Author: WBEZ Chicago

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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Challenge Yourself To Buy ‘No New Things’

In a world where we’re constantly being bombarded with advertisements and multimillion-dollar marketing campaigns, we’re bound to hit “Add to cart” without a second thought. In the new book No New Things, author Ashlee Piper issues a challenge, where — you guessed it — you don’t buy anything new. Reset sits down with Piper to learn why we have so much stuff and where to start saving our money, time and minds. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - From Retirement To A Potential ‘Trumpcession,’ Let’s Talk Finances

President Trump’s back-and-forth on tariffs in recent days has led to major ups and downs in the stock market, worrying investors. So, what, if any, changes should people consider making to their portfolios. Reset gets tips from the director of personal finance and retirement planning with the firm Morningstar, author of 30-Minute Money Solutions: A Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Your Finances Christine Benz. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - US International Students At Risk Of Deportation

All over the country, international students are having their student visas revoked. Their respective universities and the federal government have provided little to no information regarding why their status was changed. Most recently, students at the University of Chicago have been targeted. Reset explores the issue further with Professor of American constitutional law at the University of Chicago Genevieve Lakier and Coordinator for the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration Jin Kim. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - The Marketbox Project: Neighbors Who Eat And Dream Together

Marketbox, started in April 2020, is a twice-monthly food delivery program based on a model of neighbors funding farms to feed neighbors. Some of the co-founders are envisioning a new way to engage neighbors, over shared meals and discussions of pressing issues facing the community. Reset learns more about the Marketbox Lecture Series with co-founders Mara Heneghan and Maira Khwaja. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Curious City - You May Also Like: Stories Without End

Introducing WBEZ's latest podcast series, Making: Stories Without End. Host Natalie Moore takes you on a journey to learn about daytime soap operas and their broad reach on television. From the early radio days in the 1930s through the invention of TV to streaming, this way of telling immersive stories has endured. There are intergenerational family stories, discussions about divorce and abortion, groundbreaking storylines dealing with queer representation. And all these threads go back to one Chicago woman, Irna Phillips. The queen of soaps originated, wrote or supervised more than a dozen daytime serials for more than 40 years… and left a lasting mark on the television industry. You’ll hear the story behind the stories from scholars, actors, writers – from the past and now – as well as fans.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - You May Also Like: Stories Without End

Introducing WBEZ's latest podcast series, Making: Stories Without End. Host Natalie Moore takes you on a journey to learn about daytime soap operas and their broad reach on television. From the early radio days in the 1930s through the invention of TV to streaming, this way of telling immersive stories has endured. There are intergenerational family stories, discussions about divorce and abortion, groundbreaking storylines dealing with queer representation. And all these threads go back to one Chicago woman, Irna Phillips. The queen of soaps originated, wrote or supervised more than a dozen daytime serials for more than 40 years… and left a lasting mark on the television industry. You’ll hear the story behind the stories from scholars, actors, writers – from the past and now – as well as fans.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Behind The Charm Of Chicago’s Indie Band starcharm

Bandmates and best friends Elena Buenrostro, Amaya Peña and Jasmin Feliciano make up the Chicago band starcharm. Last year, the trio came together and played their very first show. Now, they’re working on their very first album release. Reset sits down with two members Elena Buenrostro and Amaya Peña to learn more about their friendship, finding their sound, and more. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - WBEZ’s Weekly News Recap, April 11, 2025

Mayor Johnson’s first aldermanic appointment is approved and a Chicago City Council committee advances a measure banning Jan. 6 participants from city jobs. Reset dives into these and other top local stories in the Weekly News Recap with Quinn Myers, Block Club Chicago reporte; Brandis Friedman, WTTW “Chicago Tonight” anchor; and Tom Schuba, Chicago Sun-Times reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - April Concerts In Iconic Chicago Clubs

Ready for some mandolin? How about music played on the balafon, a kind of West African marimba? Those are just two of the instruments taking center stage this month in concerts around Chicago as artists like Sierra Hull and Winard Harper come to town. Reset gets a roundup of shows you don’t want to miss this month from Mark Guarino, WBEZ contributor, author of Country & Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
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Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Who Tows The Tow Trucks? Soon, It Could Be You

Chicago has a major rogue tow operator problem. Rogue towing operators prowl crash scenes, take vehicles away, and then stick drivers with massive fees to get their cars back. More than 500 predatory tows were reported in the Chicago area in 2023. But now, a new proposed ordinance making its way through City Council could crack down on the problem, and would allow drivers and insurers to sue rogue tow truck drivers. Reset finds out more about this issue from Mitch Armentrout, Chicago Sun-Times reporter. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.