Send us Fan Mail

Love him or hate him, you've probably heard his name. This week, we're sitting down with Chicago Alderman Jim Gardiner, the "bad boy" of City Hall who's making headlines for a $1 million lawsuit against the City of Chicago, his support to the City Council's Israel-Gaza ceasefire resolution, and the accusations that have followed him throughout his political career.

From being labeled everything from a "White Nationalist," to a “racist" by his critics, Gardiner isn't holding back. We get into the lawsuit, the ceasefire vote that sparked chaos in city hall, the state of Chicago politics, and what it's really like to be one of the most polarizing political figures.

No PR team. No talking points. Gardiner calls everyone out.

🔥 In this episode:

- Jim Gardiner's childhood
- Why he's suing the City of Chicago for $1 million
- The Israel-Gaza ceasefire vote
- The accusations and criticism he's faced
- Political enemies, City Hall drama, and media headlines

Agree with him or not, this is a side of the story you haven't heard.

🎧 Listen now and tell us: Is Jim Gardiner misunderstood or exactly who his critics say he is? 👀

#ChicagoPolitics #JimGardiner #Chicago #CityHall #Podcast #Politics #Israel #Palestine #Ceasefire #Lawsuit #ChicagoNews #Interview

Send us Fan Mail

This week on Victim or Villain, we're sitting down with some of the teens behind Chicago's controversial teen takeovers; the events that sparked headlines, political outrage, police crackdowns, and endless social media debates.

Why do they do it? Is it really about chaos, or is there something deeper going on?

From grief, trauma, and losing a parent, to going viral, gaining hundreds of thousands of followers, dodging arrests, and navigating life in a city that many young people feel has forgotten them, nothing is off limits.

We talk about:
• The real reason teen takeovers happen
• Violence, shootings, and who should be held accountable
• Why some organizers say there’s “nothing else to do”
• The parent fines and curfew laws making headlines
• What police, politicians, and community leaders keep getting wrong
• The opportunities that actually stopped takeovers
• And the one thing they say could change everything

This conversation challenged a lot of my assumptions and it might challenge yours too.

So tell me: are they victims, villains, or something in between?
🎧 Listen now and decide for yourself.

Send us Fan Mail

Lil Durk’s mom, Lashawnda Woodard, is telling her story like never before.

In this emotional and unfiltered conversation, the author of 7220 opens up about the devastating loss of her son D-Thang, what life has been like since Lil Durk’s arrest, and the trauma she carried for years after being sexually assaulted by someone she trusted.

Lashawnda takes us back to her childhood in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, the depression she hid from everyone, becoming pregnant at 17, and the painful moments that shaped the woman she is today. She also shares the heartbreaking phone call that changed her life forever, why she decided to finally tell her story, and how faith helped her survive some of her darkest moments.

But this episode isn’t just about loss. Lashawnda gets candid about marriage, motherhood, entrepreneurship, and her mission to build a women’s shelter for survivors—while revealing allegations that an Illinois state senator requested a kickback tied to support for the project.

From grief and healing to public scrutiny and resilience, this is a conversation about what happens when life keeps testing you and why refusing to quit can be the most powerful response of all.

In this episode:
• Lil Durk’s arrest and how the family is coping
• The loss of D-Thang and the phone call she'll never forget
• Growing up in Englewood, Chicago
• Hidden depression and teenage struggles
• Surviving sexual assault and breaking years of silence
• Becoming a mother at 17
• Building a healthy marriage and successful businesses
• Her vision for a women’s shelter
• Allegations involving an Illinois state senator and a kickback request
• Advice for young women navigating trauma, relationships, and motherhood

#VictimOrVillain #LashawndaWoodard #LilDurk #OTFDThang #Chicago #Podcast #Interview #TraumaHealing #Motherhood #WomenEmpowerment #OTF #7220