Best Justin Shaifer Podcasts (2025)

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Justin “Mr. Fascinate” Shaifer 6:06

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14d ago6:06

6:06

Send us a text Justin “MR. FASCINATE” Shaifer is nationally renowned as one of the top advocates for science education in the nation. He is a LinkedIn Top Voice in Technology, Science Communicator, popular TV host and producer who has starred in shows for ABC News, Hulu, PBS, and Travel Channel. On June 13th, Shaifer hosted the world’s largest K-12…

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Is Understanding AI the New Literacy? 1:22:52

2h ago1:22:52

1:22:52

In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer break down the promises and pitfalls of artificial intelligence. From the tension between hype and reality to expert disagreements and a little solar physics just because, this is an honest, nuanced, and human conversation about a technology shaping everything. *In this episo…

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Abi Carter 7:41

5d ago7:41

7:41

Send us a text "American Idol" winner Abi Carter called in to talk about her appearance on PBS's "A Capitol Fourth," her new album, and her upcoming appearance in Chicago at the Beat Kitchen on October 23rd. ABI CARTER BIO After charming judges, audiences, and voters during her journey on Season 22 of American Idol, singer-songwriter Abi Carter wen…

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The Smartest People in the Room Might Be Telling Jokes w/ Manny 56:31

7d ago56:31

56:31

In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer sit down with comedian Manny (@delamomanny) to talk about identity, creativity, and how much (or how little) people really change over time. They dig into ambition, self-esteem, neurodivergence, streaming culture, and the challenge of balancing hustle with staying grounded. 🎙 Hos…

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Gordon Korman 10:49

7d ago10:49

10:49

Send us a text Gordon Korman is a household name in the middle grade space. With over 100 titles to his name, he’s written a book for every kind of reader in this age group—from reluctant to voracious and all the shades in between. We discussed his brand-new adventure: SNOOP is the story of a screen-obsessed boy who finds himself trapped at home—an…

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Special Episode: Remembering Dave Parker 12:32

8d ago12:32

12:32

Send us a text One of my all-time favorite ballplayers, Dave "Cobra" Parker passed away June 28th at age 74. Dave's numbers speak for themselves and he should be in the Hall of Fame. We revisit our conversation from April 12, 2021. Original episode description: Dave Parker won two batting titles, an MVP award, three silver sluggers, and played in 7…

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Dave Itzkoff 8:53

12d ago8:53

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Send us a text New York Times culture reporter, best-selling author, and Twitter superstar Dave Itzkoff dialed into the show to talk about his new book Robin: The Definitive Biography and Untold Story of Robin Williams. We discussed why fans felt such a connection to Robin, how he dealt with a rocket-like ascent to fame from comedy clubs to Mork an…

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What Will Humans Become? Emergence & the Next 1000 Years w/ Ashley Christine 1:10:46

14d ago1:10:46

1:10:46

In this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dakotah Tyler and Justin Shaifer are joined by Ashley Christine — better known online as @modernday_eratosthenes — to unpack the challenge of staying true in a world made for noise. We discuss vulnerability in writing, the tension between internet freedom and regulation, voter confusion, and the art of grabbing …

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Joe Minoso 7:32

19d ago7:32

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Send us a text Chicago Fire star Joe Minoso joined the show to talk about tonight's crossover episodes of Chicago Fire and Chicago PD, beginning tonight at 8 CT on NBC-5 Chicago. Joe and I also discussed the stupidest Chicago winter ever and his roots in the area. (From 2-25-19)By Ryan Gatenby

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Debi Mazar 9:11

21d ago9:11

9:11

Send us a text Debi Mazar called it to talk about her new series, “Arde Madrid: Burn Madrid Burn,” which is streaming on the Megahertz choice service. Debi plays Ava Gardner in 1960. We also discussed meeting Frank Sinatra with Madonna, her battle with COVID-19, and the future of her series "Younger." (From 5-4-20)…

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Curious Enough to Never Fail!? Comedy, Confidence & Big Questions w/ Comedian Jazmyn W 54:29

21d ago54:29

54:29

n this episode of Curiosity Theory, Dr. Dakotah Tyler (@starkidphd) and Justin Shaifer (@mr.fascinate) are joined by comedian and content creator Jazmyn W (@jazmynw) to explore how comedy, creativity, and chaos intersect in the digital age. We talk about pre-show rituals, growing an audience online, navigating perception, and how to stay authentic …

