Best Frango Podcasts (2026)

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156. David Sproul: How boards help CEOs create sustainable growth - lessons from Deloitte & Starling Bank 45:16

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6h ago45:16

45:16

David Sproul is Chair of Starling Bank and Chair of Pennon Group. Formerly, he was Deputy Global CEO of Deloitte UK. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: Deloitte UK expansion: the toughest conversations David had with his board (00:46) How to reframe board risk discussions positively (03:28) Balancing logos and pathos when influencing (06:13) Should C…

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On the Map: Mayslake Peabody Estate

3d ago

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Jon Hansen, sitting in for Dave Plier, welcomes Craig Dorsey, local historian and Master of the Living Historians Guild of DuPage, who introduces WGN listeners to the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, Illinois. Located at 1717 31st St., a quarter mile west of Route 83, the Peabody Estate is a fascinating time capsule and beautifully restored bu…

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155. Amanda Mackenzie OBE: From Advertising Executive to FTSE 100 NED: How Amanda Built a Purpose-Led Portfolio Career 52:14

6d ago52:14

52:14

Amanda Mackenzie OBE is NED at British Land and at Lloyds Banking Group, where she chairs the Responsible Business Committee. Tune in to hear her thoughts on: Why Amanda first started non-exec roles (1:10) How she repositioned herself as a non-exec candidate (1:44) Crafting a compelling board CV (3:13) Why Amanda started with pro bono rather than p…

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154. Sir James Wates CBE: How to be a good board chair - family businesses & the RFU 43:24

15d ago43:24

43:24

Sir James Wates CBE is Chair of the Rugby Football Union and Vestey Holdings Ltd. Formerly, he was Chair of Wates Group. Tune in to hear his thoughts: Key board-level decisions that helped grow Wates from 950m to 2bn revenues (02:20) How the board weighed the risks and benefits of increasing average transaction value (05:08) Key decisions the board…

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On the Map: Christmas Magic at Castle Noel in Medina, Ohio

17d ago

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WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to Mark Klaus, creator of Castle Noel, “America’s largest year-round indoor Christmas entertainment attraction.” Experience 40,000 square feet of amazing installations, retail holiday windows, Christmas movie props and more! Visit castlenoel.com. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7868851/7868851_2025-12-20-005151.64kmono…

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On the Map: Where to enjoy Christmas Eve, Day and Hanukkah Dinner in Chicago

17d ago

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Isaac Reichman, director of corporate communications for Choose Chicago, joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to share great places to enjoy your holiday meal with friends, family or that special someone. ChooseChicago.com https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7868754/7868754_2025-12-20-000154.64kmono.mp3 Recent Posts On the Map On the Map: Mayslake Peabody Est…

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On the Map: The Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, Pennsylvania

17d ago

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WGN Radio’s Dave Plier sits down with Kelly Stewart Harcourt, daughter of screen legend Jimmy Stewart, to reflect on her father’s enduring legacy and to talk about the Jimmy Stewart Museum in Indiana, Pennsylvania, which celebrates his life and remarkable career. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7868879/7868879_2025-12-20-012619.64kmono.mp3 Recent …

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153. Phil Walker CBE: University boards: lessons in stakeholder management, ethical decision-making and data points 40:35

20d ago40:35

40:35

Phil Walker CBE is Chair of Council at the University of Roehampton and member of the England & Wales Cricket Board. Formerly, he was COO at Capgemini. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: Phil’s journey into the boardroom (02:02) How university governance differs from corporate (03:15) Key stakeholders for higher education boards (04:23) Heuristics Ph…

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152. Rupert Soames OBE: How to be a good listed company chair 40:59

27d ago40:59

40:59

Rupert Soames OBE is Chair of the CBI and Smith & Nephew plc and former CEO of Serco Group plc and Aggreko plc. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: Key moments from Rupert’s time as CEO that shape how he Chairs (1:33) Lessons from Aggreko’s acquisition of GE’s energy rental business (3:42) Was there anything a board could have done to mitigate Rupert’…

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Chicago’s famed Gale Street Inn is back!

