Podcast artwork thumbnail for The Chicago Way

The Chicago Way

John Kass, Jeff Carlin

Booking Overview

A weekly interview-led Chicago politics and news show featuring local political candidates, strategists, media personalities, and civic or cultural figures alongside host commentary. Credible pitches include Chicago- and Illinois-focused elected officials, campaign strategists, journalists, policy experts, and locally prominent community leaders; booking difficulty is medium because guests generally need timely local expertise or established regional visibility.

Metrics

Episodes: 98

Frequency: Weekly

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Estimated listeners: 10,000 - 100,000

Gender skew: Male

Listener location: USA

YouTube: 12.4k subscribers

Instagram: 17.0k followers

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

dmarzullo@wgnradio.com

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Host

John Kass - Chicago Tribune columnist and Chicago-based political and news commentator.

Jeff Carlin - WGN Radio broadcaster and host.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium
Typical Credentials:  
Chicago- or Illinois-focused political candidates, campaign strategists, journalists, broadcasters, policy commentators, and locally prominent civic or cultural figures with direct knowledge of current regional issues.
Required Achievements:  
Running for or holding local political office, Leading political campaigns or communications firms, Hosting or contributing to established regional media programs, Organizing recognized Chicago-area cultural events

Recent Guest Discussions

Mike Houlihan - His Recent Column And The Irish American Movie Hooley Film Festival.

Danielle Carter-Walters - Her Mayoral Campaign, Motivations For Running, Experiences With The City, And Political Organizing.

Thom Serafin - The Chicago Mayoral Race, Political Strategy, His Lunch With Fidel Castro, And The Prospects For A Bears Stadium.

Dan Proft - Illinois Republican Politics, Criticism Surrounding The Party's Decline, And The State's Political System.

Recent Topics

Politics, Local Politics, Chicago Politics, Illinois Politics, Elections

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
The Chicago Way
:

Chicago Way w/John Kass: The time is now for independent media in Illinois

October 05, 2026

Chicago Way w/John Kass (10/05/26): On this episode, author and retired director of medical intensive care at Cook County Hospital in Chicago for over 20 years Dr. Cory Franklin joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to discuss the need for independent media in Chicago and what it was like working with editors who pushed hard […]

Chicago Way w/John Kass: When good food is simple, what more do you need?

September 28, 2026

Chicago Way w/John Kass (09/28/26): Revered Chicago restaurateur Jimmy Banakis joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to discuss his recent visit to Greece, the foods scene there, and what he thinks every restaurant should do to insure people come back. Plus, Kasso questions why some places put a clown show to impress? Follow Everything John […]

Chicago Way w/John Kass: A hooley of a good time

September 21, 2026

Chicago Way w/John Kass (09/21/26): Mike ‘Houli’ Houlihan joins John Kass & Jeff Carlin to talk about his recent column on JohnKassNews.com and the 12th Annual Irish American Movie Hooley film festival. Plus, Kasso tells the story about his career being launched by parade queen. Follow Everything John Kass – JohnKassNews.com Follow @John_Kass Follow @JPCarlin […]

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Frequently asked questions

Here's some frequently asked questions for
The Chicago Way
:

How do I get in touch with The Chicago Way?

The Chicago Way is hosted by John Kass and Jeff Carlin. Its publicly listed email is dmarzullo@wgnradio.com. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for The Chicago Way?

The publicly listed email for The Chicago Way: dmarzullo@wgnradio.com.

How many listeners does The Chicago Way have?

Podseeker estimates The Chicago Way reaches 10,000 to 100,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for The Chicago Way?

The Chicago Way typically books industry leaders. Typical guest background: Chicago- or Illinois-focused political candidates, campaign strategists, journalists, broadcasters, policy commentators, and locally prominent civic or cultural figures with direct knowledge of current regional issues. Common among recent guests: Running for or holding local political office; Leading political campaigns or communications firms; Hosting or contributing to established regional media programs. Recent guests include Mike Houlihan, Danielle Carter-Walters, and Thom Serafin.

How hard is it to get booked on The Chicago Way?

Medium. Guests usually need solid credentials in the topic and an idea that fits the show.

What topics does The Chicago Way cover?

Recent episodes cover Politics, Local Politics, Chicago Politics, Illinois Politics, and Elections. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.

Publicly listed emails

dmarzullo@wgnradio.com

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