

AirGo
Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/airgo/id1016530091
A podcast and radical media hub reshaping Chicago and beyond for the more liberatory and creative. Listen to longform humanizing conversations with artists, organizers, performers, comedians, scholars, and more who are reimagining Chicago and beyond toward liberation. Hosted by Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger.
A podcast and radical media hub reshaping Chicago and beyond for the more liberatory and creative. Listen to longform humanizing conversations with artists, organizers, performers, comedians, scholars, and more who are reimagining Chicago and beyond toward liberation. Hosted by Damon Williams and Daniel Kisslinger.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 2, 2020 • 1h 3min
Ep 248 - Reflection after Police Abuse: Call for Abolition and Communal Accountability
A Note from Damon:
On 5/31/20, I was assaulted by the Chicago Police Department. I was slammed on my head on 53rd street, my face pressed to the pavement and officers pressed their knee on my neck similarly to what killed George Floyd. I’m banged and bruised up, but Jennifer and I are home and okay. I love my people and am grateful for all the support.
Follow AirGo for more resources and opportunities to contribute to the fight: http://instagram.com/airgoradio
Redistribute your generational wealth to one of these resources in Chicago: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YwWvuScaYjqrKLdl_4AkvSKhQE0OCWHvJ-dRyZbQ_wE/edit?usp=sharing
Recorded 6/1/20 in Chicago

May 29, 2020 • 53min
Ep 247 - On the Line with Tempestt Hazel
From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Since early April, we've been hopping on the line with front line workers in different spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home.
This episode's guest is Tempestt Hazel. Tempestt is the Arts Portfolio Program Officer at the Field Foundation, and the founder of art curatorial platform 60 Inches from Center. She talks about the shifts that COVID is demanding from philanthropy, how the sector is responding, how she's slowing down to take care of her people, and much more. Plus, she makes Daniel cry at the end, so stick around for that.
NOTE: Tempestt mentions a few great orgs here in Chicago that you might want to learn more about through their past AirGo episodes. Check them out:
LaSaia Wade of the Brave Space Alliance - https://airgoradio.com/airgo/2017/5/18/episode-90-lasaia-wade
Page May of Assata's Daughters - https://airgoradio.com/airgo/2016/9/14/episode-59-page-may-returns
Hoda Katebi of Blue Tin Production - https://airgoradio.com/airgo/2019/2/7/episode-174-hoda-katebi
Sadia Nawab of IMAN (Inner-City Muslim Action Network) - https://airgoradio.com/airgo/2017/7/20/episode-99-sadia-nawab
Anton Seals Jr. of Grow Greater Englewood - https://airgoradio.com/airgo/2020/5/21/episode-245
Music from this week's show:
Park - Isaiah Rashad

May 28, 2020 • 1h 11min
#GoBack - Daniel Kay Hertz in 2016
Each month this year, we're going to revisit an episode from the 200+ episodes in the AirGo Archives and bring that conversation back to the forefront. This month, we're revisiting our convo with author, urban planner, and policy maker Daniel Kay Hertz from 2016. Since we recorded this episode in Daniel's old apartment, DKH has become the Policy Director for the Chicago Department of Housing(!). He's also still a cutie-pie.
Follow DKH on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanielKayHertz
Rate and review AirGo on Apple Podcasts: geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/air…016530091?mt=2

May 23, 2020 • 54min
Ep 246 - On the Line with Zohran Kwame Mamdani
From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Since early April, we've been hopping on the line with front line workers in different spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home.
This episode heads to the East Coast to chop it up with Zohran Kwame Mamdani. Zohran is currently running for a NY State Assembly seat representing Astoria, Queens. He's been endorsed by DSA, and a wide swath of other progressive and to the root coalitions. He's also one of Kiss' oldest friends. Zohran talks about how he's shifted his campaign into a mutual aid project, the lessons he learned as a foreclosure prevention counselor, the shortcomings of representative politics, and his high school vice presidential campaign.
Support Zohran's campaign!: https://www.zohranforassembly.com/
Recorded 5/21/20 in Chicago
Music from this week's episode:
Park - Isaiah Rashad

