Episodes

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:#...

Courtroom sketch artist and art therapist Pat Lopez joins Karen Conti to talk about her career and the responsibilities of the job. Pat discusses the famous trials she has worked on, such as the Kobe Bryant rape trial, Oklahoma City bombing trial, Selena Quintanilla-Pérez murder trial, and others. Pat also comments on the importance of interpreting body language and clothing in the courtroom. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8373107/Pat_Lopez_5-10-26_2026-05-11-195507.64kmono.mp3

Jess Raines and Chris Krason from Chicago Prime Tours join Karen Conti to talk about a new crime bus tour in Chicago called ‘The Bloodlines of Chicago: The Serial Killer Tour’. The tour highlights local spots connected to serial killers John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer. Jess and Chris share their favorite stops on the tour and comment on why we don’t see as many serial killers today. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8356604/Jess_Raines_and_Chris_Krason_5-4-26_2026-05-04-172104.64kmono.mp3

Criminal defense lawyer Damon Cheronis joins Karen Conti to break down the latest stories in criminal law. Damon talks about the recent James Comey indictment regarding seashells, protected speech versus unprotected speech, and whether President Trump will have to appear as a witness if the Comey case goes to trial. Damon also comments on his firm representing the ‘Broadview Six’, the death of Chicago police officer John Bartholomew, and the SAFE-T Act. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8356412/...

Commercial business lawyer Adham Alaily joins Karen Conti to discuss people’s rights when they owe money to credit card companies and other debt collectors. Adham also talks about what happens when a lawyer sues you for a debt, what occurs when you don’t show up to court and a judgement is entered, and how to determine when it may be worth filing for bankruptcy. Adham also answers listeners’ debt questions. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8356408/Adam_Alaily_5-3-26_2026-05-04-163908.64kmono.mp...

Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell, a professor in the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and an expert on domestic violence, joins Karen Conti to dive deeper into the mass shooting that occurred last weekend in Shreveport, Louisiana, in which a father killed eight of his children. Dr. Campbell discusses why men kill their children more often than women, whether personality disorders are diagnosed in many of the men involved, and the role of childhood trauma on their acts of violence. If you or som...

Melanie Greenberg, a family member of Lisa Stebic, joins Karen Conti to discuss the disappearance of the Plainfield resident, who went missing in 2007. Melanie shares details about the day Lisa went missing, Lisa’s relationship with her husband Craig, a police report that was given to the family after her disappearance, whether the Drew Peterson case took attention away from Lisa, and actions people can take to find her. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8336231/Melanie_Greenberg_4-26-26_2026-04...

Personal injury lawyer Patrick Salvi II joins Karen Conti to talk about a $241 million jury verdict in a case involving Eric Johnson, a courier who was killed by carbon dioxide exposure while transporting dry ice for a dairy company in 2016. Patrick discusses why the jury awarded such a large verdict. He also details medical malpractice issues created by telehealth appointments and answers listeners’ questions on potential malpractice. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8336228/Patrick_Salvi_II_4...

Renee Williams, lawyer and CEO of the National Center for Victims of Crime, and Jennifer McGuffin, Chief Communications Officer at Romanucci & Blandin, LLC and member of the Board of Directors for the National Center for Victims of Crime, join Karen Conti to discuss victims’ rights. Renee explains how victims’ rights in criminal cases differ from the rights in other situations and the general rights states provide for victims of crime. Jennifer talks about how her firm’s lawsuits help victims co...