The Career Conversations Podcast with Michael Piff

Career Conversations: WGN Radio Traffic Reporter Mary Van De Velde

Mary Van De Velde’s time at WGN Radio, navigating listeners through Chicago area traffic, started in 1997, but her story goes back even farther. On the latest edition of Career Conversations, Mary joins host Michael Piff to talk about what she was like in high school, what she thought she was going to do for a career back then, balancing her interest in radio and TV with her other activities at the University of Illinois, her first radio job out of college, how she got started at WGN, being there for her family, and much more! Trust us, there will need to be a Part II to this conversation. Listen below: https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8432597/8432597_2026-06-04-192737.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8432597/8432597_2026-06-04-192737.64kmono.mp3] You can also subscribe to Career Conversations with Michael Piff on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-career-conversations-podcast-with-michael-piff/id1792271021], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1hgxhrz3nHy2jYXOsdITyQ?si=6-pYGusARy674TzvuEB_fA&nd=1&dlsi=a848d1cadf114f2a], or wherever you get your podcasts, and get the latest episodes first on WGNRadio.com [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/]. RECENT POSTS CAREER CONVERSATIONS https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-wgn-radio-traffic-reporter-mary-van-de-velde/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: WGN RADIO’S MARY VAN DE VELDE [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-wgn-radio-traffic-reporter-mary-van-de-velde/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-award-winning-journalist-sylvia-snowden-is-living-her-dream-at-wgn-radio/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: WGN RADIO’S SYLVIA SNOWDEN [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-award-winning-journalist-sylvia-snowden-is-living-her-dream-at-wgn-radio/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-tony-gill-launches-his-passion-project-bleacher-theology/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: CONTENT CREATOR TONY GILL [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-tony-gill-launches-his-passion-project-bleacher-theology/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/the-career-vision-podcast-how-frank-cerrone-supports-his-community-with-pan-american-bank-trust/ HOW PAN AMERICAN’S FRANK CERRONE SUPPORTS HIS COMMUNITY [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/the-career-vision-podcast-how-frank-cerrone-supports-his-community-with-pan-american-bank-trust/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/ WHY COLLEGE SOPHOMORES PANIC [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} Click for more [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/]

Career Conversations: Award-winning journalist Sylvia Snowden is living her dream at WGN Radio

WGN Radio’s Sylvia Snowden knew she wanted to be a journalist when she was in grade school. No, seriously. They had their own elementary school newspaper. After recently winning the Peter Lisagor Award [https://www.facebook.com/wgnradio/posts/pfbid02euqkjadTrvGmuKq4aAk6vz8dbCBrtciqgktbETrZhirQ9DctvdMTAZmToa4pTNVhl] for Best Investigative Reporting, Sylvia joined Michael Piff on the Career Conversations podcast to talk about where her passion for journalism began, the support she had from family, her church, teachers and her community, how the University of Missouri prepared her for her career, making the most of her opportunities, advice for aspiring journalists, and much more! https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8401112/8401112_2026-05-20-200512.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8401112/8401112_2026-05-20-200512.64kmono.mp3] You can hear Sylvia’s reporting on WGN Radio 720 AM and WGNRadio.com [https://wgnradio.com/], and follow her on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/trulysylvia/?hl=en], X (Twitter) [https://x.com/TrulySylvia], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylviadsnowden/]. You can also subscribe to Career Conversations with Michael Piff on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-career-conversations-podcast-with-michael-piff/id1792271021], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1hgxhrz3nHy2jYXOsdITyQ?si=6-pYGusARy674TzvuEB_fA&nd=1&dlsi=a848d1cadf114f2a], or wherever you get your podcasts, and get the latest episodes first on WGNRadio.com [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/]. RECENT POSTS CAREER CONVERSATIONS https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-wgn-radio-traffic-reporter-mary-van-de-velde/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: WGN RADIO’S MARY VAN DE VELDE [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-wgn-radio-traffic-reporter-mary-van-de-velde/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-award-winning-journalist-sylvia-snowden-is-living-her-dream-at-wgn-radio/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: WGN RADIO’S SYLVIA SNOWDEN [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-award-winning-journalist-sylvia-snowden-is-living-her-dream-at-wgn-radio/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-tony-gill-launches-his-passion-project-bleacher-theology/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: CONTENT CREATOR TONY GILL [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-tony-gill-launches-his-passion-project-bleacher-theology/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/the-career-vision-podcast-how-frank-cerrone-supports-his-community-with-pan-american-bank-trust/ HOW PAN AMERICAN’S FRANK CERRONE SUPPORTS HIS COMMUNITY [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/the-career-vision-podcast-how-frank-cerrone-supports-his-community-with-pan-american-bank-trust/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/ WHY COLLEGE SOPHOMORES PANIC [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} Click for more [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/]

