From Heartland Signal and WCPT AM 820 in Chicago, here are full episodes of "Joan Esposito: Live, Local and Progressive" (weekdays from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Central), a topical and interactive talk show that focuses on national, state and city politics. A veteran Chicago broadcaster, Joan talks to politicians and professors, activists and authors, candidates and correspondents, as well as listeners who call in to share their views on the news of the day. Her goal is to Edify, Entertain and Elect — Democrats, of course. Joan Esposito has hosted WCPT's afternoon show since 2019. Prior to that she spent 20 years as a Chicago telev...
Latest episodes
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2 h 20
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 26, 2026
On today's show– Bill Scher, politics editor at Washington Monthly; his latest articles are “Meet the Democratic Senate Candidates Who Are Overperforming. And Underperforming” and…
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2 h 24
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 23, 2026
On today's show– Chris Fitzsimon, host of the Stories from the States podcast; a radio version of the podcast now airs on WCPT Sundays at 6:00 p.m. Central– Bruce Rheins, former CB…
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2 h 31
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive with guest host Rickey Hendon | October 22, 2026
On today's show Rickey Hendon fills in for Joan and his guests are– Willie Wilson, 2027 candidate for Chicago mayor– Pennie McCoach, president and business agent of the Amalgamated…
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2 h 25
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive with guest host Carolyn Fiddler | October 21, 2026
On today's show Carolyn Fiddler fills in for Joan and her guests are– Ben Jacobs, reporter– Chris Mann, Democratic candidate for attorney general of Kansas – Heather Williams, pres…
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2 h 19
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive with guest host Mike Nellis | October 20, 2026
On today's show Mike Nellis fills in for Joan and his guests are– Aaron Kleinman, Heartland Signal‘s senior political analyst and author of the “Radio Free America” newsletter– Mel…
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2 h 19
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 19, 2026
On today's show– Amanda Zahorak, Democratic candidate for Illinois House District 48– Paul Lisnek, multi-Emmy Award-winning TV host who served as political and legal analyst at WGN…
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2 h 23
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 16, 2026
On today's show– Jen Thompson, former political campaign manager, former counsel in the U.S. House and Senate, and author of “Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten” (20…
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2 h 27
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 15, 2026
On today's show– Laura Belin, publisher, editor, and reporter for Bleeding Heartland, a community website focused on Iowa politics– John Bartman, fifth-generation Illinois soybean…
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2 h 19
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 14, 2026
On today's show– John Stoehr, editor and publisher of The Editorial Board, "a newsletter about politics in plain English for normal people and the common good"– Tom Villanova of So…
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2 h 22
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 13, 2026
On today's show– John Parker, host of “The Gaily Show,” weeknights at 10:00 Central on WCPT– Carolyn Fiddler, state politics expert and author of the newsletter "This Week in State…
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2 h 19
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 12, 2026
On today's show– Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible– Michael Hawthorne, Pulitzer-finalist investigative reporter who focuses on the environment and public health for…
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2 h 28
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 9, 2026
On today's show– Chris Fitzsimon, host of the Stories from the States podcast– Carlos Ballesteros, reporter for Injustice Watch, Chicago-based nonprofit journalism organization tha…
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2 h 24
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive special broadcast with Will County Democrats | October 8, 2026
On today's show Joan broadcasts live from Moe Joe's Restaurant in Plainfield, Illinois, and her guests are– Marc McKirdie, candidate for Will County Board, District 3– Sherry Newqu…
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2 h 25
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 7, 2026
On today's show– David DeWitt, Ohio Capital Journal editor-in-chief and opinion columnist– U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL)– Rex Huppke, USA Today columnist; his latest column is…
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2 h 21
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 6, 2026
On today's show– Katherine Dailey, state government and policy reporter for Michigan Advance– Matt McNeil, host of “The Matt McNeil Show,” weekdays at 9:00 p.m. on WCPT– Army Maj.…
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2 h 21
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 5, 2026
On today's show– Ray Long, retired Chicago Tribune investigative reporter– Julie Roginsky, author of the Salty Politics newsletter on Substack and co-founder of the nonprofit Lift…
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2 h 23
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 2, 2026
On today's show– Zack Cooper, associate professor of public health and associate professor of economics at Yale University; he is also director of the Health Care Affordability Lab…
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2 h 25
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | October 1, 2026
On today's show– Allan Lichtman, distinguished professor of history at American University and author of the new book "Great American Presidents: The Twelve Who Transformed the Nat…
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2 h 22
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive | September 30, 2026
On today's show– Christopher Armitage, author, veteran, former law enforcement officer, activist, policy adviser, and publisher of The Existentialist Republic on Substack; his late…
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2 h 18
Joan Esposito: Live, Local & Progressive special broadcast with Southland Friends of Labor | September 29, 202…
Joan Esposito is live at the new state of the art Plumber’s Training Center in Joliet, Illinois, for Get Out The Vote with Southland Friends of Labor. She is joined by guest co-hos…