The Moth started out in 1997 as a storytelling series in New York. Stories are told live, open mic-style, no notes, and are strictly from the storytellers’ hearts and heads. The Moth then grew into a podcast and a radio show, and it’s become so popular that there are now monthly Moth StorySLAMS in Los Angeles, Chicago and Detroit. Each month has a theme, like fame, confusion, or danger. Storytellers have five minutes to tell a true story that pertains to that theme, whether it be funny or sad or both. Each story gets a score, the the one with the highest is deemed that months’ winner. more ›

Not since Pee Wee Herman had his bike stolen have we felt such pity for a victim of such theft. Watch this video and see if we can't help Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me host Peter Sagal reclaim what's rightfully his! more ›

Whack-ass weather be damned, it's summer, and Millennium Park is plowing ahead like we aren't in the middle of the lousiest warm season in twelve years. The gems continue Thursday evening with a free taping of "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!" more ›

• Amid the latest controversy for Sen. Roland Burris comes word his counterpart, Sen. Dick Durbin, will not support Burris in the 2010 election.
• A judge ruled that residents near Grant Park who oppose the new Children's Museum were given proper notice of the new plans.
• Strange story out of Gary where four bodies were found in a vacant funeral home that was recently sold at a tax sale.

Ah, the public radio fundraising drive. We love NPR - and we've got a whole heap of love for the badasses at WBEZ - but sometimes we get a bit miffed with the interruptions asking us for money. Well, our pals at the BEZ have come up with a pretty clever campaign that not only raises money to help keep them on the air, but keeps us entertained to boot. They've launched WBEZ20, a new website featuring videos, comments, and other interactive features while at the same time asking readers to donate $20 to help keep the station going. It's a pretty great idea and will help keep their programming interruption to a minimum. more ›

Got $500 to kill? Sure, we all do! If you'd like to throw your cash at Chicago Public Radio and recieve more than a tote bag to show your devotion, consider ponying up to attend their Audible Feast. Wednesday night, WBEZ is presenting This American Life's Ira Glass, Wait, Wait's Peter Sagal, and Weekend Edition's Scott Simon to hang out, let their collective NPR hair down and tell tales from their favorite show moments. Taking place at the Art Institute, the big spenders will enjoy dinner in the Stock Exchange Trading Room, while the cheap seats ($75) still enjoy a wine and cheese reception. Wine & cheese and NPR listeners? You don't say. But seriously folks, the last time we saw Ira live it was at Rhinofest '06 for a radio vs. theater smackdown, and it was pretty entertaining. Add in another couple NPR stars and you've got a recipe for intellectual stimulation - some seriously low-key, understated, smugly clever stimulation, with a palpable air of superiority around it. Worth every penny! more ›

Was this a slip? Was someone supposed to muzzle this unwitting sap before he spilled the beans? No matter what, we now know that the hit WBEZ show has arranged to film a pilot episode has been talking with CBS about maybe making it into a series. more ›

Chicagoist is a huge fan of our own homegrown media industry. We like the original stuff that comes out of this city and telling our folks things like how we walk through Gotham City on our way to work and visit County General every time we have a boo-boo. So, as always, it was a lot of fun to sit in on last night's taping of "Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me". Host Peter Sagal informed... more ›

We’ve already told you about the weekly tapings of locally produced NPR hit Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. We decided to attend yesterday's taping when we heard that Sarah Silverman was to be a call-in guest, since we honestly can’t get enough of that gal. Though we do admit to being totally mystified as to why a woman that cool is dating Jimmy Kimmel. Ah, those vexing mysteries of life. We arrived at the taping... more ›

Peter Sagal - Host of "Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me!" more ›

Last week, Chicagoist sat in on the weekly recording of "Wait, Wait -- Don't Tell Me!" "Wait, Wait" is a weekly program on NPR that packages the week's news in a quiz show format where callers work with panelists to answer questions about the important stories of the week. (It actually's a bit more complicated than that, so listen to the show online to get the full scoop.) The taping was done deep in the... more ›