Career Conversations: Tony Gill launches his passion project, Bleacher Theology

For more than a decade, Tony Gill was locked in as a producer at 670 The Score, and NBC Sports, and then Head of Content for CHGO. After his position was eliminated at CHGO, Tony combined his faith, his love for sports, and his expertise for creating content with his newly launched newsletter, Bleacher Theology [https://bleachertheology.beehiiv.com/]. As WGN Radio’s Michael Piff set to relaunch Career Conversations (formerly Career Vision), the first person he had in mind was Tony. You’ll know exactly why when you listen to the latest episode, as they discuss Tony’s career in Chicago media, putting his family and his faith first, teaming up with his wife on the newsletter, collaborations on new projects, and much more! https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8377272/8377272_2026-05-12-222212.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/8377272/8377272_2026-05-12-222212.64kmono.mp3] Follow Tony Gill on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thetonygill/?hl=en] and Twitter/X [https://x.com/the1tonygill]. And subscribe to Bleacher Theology [https://bleachertheology.beehiiv.com/] to get his newsletter. You can also subscribe to Career Conversations with Michael Piff on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-career-conversations-podcast-with-michael-piff/id1792271021], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1hgxhrz3nHy2jYXOsdITyQ?si=6-pYGusARy674TzvuEB_fA&nd=1&dlsi=a848d1cadf114f2a], or wherever you get your podcasts, and get the latest episodes first on WGNRadio.com [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/]. RECENT POSTS CAREER CONVERSATIONS https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-wgn-radio-traffic-reporter-mary-van-de-velde/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: WGN RADIO’S MARY VAN DE VELDE [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-wgn-radio-traffic-reporter-mary-van-de-velde/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-award-winning-journalist-sylvia-snowden-is-living-her-dream-at-wgn-radio/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: WGN RADIO’S SYLVIA SNOWDEN [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-award-winning-journalist-sylvia-snowden-is-living-her-dream-at-wgn-radio/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-tony-gill-launches-his-passion-project-bleacher-theology/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: CONTENT CREATOR TONY GILL [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-tony-gill-launches-his-passion-project-bleacher-theology/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/the-career-vision-podcast-how-frank-cerrone-supports-his-community-with-pan-american-bank-trust/ HOW PAN AMERICAN’S FRANK CERRONE SUPPORTS HIS COMMUNITY [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/the-career-vision-podcast-how-frank-cerrone-supports-his-community-with-pan-american-bank-trust/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/ WHY COLLEGE SOPHOMORES PANIC [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} Click for more [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/]

The Career Vision Podcast: How Frank Cerrone supports his community with Pan American Bank & Trust

