Chicago Public Schools start off the new year with more controversy as the teachers union accuses CEO Pedro Martinez of being responsible for stalled contract negotiations, a claim he disputes. “In fact, it’s just the opposite,” he says. So, what’s next? And could there be a strike? Reset gets the latest from Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Reema Amin.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
From an Afro-pop show at Promontory to a deep dive into David Bowie’s catalog at the Metro to an opportunity to participate in a live album recording at Rosa’s, there are plenty of concerts around Chicago this month worth checking out. Reset gets a roundup of shows you don’t want to miss from Mark Guarino, 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.
The state minimum wage is increasing, Gov. Pritzker’s healthcare reforms are going into effect, and digital IDs are now legal for Illinoisans.
Reset got a round up of some of the most notable laws of 2025 from WBEZ statehouse reporter Mawa Iqbal.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
Rock critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot can be called the Siskel and Ebert of music. And for more than 25 years, they’ve made a space for people who love music to come together.
That space is the radio talk show and podcast Sound Opinions. This month, they celebrate a major milestone for the show: 1,000 episodes.
Reset checks in with the hosts about the legacy of the show, standout moments, and what music they would take on a desert island.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
Women who work full time earn, on average, 83.6 cents for every dollar men do. When factoring in race, women of color earn even less on the dollar. To address this persistent gender wage gap, lawmakers amended the Illinois’ Equal Pay Act to make the job application process more transparent. Reset spoke with Sharmili Majmudar, Executive Vice President of Policy, Programs, and Research for Women Employed and Kathryn O’Connor, HR Source’s Director of Compensation about how this could affect salaried and hourly employees, and the adjustments employers will have to make.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
New Year’s is a time for resolutions, and there are oodles of cleanses and detoxes out there all promising quick results – for a price. But are they legitimate or physiologically useful? Does your body ever need a detox at all?
Reset chats with clinical assistant professor of nutrition at UIC Shayna Oshita about what’s legit, and how to engage safely.
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
The Reset team has gone through our year of conversations and hand-selected our personal faves to share with you before 2024 wraps up.
In September, Reset sat down with writer Josh Noel to talk about his book, Malort: The Redemption of a Revered and Reviled Spirit. His book asks how a spirit that “tastes like bandaids” and has been the butt of many jokes survive generations and go from a lone bottle collecting dust in the back of bars to becoming an infamous Chicago must-try experience?
This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity. You can find the original interview here: New book chronicles the unlikely staying power of Jeppson’s Malört (September 5, 2024).
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
The Reset team has gone through our year of conversations and hand-selected our personal faves to share with you before 2024 wraps up.
Back in February, we spoke with award-winning journalist and writer Charles Duhigg. He stopped by to talk about his new book, which focuses on the neuroscience and psychology of how we communicate with one another. It’s called Supercommunicators: How To Unlock The Secret Language Of Connection.
This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity. You can find the original, extended interview here: How to be a ‘Supercommunicator’ with Charles Duhigg - WBEZ Chicago (Feb. 20, 2024)
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
All during this holiday week, enjoy some of our favorite Reset conversations of 2024 – like this one, from Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco.
Lupe Fiasco is a Grammy Award-winning hip-hop artist, rapper and producer, known for his rhymes, lyrics and storytelling with albums like his 2006 debut Food & Liquor, his 2007 project The Cool and his highly anticipated 2011 album Lasers, which features hit song “The Show Goes On.”
Now, Fiasco is back with his latest record Samurai. Fiasco was introduced to martial arts by his father, Sensei Gregory Jaco. When Fiasco stopped by Reset to talk about Samurai, he also dived into the significant role Japanese culture and martial arts have played in his life on Chicago’s South Side.
This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity. Listen to the original interview here:
Lupe Fiasco on Black martial arts movement, hip-hop and his 'Samurai' tour - WBEZ Chicago (Nov. 14, 2024)
You can also WATCH our interview with Lupe Fiasco here: Lupe Fiasco on Black martial arts movement, hip-hop and his 'Samurai' tour
For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.
