PODCAST · society
AirGo
by Respair Production & Media
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airgo/id1016530091 Since 2015, a podcast reshaping culture for the more liberatory and creative. Listen to longform humanizing conversations with artists, organizers, performers, comedians, scholars, and more who are reimagining Chicago and beyond toward liberation. Hosted by Damon A. Williams and Daniel Kisslinger.
Episodes
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Ep 402 - Rich Wallace, EAT Chicago Organizer for Reparations, Returns
Rich Wallace is a solid dude and brilliant organizer who has built EAT Chicago, a non-profit, community-led organization founded by and for post-incarcerated people, to build social and economic equity for Black workers engaged in the informal economy. He talks about his winding path to this...
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Ep 401 - Real Ones Crew on Chicago music, fighting the slop, and songs to live by
No matter how politically focused AirGo gets, our roots are always in Chicago's music and arts community. As the scene shifts and new artists emerge, we try to keep an ear on who is making good music in our city, a task that's MUCH easier because of the excellent curation and coverage the Real…
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Ep 400 - Tonika Lewis Johnson, Chicago's Genius and Social Practice Artist, Returns
Tonika Lewis Johnson is about real repair. The photographer, social practice artist, and Macarthur genius grant recipient has spent the last decade building innovative, rooted projects that connect Chicagoans across racial divides, make legible the histories of structural violence, and create new...
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Ep 399 - Conscious Lee, Content Creator for the Common Good
How do most people learn about the world these days? And how do we, as a movement, make sure we're in their ears, gaze, and algorithm? Conscious Lee is an educator, facilitator, and content creator who has built a platform around direct, rooted critique of our culture. His work is rooted in...
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Ep 398 - Dilla, the Chicago Historian, Cheerleader, and Champion
The histories of our city shape our lives as Chicagoans, whether we know it or not. City stalwart and self-taught historian Dilla has made a life and livelihood peeling back the layers of Chicago and showing us how dope and impactful the city has been around the world. He sheds light on the roots...
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Introducing: Court Theatre's Spotlight Turns 10! A New Podcast, Available Now!
AirGo fam, check out this brand-new podcast from our friends over at the Court Theatre. Court Theatre’s Spotlight Reading series celebrates its 10th anniversary from August 7–22, 2026, with A Century of Black Progress, a festival exploring the past, present, and future of Black storytelling…
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Ep 397 - Mikaela Loach, Climate Justice Activist and "It's Not That Radical" Author
Do you ever feel daunted by the impending doom of climate collapse and social discombobulation? Relatable? Us too. That's why we were so glad to have Mikaela Loach on the show. Mikaela is a British climate justice activist, author and media personality. She has authored two books: "It's Not That...
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Ep 396 - Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago, Returns
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is in the stu! A three-time AirGo guest (rarefied air) and longtime progressive presence in our city, Mayor Johnson reflects with the guys about how centering his values in the midst of the migrant crisis has made so much other good work possible, the lessons he's...
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Ep 395 - Zayd Ayers Dohrn, Child of the Underground and Author of DANGEROUS, DIRTY, VIOLENT, AND YOUNG
Zayd Ayers Dohrn is the child of AirGo alums and lifelong radicals Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn (yes, we've interviewed his parents too lol). You may remember him as the creator of the podcast Mother Country Radicals. Born underground, Zayd lived in fugitivity with his parents. All his life,...
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Respair Presents: Quantum Entanglements
Hey AirGo fam! We've got a new project we're hyped to share with you about a really big story happening right here in Chicago. Quantum Entanglements is a new multimedia investigative feature from Respair about South Side Chicago communities fighting for self-determination in response to…
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Introducing: Quantum Entanglements, a new investigative feature dropping Thursday 6/18/26! (TRAILER)
Hey AirGo fam! Here's the trailer for a new project, dropping this Thursday 6/18/26, that we're hyped to share with you! Quantum Entanglements is a new multimedia investigative feature from Respair about South Side Chicago communities fighting for self-determination in response to potentially…
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Ep 394 - Rossana Rodriguez, 33rd Ward Alderwoman and Beacon of Socialist Political Power, Returns
If you live in the 33rd Ward on the Northwest Side of Chicago, you already know the political magic that's been built by this Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez and her comrades. For everyone else, it's pivotal to see how a group of grassroots socialist-leaning organizers have built power from the...
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Ep 393 - Dame and Kiss talk WW3, the Manosphere, and Abolishing Masculinity
On this episode the guys check in about living in a time of decay, dissonance, and maybe World War 3? They also dig deep into the new Louis Theroux docuseries Inside the Manosphere, and get into it about whether masculinity is savalgeable or whether we should scrap the whole concept to help...
