Episode list

Located just north of Chicago, Evanston, IL, was the home of the The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and a completely alcohol-free, or "dry" city, for nearly a century. In dire need of liquor laws that weren't penned the same year as the invention of the Band-Aid, FEW Spirits overturned century-old prohibition laws to become Evanston's first distiller of grain spirits within the city limits. With a focus on timeless distilling techniques, FEW's products are distilled from the very best grains, aged to perfection, and bottled under their own roof. In this inaugural episode of the newly reformatted 12 For 12, Adam Voss talks with founder and master distiller, Paul Hletko, to explore what makes FEW a brand that so many have flocked to in the last few years-growing their brand and distribution to over 25 countries across the globe.

Today, vinyl records sales are growing faster than downloads and streaming. According to data by Nielsen Soundscan, more than 9.2 million vinyl records were sold in the U.S. last year - an astonishing 52% increase over the year before. The Wall Street Journal also reports that the vinyl sales are the highest since Soundscan started tracking them back in 1991. Even more startling are the figures that show a decline of digital downloads. So, what's behind this resurgence of vinyl-especially here in Chicago-where, according to Nielsen, it accounts for over 9 percent new vinyl sales in the entire country? This month we head to the Wicker Park headquarters of Chicago's largest record store, Reckless Records, to answer this question and find out how they've thrived by keeping the "record" in record store.

In this episode of 12 for 12, Adam Voss heads to Intelligentsia Coffee to experience coffee that is so much more than caffeine delivery, but an experience that will forever change the way you think about coffee.

There are names that by mere mention elicit laughter, nostalgia and the very definition of comedy. John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, John Candy, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley, Eugene Levy, Tim Meadows, Mike Myers, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, Amy Sedaris and so many more started their careers at The Second City and acknowledge the training there as instrumental in their success. The Second City first opened its doors in Chicago on a snowy night in December 1959 and has grown into the world's most iconic comedy club and school of improvisation.