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Jonathan McHugh 9:20

26d ago9:20

9:20

Send us a text Jonathan McHugh is the director of a new documentary, “Long Live Rock: Celebrate the Chaos,” now available on demand. (From 3-12-21) Jonathan McHugh has been producing, directing and music supervising films and TV for decades. He has produced over 35 films and TV shows, music supervised over 75 films and produced many gold, platinum,…

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Marcus Samuelsson 8:12

28d ago8:12

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Send us a text Chef Marcus Samuelsson called in to give me some tips on putting a new spin on the 5 dishes I can semi-successfully make, including getting out my olive oil rut and exploring avocado oil. Plus: Marcus talks about his new restaurant and gives a shout out to Chicago. (From 2-20-20)By Ryan Gatenby

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Curiosity As A North Star 50:58

28d ago50:58

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Welcome to the very first episode of Curiosity Theory — where we explore the questions that drive us and the stories that shape us. In this episode, co-hosts Dr. Dakotah Tyler (astrophysicist & former D1 football player) and Justin Shaifer (science communicator & media producer) kick things off with a raw and real conversation about how curiosity h…

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Trailer - Welcome to Curiosity Theory 0:18

1M ago0:18

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Curiosity Theory is built on the belief that curiosity isn’t just a personality trait. It’s a vital human force. In ancient times, it helped us survive. Today, it helps us stay engaged, connected, and sane in a world that often numbs us out. We see curiosity as a muscle. When we train it—through science, ideas, stories, and questions—we grow. When …

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Joanna Ho Joins The 5-Timers Club! 12:38

1M ago12:38

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Send us a text Best-selling author Joanna Ho makes her 5th appearance on the show and earns the coveted prize as we talk about her fun new book "Becoming Boba." Joanna Ho is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of many children’s books, including We Who Produce Pearls, Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, and The Silence That Binds Us,…

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Billy Corben 7:52

1M ago7:52

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Send us a text The Award-Winning Story of Illegal Drugs and Famous Baseball Stars On DVD and Digital Platforms on June 4, 2019 "Another masterpiece of wild and woolly Floridiana from Florida's documentarian laureate." - Vincent Mancini, FILMDRUNK Some of the biggest U.S. sports stars come under harsh scrutiny in the eye-opening - and queasily funny…

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Paul Rees 8:29

1M ago8:29

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Send us a text Paul Rees is an award-winning writer who has been covering rock and roll for three decades. His new book is “The Ox: The Authorized Biography of The Who’s John Entwistle.” (From 4-29-20)By Ryan Gatenby

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Clive Standen 8:15

1M ago8:15

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Send us a text (From 5-17-20) It was nice to welcome Clive Standen back to the show for a chat about his new show "Council of Dads." Will there be new additions to the circle? Will Tom Everett Scott return to the show as a ghost? Listen for the spoiler-free details!By Ryan Gatenby

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Lindsay Mondick 7:10

2M ago7:10

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Send us a text May is National Water Safety Month, which makes it the perfect time for parents and caregivers to contact their local Y and sign their children up for a Safety Around Water program or swim lesson. The YMCA’s Safety Around Water program provides children of all ages and backgrounds with the tools they need to be confident in and aroun…

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Ben Cohen 9:57

2M ago9:57

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Send us a text Ben Cohen joined us to discuss his new book "The Hot Hand: The Mystery and Science of Streaks." We talked about the lack of Michael Jordan on NBA Jam for Sega Genesis, the difference between "hot hand" and "dumb luck," how to write songs like John Lennon, and a special "hot hand" Spotify playlist. (From 3-12-20)…

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Will Vought 10:46

2M ago10:46

10:46

Send us a text Will Vought has joined the cast of the multiple Emmy Award-winning "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." We discussed his character (an Army Major who wants to be Bob Hope), the accuracy and detail of their 50s setting and re-creation of the era's comedy scene, and his on-screen relationship with Midge. (From 12-9-19)…

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Mark L. Walberg 9:10

2M ago9:10

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Send us a text Mark L. Walberg is the long-time host of "Antiques Roadshow" on PBS, and is also hosting "Temptation Island," which is headed toward the two-part season 2 finale this Thursday (12/12/19) on USA Network. We discussed some of the events of this season, how his role as host also incorporates being a counselor, and a spoiler-free hint an…

