The Crisis Cast

Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin
  • 5.0 (24)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Crisis Cast is a conversational journey in business leadership during a crisis. Our cast of experts review crisis management scenarios and provide resources for navigating uncharted waters. Each episode is moderated by renowned crisis communicators Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin.

  1. 1D AGO

    Bela Gandhi - The Science of Finding Love

    In this episode, Bela Gandhi, founder of Smart Dating Academy, shares her journey from being a bad dater to becoming a dating coach. Lissa & Thom get schooled on the importance of understanding partner preferences, navigating dating apps, and the significance of emotional and intellectual connections in relationships. Bela emphasizes the role of coaching in dating, shares success stories from her clients, and offers insights on finding love after loss. The conversation concludes with quickfire questions that reveal Bela's personal insights and philosophies on love and relationships. Plus, Thom gets graded by Lissa on his performance as a matchmaker.

    36 min

  2. 4D AGO

    Ilyce Glink - Your Money's Wake Up Call

    There's nothing like some fresh fiscal wisdom as we dig into a new year. Ilyce Glink is back to enlighten Lissa & Thom on the landscape of personal finance. In this episode, we'll chat about precarious markets, the 30% increase in food costs, and what to do about the record-high volume of personal debt.    Plus, you'll hear some insights on China's massive economic development, as Ilyce reports on her recent three-week trip to southeast Asia. The silver lining in this conversation is the news that Ilyce is co-founder of a stealth startup focused on total wellness.

    32 min

  3. JAN 30

    Justin Kaufmann - City Hall of Wonders

    Join us for a wild ride through the entanglements of the Chicago City Council. Axios' Justin Kaufmann jumps into our chat room to breakdown the recent ban on hemp-derived THC products. In this episode, Mayor Brandon Johnson's budget accountability is questioned, and Lissa & Thom work through the list of issues most likely to engage voters. Plus, Justin came ready with an intoxicating number of twists that will impact the March Illinois primary and the mid-term elections in November. This week's Crisis Cast hero is Cook County Birding Champ Tarik Shahzad.

    34 min

  4. JAN 22

    Pat Brady - Reclaiming the Republican message

    This is a conversation about political identity with a voice of reason no matter what side of the aisle you call home. In this episode, we're joined by Pat Brady, the former chair of the Illinois Republican Party. While Lissa Druss is on assignment, Thom Serafin digs into the Trump impact on Republican identity. Brady shares his journey from federal prosecutor to pure political junkie. Plus you're hear the issues that persist in Republican messaging and the names that appear to be the emerging leaders. Learn about this week's Crisis Cast hero: Josephine Christopher

    31 min

  5. JAN 13

    Ben Szalinski - The Beltway vs. Springfield

    We start the year with a deep dive on the price of division. Join Lissa & Thom as they visit the heart of the Statehouse with Ben Szalinski of Capitol News Illinois.   During this episode, we'll troubleshoot the the Land of Lincoln's federal funding gaps and if property tax reform can save the day. We'll cover the buzz on AI and energy policy. Plus, you'll hear why Szalinski thinks you'd be proud of Illinois' legislators.   This week's Crisis Cast hero is Jo Fleming creator of the solar panels that mimic sunflowers.

    26 min

  6. 12/24/2025

    Kevin Matthews - Broken Mary's Roadie

    For decades, millions of Kev-Heads were charmed by the characters and sonic genius Kevin Matthews created on the radio. Today, Kev is traveling the world as a roadie for a broken statue of the Virgin Mary.    In this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom celebrate Christmas with a behind-the-scenes conversation about the "Broken Mary" that Matthews found next to a flower shop dumpster. You'll hear why Kevin insisted the statue remains "broken" — and how his spiritual transformation is now speaking to a new audience, without a microphone.

    32 min

  7. 12/18/2025

    Jarrett Payton - I Wake Up to Give Back

    Service to others runs deep in the Payton family DNA. There's a global reminder of that before every Super Bowl, when one NFL humanitarian is bestowed with the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.   In this episode of the Crisis Cast, WGN-TV's Jarrett Payton talks about the life lessons he learned from his father, and the vision he has for his own legacy. Lissa & Thom dive into Jarrett's obsession with watching game film, Ben Johnson's much-needed honesty, and JP's predictions for a Bears' playoff run. It's not like we're hungry. It's only been 40 years since the Bears won a Super Bowl.   This week's Crisis Cast hero is Chicago ECO House CEO Quillen Blackwell.

    30 min

  8. 12/14/2025

    Craig Volden - The Art of Lawmaking

    Put on your safety belts for a conversation about grading governance. In this episode, Lissa & Thom welcome Craig Volden, Co-Director of the Center for Effective Lawmaking at the University of Virginia.   This discussion dives head first into the importance of civic engagement, the implications of term limits, and the perceptions of Illinois politics. Plus, you'll hear what the data says about who are Illinois' most effective lawmakers.   This week's Crisis Cast Hero: Sharon McMahon. Read her story of medical debt relief here.

    30 min
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5
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

The Crisis Cast is a conversational journey in business leadership during a crisis. Our cast of experts review crisis management scenarios and provide resources for navigating uncharted waters. Each episode is moderated by renowned crisis communicators Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin.

Information

  • Creator
    Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © EarSight Studios 2023
  • Show Website
    The Crisis Cast