Barber Shop Show

Coming to you live from Carter's Barbershop in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, The Barber Shop Show brings you a weekly dose of real talk, straight from the shop floor. No punches are pulled and no topic is considered off-topic. The show is hosted...

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This week, we helped host Richard Steele celebrate his 75th birthday. For the celebration, we were joined by music icons: • Mavis Staples • Gene Chandler Plus, after everything that the City of Chicago has been through this year, we thought we’d do Chicago a favor and suggest a few resolutions for the City. For that discussion, we were joined by: • Ben Joravsky, reporter with the Chicago Reader • Monroe Anderson, veteran journalist and commentator • John W. Fountain, columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times And, finally, Stephanie Hart of Brown Sugar Bakery joined us (cake in tow) to talk about building a sweet empire from the ground up.

The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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In “East Texas Hot Links”, a play by Eugene Lee, seven strong willed neighbors join forces to protect one of their own. The year is 1955, and times are changing in the Jim Crow South.We talked about the play, and how some of its themes connect with today’s realities. Host Richard Steele was joined by: • “East Texas Hot Links” director Ron OJ Parson, and • Alfred Wilson, who plays Columbus Frye Then, we revisited a story of learning to heal through the art of Latin drumming. Plus, we heard about an artist learning to push forward towards her dreams. For those stories, we were joined by Vocalo Storrytelling Workshop Alumni: • Brittney Leanne Williams • Gloria Guaderrama

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On this week's installment of the Barber Shop Show, we heard host Richard Steele's 2005 conversation with Sam Chatman. Sam is credited as one of the key people who has helped to build the “Chicago Stepper” sound and culture for decades.

Then, as a follow-up to a recent program, we heard about a grassroots effort to supply healthy, local food to residents of South Shore. For that conversation, we were joined by: • Fred Carter • Dr. Jifunza Wright • Akin Carter The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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Dr. Conrad Worrill is retiring after 40 years at the Northeastern Illinois University Center for Inner City Studies. He’s spent the past 12 years as director of the center. Host Richard Steele talked to Dr. Worrill about his journey, as well as his transition to “elder hood”.

Then, we revisited the story of a program offering at risk teens something special: an apology from the adults in their lives. For that conversation, we spoke with: • Enoch Muhammad, co-founder of Hip Hop Detoxx.

The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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This week on the Barber Shop Show, we heard about the outlook for a new grocery store to serve residents of the South Shore and South Chicago neighborhoods. The area has lacked a full-line grocery store since Dominick’s closed in 2013. For that conversation, we are joined by: •South Side Weekly contributing reporter Chloe Hadavas •Writer, performance poet, and South Shore native Nicole Bond

Then, we heard Emma Farley’s report on Biking in Chicago. Bicycling Magazine named Chicago #1 on their list of 50 Biking Cities in the country. However, in a year marked by the deaths of 6 bikers, some in Chicago’s biking community are questioning the honor.

The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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This week on the Barber Shop Show, we heard from Dion Clarke, founder of the Harlem Fine Arts Show.

Then, we heard about how a number of grassroots groups are trying to push for a whole new system for justice: one that does not include policing as we know it. We’ll talk about what that could look like with: •Maya Dukmasova, freelance reporter for the Chicago Reader

Finally, we heard from Practically Speaking’s Audra Wilson about a young man who’s been working to bring parenting resources to other young fathers to help keep them in their children’s lives.

The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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Doo wop is often thought of as a vocal tradition rooted on the East Coast, but back in the 1950s, Chicago had a number of influential doo-wop groups, including the Magnificents, the Eldorados, the Moonglows, the Spaniels, and the Flamingos. This holiday weekend, we revisited Richard Steele's 2006 conversation with Doo-Wop vocalist Johnny Keyes. We heard the stories... and the beautiful music. The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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This week on the Barber Shop Show, we checked in with some our favorite local journalists and bloggers:

•Monroe Anderson, veteran journalist and commentator •Lenox Magee, Freelance journalist and co-host of “The Sip” •Darryl Dennard, host of Chicago Speaks and Chicago Insight

We got their perspectives on the recent local and national news headlines that caught their attention. They told us about developments in the news that they think are good news, and ones that they think are bad news. Lastly, they told us about those moments that made them go… we’ll, you’ll just have to tune in to find out.

