Melvin Knight joins me at the Illinois College of Media's audio suite to tell me about the influences behind his soulful sound. From his mother, an accomplished opera singer, to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, Melvin brings me on a journey through his amazingly rich musical past. Then, we put it all together and hear his new single with his fabulous band The Amber Sky, "Ice Cream," and he tells me about his upcoming album, Shades oF Us.…

They play Weezer. They play Elton John. They play Stacy's Mom. They're The Hitmen of Chicago, also known as your new favorite night out! The band is composed of: composer and pianoman Ben Montalbano from indie folk band Matthaus (my first ever guest on Lise.FM), singer/songwriter Dan Durley (my second ever guest on Lise.FM), Erik Opland from Fay Ray (FKA Church Booty), Danny Masterson (voice of an angel, guitar playing skills of the devil) and Justin Peters (a singing drummer who loves Bowie, need I say more?. They tell me about how it feels to start a super group in their 20s, how they managed to compile a set list containing both "Tiny Dancer" AND "Stacy's Mom," and where they see this group going (like your sister's wedding, if she's still looking for a band!)…

Episode 43 - Homegrown Chicago band Forest Home joins me in studio to talk about the makings of their unique indie math-rock sound. Members Kevin, Andy, Alayne & Eric take turns talking about the influences they bring to the table - from Weezer & Radiohead to Sleater Kinney, Forth Wanderers and This Town Needs Guns - and how they work together to synthesize all of these into one cohesive and unique, “Forest Homey” sound. At the end of our chat, they debut “Above Me,” a track off their forthcoming album, Wastement.…

Episode 42: I spend an hour with Paul Rust, creator, executive producer and starring actor of LOVE on Netflix! He tells me about pitching the concept as a movie with his wife and co-creator Lesley Arfin to Judd Apatow, and why they decided to turn it into a show instead. He also tells me about his influences, which range from Pee-Wee, to Paul Thomas-Anderson, to Prince (a fellow midwestern boy, like Paul himself). He also tells me why he loves to create joyous, light-hearted comedies and gives me a peek into what’s to come on the final season of (what happens to be my favorite show) LOVE! Photocred: Never Not Notes…

Jimmie Swagger, founder of the amazing Boy Toys Pocket Cabaret joins me to talk about his journey from cheerleading to burlesque, he tells me about where he gets his fiery confidence from and he sites some other performers and choreographers who he gets inspiration from. Oh, and he also teaches me how to remove a sleeve ;) Music this week by the amazing @arne-parrott - find out more on his website aptunes.com…

EPISODE 40: Celebrity Fitness Expert Andrea Metcalf joins me to tell me all about her latest business venture and passion: Studios Fuse. Chicago's very first "fitness mall," Studios Fuse features four amazingly fun and unique boutique work-out spaces: from indoor surf core to glow in the dark yoga. But I find out in our conversation that this isn't what defines Andrea: she's a long time fitness instructor, broadcaster and entrepreneur. She tells me about her five biggest influences - from Jane Fonda, who she got to sat down with and interview, to Chicago media leader and client/friend of her's, Larry Wert. Along the way, Andrea shares some amazingly astute observations on the ever-transforming health & fitness industry, collaboration both in the fitness studio and the TV studio and the importance of finding a work out that you love. I reckon you'll find one you simply adore at Studios Fuse, located at 2215 N Halsted in Chicago. I'll meet you there for a juice and an avocado toast at their Juice RX bar after your amazingly entertaining and efficient workout :) The music on today's show is "Your Heartbeat Is" by the sparking queen of the Chicago glitch pop scene and former guest of this very show, @emilybluemusic. You can find it wherever you listen to your music <3…

Jason Balla, guitarist & vocalist from Chicago-based NE-HI, joins me in the studio to talk about the musical influences he brings to the table when writing for and playing with the band. From Wire, to Brian Eno's No New York compilation, to Women, he walks me through the artists that have taught him the minimalist, no-wave sound he knows and loves. We also chat about where he gets inspiration from when it comes to song-writing, what the band likes to listen to on the road (shoutout, U Talkin' U2 To Me?) and he tells me about collaborating with Jamilia Woods. Music by NE-HI themselves <3…

