WGN Radio’s Dave Plier sits down with Mike Rowe, host of the Emmy-Award winning show ‘Dirty Jobs’ and host of YouTube’s ‘People You Should Know’, to talk about the American workforce, concerns of the nearly 7 million able-bodied, working age Americans who are not looking for work, the skilled trades gap issue, and how the […]
The leather jacket is back! WGN-TV’s Larry Potash talks to WGN Radio’s Dave Plier about his upcoming triple season premiere of ‘Backstory’ on Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 11pm with stories including:
Chicago radio great Kevin Matthews joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk about his radio days and his upcoming documentary, ‘Broken Mary,’ premiering October 7th, 2025. Jim Shorts also joins in to talk about the new Bears coach and his ‘Pig Skin Picks’ for the first Bears game of the season.
WGN Radio’s Dave Plier and Dave Schwan talk about the history of the American labor movement as well as the legacy of comedian Jerry Lewis and what was an annual tradition on Labor Day weekend, the MDA telethon.
Don Barnes from 38 Special celebrates five decades of music with WGN Radio’s Dave Plier and talks about how the band was formed, how they came up with the name, and the stories behind their biggest hits.
WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks backyard autumn grilling, tailgating tips, and more with Weber Ambassador Kevin Kolman.
WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to Grammy Award winning artist Herb Alpert about his music, the Tijuana Brass, one of the most iconic album covers of all time ‘Whipped Cream & Other Delights’, the history behind A&M Records and the artists that graced his label including The Carpenters, Styx, The Go Go’s and Janet Jackson. Herb […]
WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to WGN-TV’s Mike Lowe who will be honored for his courage and determination at the H Foundation’s 23rd Annual Goombay Bash, a fundraising event for basic science cancer research on July 26, 2025 at Navy Pier. Mike will be the recipient of the “Eye of the Tiger” Award.
Editor and Chief of Nostalgia Digest Magazine Steve Darnall talks to WGN Radio’s Dave Plier about their summer edition including Burma Shave, Harpo Marx, Don Ameche, and more!
Harry Teinowitz, one of Chicago’s most popular sports radio hosts, has died at age 64. In addition to a number of appearances on WGN Radio through the years, in 2014 Harry was part of our sister station, 87.7 FM The Game. In 2021, Harry along with frequent on-air partner Spike Manton visited with Dave Plier […]
Chicago radio legend Garry Meier joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier in studio along with Tom Skilling from Hawaii to talk about Garry’s adventures in the suburbs. Tom jumped in with Garry and Dave to reminisce about his time on air with Garry, volcanoes erupting in Hawaii, weather and too many laughs to count.
WGN Radio’s Dave Plier celebrates Wally Phillips on the 100th anniversary of his birth, sharing a little bit of Wally on the WGN Radio airwaves, including a portion of Bob Sirott’s 2004 interview with Wally and Wally’s acceptance speech in 1993 for the Radio Hall of Fame.
Class of 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chubby Checker joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk about his 60 years in music, the origins of his name, ‘The Twist,’ and his upcoming appearance at Ron Onesti’s Des Plaines Theatre on Sunday, 7/27/25. For tickets, visit arcadalive.com.
WGN Radio’s Dave Plier celebrates the ‘Fabulous Fifties’ with 91 year old music legend Pat Boone; author Todd Purdum on his book ‘Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television’; 50’s teen idol Frankie Avalon; the definitive story of the drive-in theater; Keith Thibodeaux ‘Little Ricky’, the last living cast member from ‘I Love Lucy’. Plus, […]
WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to Country Music Icon Wynonna Judd about her summer tour, her level of gratitude right now in her life, missing her mom Naomi Judd, and her peaceful life on the farm. Wynonna will be playing at The Hard Rock Casino on Thursday, July 26th. For more, visit wynonna.com.
WGN Radio’s Dave Plier shares his conversation with author John Malahy about the movies that reflect the full range of how summer has been depicted on screen, including Jaws, National Lampoon’s Vacation, The Endless Summer, Caddyshack, and more.
WGN’s Dave Plier and Wally Podrazik, television historian and author of ‘Watching TV’, break down top TV dads by decade including Howard Cunningham (‘Happy Days’), Andy Taylor (‘The Andy Griffith Show’), Jim Anderson (‘Father Knows Best’), Mike Brady (‘The Brady Bunch’), Archie Bunker (‘Archie Bunker’s Place’), Cliff Huxtable (‘The Cosby Show’), Phil Dunphy (‘Modern Family’) and […]
WGN-TV’s Pat Tomasulo joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk about his brand of comedy, what his father taught him, what he loves and doesn’t like about summer traditions, and his upcoming shows at Zanies in Rosemont from Thursday, June 19th – Saturday, June 21st. For tickets go to zanies.com.
Dag Juhlin and Jason Narducy join WGN Radio’s Dave Plier LIVE in studio to talk about their upcoming ‘Celebration of Pete Townshend’ event at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights. The date of the show is Saturday, June 21st. The 7pm show has sold out, but tickets, including great table seats in this intimate viewing/listening room, […]
WGN Radio’s Dave Plier and retired WGN Radio newsman Roger Badesch talk about the history behind radio and television call letters including WGN ‘World’s Greatest Newspaper’, which made its first appearance in the Chicago Tribune nameplate on August 29, 1911, and dozens of other Chicago call signs that graced the airwaves over the past 100 years on both radio and television.