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Chicago Newsroom 2.0
December 12, 2025
On the fall season finale of Chicago Newsroom 2.0, hosts Darrious Hilmon and Hugo Balta tackle the issues that matter most to Chicago. From hemp sales bans and teen curfews to the fight over Chicago Housing Authority leadership—our roundtable breaks it down. Plus, a groundbreaking blueprint for Black men’s equity, Friend Health’s new Back of the Yards facility, the latest Inside Oversight report, and Crain’s notable Black leaders reflect on the year that was.
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Brothers Talking
December 10, 2025
On this episode of Brothers Talking, the panel confronts the deeply rooted realities of colorism, texturism, and proximity to whiteness within the Black male experience. Through honest dialogue, they unpack how these biases shape opportunity, identity, relationships, and survival—revealing how internalized and systemic hierarchies continue to impact Black men’s lives today.
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Brothers Talking
December 10, 2025
On this episode of Brothers Talking, the panel takes on the harmful stereotypes that have defined perceptions of Black male sexuality for generations. Moderator Curtis Tarver leads a candid conversation about how racist myths and hypersexualization have shaped identity, constrained emotional expression, and influenced how Black men are seen in society and relationships. It’s an essential dialogue about reclaiming truth, humanity, and self-definition.
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Behind the Confident Smile
December 9, 2025
The season finale of Behind the Confident Smile closes with a tender and transformative conversation as host Bianca Cotton sits down with Elle Davis, MSW, nonprofit leader, speaker, and resilience coach. Together, they explore what it means to navigate the first holidays after loss, how grief and joy can exist side by side, and the ongoing process of healing while honoring the ones we’ve loved.
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Chicago Newsroom 2.0
December 5, 2025
In this episode of Chicago Newsroom 2.0, guest hosts Hugo Balta and Dr. Suzet McKinney lead a wide-ranging conversation on the issues shaping Chicago right now. With Claude Robinson, Swathi Staley, and Sufyan Sohel, the panel breaks down the latest crises at CPS and City Hall. Immigration rights attorney Naiara F. Testai shares updates on her firm’s fight to protect immigrants detained by ICE, while Thresholds CEO Mark Ishaug and Sterling Haukom-Anderson address looming HUD policy changes and the importance of mental wellness. The episode also features a cultural spotlight with Sidney Jackson, the new CEO of Chicago Sinfonietta, who shares his vision for the organization’s future.
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Behind the Confident Smile
December 3, 2025
In this episode of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton sits down with Ke’Ana Lampkins, MSW, LCSW—therapist, speaker, and founder of The Well of Life Counseling and Consultation—for a profound conversation about the maternal influences that shaped her life. Ke’Ana reflects on the impact of being raised and influenced by three mothers, exploring how each relationship molded her identity, her emotional landscape, and her path toward healing. With honesty and depth, she shares how her personal journey informs her work supporting others through trauma, spiritual burnout, and the process of reclaiming one’s voice and joy.
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Behind the Confident Smile
December 3, 2025
In this episode of Behind the Confident Smile, host Bianca Cotton sits down with Crystal Morgan—Family Nurse Practitioner, IBCLC, and oral function specialist—for an eye-opening conversation about living with tongue, lip, and cheek ties. Crystal breaks down what these oral restrictions really are, how they affect feeding, speech, breathing, and daily life, and why so many families struggle to get proper diagnosis and treatment. Through clinical expertise and compassionate storytelling, she offers clarity, hope, and practical guidance for anyone navigating tethered oral tissues.
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Sisters Talking
December 3, 2025
In this episode of Sisters Talking, moderator Juatise Gathings leads a deeply needed conversation about Black women’s mental health and the power of emotional literacy. The panel unpacks the staggering physical and emotional load Black women carry—at work, at home, and in their communities—while confronting the alarming disparities in depression, anxiety, and access to care. With honesty and compassion, the sisters explore why so many suffer in silence, what healing can look like, and how emotional fluency becomes a pathway to liberation.
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Chicago Newsroom 2.0
November 14, 2025
In this episode of Chicago Newsroom 2.0, hosts Darrious Hilmon and Sufyan Sohel break down ICE enforcement across Chicagoland, the brewing battles over Mayor Johnson’s 2026 budget, and the post-election blue wave reshaping political momentum. The conversation also turns to community care and health equity, examining how local leaders and organizations are responding to shifting needs across the city.
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Chicago Newsroom 2.0
November 14, 2025
In this episode of Chicago Newsroom 2.0, hosts Andy Zopp and Hugo Balta break down the latest developments shaping life across Chicagoland. The roundtable examines ICE enforcement activity in local neighborhoods, Mayor Johnson’s proposed corporate head tax, and the state legislature’s newly approved $1.5 billion transit bailout. The episode also spotlights nonprofit organizations stepping in to support families struggling after cuts to SNAP benefits, offering a grounded look at the policies and pressures impacting Chicago communities.
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