29d ago

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WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to Paulo Villabona, new owner of Chicago’s Gale Street Inn, about the return of this beloved Jefferson Park classic. Ribs baby! Galestreetinn.com for more information. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7847662/7847662_2025-12-08-173702.64kmono.mp3 Recent Posts On the Map On the Map: Mayslake Peabody Estate .cls-7{fill:#f…

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A magical Christmas drive-thru at Santa’s Village in Dundee

1M ago

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WGN Radio’s Dave Plier is joined by Jason Sierpien of Santa’s Village to discuss their holiday drive-thru, which features over three-million synchronized lights, hot chocolate, funnel cakes, Santa photos, and more! Go to santasvillagedundee.com to learn more. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7846078/7846078_2025-12-06-053518.64kmono.mp3 Recent Post…

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Choose Chicago’s holiday pop-up bars and festive adulting experiences

1M ago

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Choose Chicago’s Jason Lesniewicz joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to highlight the many holiday pop-up bars coming to Chicago this season, including the Bamboo Club in Wrigleyville, “8 Crazy Nights” at the Graystone Tavern, Pink Squirrel Bar, and more. Go to choosechicago.com to learn more! https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7846076/7846076_2025-12-06-0…

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151. Natasha Frangos: How to sustain culture whilst growing rapidly - boardroom lessons from HaysMac 44:10

1M ago44:10

44:10

Natasha Frangos is Managing Partner of HaysMac. Tune in to hear her thoughts on: Key moments in HaysMac’s growth (1:50) What board members can do when they feel too many people are having a say in decision-making (7:39) How boards needed to communicate when overseeing change (10:02) The respective roles of management and the board in developing and…

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150. Sir Douglas Flint CBE: Chairing listed companies - lessons from the BP Macondo crisis, HSBC and the abrdn rebrand 45:00

1M ago45:00

45:00

Sir Douglas Flint CBE is chair of Aberdeen, IP Group and the Royal Marsden NHS Trust and former chair of HSBC Group Holdings and NED at BP. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: The most valuable lessons Sir Douglas has learnt from the chairs he’s worked with (2:07) How chairs build consensus - the example of BP Chair Peter Sutherland (4:45) How to hand…

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149. Mark Winlow: Bank & Insurance Boards - lessons from the boards of Aon and Starling Bank 46:22

2M ago46:22

46:22

Mark Winlow is Chair of several financial services companies, including Aon UK and Redwood Bank. Formerly, he was Audit Chair at Starling Bank and NED at Tesco Underwriting, AIG Life Ltd, and others. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: Three examples where insurance boards have changed the trajectory of their businesses (2:18) Non-execs transitioning …

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On the Map: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas in Chicago

2M ago

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Brandi Berry Benson, artistic director of the Bach & Beethoven Experience, joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk about “Twas the Week Before Christmas in Chicago,” a not-so-classical concert of carols, holiday cheer and a Chicago-themed version of the famous story. The concerts will take place Thursday, Dec. 4, at The Den Theatre and Friday, Dec. 5,…

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On the Map: Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve will broadcast its Central Time countdown LIVE from downtown Chicago

2M ago

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Issac Reichman from Choose Chicago talks to WGN Radio’s Dave Plier about Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve broadcasting its Central Time countdown live from downtown Chicago on ABC nationwide for the very first time, shining a national spotlight on our skyline, culture and energy as millions of viewers tune in on New Year’s Eve. https://serve.cas…

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On the Map: Marshall Field’s Walnut Room, Macy’s Windows, Santa, Frangos and more

2M ago

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Matt Sarosy, store manager at Macy’s on State Street, joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk about the renaming of their iconic restaurant to the Marshall Field’s Walnut Room, the shopping, the windows, Santa, Frangos and more. Then Dave looks back at his conversation with author and historian Gayle Soucek on the legacy of Marshall Field’s. https://s…

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148. Professor Doyin Atewologun: Should boards ditch DEI? 45:06

2M ago45:06

45:06

Professor Atewologun is the former Dean of the Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford and is currently the Founder and CEO of Delta, Advisor to the board of the Tearfund and Trustee at the Old Fire Station. In this conversation, we cover: What did the Parker review get right and where did it go wrong? (01:47) Is there a relationship between…

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147. Tessa Clarke: Sticking, quitting & the ideal NED: The board’s role in Olio’s success 46:06

2M ago46:06

46:06

Tessa Clarke is co-founder and CEO of Olio, which has over 8.5 million users, across 65+ countries, who have together shared over 125 million meals and 15 million household items. Tessa is a member of the Small Business Growth Forum, Advisory Board Member at Stop Ecocide International and Venture Partner at Mustard Seed MAZE. Listen to hear her tho…

