Rephonic
Artwork for AirGo
Chicago
Community Organizing
Social Justice
Abolition
Detroit
Environmental Justice
Neoliberalism
Community Building
One Million Experiments
Housing Inequality
1 Million Experiments
Mutual Aid
Black Liberation
Tenant Rights
Movement Journalism
Abolitionism
New York City
Activism
Puerto Rico
Palestine

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airgo/id1016530091Since 2015, a podcast reshaping culture for the more liberatory 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 A. Williams and Daniel Kisslinger.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes524Founded11 years ago
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Society & Culture

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Artwork for AirGo

Latest Episodes

Rich Wallace is a solid dude and brilliant organizer who has built EAT Chicago, a non-profit, community-led organization founded by and for post-incarcerated people, to build social and economic equity for Black workers engaged in the informal econom... more

No matter how politically focused AirGo gets, our roots are always in Chicago's music and arts community. As the scene shifts and new artists emerge, we try to keep an ear on who is making good music in our city, a task that's MUCH easier because of ... more

Tonika Lewis Johnson is about real repair. The photographer, social practice artist, and Macarthur genius grant recipient has spent the last decade building innovative, rooted projects that connect Chicagoans across racial divides, make legible the h... more

How do most people learn about the world these days? And how do we, as a movement, make sure we're in their ears, gaze, and algorithm? Conscious Lee is an educator, facilitator, and content creator who has built a platform around direct, rooted criti... more

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Recent Guests

Tonika Lewis Johnson
Social practice artist and founder of Folded Map and Unblocked Englewood
Folded Map / Unblocked Englewood
Episode: Ep 400 - Tonika Lewis Johnson, Chicago's Genius and Social Practice Artist, Returns
Ron OJ Parsons
Court Theatre resident artist; longtime collaborator and past contributor to Spotlight
Court Theatre
Episode: Introducing: Court Theatre's Spotlight Turns 10! A New Podcast, Available Now!
Mikaela Loach
Climate justice organizer, author, educator
AWETHU School of Organising; author of It's Not That Radical; Climate is Just the Start
Episode: Ep 397 - Mikaela Loach, Climate Justice Activist and "It's Not That Radical" Author
Brandon Johnson
Mayor of Chicago
City of Chicago
Episode: Ep 396 - Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago, Returns
Zayd Ayers Dohrn
Author of Dangerous, Dirty, Violent and Young, A Fugitive Family in the Revolutionary Underground
Author & Playwright
Episode: Ep 395 - Zayd Ayers Dohrn, Child of the Underground and Author of DANGEROUS, DIRTY, VIOLENT, AND YOUNG
Ann Holcomb
South Shore resident and organizer involved in Ethos and related Southeast coalition
Ethos, Alliance of the Southeast
Episode: Respair Presents: Quantum Entanglements
Roman Villarreal
Sculptor from the Southeast Side who worked in the steel mill
Independent artist, Southeast Side
Episode: Respair Presents: Quantum Entanglements
Rossana Rodriguez
33rd Ward Alderwoman, Chicago
Chicago City Government
Episode: Ep 394 - Rossana Rodriguez, 33rd Ward Alderwoman and Beacon of Socialist Political Power, Returns
Molly Crabapple
Artist, journalist and documentarian; author of Here Where We Live is Our Country
Author, artist
Episode: Ep 391 - Molly Crabapple, Author of Best-Selling Radical Jewish History "Here Where We Live is Our Country"

Hosts

Damon Williams
Host of AirGo; co-host; often introduces and guides conversations
Daniel Kisslinger
Co-host of AirGo; host with Damon Williams; participant in guiding discussions

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 161 ratings
  • Fantastic media group

    I love the new shows that are being added with Respair!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hollowaycushman
    United States3 years ago
  • I wish everyone in Chicago would listen!

    I wish everyone in Chicago would listen! Especially to the Rossana Rodriquez episode! What an invaluable way to get to know about the deep, caring, creative work being done to move our world toward liberation. It is such a gift to us all that they now have over 300 podcasts of authentic (and fun) conversations with amazing folks. I love listening and being inspired!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CreativeCompass
    United States3 years ago
  • A real treasure!!

