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Artwork for John Williams

John Williams

wgnradio.com
Chicago
Speed Jokes
Lawn Care
Donald Trump
Chicago, United States
Iran
Home Improvement
WGN Radio
Artificial Intelligence
Illinois
Chicago Bears
Stock Market
Northwestern Medicine
Safety Act
Taiwan
Immigration Policy
Artemis II
City Kids Camp
Elburn
United States

The John Williams Podcast from 720 WGN

PublishesDailyEpisodes451Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for John Williams

Latest Episodes

Alex Silverman, Staff Writer at Sports Business Journal, joins John Williams to talk about the economic impact of the World Cup on the U.S. host cities.

serve.castfire.com/audio/8465468/6-19-26_Alex_Silverman_Sports_Business_Journal_World_Cu... more

Connell McShane, anchor of ‘NewsNation Live with Connell McShane,’ joins John Williams to talk about the USMNT World Cup game and the latest on the possible deal between the U.S. and Iran to end the war.

serve.castfire.com/audio/8465155/6-19... more

Enjoy this edition of “The Best of Speed Jokes.” What was your favorite joke of the week? Keep sending your jokes to JohnWilliams@wgnradio.com!

serve.castfire.com/audio/8465207/6-19-26_John_Williams_Best_of_Speed_Jokes_2026-06-19-162307.128.... more

It’s time once again for our Best of the Midwest feature for 2026! Are you trying to come up with some quick getaway ideas that are only a quick trip from the Chicago area? Well, John Williams has some great recommendations for your trip! Today, we t... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Steve Bertrand
Purveyor of the Steve Bertrand Travel business and host of Steve Bertrand on Books
WGN Radio
Episode: The Mincing Rascals 6.10.26: Trump on ‘Meet the Press,’ Graham Platner, Bears stadium location, ‘Broadview 6’ grand jury transcript
Cate Plys
Publisher of Roseland Chicago 1972
Roseland Chicago 1972
Episode: The Mincing Rascals 6.10.26: Trump on ‘Meet the Press,’ Graham Platner, Bears stadium location, ‘Broadview 6’ grand jury transcript
Marc Lillibridge
PR director with Nikco Sports
Nikco Sports
Episode: Celebrate 150 years of Chicago Cubs baseball with a limited edition anniversary bat!
Marc Ganis
Sports business expert, president and co-founder of Sportscorp
Sportscorp
Episode: Sports business expert Marc Ganis: As things stand today, the Bears going to Indiana is a done deal
Clay Jenkinson
Historian and WGN's presidential presenter
WGN Radio
Episode: The Ten (American) Commandments: Episode 1
Connell McShane
Anchor on NewsNation
NewsNation
Episode: Connell McShane: Getting Strait of Hormuz open would be good for global economy
Jay McCracken
Executive Director of Ottawa Chamber of Commerce
Ottawa Chamber of Commerce
Episode: Your Hometown: Ottawa is a foodie paradise
Rook Nelson
Director of Skydive Chicago and president of Eagle Air Transport
Skydive Chicago; Eagle Air Transport
Episode: Your Hometown: It’s fun to fill the sky with parachutes at Skydive Chicago
Dave Bennett
Actor portraying scenes in the jokes (e.g., bowling pin in marriage counseling)
Character on the show
Episode: John Williams brings you a round of Speed Jokes, The Best Of, 5.22.26

Hosts

John Williams
Host of a Chicago-based news/talk program with a focus on current events, media, and local culture.
Jon Hansen
Co-host with a focus on political and policy conversations on air.

Reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars from 173 ratings
  • Where the heck is The Mincing Rascals’ icon

    I hear John’s daily show from time to time, but I always listened to the weekly mincing rascals podcast. Suddenly that icon seems to be discontinued, and instead there are 10,000 partial podcast of John’s show and pictures of him on my screen. Is there no way to isolate out The Mincing Rascals podcast and have it appear as a separate icon that people like me could easily locate on my screen? Otherwise, I will be bidding farewell to my weekly adventure with The Mincing Rascals, because I am not i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Crayzld
    United States2 years ago
  • Where the heck is The Mincing Rascals’ icon

    I hear John’s daily show from time to time, but I always listened to the weekly mincing rascals podcast. Suddenly that icon seems to be discontinued, and instead there are 10,000 partial podcast of John’s show and pictures of him on my screen. Is there no way to isolate out The Mincing Rascals podcast and have it appear as a separate icon that people like me could easily locate on my screen? Otherwise, I will be bidding farewell to my weekly adventure with The Mincing Rascals, because I am not i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Crayzld
    United States2 years ago
  • Full podcast needed. PLEASE

    Johns show is top notch because of him. The interviews are ok so we want the full show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    judyjudeejudi
    United States3 years ago
  • Full podcast needed. PLEASE

    Johns show is top notch because of him the interviews are ok but we want the full show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    judyjudeejudi
    United States3 years ago
  • Snippets stink

    WGN needs to bring back full show podcasts . The random snippets they post now are terrible . John has a good show in its full format . I’m unable to listen to the show live , so WGN has lost me as a listener .

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Djrwalj
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Many respond positively to Chicago-centric guests and relatable, down-to-earth discussion.
Listeners appreciate the show's mix of sharp political takes and humor.
Fans want full podcast episodes rather than segmented clips to capture conversations more completely.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Harvey Wells: How to watch the World Cup for free
Q: Anything else you want to share about watching sports in Chicago?
Yes, the key is understanding which channels carry the games, leveraging local broadcasts like Channel 32 for a significant portion of matches, and using cost-saving bundles to access the rest without paying for underused services.
How the City of Chicago can combat takeovers
Q: What do you think about the mega project deal as a mechanism to fund a stadium without making it exclusively about the Bears?
A mega project deal could be more palatable to a broader audience if it clearly protects taxpayers and is accompanied by broadly enforced rules; however, there are competing approaches (pilot programs vs stadium authorities) and the political dynamics in Springfield will influence which path ultimately advances.
How the City of Chicago can combat takeovers
Q: Do you think this makes it more likely that the stadium will be in Indiana, the team?
As a business decision, it becomes more likely with each passing day that uncertainty costs the Bears, so pursuing a path that minimizes risk and aligns with the team's financial and fan-base considerations is the practical move, though the final call will depend on the governor's actions and negotiations.
Connell McShane: Getting Strait of Hormuz open would be good for global economy
Q: So what is the status of this reparations fund, not reparations fund, I don't want to call it a slush fund. What are they calling the fund that the president asked for?
The administration describes it as an anti-weaponization fund, with ongoing debates about standing and legality; there is a strong undercurrent of political contention about oversight and potential beneficiaries.
Your Hometown: It’s fun to fill the sky with parachutes at Skydive Chicago
Q: How old were you when you first jumped out of a plane?
He started at a very young age, describing being four years old when he first approached skydiving, though the exact memory is muddled by a made-up story.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About John Williams

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

A fast-paced, Chicago-centered program blends political analysis, current events, and lighthearted segments with a strong local flavor. Topics frequently cover national politics, media industry trends, and regional issues, interspersed with entertainment bits, guest interviews, and audience interactions. Notable strengths include a rotating cast that keeps conversations lively, a penchant for timely political takes from high-profile guests, and a willingness to mix journalism with humor to make complex issues approachable for a broad audience.

Where can I find podcast stats for John Williams?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for John Williams. 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 John Williams and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does John Williams get?

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What are the audience demographics for John Williams?

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How many subscribers and views does John Williams have?

To see how many followers or subscribers John Williams 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 John Williams?

These podcasts share a similar audience with John Williams:

1. Bob Sirott
2. #SistersInLaw
3. Main Justice
4. The Chuck ToddCast
5. The Best People with Nicolle Wallace

How many episodes of John Williams are there?

John Williams launched 21 years ago and published 451 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 John Williams?

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 John Williams?

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

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What guests have appeared on John Williams?

Recent guests on John Williams include:

1. Steve Bertrand
2. Cate Plys
3. Marc Lillibridge
4. Marc Ganis
5. Clay Jenkinson
6. Connell McShane
7. Jay McCracken
8. Rook Nelson

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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