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146. Dame Marie Gabriel CBE: structuring board meetings, dancing in the boardroom, and taking risks - lessons from an NHS Chair 47:21

2M ago47:21

47:21

Dame Marie Gabriel CBE is Chair of the NHS Race and Health Observatory and NHS North East London Integrated Care Board and former Chair of NHS Improvement’s London Regional Board. Tune in to hear her thoughts on: Creating a positive culture in board meetings open to the public (2:11) Laptops in meetings (4:23) Creating a sense of psychological safe…

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145. Thomas Thune Andersen: Impacting culture, managing IPOs and embracing the climate revolution - Boardroom Lessons from the former/Chair of Ørsted and Lloyd’s Register Group 48:13

3M ago48:13

48:13

Tune in to the conversation to hear about: The three moments that have had the biggest impact on how Thomas chairs today (01:48) International cultural differences every board member needs to know about (04:15) Practical steps to bridge cultural gaps with younger generations (6:22) The benefits of reverse mentoring versus surveys (12:15) How to de-…

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144. Professor Alison Taylor: Should boards speak up or shut up? 46:44

3M ago46:44

46:44

Professor Alison Taylor is a Clinical Associate Professor at NYU Stern School of Business and author of Higher Ground: How Business Can Do the Right Thing in a Turbulent World (Harvard Business Review Press, 2024). Tune in to hear her thoughts on: Why it’s so hard for businesses to be “good” (01:37) Should boards speak up or shut up on divisive iss…

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143. Charles McManus: Quick growth in heavy regulation — the board’s role in ClearBank’s success 38:28

3M ago38:28

38:28

Charles McManus is co-founder, non-executive director (NED) and former CEO of ClearBank, the UK’s first new clearing bank in more than 250 years. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: The three most important calls Charles made as CEO (02:08) How the board helped Charles with strategic focus (06:45) The board’s role in navigating 26 regulatory stakehold…

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142. David Dein MBE, Premier League co-founder: The heart of the deal: lessons from vice-chairing Arsenal FC 41:22

3M ago41:22

41:22

David Dein MBE was Vice-Chair of Arsenal, where he signed Arsène Wenger, co-founder of the Premier League, and trustee of the Twinning Project. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: Betting on potential, not just past performance (2:19) David’s distinct approach to deal-making (4:46) The Sol Campbell and Ian Wright deals (6:29) How David created such a …

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On the Map: Long Grove’s oldest and most beloved festival is back!

3M ago

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The President of the Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association Ryan Messner joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk all things Apple Fest. Listen in while Ryan shares details surrounding Long Grove’s oldest and most beloved festival and why everyone should make this charming small town a must-see this fall season. For additional details, go lo…

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On the Map: Make Lake Geneva your fall getaway for the GLWA Gala

3M ago

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WGN Radio’s Dave Plier hosts Elizabeth Bergstrom and Kathy Papcke from the Geneva Lake Women’s Association to discuss why everyone should visit Lake Geneva this fall, especially to attend the second annual Musique of the Night Gala. Listen in while Elizabeth and Kathy share their excitement surrounding the Gala which has all proceeds supporting chi…

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141. Louise Hill, GoHenry Founder: Product Market Fit, Scaling and Exit - the board’s role in the GoHenry story 39:01

3M ago39:01

39:01

Louise Hill is Exec Chair, former CEO & Co-founder of GoHenry. Her board roles include Sibstar and Innovate Finance’s Unicorn Council for UK FinTech. Listen to the conversation to hear about: Louise’s sources of support and challenge in the early stages of GoHenry (2:01) How the board helped her with product market fit and go-to-market strategy (4:…

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On the Map: Make Ludington your autumn travel destination!

4M ago

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WGN Radio’s Dave Plier hosts Brandy Miller, the Executive Director for Pure Ludington, to delve into why Ludington, Michigan, stands out as a top choice for your fall travel plans! Learn about the diverse autumn options available, including biking along the scenic Cartier Park Pathway, exploring the trails within Ludington State Park, kayaking the …

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140. Professor Randall Peterson: How to influence people in the boardroom 44:27

4M ago44:27

44:27

Professor Randall Peterson is a Professor of Organisational Behaviour at London Business School, where he focuses on CEO personality, top management team interaction, board dynamics, leading diverse teams, and the effects of member personality on group interaction and performance. Listen to the conversation to get his thoughts on: The biggest mista…

