Author: WBEZ Chicago

Do you love to sing in the shower? Are you a regular at your local karaoke bar? Well, get ready to sing your heart out in front of 5,000 Chicagoans! The Empty Bottle and Salt Shed Chicago are hoping to make it into the ranks of the Guinness Book of World Records for hosting what they’re calling World’s Largest Karaoke on Aug. 8. Expect to write your name and song of choice on a sheet of paper and drop it into a bucket day-of. If you’re lucky, you might just be selected to grace the Salt Shed stage. So get ready to dust off the old pipes and RSVP for free here, or just show up. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

TV and movies are streamed, our communication becomes data in the form of emails, texts and tweets, and AI appears in new parts of our lives. Our increasingly digitized economy is fueling the need for more places to store information. But large data centers use the same amount of water as small municipalities in the U.S. on a daily basis just to cool down their servers. Reset learns more about how data centers work and what needs to be done to reduce the environmental impact from Andrew Chien, professor computer science, University of Chicago, Chheng Lim, architect SNHA and Karen Weigert, Reset sustainability contributor and director of Loyola University Chicago’s Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Solidarity. Agency. Creativity. Those are just some of the words that describe Chicago’s disability arts scene. It’s Disability Pride Month, which honors the history and experiences of disability communities. But disabled artists are pushing the city’s creative scene forward on a year-round basis. Reset sat down with painter Riva Lehrer, media artist Andy Slater, and dancer Robby Lee Williams. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

One day, you or a loved one will likely need long-term care. Whether it’s living in a nursing home or receiving care from family members, it can be difficult to know what’s the best and most affordable option. And with the rising cost of long-term care, it’s becoming increasingly inaccessible for families across the country. Reset hears caregivers’ stories and learns about the challenges of navigating the long-term care system. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The National Association of Black Journalists’ annual convention kicks off tomorrow on Michigan Avenue. Every presidential election year, the NABJ extends an invite to both candidates to attend the convention. Trump took them up on the offer just last night, sparking a firestorm among some Black journalists and NABJ members on social media. Reset sits down with two Black journalists in Chicago to unpack the news. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

The Board of Education has approved Chicago Public Schools’ proposed $9.9 billion dollar budget for the 2024-2025 school year, following pressure from the Chicago Teachers Union, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and even some board members. The budget excludes funding for upcoming union contracts, and Board of Education president Jinanan Shi called it “unfinished.” Reset learns what the budget is going to cover, and how it will impact CPS students and staff. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Athletes who caught the public eye but didn’t get a chance to compete in 2020, including gymnast Simone Biles and runner Sha-Carri Richardson, will do so this year. Several sports, including surfing, rock climbing and skateboarding will return to the Paris games for the second time and breakdancing makes its debut. Reset gets insight into who, and what, to watch. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

You can’t talk about Chicago blues without talking about Muddy Waters. His talent shaped the genre, and fostered a community of legends like John Lee Hooker, BB King and Chuck Berry. So for the latest in our "What's That Building?" series, architecture sleuth Dennis Rodkin takes us to Mojo Museum, the 19th century two-flat in Kenwood that was Muddy Waters' longtime home and rehearsal space. The sweet sounds of blues still ring throughout the area today during monthly backyard concerts. And we’ll hear from the family member keeping the blues great’s memory alive.

Megan Hammond came to Chicago in 2018 to study music at Columbia College. Since then, she’s released her own songs that highlight her powerful vocals, artful lyricism and genre-bending range. Now, she’ll be taking the stage at Lollapalooza as a part of the Chicago Made Music Showcase on Sunday, Aug. 4. Reset sits down with the singer to hear how she became the artist and musician she is today. For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.