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Ep 392 - The Hosts of JAAM Podcast Make Non-Toxic Masculinity Go Viral
We have the privilege of welcoming four youthful hope-givers and fellow Chicago podcasters to the AirGo stu–JJ, Allen, Abee, and Matt of hit show the JAAM Podcast. In a little over a year, the guys have built a vibrant and very successful show sharing a razor-sharp voice and perspective on what's...
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Introducing: Check Out Bourbon 'n BrownTown from Soapbox Productions & Organizing!
Our good friends and collaborators over at Soapbox Productions & Organizing host a podcast that we think y'all should get in tune with! Bourbon 'n BrownTown is a conversation-based podcast that fosters radically imaginative dialogues on media, culture, politics, and our various social movements...
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Ep 391 - Molly Crabapple, Author of Best-Selling Radical Jewish History "Here Where We Live is Our Country"
What do we do with the stories we're given? Do we accept them, or dig for the truth? Molly Crabapple is a visual artist, writer, and aesthetic fixture of radical social movements for the last decade-plus. Molly got her start as the house artist for New York’s most notorious nightclub. She became…
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Ep 390 - aja monet, Grammy-Nominated Poet and Keeper of the Black Surrealist Tradition
The guys have the privilege of hopping on the line with brilliant poet, artist, and cultural organizer aja monet. A longtime guiding light of the poetry and spoken word community, aja's debut album, when the poems do what they do, was nominated for a Grammy Best Spoken Word Poetry Album in 2024....
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Ep 389 - Heavy Crownz Breaks Down New Album Trench Baby Turned Farmer
From time to time, a Chicago artist drops a new project that the AirGo crew is vibing with–when that happens, we get them in the mix for a special listening party episode! Using a few of the project's tracks as jumping off points for the conversation, we dive deep into process, creativity, and...
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Ep 388 - Dean Spade, Mutual Aid & Radical Relationship-Builder, on Love in a F*cked-up World
Over the years, we've seen time and time again that healthy relationship are the glue that keeps our movements together. But it can be so hard, surprisingly hard, to build and maintain healthy relationships while struggling for a better world. Dean Spade is a longtime organizer and advocate for...
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Ep 387 - Renzell, Foundation of Chicago's Hip Hop Renaissance & StudioShapes Founder
When we listen to the remarkable hip hop that emerged from Chicago over the last fifteen years, it may not always be clear just how many hands had central roles in shaping the vibrant sound and community that pushed the limits of artistry and industry and crafted some of the best music of the…
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Ep 386 - Bill Ayers, Legendary Leftist and Teacher for Liberation, Returns
The guys are in a new studio with an old friend and mentor, the legendary Bill Ayers! A lifelong force for collective liberation, Bill was a cofounder of militant leftist group the Weather Underground, which was formed in opposition to U.S. imperialism in Vietnam and racial injustice. After…
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Ep 385 - Sarah Oberholtzer, Abolitionist Filmmaker of We Call Each Other
AirGo is joined by Sarah Oberholtzer, a filmmaker, educator, community organizer, and Respair collaborator who has just put some excellent art into the world. Sarah is the creator of We Call Each Other, a heartfelt short film about a community moving through drought and environmental racism....
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Ep 384 - Dame and Kiss talk Kiss' BFF Zohran, ICE in Chicago, and Getting Buckets
Dame and Kiss hop back into the AirGo studio to kick off a new year of conversations. They break down how it feels to have Daniel's high school BFF and AirGo alum Zohran Mamdani ascend to the NYC mayoral seat, the remarkable organizing that took place across Chicago in the face of ICE and CBP...
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Lineage in Detroit at The Boggs Center (Extended Interview) - One Million Experiments: In the Field
We're hyped to share this interview that's part of a brand-new travel show we've created called One Million Experiments: In the Field! Check out the full episode here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckhn1KILcis Nurtured in the lineage of visionary organizers Jimmy and Grace Lee Boggs, Dame and...
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Transformation in Seattle w/ Collective Justice (Extended Interview) - One Million Experiments: In the Field
We're hyped to share this interview that's part of a brand-new travel show we've created called One Million Experiments: In the Field! Check out the full episode here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki3rwqOQlRs In Seattle we cover the remarkable story of a duo, bound by deadly violence, who…
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Growth & Failure in LA w/ Ali of Feed Black Futures (Extended Interview) - One Million Experiments: In the Field
We're hyped to share this interview that's part of a brand-new travel show we've created called One Million Experiments: In the Field! Check out the full episode here - https://youtu.be/0uDzr1_II5Q?si=dPc_QkfadDjYL42E From the back room of Noname’s Book Club HQ to the soil of an urban farm, the...