To wrap up the first year of The Career Vision Podcast, host Michael Piff met with Pan American Bank & Trust [https://www.panamerbank.com/]President & CEO Frank Cerrone at his office in in Melrose Park. They discussed Frank’s career journey in banking, how he got started at a young age, what he learned, growing as a leader, how important his community is to him and Pan American Bank & Trust, and his advice to someone interested in what he does. https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7897689/7897689_2026-01-06-160429.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7897689/7897689_2026-01-06-160429.64kmono.mp3] You’ll also hear Frank read a mantra about ‘Attitude’ that is framed in his office. Below is a photo of the mantra to read for yourself. [https://wgnradio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/01/Frank-Cerrones-Mantra-on-Attitude.jpg?w=900]https://wgnradio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/01/Frank-Cerrones-Mantra-on-Attitude.jpgPhoto by Michael Piff / WGN Radio Our sponsor, Career Vision and the Ball Foundation help students and professionals discover their strengths and navigate their career opportunities. Learn more at CareerVision.org [https://careervision.org/]. And you can subscribe to the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-career-vision-podcast-with-michael-piff/id1792271021], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1hgxhrz3nHy2jYXOsdITyQ?si=6-pYGusARy674TzvuEB_fA] or wherever you get your podcasts. RECENT POSTS CAREER VISION https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-wgn-radio-traffic-reporter-mary-van-de-velde/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: WGN RADIO’S MARY VAN DE VELDE [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-wgn-radio-traffic-reporter-mary-van-de-velde/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-award-winning-journalist-sylvia-snowden-is-living-her-dream-at-wgn-radio/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: WGN RADIO’S SYLVIA SNOWDEN [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-award-winning-journalist-sylvia-snowden-is-living-her-dream-at-wgn-radio/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-tony-gill-launches-his-passion-project-bleacher-theology/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: CONTENT CREATOR TONY GILL [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-tony-gill-launches-his-passion-project-bleacher-theology/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/the-career-vision-podcast-how-frank-cerrone-supports-his-community-with-pan-american-bank-trust/ HOW PAN AMERICAN’S FRANK CERRONE SUPPORTS HIS COMMUNITY [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/the-career-vision-podcast-how-frank-cerrone-supports-his-community-with-pan-american-bank-trust/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/ WHY COLLEGE SOPHOMORES PANIC [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} Click for more [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/]

The Career Vision Podcast: How Steve Dale used his platform and talents to advocate for animals

Radio and podcast host. TV personality. Columnist. Author. Certified animal behavioral consultant. Animal advocate. Those are just a few titles on Steve Dale’s resume [https://stevedalepetworld.com/about-steve/], which makes him a perfect guest for the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff. Steve has so many stories that we will have to do a Part II episode to cover more. But in this episode, Steve talks about where his love for both radio and animals came from, how far back he goes with WGN-TV political analyst Paul Lisnek [https://paullisnek.tv/], how he first got on the radio, the multiple writing jobs he had at Chicago newspapers, how he incorporated his love for pets and animals in his work, advice he got from Lucille Ball (YES, THAT LUCILLE BALL!), his new book (Ask The Dog! [https://bealubooks.com/products/ask-the-dog?variant=51429687492909]), how the Booth 46 Podcast [https://wgnradio.com/booth-46/] at Petterino’s [https://petterinos.com/] came to be, his own advice for those wanting to do what he does, and so much more! https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7833027/7833027_2025-11-26-185927.64kmono.mp3 [https://serve.castfire.com/audio/7833027/7833027_2025-11-26-185927.64kmono.mp3] Our sponsor, Career Vision and the Ball Foundation help students and professionals discover their strengths and navigate their career opportunities. Learn more at CareerVision.org [https://careervision.org/]. And you can subscribe to the Career Vision Podcast with Michael Piff on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-career-vision-podcast-with-michael-piff/id1792271021], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1hgxhrz3nHy2jYXOsdITyQ?si=6-pYGusARy674TzvuEB_fA] or wherever you get your podcasts. RECENT POSTS CAREER VISION https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-wgn-radio-traffic-reporter-mary-van-de-velde/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: WGN RADIO’S MARY VAN DE VELDE [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-wgn-radio-traffic-reporter-mary-van-de-velde/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-award-winning-journalist-sylvia-snowden-is-living-her-dream-at-wgn-radio/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: WGN RADIO’S SYLVIA SNOWDEN [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-award-winning-journalist-sylvia-snowden-is-living-her-dream-at-wgn-radio/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-tony-gill-launches-his-passion-project-bleacher-theology/ CAREER CONVERSATIONS: CONTENT CREATOR TONY GILL [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/career-conversations-tony-gill-launches-his-passion-project-bleacher-theology/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/the-career-vision-podcast-how-frank-cerrone-supports-his-community-with-pan-american-bank-trust/ HOW PAN AMERICAN’S FRANK CERRONE SUPPORTS HIS COMMUNITY [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/the-career-vision-podcast-how-frank-cerrone-supports-his-community-with-pan-american-bank-trust/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/ WHY COLLEGE SOPHOMORES PANIC [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/why-college-sophomores-panic-2/] .cls-4{fill:#000;} Click for more [https://wgnradio.com/career-conversations/]