Bootstraps

If you're overwhelmed, tired, or just trying to make sense of the wacky world we're livin in — this episode is for you. You're not alone. If you're paying attention…It's a lot. And it's real. Here in Chicago — families...

Get ready for sparks! ⚡ Two fierce, funny & fab Irish firecrackers, Pat Brady and Maureen Muldoon, sit down to stir the pot in Same Soup, Different Seasoning. Laughs, insight, and a little chaos guaranteed.Two worlds...

Today we chat with more fam from SOUTH SIDE!! (on my Irish side)...my "reMARKble" cousin, Mark Ishaug — CEO of *Thresholds* in Chicago, longtime HIV/AIDS and mental-health champion, civic collaborator, and unapologetic...

This week on *Bootstraps,* we're going back to the South Side, for some laughs & comfort food — to the "Frunchroom" … We're celebrating Nonna — our funny, fierce, gnocchi making, chocolate chip cookie-baking matriarch...

In this soulful (and spicy) kickoff, I sat down with my radiant, spiritual mentor, a Chicago native, and 4th generation intuitive guide, Sonia Tully! We got real about navigating these apocalyptic times - with heart…...

Family stories can take the wildest turns ... Over 30 years ago, I set up a High School bestie with my older brother, and ended up with a bestie for my child, and one of the most remarkable people in my life—my nephew...

This week I sat down with the one and only Dr. John Duffy — clinical psychologist, bestselling author, podcast host, teen whisperer, and all-around good guy you'd want on speed dial when your family group chat goes off...

In today's episode, I sit down with my very first guitar teacher, Chris Wilson — the founder of **The Academy of Music & Art in Westmont, IL**. Chris shares stories about his leap-of-faith decisions: to follow his...

Buckle up for today's episode…it's a wild, spinning ride of laughter + heartbreak + Broadway glitter + unshakable resilience. My effervescent cousin Matthew Butz joins me to discuss how his phenomenal family used the...

Soul sister, storyteller, songstress, minister, mother, and all-around magic maker— my convo with the stunning Maureen Muldoon will open your heart, tickle your soul, and drop your jaw. She dishes about starting her own...

Comedy is chaos with a punchline — and John Dacosse has the scars (and the credits) to prove it. From Oprah's hype man to warming up Rosie O'Donnell's audiences, John Dacosse reminds us why laughter really is the best...

Every show needs a wizard behind the curtain — and for Bootstraps, that's my producer, Brad Dickert. A drummer, songwriter, sound engineer, and all-around sound sorcerer, Brad makes music and podcasts come alive. With...

Chicago legend Steve Cochran stops by to dish on Bootstrappin' his way through comedy and radio — from dodging flying keys and beer bottles with Gary Shandling and Howie Mandel in the Wild West days of stand-up, to Tom...

Tommy Holl, aka The Real Elf, opens up about surviving cancer, charming Barbara Corcoran (yes — she backed him on Shark Tank!), and choosing radical joy in the face of grief. (You'll also get juicy behind-the-scenes...

Meet one of the bravest souls I know — my trans child Grey. From his "coming out" journey, to his recent gender affirming surgery, this isn't just a convo about gender. It's about the mess and the magic of growing up...