Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez (Featured Interviews)
From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, here are featured interviews from "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" (weeknights from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.), a radio talk show devoted to covering the news of the day and connecting listeners with local leaders. Patti Vasquez is a Chicago comedian, writer, actor, talk show host, consultant, advocate, and policy adviser. After achieving 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 in comedy clubs and colleges all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe, appeared on Nickelodeon, TBS, ABC, 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 decided to take her communication and performance experience to launch her company “With Kind Words,” in which she helps 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. In addition to her work as a performer and consultant, Patti began advocating for children and families throughout Illinois and helped restore funding for vital support services after massive cuts were made by former Governor Bruce Rauner. In 2020 she ran to be the state representative of the 19th District. She is now the health care and human services liaison and assistant policy adviser for Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza. Patti lives with her family on the Northwest Side of Chicago and continues to advocate for her community.
Episodes
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by Julie Fortier, candidate for Congress in the 12th District of Illinois.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and author of "Privacy’s Defender: My Thirty-Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance.”
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Scott Kurashige, author, educator, activist, and public speaker. His new book, "American Peril: The Violent History of Anti-Racism," is out April 7.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Teri O’Brien, new owner of The Hideout Chicago.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
Photo: Lindsey Torres
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Danielle Kennedy, actress playing the role of Agnes Festersen on Peacock’s comedy-mystery series “The ‘Burbs.”
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Starr De Los Santos, associate director of Coalitions for Women Employed, and Steering Committee member of the Equal Pay Chicago Coalition (EPCC), following the March 26 Equal Pay Day Rally at Chicago's Daley Plaza.
Anchored by Women Employed, the Equal Pay Chicago Coalition brings together organizations, businesses, and government partners committed to advancing pay equity in Chicago through a...
Patti Vasquez is joined by Shasti Conrad, chair of the Washington State Democratic Party; she is the first woman of color and youngest person to lead the Washington Democrats, and the first South Asian woman to lead a state party in the entire country.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...
Patti Vasquez is joined by Robert Held, Chicago attorney, Air Force veteran, anti-ICE activist. He was at O'Hare Monday monitoring Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Bill Gorgo are joined by Dr. Lisa Patel, executive director for the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez and guest co-host Ken Mejia-Beal are joined by Sam Hayes, writer and director from Chicago; he wrote, directed and produced the feature film “Pools“ (2025).
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Tim Murphy, national correspondent at Mother Jones, on his recent article “Can James Talarico Convince Democrats He’s the Fighter They Need?" (The interview was recorded March 13.)
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Corbin Trent, Democratic strategist who served as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s communications director and is currently the publisher of “America’s Undoing” on Substack.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Dr. Kristin Lyerly, OB/GYN, political activist, former candidate for Congress, and content creator.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Shawn Childs, executive director of No Kids Die in the Chi.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Speaking from Margaret Croke Election Night headquarters, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joins WCPT's Patti Vasquez and Joan Esposito.
Listen to WCPT's full Election Night coverage: https://omny.fm/shows/joan-esposito-live-local-progressive/wcpts-primary-election-night-special-coverage-march-17-2026.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At Robin Kelly Election Night headquarters, WCPT's Whitney Randall is joined by Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL), candidate for U.S. Senate, who had just conceded defeat in the primary election. Joan Esposito and Patti Vasquez are WCPT's studio anchors.
Listen to WCPT's full Election Night coverage: https://omny.fm/shows/joan-esposito-live-local-progressive/wcpts-primary-election-night-special-coverage-march-17-2026.
At Juliana Stratton Election Night headquarters, WCPT's Ellen Miller is joined by Dovile Cather, Juliana Stratton campaign manager, shortly after Stratton was declared the winner of the U.S. Senate primary in Illinois. Joan Esposito and Patti Vasquez are WCPT's studio anchors.
Listen to WCPT's full Election Night coverage: https://omny.fm/shows/joan-esposito-live-local-progressive/wcpts-primary-election-night-specia...
Patti Vasquez is joined in studio by Stephanie Kifowit, Illinois state representative and 2026 candidate for Illinois state comptroller.
They're joined in studio by Jen Banek, Lake County coroner and candidate for State Central Committeewoman in the 10th Congressional District.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home...
Patti Vasquez is joined in studio by Bushra Amiwala, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 9th District of Illinois.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Patti Vasquez is joined by Illinois State Sen. Mike Simmons, Democratic candidate for Congress in the 9th District of Illinois.
Catch "Driving It Home with Patti Vasquez" weekdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Central on WCPT (heartlandsignal.com/programs/driving-it-home).
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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