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On the Map: The Frolic & Block Party at Kenosha’s Franks Diner; Visit Kenosha, Wisconsin’s Harbor Town

4M ago

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WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to Kevin Erwin, proprietor of 99-year-old Franks Diner in Kenosha, WI, to talk about their historic rail car diner, garbage plates, Bloody Marys, cinnamon rolls, homemade soups, breads, and this Saturday’s Frolic & Block Party. Dave also talks to Meredith Jumisko, Public Relations Director at Visit Kenosha, about all th…

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On the Map: Make Hocking Hills your fall destination

4M ago

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James Martin, Communications Director of the Hocking Hills Tourism Association, joins Dave Plier to talk about the fall beauty of Hocking Hills! Hear them share when to visit for peak color times, the Hocking Hills Trail Run, and everything else that makes it a wonderful travel destination for your fall getaway! Visit explorehockinghills.com to lea…

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139. Fiona Hathorn: How and why to get board roles: mastering applications, transitioning to paid roles and building a plural career 41:37

4M ago41:37

41:37

Fiona Hathorn is CEO and co-founder of Women on Boards UK, now known as WB Directors and recently acquired by Nurole. Listen to the conversation to hear about: What motivated Fiona to help more women get board roles (1:40); One woman’s success story that illustrates how to get board roles (5:32); The benefits of taking on external board positions a…

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138. Steve Rigby: Risk & acquisitions - the growth story of the Rigby family business from £0 to £4bn annual revenues 41:49

4M ago41:49

41:49

Steve Rigby is Co-CEO of Rigby Group, one of the UK's largest family businesses and in the top 500 largest family companies in the world. Listen to the conversation to hear about: Three key career moments that have shaped Steve’s boardroom thinking (2:02) NED lessons from the retail sector and financial crisis (5:01) How to survive a potential futu…

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On the Map: Showcasing the 2025 Chicago Jazz Festival

4M ago

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Heather Ireland Robinson, Executive Director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago, joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to highlight the Chicago Jazz Festival taking place through Sunday, August 31st, 2025. She highlights ways to experience jazz in Chicago, as well as opportunities available for kids and emerging artists. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/76876…

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On the Map: Everything Labor Day 2025

4M ago

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Jason Lesniewicz, Choose Chicago’s Senior Director of Cultural Tourism, joins Dave Plier to talk all things Labor Day in Chicago. Hear all about the Chicago Jazz Festival, Taste of Polonia, North Coast Music Festival, and much more! https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7687611/On_the_Map_Everything_Labor_Day_2025_2025-08-30-195511.64kmono.mp3 Recent Po…

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137. Baroness Dido Harding: NHS Test & Trace & the TalkTalk Cyber Attack — Board Leadership in the Public Eye 37:04

5M ago37:04

37:04

Baroness Dido Harding is a former Chair of NHS Improvement, Executive Chair of NHS Test & Trace, NED at the Bank of England, and CEO of TalkTalk Telecom Group plc. In this conversation, we cover: • How Dido handled Ofcom scrutiny after taking on her first CEO role at TalkTalk (01:50) • Lessons learned from the TalkTalk cyber attack (08:21) • The va…

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136. Jock Lennox: How to be a listed Chair and get the most from audit committees 47:32

5M ago47:32

47:32

Jock Lennox is Senior Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair at Barratt Developments plc, and Chair of Johnson Service Group plc and Clarion Housing Group. Listen to his thoughts on: the three most definitive experiences in your board career (2:01); approaching uncertainty in the boardroom (6:59); shifting boardroom thinking to focus on wha…

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On the Map: Experience Grand Rapids and the 15th year of ArtPrize

5M ago

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Kate Lieto, Vice President of Marketing for Experience Grand Rapids, and Catlin Whitington, Executive Director of ArtPrize, join WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to highlight the 15th year of ArtPrize, the world’s most attended public art event. They share what you will see at the annual event as well as the upcoming Breakaway Music Festival, Return to the R…

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135. Dr. Margaret Heffernan (2/2): How boards make the best decisions: agendas, wilful blindness and super chickens 33:21

5M ago33:21

33:21

Dr. Margaret Heffernan is author of seven books, including Wilful Blindness, Uncharted and Embracing Uncertainty. A former CEO of InfoMation Corp, ZineZone Corp, and iCast Corp, she was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2024. In this episode, we discuss: Balancing rigidity with flexibility in board meetings (1:35) What great board agenda…

