I’m honored to share that I’ve been selected as part of the @airmedia 2026 New Voices AMPLIFY Creators cohort.
This journey started when @ashinthewindy reached out to me with her idea, a podcast about everyday Chicagoans doing extraordinary work. I’m grateful she trusted me to help bring @notesfromchicago to life, and even more grateful for every guest who shared their stories with us.
I started in community media. It’s where I learned that storytelling is a responsibility. Getting to return to that work, independently and intentionally, feels full circle.
I’m so excited to be in community with this cohort of independent podcasters and to learn alongside creators who are pushing the audio space forward.
Congratulations to my fellow 2026 New Voices AMPLIFY creators!!
Spring in Chicago means one thing: unpredictable weather.
Whether you’re a longtime local, new to the city, or planning a visit, our @NotesfromChicago podcast producer @_tanishablakely and host @ashinthewindy share the best things to do in Chicago during spring.
Tune into ‘Chicago Spring Survival Guide’ with Tanisha Blakely. Link in bio.🎙️
This past Saturday, I had the honor of hosting an Artist Talk with my friend, the multitalented visual artist Natalie Osborne, of @natalieodecor at @musecoffeestudio on Chicago’s Near West Side. We had a great time talking about art history and ownership from both the collector’s and the artist’s perspectives.
If you’re an artist, art lover, or are curious about the business of collecting art, pull up to her next artist talk!
Thank you, @musecoffeestudio , for sharing your beautiful, warm space (at 747 S Western Ave, Chicago, IL). And @natalieodecor , thanks for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful artist talk series ❤️
📷: @_dseals
🎥: @natalieodecor
As we close out the year, we’re revisiting a couple of conversations that capture the spirit of organizing in Chicago.
Thank you to ALL of our guests for sharing the work you’re doing in and around Chicago.
🎧 ‘What We Love (and Hate) About Chicago’ with Tanisha Blakely is now streaming on YouTube, Apple, Spotify & all major podcast platforms.
Is this a safe space?
Watch @notesfromchicago host @ashinthewindy and producer @_tanishablakely as they recap past episodes and talk about what they ❤️ and 🚫 about Chicago. #YearEndEpisode #NotesfromChicago
🎧 ‘What We Love (and Hate) About Chicago’ with Tanisha Blakely is now streaming on YouTube, Apple, Spotify & all major podcast platforms.
Cousins. This wasn’t the reunion that Wilmer imagined, but what a reunion it was. It was a blessing to come together and celebrate a life well lived and connect with my Saginaw family. I hope we made our ancestors smile 🕊️🕊️🕊️
I read somewhere that grief is nothing but gratitude.
It’s taking me some time to share the loss of Charlie. I wasn’t ready to let him go and talking about his absence hurt too much. But I couldn’t let his birthday pass without thanking him for being an unconditional friend through some of my best and toughest times.
Charlie, you were with me from Brooklyn to Chicago, road trips to Detroit, parties and nursing homes. You were loved everywhere you went.
The second photo is the first photo I took of you. You were in a shelter full of loud and jumpy dogs, just chilling. I knew immediately you were the dog for me. I’m so grateful that we found each other.
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Charlie. 🐾
