Sharing Chicago’s Secrets with Rick Kogan

I‘ve been a fan of Rick Kogan as long as I’ve lived in Chicago. When I first saw him speak at a Chicago story festival, I was captivated by his story about the likes of Studs Terkel and Mike Royko hanging out in his childhood kitchen with his journalist father.

When I first met Rick at the Bughouse Square Debates (secret #68 in my book), I promised to send him a copy once it was published. It was an honor to hear that this Chicago storyteller enjoyed my book and to be invited on his WGN radio show. 

Listen here: Secret Chicago: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

WGN Radio Appearance

I stopped by the WGN studio on a Sunday evening to chat with Rick, joined by my fiancé. Rick was as engaging, genuine, and knowledgeable as I imagined. We had so much fun swapping stories of secret places in Chicago, including how he used to try and break into the Couch masoleum (secret #34 in the book) with his friends as a kid. 

I thanked Rick again for letting me quote him in the book’s forward. This quote appears in his own forward to the reprint of a book written by his father, journalist Herman Kogan. It speaks to how I feel every day as I look around Chicago. 

There is not a day that passes that I do not find my head filled with images from Chicago’s history.
– Rick Kogan

Chicago Tribune Feature

As if speaking to Rick on his show wasn’t enough of a pleasure, I was honored that he chose to feature the book in his weekly column in the Chicago Tribune. A decade ago, I moved to this city without a job and here I am in print having written about Chicago! Thank you to Rick and everyone else who has supported Secret Chicago. This has truly been a privilege and a dream come true. 

For more secret spots in Chicago, you can order the book online now! Thanks to Rick for having me on the show!