Author: WBEZ Chicago

If you ask us, the Chicago theater scene doesn’t play enough Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam. Enter: Chicagoans Ruth Guerra and Ricardo Gamboa. They are the co-creators of “Ruth on the Rocks,” a one-woman play starring Guerra that’s not your typical show. Each show, the audience picks a track from a list of songs that Ruth uses as inspiration in real time to tell a story from her life. Together, they create a “mixtape,” making the show a different experience every time. Reset sits down with the co-creators Ricard Gamboa and Ruth Guerra to understand the unique artistry behind the show.

The median increase in property bills was 20%, but in the majority Black southern suburbs, bills went up by 30% or more. This left some residents paying more than homeowners in the northern suburbs, where homes are valued higher. Reset learns about the factors leading to the increase and what could be done to lower these bills from WBEZ metro reporter Adora Namigadde. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Humans have loved on our feline friends for thousands of years. The connection and history of the relationship between humans and cats is being featured in an exhibit at the Field Museum. The exhibit features cats from all over the world through photos, film, archaeological items, and more. Reset gets into the history of the human/cat fascination with Monisa Ahmed, exhibition developer at the Field Museum. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

What makes a diner nowadays? Is it the cheap eats? Is it the interior? What’s your go-to spot in or around Chicago? Reset digs into what makes a quintessential Chicago diner with Maggie Hennessy, WBEZ contributor and food writer. We also hear from listeners about their favorites .For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Studs Terkel’s 1967 book Division Street: America was an oral history chronicling Chicago life at the time, with a cross-section of residents sharing their thoughts, feelings, dreams and fears. A new seven-part podcast series now revisits Terkel’s Division Street, to answer the question: “What happened to those people and their hopes and dreams?” Through interviews with the descendants of some of the 71 Chicagoans Terkel highlighted, Division Street, Revisited picks up the baton of Terkel’s audio storytelling legacy. Reset sits down with the creators of the podcast Mary Schmich and Melissa Harris to find out more. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

One Curious City listener wrote in and asked, “Why are there so many birds in O'Hare?” So, the Curious City team took to the airport to find out. Reset checks in with Erin Allen, host and reporter, WBEZ’s Curious City. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Last Days of Cabrini-Green tells the story of seven-year-old Dantrell Davis and his mother Annette Freeman. Davis was shot and killed while he and his mother walked to his school on Oct. 13, 1992. His killing sparked raids and overpolicing in the neighborhood. Reset sits down with the creators of the podcast – journalist Ben Austen and writer Harrison Rivers – to learn more about their stories and history. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

From savory waffles made from stuffing to pie for breakfast to soul food egg rolls, the possibilities for Thanksgiving leftovers are endless. Reset gets tips from parenting blogger Jenny LeFlore and Monica Eng, Chicago reporter for Axios and host of the Chewing podcast. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.