After Hours with Rick Kogan

10/15/2026

Return with us now to the wild and wonderful days and nights of the Organic Theater, as a new book evokes "Warp!" and "Bleacher Bums" and all the other on-stage magic created by Stuart Gordon and his gang of artists.

New book remembers the formative Chicago theater company that gave us Joe Mantegna, Dennis Franz, the first Mamet plays and “Bleacher Bums.”

10/13/2026

Many Second City alums have made it big in Hollywood. But times change and a couple of SC veterans are making movies in Oklahoma City and loving it.

“Drive Through Fire” is the latest movie project from Jim Carlson and Kate Duffy, two Second City alums who now live in Oklahoma City.

10/12/2026

It's After Hours Podcast Monday so have a listen to Chuck Cherney and wife, Danita, about their son who died from an overdose of fentanyl but not before writing “Puzzled Pup,” a charming children's book (as Jake Stevens), proceeds going to Families Against Fentanyl and The GenderCool Project. https://wgnradio.com/after-hours-with-rick-kogan/puzzled-pup-spreads-a-message-of-acceptance-and-self-discovery/

10/12/2026

It's After Hours Podcast Monday and you can listen to author Rebecca Chamian Ribaudo discuss her powerful first novel “Crossing Division Street.” https://wgnradio.com/after-hours-with-rick-kogan/crossing-division-street-explores-race-identity-and-survival-in-america/

10/12/2026

It's After Hours Podcast Monday, featuring Candace Jordan talking about social and philanthropic scene in the fall and her friend Maria Pappas.

Journalist and media personality Candace Jordan joins Rick Kogan to discuss the state of parties, events, and news across Chicago. Candace talks about whether Maria Pappas will run for ma…

10/07/2026

On marathon Sunday, five Chicago guys will be at it for the last time together. They may have some aches and pains now but, man, do they have memories and some very understanding wives.

If you are watching the marathon on Sunday, know that the race is a gathering of human beings, with five marathon men making one last long run.

10/06/2026

Maria Pappas says, “I have lived many lives” and to help tell the stories about those lives she wisely chose Mark Eleveld and the result is a book, "Maria the Pappas," filled with surprises and many, many photos.

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas recently released her memoir, “Maria the Pappas,” co-written with the Chicago writer and poet Mark Eleveld.

10/05/2026

It's After Hours Podcast Monday, featuring Mark Guarino on the week's John Prine celebrations and five good guys running their final Chicago Marathon together for two charities. Listen at your leisure. https://wgnradio.com/after-hours-with-rick-kogan/

10/01/2026

A John Prine 80th birthday week here, fitting because this is where he was born and where he first picked up guitar and first wrote the songs that worked their way into local hearts and heads for keeps.

As understandably restrained and quiet was the 2020 funeral of John Prine, the upcoming celebrations surrounding what would have been this singer-songwriter’s 80th birthday will be lavish and music-filled.

09/29/2026

Twenty lives just changed and might wind up making this world a better place thanks to the MacArthur so-called "genius grants."

Among the winners of 2026 MacArthur Fellowships is Vincenzo Vitelli, a 48-year-old theoretical physicist at the University of Chicago.