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Kate Black 9:00

2M ago9:00

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Send us a text Kate Black is the co-author, along with June Diane Raphael, of the book "Represent: The Woman's Guide to Running for Office & Changing the World." We had a lively discussion about her inspiration for the book, her collaboration with June Diane Raphael, how to (and how not to) begin your campaign, and getting a testimonial from Hillar…

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Pete Correale 8:39

2M ago8:39

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Send us a text Pete Correale called in to the show for a chat about his new stand-up album "For Pete's Sake." We talked about the adventures of being a marathon spectator, listening to classic comedy albums, and juggling a show from city to city. (From 10-21-19)By Ryan Gatenby

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Doris Kearns Goodwin 8:18

2M ago8:18

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Send us a text It was an honor to have Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin on the show to discuss her book "Leadership in Turbulent Times," which is now out in paperback. I think I managed to not sound like a dullard in the interview, which was all I could hope for. (From 10-4-19)By Ryan Gatenby

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Alla Reznik 8:42

2M ago8:42

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Send us a text Cybercrime is evolving as consumers and businesses – from healthcare to finance to manufacturing --- are facing increasingly sophisticated threats. Now, Verizon’s 18th Annual Data Breach Investigation Report has analyzed 22,000+ security incidents and their impact across 139 countries, providing insights about the critical need to ta…

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Natalie Smith and Mark Olsen 7:48

2M ago7:48

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Send us a text The Great Barrier Reef is a jewel of Australia and a designated UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site. The Reef is alive and thriving and now people around the world are signing their support to recognize this treasure as part of the United Nations Environment Programme’s Champions of the Earth Awards, with a Lifetime Achievement Award,…

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Chrissy Metz 7:11

3M ago7:11

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Send us a text Chrissy Metz returned to The Big Wakeup Call to talk about her new movie, "Breakthrough." We discussed the challenges of playing a character based on an actual person, how she prepared to play a mom, and how she's working on recording some tunes. (From 4-18-19)By Ryan Gatenby

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Ed Begley Jr. 6:53

3M ago6:53

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Send us a text After a lengthy absence, Ed Begley Jr. called in to the show for a chat about Earth Day and what we can do to help take care of our planet as we take care of ourselves. (From 4-20-20)By Ryan Gatenby

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Garrett Morris 7:30

3M ago7:30

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Send us a text Garrett Morris called in to talk about his new movie "Granddaddy Day Care" and share stories about working in Chicago, his time on SNL and owning a comedy club. (From 1-31-19)By Ryan Gatenby

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Verne Lundquist 7:05

3M ago7:05

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Send us a text Legendary sportscaster Verne Lundquist called in for a chat about his new memoir PLAY BY PLAY: Calling the Wildest Games in Sports - From SEC Football to College Basketball, The Masters, and More. Topics: reminiscing about the Bears-Eagles "Fog Bowl" in 1988, being present for so many historical sports moments, and making a memorable…

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Andrew Zimmern 8:54

3M ago8:54

8:54

Send us a text Andrew Zimmern visited the show for a third time, and on this visit we discussed his new MSNBC series "What's Eating America," a travel show that connects the links between food and politics. (From 2-13-20)By Ryan Gatenby

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John Lehr and Dr. Kathleen Blake 8:10

3M ago8:10

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Send us a text Parkinson’s disease affects nearly one million people in the U.S., with more than 90,000 newly diagnosed each year. John L. Lehr, President, CEO of the non-Profit Parkinson’s Foundation, and Dr. Kathleen Blake, a person living with Parkinson’s disease, let people know some of the early signs of PD, such as tremors, small handwriting,…

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Vanessa Bayer 9:12

3M ago9:12

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Send us a text Vanessa Bayer, who was currently in her 5th season on Saturday Night Live, talks about the "Trainwreck Comedy Tour" coming to the Harris Theater in Chicago, an all-star evening featuring Vanessa, Amy Schumer, Colin Quinn, Judd Apatow, Mike Birbiglia and Dave Attell. (From 6-10-15)By Ryan Gatenby

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Monica Mohindra 8:53

3M ago8:53

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Send us a text Monica Mohindra is the Director of the Veterans History Project (VHP) of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. In over 15 years with the Project, she has coordinated major initiatives with Members of Congress, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Endowment for the Humanities, PBS, Ken Burns/ Flo…