The amazing musical duo JT Nero and Allison Russell from Birds of Chicago join me to talk about their musical and artistic roots. Allison talks about growing up in Montreal in a strict music household, and the albums she used to get in secret from her aunt Janet. JT tells me about who has inspired his songwriting throughout the years and why he fell in love with Allison as a songwriter. They talk about the early days of the early days of their love story and why they were "afraid of being a couple," so as to not mess up their musical chemistry, and we get to hear a few of their beautiful tracks.…

After seeing his amazing one-man show, "Do You Love Me?" about race and identity last week at Collaboraction, I invited rapper, performer & entrepreneur Makia to join me on a bonus Martin Luther King Day inspired episode of the show. He tells me about the first time he ever wrapped, as a nervous 19 year old, and how listening to Kanye in the shower helped him develop his cadence and confidence. He also talked about how entrepreneurs like P. Diddy & Garry Vaynerchuk inspire his hustle, how Will Smith inspires him to work across all different platforms & how his Dad has served as a role model for him as a black man and a musician throughout the years. Catch Makia's show, which is a part of the Encounters series through the 20th of January at Collaboraction, or his show on the 18th at Flat Iron. Also, follow him on Soundcloud, @therealmakia!…

In her Instagram profile, 17 year-old Kylie Spence says, "I've probably written a song about you," and after talking to her on this week's episode & learning about the breadth of her blooming body of work, I'm going to bet she has. Kylie tells me about why she picked singing & songwriting as her mode of creativity & she explains to me some of her biggest influences - from Coldplay to her teachers. We also get to hear her latest tune, "The L Word," which was released on Jungle Strut Music in late 2017. Follow this girl on her magical musical journey, because I have a feeling she's got more special things ahead.…

Let's start the 2018 calendar year with a very important & inspiring conversation on feminism and self-betterment! I'm joined by the amazing Amelia Hruby, who just wrote & self-published her first book, Fifty Feminist Mantras. She tells me how the idea was born from her #FeministMantraMonday posts on Instagram, and then she delved into some of the fantastic women and travel experiences that have inspired her throughout the years. Music by Chicago-grown band Forest Home, who I intend to have on the show real soon!…

T'was the night before Christmas and all through the house, people were listening to the Lise.FM Christmas special. The great Rick Kogan and I warm our hands by the metaphorical fire of inspired conversation to talk about his Christmases past - from snowy winters in Old Town to lavish parties at the Playboy Mansion. Also, I'm honored to share a sneak peek of the forthcoming @palettes Christmas song, 'Snowflake,' by @crapface and @hopboxmusic. Follow them and hear the whole track tomorrow!…

According to Steven Galanis, founder and CEO of Cameo, the selfie is the new signature. Based on this unique, but highly accurate mantra, it's his company's mission to provide the world of fans with selfie shoutout videos - while giving influencers, Youtubers, and athletes a brand-positive means to an end (you know, instead of all the #ads). Steven sits down with me this week to talk about how he got from aspirations to be a hockey player to trading to working for LinkedIn and, finally, to starting-up the amazingly popular Cameo. He tells me about his entrepreneurial spirit and the people and experiences that helped him to get where he is today.…

EPISODE 32: Tom Hush, co-host of much-loved No Coast Cinema podcast on WGN Plus, graces me with his presence on the show this week and we take a stroll through memory lane in compiling his eclectic list of film influences. We start where we, 1993-babies, should start: The Lion King, and Tom talks about just how obsessed he was with that special movie. We move on to talk about Tarantino, Roger Ebert, Breathless and the Chicago film community which he has fallen deeper and deeper in love with as he records each episode of NCC. Music by the wonderful @officialimotep on @palettes <3 <3 <3…

EPISODE 31: Founder & Executive Director of Chicago Detours Amanda Scotese joins me on the show this week to talk about the winding path that lead her to give amazing, story-rich tours of Chicago, of course noting her influences along the way. She brings us back to her first "solo" trip to Cancun her senior year of high school and then flies us over to the South of Italy to talk about working with Rick Steves and his tour company for 10 years. She also attributes certain writers and Chicago reporters with teaching her how to find stories in an urban geography. In the end, she talks about what sets her tours apart from others and why it's so important and special to spread hundreds of Chicago stories to her tour groups.…