Episodes

Ryan Walz, owner and partner of Cobblestone Exteriors, joins Karen Conti to talk about how to avoid contractor scams and how to protect yourself when hiring a contractor. Ryan explains what should be included in the contract to ensure you are protected, whether you should pay in full upfront, six points to follow for a successful remodeling project, the importance of permits and insurance, red flags to watch out for, and what is the concern of having a mechanic’s lien against your property. htt...

Karen Conti, Chicago trial attorney, joins Bob Sirott to talk about why a federal appeals court upheld the ban on semiautomatic weapons and if President Trump can appeal a federal judge’s decision concerning a ten billion dollar lawsuit. She also discusses why states are suing to block the merger of Warner Bros. and Paramount and the new laws that Governor Pritzker signed. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8515569/8515569_2026-07-15-122809.64kmono.mp3 Recent Posts Karen Conti Karen Conti: Cou...

Author Dennis Breo joins Karen Conti to talk about the 60th anniversary of the Richard Speck murders in Chicago, where eight student nurses were killed. Dennis discusses Speck’s family upbringing and relationships, his complicated personality, the crime scene, how one victim, Corazon Amurao, survived, Speck’s defense at trial, how he spent his time in prison, and his jailhouse confession. To dive deeper into the case and Speck, check out Dennis’ book, ‘The Crime of the Century: Richard Speck an...

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart joins Karen Conti to discuss the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative and how it has helped drastically reduced gun violence since the 2022 Highland Park parade shooting. Eric also talks about Firearm Restraining Orders, what he has done to solve domestic violence issues in Lake County, and law enforcement’s close connection with the community. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8505370/Eric_Rinehart_7-12-26_2026-07-13-095410.64kmono.mp3

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs joins Karen Conti to discuss the role of Illinois’ Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program and its impact on people with disabilities. Michael also talks about Illinois’ state-facilitated retirement savings program, the importance of college savings accounts, Operation Purple Heart, and accessing unclaimed funds. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8505369/Michael_Frerichs_7-12-26_2026-07-13-093009.64kmono.mp3

Charles Bosworth, author of ‘Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey?’, joins Karen Conti to talk about the JonBenet Ramsey murder that took place nearly thirty years ago. Charles discusses whether JonBenet’s father, John, was involved in the case, the family’s behavior after her death, who may have sexually abused JonBenet, the questionable ransom note left in the home, why an outside-intruder theory doesn’t seem to work in this case, why her brother, Burke, is not a viable suspect, how bad the crime scene ...

Carolyn Shapiro, a constitutional law professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, joins Karen Conti to talk about this week’s Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship and mail-in voting. Carolyn explains birthright citizenship, the arguments made by President Trump’s administration in support of the executive order to end it, and what would need to happen to get rid of it. Then, she discusses states being allowed to count mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day. She also comments on ...

Lester Munson, a retired lawyer and Sports Illustrated and ESPN author, joins Karen Conti to talk about the latest NBA betting scandal involving former player Malik Beasley. Lester comments on how much blame we should direct toward athletes for placing bets, the consequences of sports betting for athletes, and how to prevent athletes from taking part in it. Lester also discusses the Supreme Court’s ruling on transgender athletes and why it upheld state bans on transgender girls and women partic...

David Widner, nephew of John and Clarence Anglin, who escaped from Alcatraz along with Frank Morris, joins Karen Conti to talk about their famous escape, which occurred 64 years ago this month. David discusses why his uncles were imprisoned, the plan to flee the island, the possibility of making it to shore, reports of a stolen car by three individuals on the night of the escape, how the case has impacted his life, law enforcement searching for the escapees, and what he thinks actually happened ...

Joe Feldman, Founder and President of Cover My Mental Health, joins Karen Conti to talk about how you can get your mental health care covered by insurance. Joe discusses what people should do if they struggle to access a clinician, when insurers tend to deny coverage, the importance of documenting calls and other key information when […]

Noah Bazis, Illinois Legislative Strategist with the Institute for Justice, joins Karen Conti to talk about a new law loosening licensing rules for cosmetologists. Noah discusses the requirements for licensure, the cost of cosmetology school, whether cosmetologists even need licenses, how the new law changes the current one, and more. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8482448/Noah_Bazis_6-28-26_2026-06-29-221748.64kmono.mp3

Dr. Alan Childs, Licensed Clinical Psychologist joins Karen Conti on Father’s Day to talk about how separation and divorce impact children and what parents can do to protect their emotional well-being. Dr. Childs covers how parental alienation can lead to long-term relationship issues and offers guidance on co-parenting and when children may need therapy. If you or someone you know needs assistance, you can reach out to Dr. Childs by calling 708-430-5993 or by e-mailing him at drachilds@hotmail....

