City So Real with Kevin Coval

Holley Brandchaft-White

Why are some of us drawn to spaces where people are doing hard things? Holley Brandchaft-White [https://www.instagram.com/holley_shft/] has chosen that life, and has something to say about it. In this convo, Kevin talks with Holley about her journey from being a social worker in trauma units to using an MBA in pursuit of mental health innovation. Holley is the co-founder of SHFT Behavioral Health [https://www.shftbh.com/about], Chicago’s first emotional wellness urgent care center. You’ll hear how our city’s resilience and segregation often collide in ways that hurt and help. Get full access to Kevin's Substack at kevincoval.substack.com/subscribe [https://kevincoval.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Shadow Master

This conversation may be the master class on defining what Chicago has fused into hip hop culture. As Shadow Master [https://shadowmastermc.bandcamp.com/album/art-of-a-lion] says, “We have flavors that don’t exist anywhere else.” In this chat, Kevin talks with the creator and curator of 606 [https://www.youtube.com/@606chicago8], the longest running open mic freestyle session in the world. You’ll catch how music flowed from every hallway of Shadow Master’s family house on the West Side. It turned him into a singer, before he was an MC. Plus, you’ll hear his vision for turning hip hop into therapy at neighborhood schools. Catch 606 Chicago every Tuesday night at Boulevard Sports Lounge [https://boulevardsportslounge.com], 2645 West North Avenue in Humboldt Park. Get full access to Kevin's Substack at kevincoval.substack.com/subscribe [https://kevincoval.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Alex Kotlowitz

How does one land not so purposefully in this town? Alex Kotlowitz [https://www.alexkotlowitz.com/] has a story or two to share about that. In this conversation, Kevin talks with Alex about the many ways Chicago invaded his soul as a writer — then a resident. His journalism is steeped in empathy. It’s one of the reasons he is able to tell the most difficult stories [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/95252/there-are-no-children-here-by-alex-kotlowitz/]. Get full access to Kevin's Substack at kevincoval.substack.com/subscribe [https://kevincoval.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Titus Wonsey

The mind of Titus Wonsey is always conceptualizing. Titus observes and creates. In this convo, Kevin and Titus walk through his current installation at Artruss [https://www.artruss.com] to map his jorney toward artistic expression. You'll hear the details of his sweat equity to tell stories through every media imaginable -- like giant bales of ramen noodles and punctuation marks made of soap. Get full access to Kevin's Substack at kevincoval.substack.com/subscribe [https://kevincoval.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Cousin Jackie

Here's another Chicagoan who shoots straight. "Most people are afraid to get old," says Kevin's cousin Jackie. In her 94 years, Jackie has lived a large life surrounded by the complications of a very loving family. This is a chat with a family matriarch who shares how first gens survive in this town. Get full access to Kevin's Substack at kevincoval.substack.com/subscribe [https://kevincoval.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]