Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez

“Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez” is a progressive talk show with heart and humor. Patti engages guests and listeners in discussions about the issues that matter most to them, shining a spotlight on local and national stories, never steering her audience astray.  The show is also broadcast on AM 950 The Progressive Voice of Minnesota KTNF and Alternative Talk 1150 KKNW Seattle.

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Notable interviews: W. Kamau Bell, Sec. of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinksi (D-IL), U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX), Wisconsin Judge Susan Crawford (as candidate), former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, comedian John Fugelsang, Fatima Goss Graves, radio host and podcaster Jody Hamilton, Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), Pennsylvania State Rep. and DNC Vice Chair Malcolm Kenyatta, actor Jason Kravits, U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Politics Girl Leigh McGowan, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker, actor Michael Rooker, U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), U.S. Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton, state Rep. James Talarico (D-TX), U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), comedian Damon Williams, legal analyst Jill Wine-Banks

About Patti
Patti Vasquez is a Chicago comedian, writer, actor, talk show host, consultant, and advocate. After earning a degree in history from the University of Illinois, she set out to share her hilarious observations about how people behave, and stories about her second-generation Irish dad and Mexican immigrant mom. Patti has headlined comedy clubs and colleges across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appeared on Nickelodeon, TBS, ABC, and The Oprah Winfrey Network, and has a recurring role on NBC’s “Chicago Fire.”

When her son Declan was born with a rare neurological disorder, Patti took her communication and performance experience and launched With Kind Words, helping medical professionals and educators communicate with compassion.

For six years, Patti was the first Latina to host her own talk show on WGN Radio 720. She now hosts Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez on WCPT 820 AM weekdays from 5–7 PM, syndicated to Minneapolis and Seattle, and has joined the WCPT sales team. She also provides commentary for the Heartland Signal newsroom.

In addition to her work as a performer and consultant, Patti has long advocated for children and families throughout Illinois — helping restore funding for vital support services after massive cuts under former Governor Bruce Rauner. In 2020 she ran for state representative of the 19th District, and she previously served as health care and human services liaison and assistant policy adviser to Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. Patti lives with her family on the Northwest Side of Chicago and continues to advocate for her community.

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Featured Interviews

Patti is joined by U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH), candidate for re-election in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District.

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Patti is joined by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL). Kelly spoke about the WELLS (Women Expansion for Learning and Labor Safety) Act that she recently introduced in Congress, and her work on Black maternal health.

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Patti is joined by U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL).

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Patti and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL).

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Patti is joined by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

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Patti is joined by Peggy Flanagan, lieutenant governor of Minnesota and candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

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Patti and guest co-host Jaime DeLeon are joined by comedian Paula Poundstone.

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 Click here for all of Patti’s Featured Interviews.

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Listen live weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at 820 AM, on TuneIn, right here on the Heartland Signal website, or watch the video stream (live or on demand) on Facebook or YouTube. You can also tell Alexa to play WCPT from TuneIn.

Text or phone 773-763-9278.
Email pvasquez@wcpt820.com.

Also follow Patti on TikTok.

“Driving It Home” is sponsored by:
Minocqua Brewing Company
Pride Coffee Roasters
Source Solar
Are You Really Winning? Illinois gambling helpline

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This week on the show:

7/6
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Dan Schaefer and their guests are
– Dan Shafer, Civic Media political editor and founding editor of The Recombobulation Area in Wisconsin
– Mark Gevaart, producer-host of “My Labor Radio,” an independent Community Access Radio program that airs every Wednesday on WELT 95.7 FM in Fort Wayne Indiana and every Sunday at 6:00 a.m. here on WCPT
– Rudy Flores, president and CEO of the Lincoln Square Chamber of Commerce, talking about Square Roots festival happening July 10-12

7/7
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– Paul Chivari, co-host of “The Sports Cubicle” on WCPT (Sundays at 9:00 p.m. Central)
– Matt Brewer, 2027 candidate for Chicago mayor [Listen]
– Gabriel Smith, general manager of Prairie Food Co-op in Lombard, Illinois

7/8
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal and their guests are
– Heather Weishaar from the Illinois Park and Recreation Association and Pam Hamil from the Addison Park District to talk about Unplug Illinois, happening Saturday, July 11 [Listen]
– Marcus King, candidate for DuPage County Board, District 3

Thu 7/9
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– Dr. Suzana Flores, psychologist and author, along with Chef Tony C., executive chef and owner of Bite Club
– Suzanna Karatassos, Democratic candidate for Georgia House of Representatives, District 120 [Listen]

Fri 7/10
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– Honorable Jill Rose Quinn, Cook County Circuit Judge
– Merril Miller, market manager of the Jefferson Park Sunday Market
– Jen Schroeder, workplace advocate for professionals over 45 and founder of The Unobsolete, where she fights age bias and builds exit strategies
– Martha Conway, award-winning author and creative writing instructor at Stanford’s Writing Certificate Program

Last week on the show:

Mon 6/29
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– Iowa Senator Catelin Drey [Listen]
– Leila Staton, Democratic candidate for Iowa House of Representatives District 54
– Paul Nolley, candidate for Congress in the 16th District of Illinois [Listen]

Tue 6/30
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– Heidi Stevens, nationally syndicated columnist, director of External Affairs at the TMW Center for Early Learning and Public Health, and fellowship coach at The OpEd Project [Listen]
– Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, immigration attorney and CEO of Lincoln-Goldfinch Law in Austin [Listen]
– Jen Golbeck, professor, computer scientist, psychologist, “expert in the far-right, online extremism, AI, and bad things on the internet,” and author of the MAGAReport on Substack; Esquire recently published her article, “My Weekend Getaway with the Proud Boys” [Listen]

Wed 7/1
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Patti is joined by guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal and their guests are
– Steve Goodie, comedian and singer-songwriter [Listen]
– Christian Mitchell, former Illinois state representative (2013-2019), deputy governor in J.B. Pritzker’s administration (2019- 2023), and 2026 candidate for lieutenant governor of Illinois (as Pritzker’s running mate) [Listen]
– Adrienne Irmer, co-founder and co-organizer of Pride South Side, happening Sunday, July 5th [Listen]

Thu 7/2
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– Jacki Belile, pastor at Eden United Church of Christ and certified empowerment coach
– Rodney Freeman, producer of the documentary “Are You a Librarian? The Untold Story of Black Librarians” [Listen]

Fri 7/3
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– Warren “Hawk” Preis, host of “Hawk Takes the Wheel,” Saturdays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Central on WCPT
– Paul Chivari, co-host of “The Sports Cubicle” on WCPT (Sundays at 9:00 p.m. Central)
– Neil Bloom, filmmaker, founder of Future Memory Media, and Rockford Public Library artist-in-residence

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“Driving It Home” now has its very own podcast. Two, in fact: Driving It Home (Full Episodes), available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon, and Driving It Home (Featured Interviews), also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and Amazon. Subscribe to one or both!  “Driving It Home” is also available at Omny.fm.