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Scale in NYC w/ Friendly Fridge & Black Trans Travel Fund - One Million Experiments: In the Field (Extended Interview)
We're hyped to share this interview that's part of a brand-new travel show we've created called One Million Experiments: In the Field! Check out the full episode here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gB2PJ9Nq68 On the second episode we head to Kiss's childhood stomping grounds in the Bronx to...
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Rebirth in Minneapolis w/ Danez Smith & Kandace Montgomery - One Million Experiments: In The Field (Extended Interview)
We're hyped to share this interview that's part of a brand-new travel show we've created called One Million Experiments: In the Field! Check out the full episode here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuKv7ozCYrA On the first episode we head to Minneapolis, the center of the 2020 uprising, to...
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'GoBack | Ep 245 - On the Line with Zohran Kwame Mamdani
Congratulations to friend of the pod Zohran Mamdani for winning the NYC mayoral election! In honor of this historic win, we're re-running our 2020 episode with him. You can also check out episode 92 for another Mamdani interview. Original caption: This episode heads to the East Coast to chop it…
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Ep 383 - Richie Reseda, Abolitionist Creative behind 'Songs From the Hole' on Netflix
Sometimes you see some art that makes you stop, feel, and change your sense of reality. When that art is in connection to movements for liberation, the possibilities for transformation are endless. Richie Reseda is a brilliant cultural organizer, social entrepreneur, creative director, and music,...
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Ep 382 - Nachelle Pugh, Director of John Walt Foundation and Pivot Gang Mom
We're honored to talk on this episode with Nachelle Pugh, a beautiful soul who we both have the deepest appreciation for. Nachelle is the Executive Director of the John Walt Foundation, an on-the-ground nonprofit founded in the wake of the death of her son Walter Long, Jr. aka John Walt. A…
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Ep 381 - Niki Franco, Anti-War Organizer and Podcast Host
The guys are in good company with organizer and movement podcaster Niki Franco, aka Venus Roots. Niki is the co-director of Dissenters, a national youth anti-war organization, and is the host of podcast Getting to the Root of It with Venus Roots. She discusses how organizers need to look more...
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Respair Presents: Beyond The Screen, a New Audio Series from OTV
We're hyped to share a new project we've been helping to build with our longtime comrades and collaborators over at OTV, a Chicago-based non-profit platform for intersectional television, supporting artists and marginalized communities. Beyond the Screen: Pushing Media, Imagination, and Legacy...
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Quantum Entanglements - Coming Soon from AirGo and Respair!
Check out this sneak peek of Quantum Entanglements, a new podcast coming soon from AIrGo and Respair Production & Media! Over the four decades since the US Steel South Works steel mill shut its doors on the South Side of Chicago, the land it sat on has remained undeveloped as the surrounding...
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Ep 380 - Rami Nashashibi, Palestinian-American Activist & Director of Inner-City Muslim Action Network
In over a decade of documenting the leading voices of Chicago's movement for collective liberation, we've seen the impact of the work of Rami Nashashibi in so many corners of our city. A true Chicago leader and visionary, Rami is the Executive Director of Director of Inner-City Muslim Action...
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One Million Experiments CRISIS Part 4 - CRISIS Conclusions
As we wrap up this abbreviated Season 3 of 1ME, the squad hops back in the lab one more time to break down the learnings and takeaways from our convos with REP, Cambridge HEART, and Care-Based Safety. Dame, Kiss, Eva, and Deana explore the connections in what they heard and break down how we can...
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One Million Experiments CRISIS Part 3 - Care-Based Safety in Michigan
The AirGo team is excited to bring you back into the lab of One Million Experiments, our partner project with Interrupting Criminalization exploring how we define and create safety in a world without policing and prisons. Over the next few episodes we'll be sharing Season 3 of the podcast, which...
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One Million Experiments CRISIS Part 2 - Cambridge HEART in Cambridge, MA
The AirGo team is excited to bring you back into the lab of One Million Experiments, our partner project with Interrupting Criminalization exploring how we define and create safety in a world without policing and prisons. Over the next few episodes we'll be sharing Season 3 of the podcast, which...
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One Million Experiments CRISIS Part 1 - Relationships Evolving Possibilities (REP) in Minneapolis
The AirGo team is excited to bring you back into the lab of One Million Experiments, our partner project with Interrupting Criminalization exploring how we define and create safety in a world without policing and prisons. Over the next few episodes we'll be sharing Season 3 of the podcast, which...