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134. Dr. Margaret Heffernan (1/2): How boards make the best decisions: cooling-off periods, embracing uncertainty and deep hanging out 35:44

5M ago35:44

35:44

Dr. Margaret Heffernan is author of seven books, including Wilful Blindness, Uncharted and Embracing Uncertainty. A former CEO of InfoMation Corp, ZineZone Corp, and iCast Corp, she was inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2024. In this episode, we discuss: What uncertainty does to board decision-making (2:47) Practical ways boards can miti…

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133. Peter Clark: 200 years’ growth - inside the Clarks’ family business 42:34

6M ago42:34

42:34

Peter Clark is a NED at Clarks. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: What makes a great i-NED on a family board? (2:15) What should you look for when recruiting NEDs in a family business? (5:27) What questions do you ask when interviewing a NED candidate? (8:07) What mistakes have you made when hiring NEDs in the past? (11:18) How has Clarks remained a…

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On the Map: Visit Lake County, Road Trips, and Six Flags

5M ago

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WGN Radio’s Dave Plier is joined by Visit Lake County’s Director of Marketing, Jonathan Jones, to highlight their numerous activities, such as Lake County Road Trips, Six Flags Great America, Jurassic Gardens, local summer festivals, and more! Go to visitlakecounty.org to learn more. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7544677/7544677_2025-07-26-03071…

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On the Map: Previewing the 174th Wisconsin State Fair celebrating agriculture, music, cream puffs, cheese curds and more!

5M ago

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WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to Sheri Black, CEO of the Wisconsin State Fair, about this year’s State Fair, going on Thursday July 31 through Sunday August 10th. Visit wistatefair.com for more information. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7544409/7544409_2025-07-25-222509.64kmono.mp3 Recent Posts On the Map On the Map: Mayslake Peabody Estate .cls-…

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132. Carl-Peter Forster: Forget Governance. Great Boards Focus on Strategy, People, and Execution. 43:32

6M ago43:32

43:32

Carl-Peter Forster is Chair of Vesuvius plc and Keller Group plc. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: What experiences from your executive career have shaped your non-executive career? (2:09) How would you counsel a new CEO coming into a business looking to set up their own team? (7:06) What lessons did you learn from the General Motors crisis? (10:12…

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On the Map: Oregon’s Black Hawk Trail is a must-see

6M ago

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Mel Cozzi and George Howe, Board of Commissioners for the City of Oregon, join WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to highlight the City of Oregon and all that it has to offer for visitors. Mel and George talk about Oregon’s Route 66 connection to Chicago, state parks, shopping, arts and culture, and more. Visit alltrailsleadtooregonil.com for more information!…

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On the Map: Experience America’s largest airshow at AirVenture 2025

6M ago

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Chris Henry, Museum Manager for the Experimental Aircraft Association, joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to talk about all the activity taking place at AirVenture 2025, America’s largest annual aviation event in Oshkosh, WI. Daily aircraft displays, antique military aircrafts, and even night airshows can be seen. To learn more and purchase tickets, visi…

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On the Map: Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac

6M ago

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WGN Radio news anchor Dave Schwan joins WGN Radio’s Dave Plier to discuss the 2025 Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac and the 150th anniversary of the Chicago Yacht Club. Dave Schwan explains what you need to know about the race and speaks with two individuals about the history of the Chicago Yacht Club and the Race to Mackinac. https://serve.cast…

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131. Laurence Garrett: Featurespace - the board’s role in growth, pricing, US expansion and sale to Visa 45:27

6M ago45:27

45:27

Laurence Garett is General Partner at Highland Europe, a VC firm, and NED at Wirepas, hyperexponential, Modulr, Featurespace Ltd and Goodlord. Tune in to hear his thoughts on: What strategic contributions did the board make to Featurespace’s growth? (2:01)How should board members think about pricing? (9:44) How can board members help organisations …

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On the Map: Ishnala, Wisconsin’s #1 supper club on Mirror Lake, 38,000 Old Fashioneds and counting!

6M ago

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WGN Radio’s Dave Plier talks to Bob Prosser, owner of Ishnala Supper Club, which is celebrating 72 years! Located on Mirror Lake, Ishnala offers you the chance to unplug and take in the beautiful scenery while sipping on an Old Fashioned and eating prime rib or roast duck. Additionally, Bob discusses how Ishnala Supper Club is eliminating seed oils…