    What an invaluable way to get to know about the deep, caring, creative work being done to move our world toward liberation.

    It is such a gift to us all that they now have over 300 podcasts of authentic (and fun) conversations with amazing folks.

    I love listening and being inspired!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CreativeCompass
    United States4 years ago
  • Bounty of gifts

    Always grateful to spend time soaking in the insights, education, brilliant guests and fabulous hosting. AirGo you a class act

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    s.finna
    United States5 years ago
  • Abolition suite with Robin D G Kelley

    Thoughtful brilliant and yet accessible and heartfelt. Love the reading list in the show notes, thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    karakuze
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners value the show as a go-to for Chicago-centered political education and culture.
Listeners praise the show for its thoughtful, on-the-ground perspectives from Chicago's activist and arts communities.
Audience notes the host pair's empathetic interviewing style and guests who bring deep expertise and lived experience.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Introducing: Court Theatre's Spotlight Turns 10! A New Podcast, Available Now!
Q: What impact did you imagine this project would have on Court audiences over ten years, and how did that vision evolve?
The aim was always to educate and entertain by presenting diverse, historically significant works; over time, the project demonstrated that free, accessible readings could build sustained interest, create a pipeline for future productions, and deepen the theatre's ties to the local community.
Introducing: Court Theatre's Spotlight Turns 10! A New Podcast, Available Now!
Q: Well, can we talk about both the work you do on stage, but also the work you do with the readings and how you tie in community engagement as part of that?
The readings were designed to get the community involved, expanding access and visibility for plays by Black writers, while gradually growing from small venues to larger audiences; the approach balanced educational aims with entertaining programming, creating a meaningful community hub around theatre.
Ep 396 - Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago, Returns
Q: How do you balance progressive ideals with the demands of a complex budget and revenue system?
Johnson argued for pragmatic revenue ideas like taxes on large corporations and digital advertising, and for participatory budgeting processes that involve community input, while recognizing the need to maintain a balanced budget focused on safety and affordability for all residents.
Ep 396 - Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago, Returns
Q: What concrete steps has your administration taken to repair harm and invest in the public good?
He highlighted abolishing the subminimum wage for workers, expanding youth employment, reopening mental health clinics, investing in affordable housing, and leveraging TIF surplus to fund schools and parks, culminating in a large-scale economic bond to accelerate development and housing in disinvested communities.
Ep 396 - Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago, Returns
Q: How has the migrant crisis shaped your approach to leadership and policy in Chicago?
Johnson described the crisis as a defining test of values, showing the need to protect humanity, support vulnerable populations, and search for durable solutions rather than scoring political points. He emphasized that standing firm on humane policies helped rally broader support and demonstrated governance that prioritizes people.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About AirGo

What is AirGo about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A discussion-driven series rooted in Chicago, featuring longform conversations with artists, organizers, scholars, and activists who imagine liberation and community resilience. Episodes span historical memory, urban policy, climate justice, mutual aid, and cultural production, often weaving personal stories with local organizing and social change. Notable is the blend of intimate storytelling, actionable ideas, and cross–movement collaboration, with guests ranging from historians and poets to politicians and community organizers. The show has a distinct focus on local Chicago perspectives while addressing universal themes of justice, care, and radical imagination, which can be especially compelling for listeners who want thoughtful, action... more

Where can I find podcast stats for AirGo?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for AirGo. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to AirGo and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does AirGo get?

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What are the audience demographics for AirGo?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for AirGo, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does AirGo have?

To see how many followers or subscribers AirGo has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to AirGo?

These podcasts share a similar audience with AirGo:

1. Movement Memos
2. The Red Nation Podcast
3. On the Nose
4. Becoming the People Podcast with Prentis Hemphill
5. The Dig

How many episodes of AirGo are there?

AirGo launched 11 years ago and published 524 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact AirGo?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for AirGo?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for AirGo from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of AirGo. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on AirGo?

Recent guests on AirGo include:

1. Tonika Lewis Johnson
2. Ron OJ Parsons
3. Mikaela Loach
4. Brandon Johnson
5. Zayd Ayers Dohrn
6. Ann Holcomb
7. Roman Villarreal
8. Rossana Rodriguez

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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