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A radio show, podcast, and radical media hub showcasing culture workers reshaping Chicago for the more equitable and creative. Listen to longform humanizing conversations with artists, organizers, performers, comedians, scholars, and more who are reimagining Chicago and beyond toward liberation. Hosted by Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger.
With Daniel out of town, Damon sits down with some of the organizers of the Healing Village, a pop-up encampment in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood. The Healing Village is an accessible mental health space that is "artful, imaginative, expansive, and free from stigma." Led by community organizations STOP, BLMChi, and the #LetUsBreathe Collective, the Healing Village has brought a wide range of free classes, therapy sessions, meditation workshops, and skills trainings to a previously abandoned lot. In the face of an eviction notice from Alderman Willie Cochran, who is currently under several indictments and last week referred to himself as a self-proclaimed "gangster," the village has been facing eviction. Learn about the next steps, the work of the village, and more. Recorded live 8/9/2018 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago Music from this week's show: Puddles (feat. @Sabapivot) - @the-omys
As she puts it, Kwynn Riley isn't healed, but she's better. She is a poet, organizer, and blogger who hosts and runs the new In the Yard Open Mic series at Breathing Room, #LetUsBreathe's movement-building and healing hub on the South Side, which has brought folks out from all corners of the city. She has a second book on the way, and a play going up at Black Ensemble Theater. She stops by to talk about growing through the stillborn birth of her son this past winter, learning from family, and much more. Recorded live 8/2/18 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago Music from this week's show: Take It All In, Check It All Out - Bill Withers
little bear is having a hell of a whirlwind week here in Chicago. Between Pitchfork pop-ins, studio sessions, press, a backyard release party for their new EP Needs on Thursday, and playing in the house band at the third annual Chicago Poetry Block Party, the Bronx-based electrabrasspop artist is on the run, and enjoying every minute. Their new EP features AirGo alums the Burns Twins and Sol Patches, and the Chicago connections run deep (their brother just happens to be AirGo cohost Kiss). With Damon out of town, the two brothers talk music, next steps, shared childhood, and more. Recorded live 7/26/18 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago Music from this week's show: Private Parts - @littlebearsoundslike Needs - @littlebearsoundslike Home - @littlebearsoundslike
This week's guest is Loona Dae, a vocalist, songwriter, and producer originally from St. Louis who has been a mainstay here in Chicago for a few years now. She recently dropped a fantastic new track produced by AirGo alum Eddie Burns called "Summertime (U Remind Me)," and has a new project called Moon Flower coming soon. In the meantime, peep her Phases EP from last year! Recorded live 7/1/18 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago Music from this week's show: Summertime (prod. Eddie Burns) - @loonadae
Shawnee Dez is a vocalist, songwriter, and joyous spirit. Living in the world of soul music, Shawnee's sound connects to a lineage, but can't be mistaken for anyone but her. She swings by AirGo to get nostalgic, wax rhapsodic, light us all up, and more. Recorded live 7/12/18 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago Music from this week's show: A Blues in Tyne - Alexis Lombre Wasted Time - @shawneedez x Matt Hines
None of us know the future–no matter how muscular our radical imagination. But we do know that as long as Kaleb Autman is in it, there will be at least one person bringing love, honesty, and courageous, quiet righteousness to our fights for liberation. The 16 year-old organizer, photographer and writer delves deep into his thoughts on student protest, building a life, Future Kaleb, and more. Recorded 6/22/18 in Chicago Music from this week's episode: The Kiss - Roulet
Mani Jurdan is finding balance. He's a rapper from out west, mentor at a youth program in Austin, and a happily-affiliated member of Chicago creative collective Huey Gang. He drops by to talk loss, mentorship, his music, and more. Recorded live 6/21/18 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago Music from this week's show: Venus, Mars (feat. @starkofhuey, John Renaissance) - @manijurdan Differentiation - @manijurdan
Nikko Washington's contours and contrasts are something to behold. He's a painter, clothing designer, and Hyde Park native, whose work has covered the albums of many of Chicago's finest, including Kami, Noname, Joey Purp, Vic Mensa, Towkio and many more. He has a new exhibition, entitled Saturn, going up this friday at the Adidas Originals store in Wicker Park. Recorded live 6/14/18 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago Music from this week's show: Collect (Your Thoughts) - @harmonicsapien
At the intersection of art, culture, social justice, and community building, Kuumba Lynx produces The Chicago Hip Hop Theater Fest (CHHTF). The fest features nine different performing artists/companies presenting 12 different shows over five days. CHHTF is curated by Kuumba Lynx Co-Founders Jaquanda Villegas and Jacinda Bullie in an effort to reclaim public space, and cultivate a community building & performance space that reflects the communities we represent. The fest utilizes critical Hip Hop Theater to engage in a dialogue that aims to rewrite our narratives, reimagine the world more just, and connect people across communities. AirGo sits down with several of the presenters and participants to talk about their creative works, perspectives on the fest, and more! Hear each individual episode here: https://soundcloud.com/airgoradio/sets/airgo-x-chicago-hip-hop-theater-fest Recorded 5/26/18 in Chicago Music from this week's episode: Bust a Move - Young MC
Brendan Shiller is fighting. He is one of the founders of the West Side Justice Center, and is a co-partner in the law firm Shiller Preyar LLC, serving the needs and legal battles of the divested from and disenfranchised across the city. He is the lead attorney for the #NoCopAcademy Campaign, which was rumbling through City Hall last week in opposition to the $95 million proposed project to be built in West Garfield Park. Recorded live 6/31/18 at WHPK 88.5FM in Chicago Music from this week's episode: disappear - @oatmello Ignorin - Omar Apollo
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