Mission From Pod

Joabe Barbosa

Joabe Barbosa has run all 4000 miles of Chicago's streets — every one of the city's 77 community areas and 200+ neighborhoods — and holds the Guinness World Record for visiting every CTA station in under nine hours. Born in Brazil, raised in London, and now a clinical psychology doctoral student in Chicago, Joabe runs the city wearing the Chicago flag and built a following around one message: Chicago is safe, Chicago is a good city, and you should explore every neighborhood. In this episode, host Adam Leinberger and Joabe get into: * How a near-disastrous climb on Mount Washington turned him into a runner * The best and worst neighborhoods to run (and why The Loop is the hardest) * Running as a tool for mental health, routine, and reflection * Becoming a Chicago "hometown hero" as a transplant * The visa scare, immigration hurdles, and the financial barriers most people never see * Vacant lots, rent, and why Chicago isn't actually overcrowded * Universal basic income, crime, and AI's effect on work * A sharp critique of public transit — and the case for a Chicago "circle line" * Whether Chicago is really safe, from someone who's run it at every hour of the day * What comes next after he finishes every street A conversation about a city, the people in it, and why one runner thinks Chicago deserves more credit than it gets. Mission From Pod is a Chicago podcast about the people, culture, and stories shaping the city, hosted by Adam Leinberger. New episodes regularly — follow so you don't miss one.

Victoria Flynn

Chicago comedian, content creator, producer, and late-night show host Victoria Flynn joins Mission From Pod for one of our best episodes yet.Adam and Victoria discuss the Strait of Hormuz, Hemp vs Plastic, the parallel histories of jazz and country music, AI deleveraging the ability for white collar workers to sell their labor, universal basic income, and why the skills that make a great comedian are the same ones that make you unemployable.CHAPTERS00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_hFk2_lBQU] – Intro & Welcome | Victoria Flynn's Background03:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_hFk2_lBQU&t=210s] – Strait of Hormuz, Supply Chain & Geopolitics08:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_hFk2_lBQU&t=480s] – Women in Power & the Feminist Theory of International Relations12:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_hFk2_lBQU&t=720s] – Hemp, Plastic, and Why "Marijuana" Changed Its Spelling18:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_hFk2_lBQU&t=1110s] – Yellowstone, Country Music & the Commercialization of Working-Class Identity26:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_hFk2_lBQU&t=1560s] – Taylor Swift, Fight Club & Why Billionaires Can't Make Bold Art31:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_hFk2_lBQU&t=1860s] – AI, Tech Layoffs & the Real Reason No One Talks About "Time Saved"40:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_hFk2_lBQU&t=2400s] – Victoria's 10 Years in SaaS: What AI Actually Replaces47:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_hFk2_lBQU&t=2820s] – Universal Basic Income, Andrew Yang & the Reserve Labor Army54:00 – The School-to-Prison Pipeline, Dopamine Addiction & Literacy Crisis60:00 – Frederick Taylor, Sales Culture & Never Split the Difference68:00 – How to Be a Better America: Mandatory Service, Bilingualism & Shame76:00 – 9/11 Through a French Immersion School in Chicago81:00 – Chicago Plugs: Lincoln Lodge, Emma Alamo, Bordeaux & More84:00 – Dream Comedy Collab: Andy Samberg, Mel Brooks, Tina Fey & More

Charles Fox

Adam interviews Charles Fox, a Chicago-based journalist and content creator who uses social media to bring back local journalism that is both accessible and trustworthy.Charles discusses the challenges of guerilla journalism, being limited to his own resources & fact-checking, and partnerships he is fostering to help cover more ground. They dive deep into topics like news media credibility, universal basic income, AI, hydraulic despotism in Dune, 24 hour work weeks and how we should organize society in an age where AI and robotics are handling significant amounts of labor.

Nathan Graber-Lipperman

Nathan Graber-Lipperman is the Founder/Head of Powder Blue Media and the Managing Editor of Offline Magazine. Nate joins Mission From Pod to discuss the evolution of journalism, the creator economy, and how the internet has shifted trust away from traditional media institutions towards individual creators.We also discuss Inside Llewyn Davis, The Big Lebowski, and how Hunter S. Thompson has impacted NGL.Instagram: @powderblueworld @bynateglHost: @adam_rightanglevisuals  @MissionFromPod  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCck8Te2ojgaO774eRw93idw]

Ashley Komperda

Ashley Komperda is the Founder of The Friendwork Collective, a rapidly growing community platform redefining how adults build friendships. Since launching in July of 2024, Ashley has hosted 100+ curated events across Chicago, and is now expanding to San Francisco & New York. The Friendwork Collective hosts events like Speed Friending, Pop Culture Jeopardy, Pilates/Yoga socials, and more. IG: @itsashleylynn_ Host: @adam_rightanglevisuals Show: @missionfrompod