May 21, 2020 • 48min
Ep 245 - Climate Changemakers Vol. 3 with Anton Seals, Jr.
Climate Changemakers is a 5-part podcast series, showcasing and celebrating leaders in equity work and climate action across Illinois, presented in celebration of the 20th anniversary of nonprofit organization Elevate Energy. This month's Climate Changemaker is Anton Seals, Jr. Anton is the Lead Steward of Grow Greater Englewood, a social enterprise focusing on building a equitable and resilient local food system that fosters protections of vacant land in divested communities and focuses on connecting those residents with community wealth building opportunities. In this wide-ranging conversation, Anton talks about the connections and unique challenges of reshaping Black Chicagoans' relationship to food, as well as how the structures and pathologies of power limit this transformative work.
Learn more about Grow Greater Englewood: growgreater.org
Learn about Elevate Energy and their 20th anniversary: www.elevateenergy.org/

May 20, 2020 • 54min
Ep 244 - On the Line with death doula Emmy Colon
From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Since early April, we've been hopping on the line with front line workers in different spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home.
This week's guest is Emmy Colon. Emmy is a certified death doula–don't worry, she explains what that means, just in case you've never heard of it before. She describes what her work entails, how the rituals and industries around death are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, how grief as a collective process extends far beyond losing someone you love, and some thought processes that can help all of us understand how we may be grieving in this time.
Learn more about her work: https://www.formidablecg.com/
Connect with Emmy: https://www.instagram.com/la_zurda_chi/?hl=en
Recorded 5/19/20 in Chicago
Music from this week's show:
Park - Isaiah Rashad

May 15, 2020 • 58min
Ep 243 - On the Line with Zama of DCH1 Amazonians United
From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Over the next few weeks, we'll be hopping on the line with workers in the health care, educational, governmental, organizing, and prison abolition spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home.
This episode's guest is Zama, one of the founders and lead organizers of DCH1 Amazonians United. He and his comrades have been bringing together workers and fighting for better conditions in the Amazon Fulfillment Center on 28th and Western here in Chicago. He talks about how the work evolved, connecting with other Amazon worker groups around the world, and how they've been forced to push the fight forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Follow DCH1 Amazonians United: https://www.facebook.com/DCH1United/
Recorded 5/13/20 in Chicago
Music from this week's show:
Park - Isaiah Rashad

May 12, 2020 • 47min
Ep 242 - On the Line with Asiaha Butler of RAGE Englewood
From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Over the next few weeks, we'll be hopping on the line with workers in the health care, educational, governmental, organizing, and prison abolition spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home. This episode's guest is Asiaha Butler, the cofounder of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, aka RAGE. Asiaha talks about the pandemic-related shift in the communal development of the mind RAGE does, how she's built a food distribution system for the seniors in Englewood, and how she creates communal development while fighting against displacement.
Big thanks to AirGo Alum Tonika Lewis Johnson for the connection!
Support the work of RAGE Englewood: https://ragenglewood.org/
Recorded 5/9/20 in Chicago
Music from this week's episode:
Park - Isaiah Rashad

May 9, 2020 • 44min
Ep 241 - On the Line with Pura of the Little Village Solidarity Network
From the isolation of our homes, AirGo is presenting a series called On the Line, which focuses on the COVID-19 pandemic and the people putting their bodies on the line to help us all survive and heal. Over the next few weeks, we'll be hopping on the line with workers in the health care, educational, governmental, organizing, and prison abolition spheres to talk about what their work looks like right now, and what we can do to help as we isolate our physical bodies at home. This episode's guest is Pura of the Little Village Solidarity Network/Red de Solidaridad de La Villita. Pura and her comrades have led the fight to raise awareness and demand the shutdown of a series of immigrant youth detention facilities run by influential Chicago nonprofit Heartland Alliance, in which COVID-19 has been running rampant. Pura details the information they've gathered about the carceral conditions inside, how the dozens of documented COVID-19 cases have changed life inside these baby jails, the direct action tactics and strategies that LVSN takes, and how we can contribute to this urgent fight.
Learn more and support LVSN: https://www.facebook.com/LaVillitaSolidaridad/
Recorded 5/7/2020 in Chicago
Music from this week's episode:
Park - Isaiah Rashad

May 4, 2020 • 51min
Ep 240 - On the Line: We Need to Talk About the Whites
As the pandemic's stay-at-home orders have come under fire from conservatives and industrialists, a whole buncha whites have been descending on state capitol buildings, weapons in hand, to demand that these necessary communal rules be lifted. While waiting for a late guest, Dame and Kiss dove into a deep, loose, and pretty damn thorough exploration of what the hell is going on with white people, why, and what might help address this centuries-long crisis of consciousness.
Recorded 4/20/20 in Chicago
Music from this week's show:
No Vaseline - Ice Cube
photo courtesy of Rosie Fitz. Find her yts highlight at http://instagram.com/sensitiveplanttt