Jeffrey Ment, an expert in travel law, joins Karen Conti to break down what travelers need to know heading into the busy summer season. Jeffrey explains how recent rules on flight delays and cancellations have improved refund timelines, along with the fine print that can impact eligibility. Jeffrey also discusses handling lost or delayed baggage, travel insurance, rental car coverage, and how evolving regulations are addressing hotel fees and accessibility issues. https://serve.castfire.com/aud...

Elder law attorney Kathryn Casey joins Karen Conti during Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month to discuss why estate plans are critical, especially if cognitive decline becomes more common with age. Kathryn talks about memory loss impacting legal decision-making, breaks down the role of guardianship in Illinois, and highlights the risks of DIY estate planning tools and why it’s important to choose the right advocate to manage your affairs. If you need assistance you can reach out to Kathryn at ...

Ryan Graveface and Chloe Manon, owners and founders of Graveface Museum, join Karen Conti to talk about their museum and possessing the largest collection of artifacts, personal effects, and documents from John Wayne Gacy and the Gacy case including a rare true crime text written by John Wayne Gacy about his own trial that has been out of print for decades. Ryan and Chloe talk about their museum in Chicago and Savannah, Georgia and how it pays respect to the victims who are often silenced in a t...

Diana Hartmann, McHenry County Regional Office Superintendent for the Illinois State Board of Education, and Richard Wistocki, former Naperville Police Detective and active Cyber Crimes Detective, join Karen Conti to talk about cyberbullying and the severity of the problem today. Richard discusses Illinois’ law on cyberbullying, what is considered legal, a statute he is trying to get passed, the services offered by BeSure Consulting, the Golden Ticket magnet, five pieces of evidence to preserve ...

Brian Killacky, retired CPD homicide investigator and hostage negotiator, joins Karen Conti to discuss police interrogations, when Miranda rights must be given, why people admit to crimes they didn’t commit, lie detector tests, and his involvement in the Brown’s Chicken murder interrogation. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8450319/Brian_Killacky_6-14-26_2026-06-14-222219.64kmono.mp3

Criminal defense lawyer Damon Cheronis joins Karen Conti to talk about the week’s trending legal news. Damon explains why we have grand juries and what happens during a grand jury process. He also provides an update on the ‘Broadview Six’ fallout and comments on the first-degree murder conviction of Karmelo Anthony in Texas. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8450318/Damon_Cheronis_6-14-26_2026-06-14-221518.64kmono.mp3

Dr. Joni Johnston, forensic psychologist, private investigator, and crime writer, joins Karen Conti to discuss true crime and why we are obsessed with it. Dr. Johnston talks about common traits found in serial killers, whether there are ways to prevent someone from becoming a serial killer, the Macdonald triad and whether it has been proven, distinguishing between a psychopath and a sociopath, assessing if someone may recommit a crime if they are released, and investigating alleged suicides that...

Karen Conti welcomes her law partner at Conti & Dolan, employment lawyer Patrick Dolan, to the show to talk about current legal news stories. They discuss potential cell phone bans in schools and whether such bans create safety concerns, Ryne Sandberg’s children suing their stepmother, Margaret Sandberg, over mishandling of his trust, and a crazy […]

Mike Leonard, criminal defense and civil attorney at Leonard Trial Lawyers, joins Karen Conti to talk about legal issues that arise in the summer. Mike discusses DUI arrests and their costs, swimming pool liability, protecting yourself as a homeowner when having indoor or outdoor work done, whether internships must be paid, and parenting-time issues. Mike also answers listeners’ questions and comments on some trending legal stories. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8424178/Mike_Leonard_5-31-26_...

Locke Bowman, civil rights attorney with Loevy & Loevy, joins Karen Conti to discuss the denial of a special prosecutor in connection with the actions of ICE agents during Operation Midway Blitz. Locke recaps Operation Midway Blitz, explains who has the power to investigate federal agents, comments on whether the Chicago Police Department will investigate, and discusses if […]

Criminal defense lawyer Damon Cheronis joins Karen Conti to talk about the week’s trending legal news. Damon discusses Harvey Weinstein’s retrial ending in a hung jury, the ‘Broadview Six’ having all counts dismissed, seeing something he’s never seen before in federal court, a big ruling in the Luigi Mangione case, Alex Murdaugh’s convictions getting overturned, and more.

Reproductive rights attorney Ryan Ferrante joins Karen Conti to talk about reproductive rights, infertility treatments, and at what point you may need a lawyer when going through treatments. Ryan explains what happens when there’s no more use for embryos, the surrogacy process, and insurance coverage for procedures. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8373113/Ryan_Ferrante_5-10-26_2026-05-11-193413.64kmono.mp3 Recent Posts Karen Conti How reproductive rights and the law intersect .cls-7{fill:#...