The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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This week on the Barber Shop Show, we talked about the results of the elections. We unpacked how the pundits and pollsters were so far off in their predictions. And we also asked what Trump’s first 100 days in office might mean for people of color, in particular. For that conversation, we were joined by:

•Salim Muwakkil, WVON Radio Host and op-ed columnist for the Chicago Tribune •Sue Ontiveros, columnist and blogger for the Chicago Sun-Times •Delmarie Cobb, Political Strategist •Sylvia Puente, Executive Director of the Latino Policy Forum

Plus, we talked with the photojournalist who captured the Tribune’s iconic shot of the World Series champion Chicago Cubs. • Brian Cassella, the photojournalist who took the amazing Tribune cover shot of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs

The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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This week on the Barber Shop Show, we caught up with two recent investigations from The Chicago Reporter. First, we heard about how the City of Chicago avoided using competitive bidding in its contract for police body cameras. We discussed how much that agreement cost taxpayers, as well as a new police reporting app. We were joined by: • Jonah Newman, investigative journalist with the Chicago Reporter • Channing Harris, creator of the app and website Excuse Me Officer

Then, we heard about new public funding from the U.S. Department of Education to help students traumatized by violence in their communities. For that conversation, we were joined by: • Kalyn Belsha, investigative journalist with the Chicago Reporter

Finally, we revisited Audra Wilson’s report on how homelessness is impacting our youth.

The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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This week on the Barber Shop Show, we spoke with reporting fellows from City Bureau, a grass roots journalism training program. One of their current projects is an investigation into lead exposure in Chicago.

To talk about some of the findings of that project, we were joined City Bureau reporting fellows: • Nissa Rhee • Sarah Conway • Timna Axel

Then, later in the show, we revisisted a conversation Richard has with Herb Kent back in 2008. The radio legend recently passed away at the age of 88 after a career that spanned seven decades.

The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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On Chicago’s Near West Side, there’s a place where drug-addicted mothers can attempt to get sober while living with their children. The Women’s Treatment Center opened in 1991 in response to the crack epidemic but now caters to a wide variety of addicted women.

This week, we listened to stories from mothers attempting to get sober.

Later in the show, we heard about how a new Whole Foods is impacting the Englewood community.

The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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Just about every month, we check-in with our favorite local journalists and bloggers. We get their perspectives on the recent local and national news headlines that caught their attention. They tell us what they think is the good news, and the bad news. Then, they tell us about those moments that made them go WTF!?! This month, host Richard Steele was joined by: • Kathy Chaney, managing editor of Ebony Magazine • Becky Vevea, WBEZ Education Reporter • Ken Davis, host of Chicago Newsroom on CAN-TV The Barber Shop Show airs Sundays at 9am on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM

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Autumn is upon us. And, this year, there’s a lot happening in the world of Chicago Sports. This week on the show, we unpacked some of the biggest stories of the season. We spoke with: •Exavier Pope, host of the #SuitUp podcast and sports legal analyst •Evan Moore, DNA Info Chicago Contributor and freelance sports journalist

Plus, we heard about a play called “How We Got On”. The play follows the story of teens navigating the hip hop community back in the 1980s. For that conversation, we were joined by: •Tevion Lanier, plays Hank in "How We Got On" •Jess McLeod, director of "How We Got On" •Josh Sobel, Haven Theater Company's Artistic Director

The Barber Shop Show airs on Vocalo 91.1FM every Sunday at 9 am. You can also listen online at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM.

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Ta Nehisi Coates, author of “The Case for Reparations” and “Between the World and Me”, recently commented on Twitter “Chicago is the most beautiful city in America”. The comment was in response to Donald Trump’s characterization of Chicago during Monday night’s Presidential Debate.

The post went viral. On Wednesday, Coates followed up with the comment “If Chicago ain't beautiful because of its murder rate, then neither is America. Chicago IS America… Arguably the MOST American big city.” He went on to say that “More importantly, "beauty" is not the absence of problem.” Lastly, he noted that he “grew up in West Baltimore in the Crack Era 80s. Was a beautiful time, no question.”

Chicago has experienced many of the same ups and downs as cities across America. So what’s next for our city?

For that conversation, we were joined by two reporters from the City Bureau: • Nissa Rhee • Emanuel Ramos

The Barber Shop Show airs live on Fridays at Noon on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Saturdays at 9am on 91.1FM and on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM

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RIGHT NOW on the Barber Shop Show we’re talking with reporters Nissa Rhee and Emanuel Ramos about the decline of CAPS, or community policing in Chicago. Tune in now at vocalo.org/player or 91.1 FM (CHI) / 89.5 FM (NWI) to hear the full story. 

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A number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (or HBCUs) are seeing an uptick in enrollment after years of decline. On this installment of the Barber Shop Show, we heard about some theories regarding the student increases Then, Reclaimed Soul’s Ayana Contreras joined host Richard Steele to discuss some of the former HBCU students that have made an impact on the music scene.

Plus, we revisited the story of a young rugby team based on the West Side of Chicago that’s beating the odds. For that conversation, we were joined by: • Andy Schmitz • Brandon Hellwig • Johnari Smith, and • Patrick Ross from the KIPP Ascend Mountain Lion Rugby team.

The Barber Shop Show airs live on Fridays at Noon on Vocalo 91.1FM. You can also stream live at vocalo.org. In addition, the show rebroadcasts on Saturdays at 9am on 91.1FM and on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ 91.5FM