Acclaimed author Ron Chernow, of Hamilton fame, is one of the most renowned voices in history and politics. Recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal, Chernow has dedicated his life to telling the stories of some of the most notable figures in history. Chernow joins The Interview Show host Mark Bazer to discuss his newest work, Mark Twain, a nuanced portrait of "the father of American literature." Drawing on thousands of letters and hundreds of unpublished manuscripts, Chernow captures the exuberant genius whose career reflected the country's westward expansion, industrialization and foreign wars, and became the white author of his generation who grappled most fully with the legacy of slavery. Hear from Chernow as he sheds light on the life of Mark Twain — from his start as a brash journalist to his days as the most notable political pundit in the U.S.

[Podcast Credits]

Live event programmed by Mark Bazer

Live event produced by Jesse Swanson

Live event stage managed by Rebecca Dose

Live event produced and mixed by Dan Glomski

Production assistance by Aaron Stephenson / Micquela Washington

Podcast edited and mixed by Katherine Kermgard

Voiceover by Anthony Fleming III

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Actor, comedian, writer, and producer Ed Helms joins us in conversation with podcast host and producer Greta Johnsen to discuss his new book SNAFU, which brings you an absurdly entertaining look at history's greatest screwups. Helms steps in as unofficial history teacher diving into each decade's craziest SNAFUs like planting nukes on the moon to training felines as CIA spies to weaponizing the weather.

SHOW NOTES:

Read the podcast transcript

CW: Mature language and subject matter

Photo: Ed Helms (right) and Greta Johnsen (left) on stage at First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple at the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival in May 2025.

Live event programmed by Michael Green
Live event produced by Jesse Swanson
Live event stage managed by Kait Samuels
Live event produced and mixed by Dan Glomski
Production assistance by Carl Herzog / Hope Mignini
Podcast edited and mixed by Katherine Kermgard
Voiceover by Anthony Fleming III

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Originator of the role Aaron Burr in the Broadway smash hit Hamiliton, Leslie Odom, Jr. reflects on his Tony and Grammy Award-winning, Oscar and Emmy Award-nominated career. With a loving eye toward his own creative practice and collaborative spirit, he gabs with NBC's Matthew Rodrigues on self-care, fame, and might just bring us a little Christmas in June by the end.

SHOW NOTES:

Read the podcast transcript.

PHOTO: Matthew Rodrigues and Leslie Odom, Jr. on stage at Francis W. Parker School at the Chicago Humanities 2025 Spring Festival.

Read:

Leslie Odom, Jr., Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning

Watch:

One Night in Miami... trailer

Leslie Odom Jr. Sings A Change is Gonna Come

Purlie Victorious PBS Great Performances

Explore:

https://www.instagram.com/rodriguesmatt/

Live event programmed by Kaity O'Reilly

Live event produced by Jesse Swanson

Live event stage managed by Sophia Fishkin

Live event produced and mixed by Jeff Kolar

Production assistance by Hope Mignini, Rach Granillo, Bucky Emmerling, and Cody Kressman

Podcast edited and mixed by Alisa Rosenthal

Podcast story editing by Alexandra Quinn

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Our goal at Chicago Humanities Tapes is to help you get closer to the answers to life's biggest questions with the brightest minds the world offers. And we'll get those answers eventually according to philosopher Agnes Callard, though it might take another 10,000 years of humanity. So, how do we live our lives knowing we'll never know the answers to life's biggest questions such as: is there a God? What makes a good parent? Should I have gone into academia? Her and University of Chicago constitutional law professor William Baude think the answer is in the Socratic method – asking questions without the goal of persuasion, being ok without getting answers, and living a life examined. This spirited conversation also touches on confirmation bias, the challenges of making new friends as an adult, and how to pause and ask yourself those big philosophical questions… without being driven to madness.

SHOW NOTES

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: Mentions of suicide.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988 lifeline.org.

PHOTO: Agnes Callard and William Baude.

Read:

Open Socrates: The Case for a Philosophical Life, Agnes Callard

Listen:

Minds Almost Meeting podcast

Live event programmed by Michael Green

Live event produced by Jesse Swanson

Live event stage managed by Rebecca Dose, Juju Laurie, Aryn Henderson

Live event produced and mixed by Jeff Kolar, Ryn Hardiman, Nick Broste

Production assistance by River Williams and Logan Venezia

Podcast edited and mixed by Alisa Rosenthal

Podcast story editing by Alexandra Quinn

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Join fine art painters turned sign designers turned book publishers Andrew and Kelsey McClellan of Heavy Pages Press on a lovingly nerdy investigation through the signs of Chicago's small businesses of yesteryear. A chance encounter with a perfectly preserved "ghost sign" by the Beverly Design Co. from the 1930s led them to uncover previously lost sign design sketches. They sit down with podcast host Alisa Rosenthal to discuss their book The Golden Era of Sign Design: The Rediscovered Sketches of Beverly Sign Co., what it was like to interview tough talking old timer painters, and their hope for how access to this rediscovered material will usher in the next generation of great designers.

Tickets to Heavy Pages Press with Tanner Woodford, founder and executive director of the Design Museum of Chicago, on Saturday, May 10, 2025 from 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm CT at Co-Prosperity available here.

Explore the rest of the Bridgeport Day 2025 events here.

SHOW NOTES:

Read the podcast transcript.

PHOTO: Kelsey and Andrew McClellan and Alisa Rosenthal chat over Zoom.

Read:

The Golden Era of Sign Design: The Rediscovered Sketches of Beverly Sign Co., Heavy Pages Press

Explore:

Heart & Bone Signs

"The Chicago Look" Edition Field Notes

The Monadnock Building

Podcast edited and mixed by Alisa Rosenthal

Podcast story editing by Alexandra Quinn

Additional assistance provided by Lauren Pacheco

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In support of Chicago-based klezmer band Upshtat Zingerai bringing Yiddish tunes and dancing to the Chicago Humanities Spring Festival, the creative partners behind the Jewish Museum of Chicago sat down with podcast host Alisa Rosenthal to preview the upcoming event. They chat artistic process, visions for having a future physical space, and how the museum project was started to fill a void in the Chicago arts scene as a hub for Jewish artists and community members.

Explore the rest of the Lakeview Day 2025 events here.

Subscribe to the podcast • Let us know what you think by taking the short survey

SHOW NOTES:

Read the podcast transcript.

PHOTO: Maya Kosover, Gabriel Chalfin-Piney-González, and Alisa Rosenthal talk over Zoom.

Learn more about the Jewish Museum of Chicago

Follow @jewishmuseumchicago on Instagram

Follow @upshtatzingerai on Instagram

Episode photo of Grace Gittelman, a Jewish Museum of Chicago 2024 Artist Fellow. Photo by Ricardo E. Adame.

Edited and mixed by Alisa Rosenthal

Podcast story editing by Alexandra Quinn

Additional assistance from Kaity O'Reilly

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