Driving It Home (Featured Interviews)
Here are featured interviews from "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" (weeknights from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on WCPT Chicago), a radio talk show devoted to covering the news of the day and connecting listeners with local leaders. Patti Vasquez is a Chicago comedian, writer, actor, talk show host, consultant, advocate, and policy adviser. After achieving a degree in history from the University of Illinois, she set out to share her hilarious observations about how people behave, and stories about her second-generation Irish dad and Mexican immigrant mom. Patti has headlined in comedy clubs and colleges all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appeared on Nickelodeon, TBS, ABC, The Oprah Winfrey Network, and has a recurring role on NBC’s “Chicago Fire.” When her son Declan was born with a rare neurological disorder, Patti decided to take her communication and performance experience to launch her company “With Kind Words,” in which she helps medical professionals and educators communicate with compassion. For six years, Patti was the first Latina to host her own talk show on WGN Radio 720. In addition to her work as a performer and consultant, Patti began advocating for children and families throughout Illinois and helped restore funding for vital support services after massive cuts were made by former Governor Bruce Rauner. In 2020 she ran to be the state representative of the 19th District. She is now the health care and human services liaison and assistant policy adviser for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. Patti lives with her family on the Northwest Side of Chicago and continues to advocate for her community.
Episodes
Patti Vasquez is joined by Xp Lee, newly sworn in member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Lee won a special election last month to replace Rep. Melissa Hortmann, who was assassinated in June.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Illinois State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit (D).
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Julie Roginsky, Democratic Party strategist, CNN commentator, and co-founder of the nonprofit Lift Our Voices.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Jen Golbeck, professor, computer scientist, psychologist, “expert in the far-right, online extremism, AI, and bad things on the internet,” and author of the MAGAReport on Substack.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez and in-studio guests are joined by Monica Shapiro, resident of Grand Blanc, Michigan, podcast co-host, 2024 candidate for Grand Blanc township supervisor, and Larry David's real-life inspiration for Elaine Benes of "Seinfeld" fame.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...
Patti is joined by guest co-host Carmen Navarre Gercone and their guests are:
– Dr. Jason Bussell, director of Chicago Community Acupuncture
– Comedians Janice Rodriguez and Soli Santos, who will be performing in this weekend’s Latina Comedy Festival (along with Patti Vasquez)
– Jenny Korotko, The Approachable Healer
– Monica Shapiro, resident of Grand Blanc, Michigan,&...
Patti Vasquez is joined in studio by:
– Dee Darling, candidate for McHenry County Board District 1
– Illinois State Sen. Mike Simmons, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 9th District of Illinois
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Rick Smith, host of “The Rick Smith Show,” weekdays from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Central on WCPT.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Heidi Stevens, nationally syndicated columnist, director of External Affairs at the TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health, and fellowship coach at The OpEd Project.
She talked about her recent column, "When a shooting — any shooting — shakes a nation, we need to look at the guns."
In addressing the Trump administration's recent announcement linking Tylenol to aut...
Patti Vasquez is joined by Kevin Morrison, 15th District County Board commissioner and candidate for Congress.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Filling in for Patti Vasquez, Paul Chivari is joined by Ed Yohnka, director of communications and public policy for the ACLU of Illinois.
Yohnka discussed the Trump administration's attacks on free speech, citing the Federal Communications Commission's actions against Jimmy Kimmel and the administration's widening efforts to silence critics. He highlighted the hypocrisy in treating entertainers like Kimmel as journalists while igno...
Filling in for Patti Vasquez, Paul Chivari is joined by Kevin Schultz, professor of history at UIC and author of “Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals): A History.
Schultz discussed the history of political violence in the U.S., highlighting the recent assassinations of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman as part of a broader trend. He identified three peak period...
Filling in for Patti Vasquez, guest co-hosts Dan Schaefer and Paul Chivari are joined by Addison Township Supervisor Bobby Hernandez.
Hernandez discussed his commitment to transparency and good governance and highlighted the lawsuit the Addison Township Board just voted to bring against former Supervisor Dennis Reboletti and three other former officials for allegedly misappropriating more than $78,000 in funds.
Hernandez emphasized...
Patti Vasquez and guest co-hosts Dan Schaefer and Paul Chivari are joined by Nick Uniejewski, candidate for Illinois state Senate in the 6th District. He is challenging incumbent Sen. Sara Feigenholtz in the March 2026 primary.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
And find the "Driving It Home (Full Episodes)" podcast on...
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Matt McNeil are joined by Dan Shafer, editor of the Recombobulation Area, with a Wisconsin update.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
And find the "Driving It Home (Full Episodes)" podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon.
See omnystudio.com/listener f...
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Matt McNeil are joined by Iowa Senator-elect Catelin Drey.
Drey discussed her August 26 victory in Iowa's Senate District One, where she ran in a special election to replace Republican State Sen. Rocky De Witt, who died in June. With Drey winning the race by an 11-percent margin in a district that favored Donald Trump by 11 points in last November's election, the win made national news for...
Patti Vasquez is joined by Ashana Bigard, CEO of Amplify Justice, advocate-organizer, and author of the book "Beyond Resilience: Katrina 20."
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
And find the "Driving It Home (Full Episodes)" podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon.
See omnystudi...
Patti Vasquez is joined by Paul Glastris, editor-in-chief of The Washington Monthly, a senior fellow at the Western Policy Center in Washington, D.C. and former chief speechwriter for President Bill Clinton. He talks about Washington Monthly’s 2025 College Guide and Rankings.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
And find the ...
Patti Vasquez is joined by Junaid Ahmed, candidate for Congress in the 8th Congressional District of Illinois.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
And find the "Driving It Home (Full Episodes)" podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Jaime DeLeon are joined by comedian Paula Poundstone. She performs at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie September 27.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
And find the "Driving It Home (Full Episodes)" podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, ...
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