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Ep 379 - Graciela Guzmán, IL State Senator and Community Health Advocate
The guys are joined by Graciela Guzmán, the State Senator for Illinois' 20th District on the Northwest Side of the city. A former organizer with a focus on health equity and economic justice, Graciela won her election last year over establishment candidate Natalie Toro, who had raised over four...
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Ep 378 - Camille Sapara Barton, Grief Doula and Movement Facilitator
This episode's guest Camille Sapara Barton, says that "grief is often a visceral and embodied experience that impacts us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Despite increasing conversation about grief in the Global North, there are few spaces to publicly express grief, or…
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Ep 377 - Rachel Havrelock, Water Warrior and UIC Freshwater Lab Director
The guys are joined by professor and Great Lakes champion Rachel Havrelock, whose Freshwater Lab at UIC leverages narrative and the humanities to raise awareness about water issues in the Great Lakes and empower people to claim and protect the most vital public asset. Rachel breaks down the...
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One Million Experiments 2025 PSA: Watch the Film Online, Podcast Returns this Summer, & New Travel Show Coming Soon!
The 1ME squad has some announcements to make to you, the public! First off–the One Million Experiments film is now available online on Apple TV, Google Play, and Youtube Movies–check out the film and spread the word. Next, the podcast is coming back this summer for Season 3: Crisis, a suite of...
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Ep 376 - Dave Zirin, Sportswriter on the Side of Justice
The sports arena is a microscope into our culture, and Dave Zirin is peering through the glass with a thoughtful and searing eye. A longtime sportswriter and commentator, Dave is the sports editor for The Nation, a weekly progressive magazine dedicated to politics and culture. He joins AirGo on...
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Ep 375 - Olga Bautista, Environmental Justice Leader from the Southeast Side
The guys get back up with Olga Bautista, a longtime collaborator and Environmental Justice leader whose work has reshaped the landscape of Chicago. The Co-Executive Director of the Southeast Environmental Task Force, Olga has been a leading force in the campaigns to defend the Southeast Side from...
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Ep 374 - Rep. Delia Ramirez, People-Powered Congresswoman from Chicago's NW Side
What the hell is actually happening in Congress in the midst of authoritarian takeover? The guys are joined by Rep. Delia Ramirez, the congresswoman for Illinois' 3rd District, who shares what it looks and feels like to walk into the Capitol under this administration, the ways that the ramp-up of...
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Ep 373 - Antonio Gutierrez, Anti-Displacement Organizer Fighting Deportations, Returns
The guys are joined by Antonio Gutierrez, an anti-displacement community organizer and leader in the multi-decade struggle for undocumented rights and protections here in Chicago. They are a co-founder of Organized Communities Against Deportations (OCAD), the Albany Park Defense Network, La...
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Ep 372 - Listening Party: "In Process" by Liberatory Rapper Damon A. Williams
From time to time, a Chicago artist drops a new project that the AirGo crew is vibing with–when that happens, we get them on the line for a special listening party episode! Using a few of the project's tracks as jumping off points for the conversation, we dive deep into process, creativity, and...
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Ep 371 - Dixon Romeo, Housing Organizer Fighting to Keep Southside Communities Together, Returns
What do you do when you see something happening that you know to be wrong? When its something seemingly intractable and massive that will negatively impact you and your neighbors? If you're Dixon Romeo, you start organizing. Dixon is the Executive Director of Southside Together, a new…
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Ep 370 - Alex Ding, Co-Director of National Anti-War Org Dissenters
On this episode the guys connect the global dots with Alex of Dissenters, a national organization of young people leading the fight to reclaim our resources from the war industry, reinvest in life-giving institutions, and repair collaborative relationships with the earth and people around the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airgo/id1016530091
Since 2015, a podcast reshaping culture for the more liberatory and creative. Listen to longform humanizing conversations with artists, organizers, performers, comedians, scholars, and more who are reimagining Chicago and beyond toward liberation. Hosted by Damon A. Williams and Daniel Kisslinger.
HOSTED BY
Respair Production & Media
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does AirGo have?
AirGo currently has 524 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is AirGo about?
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airgo/id1016530091 Since 2015, a podcast reshaping culture for the more liberatory and creative. Listen to longform humanizing conversations with artists, organizers, performers, comedians, scholars, and more who are reimagining...
How often does AirGo release new episodes?
AirGo releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 524 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to AirGo?
You can listen to AirGo on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts AirGo?
AirGo is created and hosted by Respair Production & Media.
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