Melvin Knight joins me at the Illinois College of Media's audio suite to tell me about the influences behind his soulful sound. From his mother, an accomplished opera singer, to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, Melvin brings me on a journey throu

Lise.FM - The Hitmen of Chicago (your new favorite cover band)

Mar 10th, 2018 33m 53s

They play Weezer. They play Elton John. They play Stacy's Mom. They're The Hitmen of Chicago, also known as your new favorite night out! The band is composed of: composer and pianoman Ben Montalbano from indie folk band Matthaus (my first eve

Lise.FM - Forest Home

Mar 2nd, 2018 55m 8s

Episode 43 - Homegrown Chicago band Forest Home joins me in studio to talk about the makings of their unique indie math-rock sound. Members Kevin, Andy, Alayne & Eric take turns talking about the influences they bring to the table - from Weezer

Lise.FM - Paul Rust

Feb 23rd, 2018 54m 19s

Episode 42: I spend an hour with Paul Rust, creator, executive producer and starring actor of LOVE on Netflix! He tells me about pitching the concept as a movie with his wife and co-creator Lesley Arfin to Judd Apatow, and why they decided to t

Lise.FM - Jimmie Swagger, Boy Toys Pocket Cabaret

Feb 16th, 2018 59m 21s

Jimmie Swagger, founder of the amazing Boy Toys Pocket Cabaret joins me to talk about his journey from cheerleading to burlesque, he tells me about where he gets his fiery confidence from and he sites some other performers and choreographers wh

Lise.FM - Andrea Metcalf

Feb 9th, 2018 51m 8s

EPISODE 40: Celebrity Fitness Expert Andrea Metcalf joins me to tell me all about her latest business venture and passion: Studios Fuse. Chicago's very first "fitness mall," Studios Fuse features four amazingly fun and unique boutique work-out

Lise.FM - Jason Balla, NE-HI

Feb 2nd, 2018 1h 10m

Jason Balla, guitarist & vocalist from Chicago-based NE-HI, joins me in the studio to talk about the musical influences he brings to the table when writing for and playing with the band. From Wire, to Brian Eno's No New York compilation, to Wom

Lise.FM - Birds of Chicago

Jan 28th, 2018 1h 15m

The amazing musical duo JT Nero and Allison Russell from Birds of Chicago join me to talk about their musical and artistic roots. Allison talks about growing up in Montreal in a strict music household, and the albums she used to get in secret f

Lise.FM - Makia

Jan 15th, 2018 1h 12m

After seeing his amazing one-man show, "Do You Love Me?" about race and identity last week at Collaboraction, I invited rapper, performer & entrepreneur Makia to join me on a bonus Martin Luther King Day inspired episode of the show. He tells m

Lise.FM - Kylie Spence

Jan 12th, 2018 57m 11s

In her Instagram profile, 17 year-old Kylie Spence says, "I've probably written a song about you," and after talking to her on this week's episode & learning about the breadth of her blooming body of work, I'm going to bet she has. Kylie tells

Lise.FM - Amelia Hruby, Fifty Feminist Mantras

Jan 6th, 2018 1h 7m

Let's start the 2018 calendar year with a very important & inspiring conversation on feminism and self-betterment! I'm joined by the amazing Amelia Hruby, who just wrote & self-published her first book, Fifty Feminist Mantras. She tells me how

Lise.FM - Christmas Special with Rick Kogan

Dec 24th, 2017 22m 52s

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house, people were listening to the Lise.FM Christmas special. The great Rick Kogan and I warm our hands by the metaphorical fire of inspired conversation to talk about his Christmases past -

Lise.FM - Steven Galanis from Book Cameo

Dec 15th, 2017 1h 3m

According to Steven Galanis, founder and CEO of Cameo, the selfie is the new signature. Based on this unique, but highly accurate mantra, it's his company's mission to provide the world of fans with selfie shoutout videos - while giving influe

Lise.FM - Tom Hush

Dec 8th, 2017 1h 14m

EPISODE 32: Tom Hush, co-host of much-loved No Coast Cinema podcast on WGN Plus, graces me with his presence on the show this week and we take a stroll through memory lane in compiling his eclectic list of film influences. We start where we, 19

Lise.FM - Amanda Scotese, Chicago Detours

Dec 1st, 2017 42m 40s

EPISODE 31: Founder & Executive Director of Chicago Detours Amanda Scotese joins me on the show this week to talk about the winding path that lead her to give amazing, story-rich tours of Chicago, of course noting her influences along the way.

Lise.FM - DJ Ca$h Era

Nov 24th, 2017 1h 35m

EPISODE 30: You know what they say: thirty, flirty & thriving! Real talk though, super cool that my podcast has exited its 20s before I myself have. And what better way to celebrate than with Chicago's own DJ Ca$h Era, of Louder Than a Bomb, No

Lise.FM - Lauren Engel

Nov 17th, 2017 1h 6m

This week, the amazing Lauren Engel joins me to talk about her YouTube series Sidewalk Talk, where she has interviewed artists like Ryan Hemsworth, Gnash, Y2K & Skylar Spence while walking around sunny LA. She tells me about growing up in Hong

Lise.FM - Ash Kordik

Nov 11th, 2017 1h 1m

This week, the lovely Ash Kordik (who happens to be one of my best friends from college) joins me for a chat on what drives her spontaneous creativity. We talk about the powerful law of attraction, Ashley's undying curiosity and fascination wit

Lise.FM - Boy Sim

Nov 3rd, 2017 1h 14m

This week, I get to talk to rising pop-star and producer Boy Sim, who calls in from LA. He tells me about seeing Britney Spears put on a kick ass show when he was only 4 and, from then on, thinking, "shit, I can do that." He walks me through hi

Lise.FM - E'mon Lauren

Oct 28th, 2017 1h 15m

EPISODE 26: Chicago’s first ever Youth Poet Laureate, E’mon Lauren joins me on the show this week to talk about her brand new book of poems, Commando! She tells me about finding and embracing writing and poetry at a young age, participating in

Lise FM - Sam Sparks

Oct 20th, 2017 1h 7m

On episode 25 of the show, stylist, author and motivational speaker Sam Sparks, joins me in the studio alongside the lovely Nadia Torrence. Sam tells me about how he became Steve Harvey's assistant personal stylist and in what amazing ways his

Lise.FM - Scott Smith

Oct 13th, 2017 49m 47s

This week I'm joined by Scott Smith, who co-wrote and directed 'Chasing the Blues,' which premieres this weekend at the Chicago Film Festival. He tells me about how he found himself writing and making films, how he met his co-writer Kevin Guilf

Lise.FM - Rich Cohen & 'The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse'

Oct 6th, 2017 41m 9s

Episode 23 - This week I'm joined Rich Cohen to talk about his new book, "The Chicago Cubs: Story of a Curse." Rich tells me about how he found his writing idols and what he learned from each of them - from Joan Didion to Tom Wolfe - and he ref

Lise.FM - Fay Ray

Sep 29th, 2017 1h 38m

I don't know about you, but this podcast is 22...episodes old! Ok, these number puns are way too easy and I should stop. Or not? Lmk. More importantly, Dan and Mariel from Chicago based band FAY RAY (FKA Church Booty) join me on the show this w

Lise.FM - Single Player

Sep 22nd, 2017 47m 45s

Sean Neumann, the brains behind Single Player, joins me for a chat about his influences - which range from AC/DC and Shania Twain to the Champaign-Urbana music scene and his awesome friends. He also tells me why his songs are so short, what he