gun violence. Tune in as Alex and Mayor Emanuel share

Thomas Friedman and the "New-New"

Feb 22nd, 2019 39m 27s

"Order vs. Disorder." "Non-Linear Accelerations." "Mirroring Mother Nature." Mayor Emanuel was joined by Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author Thomas Friedman for a spirited conversation about the complex forces shaping our world, where t

Kyle Longley, LBJ's Legacy, and Presidential Centers

Feb 16th, 2019 44m 36s

It's been 50 years since Lyndon Johnson's presidency, but his impact continues to reverberate across our culture, politics, and society to this day. Tune in as historian and director of the LBJ Presidential Library Kyle Longley takes a deep div

Chris Jones and Chicago Theater

Feb 8th, 2019 36m 29s

Everyone knows about the connections between politics and performance, but it turns out mayors and theater critics have a lot in common as well. At the start of both Chicago Theatre Week and the Year of Chicago Theatre, the great drama critic C

Martha Nussbaum and the Monarchy of Fear

Feb 1st, 2019 29m 25s

Famed political and moral philosopher Martha Nussbaum stopped by City Hall for a conversation with Mayor Emanuel about ideas and ideals, the role of philosophers in the public arena, and the churning emotions of our political moment she laid ou

Ben Bernanke and the Great Recession

Jan 25th, 2019 34m 11s

Ben Bernanke’s goal during the Financial Crisis was simple: get people back to work. Doing it was a lot more complicated. Tune as Mayor Emanuel and the former Fed Chair take a deep dive into the heady days of the Great Recession, its turbulent

Nick Cave and the Art of Chicago

Jan 18th, 2019 27m 9s

"I look at space as I would look at the way in which one choreographs a work." Renowned visual and performance artist Nick Cave dropped by City Hall to talk to Mayor Emanuel about how he approached his immersive new work at the CTA's Garfield G

Gen. Stanley McChrystal, Leadership and National Service

Jan 13th, 2019 44m 27s

What makes a good leader? Do we create false leaders? What role does context play in leadership? Gen. Stanley McChrystal joined Mayor Emanuel for a fascinating conversation on the myths and realities of leadership and how they continue to shape

Comedian Pat McGann Loves His Job

Dec 21st, 2018 24m 1s

You know Pat McGann, whether you know him or not. On this week’s episode Mayor Emanuel sits down with the Beverly-native to hear how he went from selling boxes to telling jokes, along with his take on Chicago humor, how his family's an endless

Rahm Emanuel and the Ragin’ Cajun

Dec 14th, 2018 40m 28s

Trump! House Dems! Rural voters! Liberal hubris! Ohio! 2020! Legendary political strategist James Carville dropped by City Hall for some lively shop talk with Mayor Emanuel on everything under the political sun, from strategy and values, to the

Josh Noel and the Craft of Beer

Dec 7th, 2018 29m 16s

Recorded in Begyle Brewing Company on Chicago's "Malt Row," Mayor Emanuel and beer writer Josh Noel plunged into Josh's new book, Barrel-Aged Stout and Selling Out, to explore the story behind craft brewing, the community it created, which new

Derek Black's Awakening from White Nationalism

Nov 30th, 2018 36m 49s

Derek Black was the heir apparent of white nationalism. Now he's speaking out against it. Tune in as he and Mayor Emanuel talk about his journey of personal awakening, along with the movement's political strategy, Chicago’s place in its ideolog

Ep. 74: Doris Kearns Goodwin's American Leadership

Nov 21st, 2018 37m 7s

For our special Thanksgiving episode, Mayor Emanuel welcomed the great American historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to City Hall to talk about her new book, "Leadership in Turbulent Times," as well as the lessons of history, the responsibility of hi

Governor-Elect J.B. Pritzker's Vision for Illinois

Nov 16th, 2018 34m 8s

J.B. Pritzker wants to be the best Chief Marketing Officer Illinois has ever had--and a whole lot more. Fresh off his win for Illinois Governor, J.B. Pritzker dropped by City Hall to talk to Mayor Emanuel about his big plans for the state, star

Fatima Farheen Mirza's Place For Us

Nov 10th, 2018 34m 17s

Belonging, identity, family, faith, and self-acceptance. These are only some of the themes Fatima Farheen Mirza explores in her masterful debut novel, "A Place For Us." Tune in as she and Mayor Emanuel--a big fan himself--share a funny and sens

Ep. 71: Steve Dolinsky's Tour of Pizza City, USA

Nov 2nd, 2018 31m 9s

Chicago is Pizza City, USA. Just ask Chicago food critic Steve Dolinsky who went on an epic journey to over 100 pizza spots in search of the perfect slice. Tune in as he and Mayor Emanuel deep-dive into Chicago's 10 unique styles, even sampling