Mission From Pod

Joabe Barbosa has run all 4000 miles of Chicago's streets — every one of the city's 77 community areas and 200+ neighborhoods — and holds the Guinness World Record for visiting every CTA station in under nine hours.Born in Brazil, raised in London, and now a clinical psychology doctoral student in Chicago, Joabe runs the city wearing the Chicago flag and built a following around one message: Chicago is safe, Chicago is a good city, and you should explore every neighborhood.In this episode, host Adam Leinberger and Joabe get into:How a near-disastrous climb on Mount Washington turned him into a runnerThe best and worst neighborhoods to run (and why The Loop is the hardest)Running as a tool for mental health, routine, and reflectionBecoming a Chicago "hometown hero" as a transplantThe visa scare, immigration hurdles, and the financial barriers most people never seeVacant lots, rent, and why Chicago isn't actually overcrowdedUniversal basic income, crime, and AI's effect on workA sharp critique of public transit — and the case for a Chicago "circle line"Whether Chicago is really safe, from someone who's run it at every hour of the dayWhat comes next after he finishes every streetA conversation about a city, the people in it, and why one runner thinks Chicago deserves more credit than it gets.Mission From Pod is a Chicago podcast about the people, culture, and stories shaping the city, hosted by Adam Leinberger. New episodes regularly — follow so you don't miss one.

Chicago comedian, content creator, producer, and late-night show host Victoria Flynn joins Mission From Pod for one of our best episodes yet.Adam and Victoria discuss the Strait of Hormuz, Hemp vs Plastic, the parallel histories of jazz and country music, AI deleveraging the ability for white collar workers to sell their labor, universal basic income, and why the skills that make a great comedian are the same ones that make you unemployable.CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro & Welcome | Victoria Flynn's Background03:30 – Strait of Hormuz, Supply Chain & Geopolitics08:00 – Women in Power & the Feminist Theory of International Relations12:00 – Hemp, Plastic, and Why "Marijuana" Changed Its Spelling18:30 – Yellowstone, Country Music & the Commercialization of Working-Class Identity26:00 – Taylor Swift, Fight Club & Why Billionaires Can't Make Bold Art31:00 – AI, Tech Layoffs & the Real Reason No One Talks About "Time Saved"40:00 – Victoria's 10 Years in SaaS: What AI Actually Replaces47:00 – Universal Basic Income, Andrew Yang & the Reserve Labor Army54:00 – The School-to-Prison Pipeline, Dopamine Addiction & Literacy Crisis60:00 – Frederick Taylor, Sales Culture & Never Split the Difference68:00 – How to Be a Better America: Mandatory Service, Bilingualism & Shame76:00 – 9/11 Through a French Immersion School in Chicago81:00 – Chicago Plugs: Lincoln Lodge, Emma Alamo, Bordeaux & More84:00 – Dream Comedy Collab: Andy Samberg, Mel Brooks, Tina Fey & More

Adam interviews Charles Fox, a Chicago-based journalist and content creator who uses social media to bring back local journalism that is both accessible and trustworthy.Charles discusses the challenges of guerilla journalism, being limited to his own resources & fact-checking, and partnerships he is fostering to help cover more ground. They dive deep into topics like news media credibility, universal basic income, AI, hydraulic despotism in Dune, 24 hour work weeks and how we should organize society in an age where AI and robotics are handling significant amounts of labor.

Nathan Graber-Lipperman is the Founder/Head of Powder Blue Media and the Managing Editor of Offline Magazine.Nate joins Mission From Pod to discuss the evolution of journalism, the creator economy, and how the internet has shifted trust away from traditional media institutions towards individual creators.We also discuss Inside Llewyn Davis, The Big Lebowski, and how Hunter S. Thompson has impacted NGL.Instagram: @powderblueworld @bynateglHost: @adam_rightanglevisuals  @MissionFromPod ​

Ashley Komperda is the Founder of The Friendwork Collective, a rapidly growing community platform redefining how adults build friendships. Since launching in July of 2024, Ashley has hosted 100+ curated events across Chicago, and is now expanding to San Francisco & New York.The Friendwork Collective hosts events like Speed Friending, Pop Culture Jeopardy, Pilates/Yoga socials, and more.IG: @itsashleylynn_Host: @adam_rightanglevisualsShow: @missionfrompod

Heidi Auvenshine is the driving force behind @playpenchicago, and has grown the account from 5k to 32k+ follower since becoming the admin a few summers ago.Heidi was also hands-on in launching the Playpen Chicago app, a social platform that allows individuals and groups to book charters and network with others who regularly enjoy The Playpen.Outside of her professional day job and managing @playpenchicago, Heidi finds time to be involved at The Metropolitan Club, where she serves as a Board Member, and is also a model.Heidi joins Mission From Pod with an exciting announcement, how she thinks Wellness Trends will impact The Playpen, what she loves about Ratatouille, and much more. Instagram: @heiders @playpenchicagoHost: @adam_rightanglevisuals

TJ is a Chicago-based Stand Up Comic, Photographer/Videographer, Musician, Food Reviewer, and works at Red Bull during the day.TJ has also never seen HBO's The Wire, which is addressed thoroughly in the episode. We also discuss why men demonstrate their excellence at fishing on their dating app profiles and why big shopping carts are fascist.You can find us on IG @adam_rightanglevisuals and @tjsopoci

Chicago Comedian Sohrab Forouzesh, better known as Sohrab Is Brown, shares stories from when he was in a Fraternity at Western Michigan University, we speed summarize movies from Kurosawa to Michael Bay, I ask him about the first time he ever did standup, and more. Instagram:@sohrabisbrown@adam_rightanglevisuals@missionfrompod

Giavanna is the founder of Higher Vibration Living, one of the largest wellness communities in Chicago. Instagram: @giavannamoran_ @highervibrationlivingHost: @adam_rightanglevisuals

Sam is the founder of Let's Do Fun Things Chicago

Tiffany Gabriel is a Chicago content creator, model, marketing manager, fitness instructor, and yoga teacher. IG: @tiffanymariegabrielHost: @adam_rightanglevisuals @missionfrompod

Adam and Corey talk Chicago restaurants, our favorites movies, and how Corey went from being in the Air Force to being a prominent YouTuber with millions of views across his career. You can find him on YouTube ‪@CoreyWagnerChicago‬ and ‪@numbersixwithcheese‬

Athena Geldi is a singer, model, business owner, and lifelong Chicagoan.IG: @athenageldiHost: @adam_rightanglevisuals

Giavanna Moran, founder of the Higher Vibration Living wellness community in Chicago joins for the first episode.We talk Giavanna's favorite movie, the story behind Higher Vibration Living, and why she believes there are not more men in yoga.