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Henry Rollins 6:44

3M ago6:44

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Send us a text The legendary Henry Rollins joined the show to talk about his role in a new four-part docuseries "Punk." We also discussed how music and fashion were attached to the English punk rock scene, why he embraced the punk rock community as a teenager, and the reason he turns down most punk rock documentaries (and why he chose to appear in …

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Diane Warren 9:10

4M ago9:10

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Send us a text Songwriting icon Diane Warren discusses her legendary career. (From 2016)By Ryan Gatenby

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William DeWitt 7:36

4M ago7:36

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Send us a text William DeWitt is the Director of Global Security at Verkada, where he is building a best-in-class corporate security program. Prior to Verkada, Will spent nearly 12 years at Palantir, where he served as Global Safety and Security Lead, building the company’s corporate global security and government security programs. Under his leade…

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Jacqueline Friedland 10:24

4M ago10:24

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Send us a text Author Jacqueline Friedland’s books have been called ferociously insightful, wholly engrossing and unputdownable! Her newest is Counting Backward, which is being called "An Erin Brockovich for our times." Next month, she delivers her most thought-provoking book yet with: COUNTING BACKWARD. This “ripped-from-the-headlines story is an …

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Tanisia Moore 13:46

4M ago13:46

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Send us a text I had a fun chat with author Tanisia Moore about her new book for children (and parents, too) "Wash Day Love." Tanisia Moore views writing as her avenue for giving hope, sharing life's lessons, and sparking imaginations. Her companion picture books I Am My Ancestors' Wildest Dreams and When Black Girls Dream Big empower young readers…

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Tom Carroll 10:32

4M ago10:32

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Send us a text Tom Carroll is the writer director of “The Stress is Killing Me,” which is now available to rent/own on all North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms. He is also the director or “Big Bad Budget,” which aired on PBS stations nationwide, and the writer director of “Who Stole the Tasmanian Devils?” Tom is also t…

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Annasophia Robb 7:00

4M ago7:00

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Send us a text Annasophia Robb of The CW's Carrie Diaries discusses her new film DOWN A DARK HALL. (From 8-17-18)By Ryan Gatenby

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Mike Schmidt 7:57

4M ago7:57

7:57

Send us a text MLB Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt called into talk about his serious battle with skin cancer (Stage 3 Melanoma) and a new initiative from CancerCare, "Your Cancer Game Plan." It was also a thrill to talk to Mike about baseball memories of him always destroying my Cubs and his thoughts on whether the Cubs can repeat. (From 9-20-17)…

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Joseph Finder 8:42

4M ago8:42

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Send us a text Lauded by David Baldacci, Karin Slaughter, and Stephen King, among others "The Oligarch's Daughter" by Joseph Finder is already on the bestseller list. The hero, Paul Brightman, is a regular finance guy who by accident falls in love with an Oligarch’s daughter. The U.S. intelligence community traps him into spying on his father-in-la…

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Steve Berry 10:05

5M ago10:05

10:05

Send us a text Celebrated New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry returns to the show to discuss the latest installment in his wildly popular Cotton Malone series—now in development as a streaming series. The Medici Return takes Cotton to Italy to solve a five hundred year-old mystery.By Ryan Gatenby

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Jim Jefferies 11:57

5M ago11:57

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Send us a text Jim Jefferies is coming to the Vic Theater in Chicago for two stand-up shows being taped for a new special. We discuss the state of the world, the state of comedy, and the state of our minds.By Ryan Gatenby

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Mick Rock 10:12

5M ago10:12

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Send us a text Renowned rock and roll photographer Mick Rock, who has taken iconic photographs of David Bowie, Queen, Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop, Ramones, and especially Lou Reed, called in to discuss a limited-edition book of pictures and stories, Transformer, out now to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the LP that, with the magic help of David Bowi…

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Marg Helgenberger 7:22

5M ago7:22

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Send us a text Marg Helgenberger called in to talk about her movie, "Almost Friends" as well as her play "What We're Up Against." Plus: Chicago geography and filming in Alabama in the summer -- on purpose. (From 11-14-17)By Ryan Gatenby

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Lindsay Arnold 8:04

5M ago8:04

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Send us a text Lindsay Arnold discusses partnering with Cubs legend Davis Ross on " Dancing With the Stars." (From 4-13-17). Lindsay Arnold is an all-American girl who was born and raised on the stage in Provo, Utah. She began dancing at the age of four and has not stopped dancing since. She trained extensively in Utah with some of the country's be…