The Lake Forest Podcast

Talking with the good people, businesses and government of Lake Forest Illinois

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

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[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

🎙️ Full episode:
https://t.co/902Q0i0K5q

🎵 "More Or Lesser" — the album:
https://t.co/JU9q7bD6lb

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

🚨 Three dealerships bid on a pickup truck.

One comes in at $60K.
One at $70K.
One at $80K.

The government picks a winner.

As a taxpayer, wouldn't you ask:

"What were the other bids?"

Jeff Urso explains.

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

▶️ Full episode: https://t.co/902Q0i0K5q

🎵 "More Or Lesser" — 9 original songs inspired by this conversation: https://t.co/JU9q7bD6lb

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

IF NOBODY CARES, WHY WON'T THEY RELEASE IT?

Rick Lesser says withholding information tied to public contracts sets a dangerous precedent.

Should governments release RFP scoring and evaluations?
👇

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

Watch the full Dan Milligan episode:
https://t.co/eY7xxzt5Of

The Wheels Fall Off:The Dan Milligan Sessions
https://t.co/hsoNMzUXet

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

🪩 Final short from the Dan Milligan Sessions.

"When the light hits that disco ball and it starts spinning..."

For Dan, it still feels like being a kid in 1977 throwing disco parties in his basement.

Thanks for the stories, Dan. See you under the disco ball.

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

For everyone asking if the story was real...
Here's the commendation letter from the Lake Forest Police Department.
Rick spotted the fire. 911 was called. West Park survived.
Not news.
Just neighbors.

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

In 2012, Rick Lesser spotted a trash can fire in West Park.

"It was a trash can, big trash can, on fire like a jet engine."

A 911 call, a police officer with a fire extinguisher, and apparently West Park was saved.

Official commendation letter included.

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

We turned the episode into an album.
"More Or Lesser"
9 original songs pulled straight from the conversation.
Track 2: "We Saved West Park"
https://t.co/JU9q7bD6lb

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

🎵 THE RICK LESSER SESSIONS —
An AI-generated music album inspired by this week's Lake Forest Podcast conversation with Rick Lesser.
Listen on Spotify: https://t.co/XhawzHVajI

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

Benjamin Franklin walked into Duffer's, pulled up a chair, and grabbed a microphone.

At least that's how we remember it.

The Rick Lesser Sessions continue — an AI-generated music project inspired by conversations from the Lake Forest Podcast.

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

A $169,785 contract.

No competitive bids.

One alderman asked why.

Here's the question and the city's answer from the May 18 Lake Forest City Council meeting.

We document. You decide.

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

Full episode: https://t.co/tvx0rYGAIC

🎵 Teddy O's album:
https://t.co/j7EhNxRWsb

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

30 days.

In April, the discussion was reportedly about plumbing, bathrooms, and cosmetic improvements.

A month later, the conversation had shifted to affidavits.

What changed?

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

🏝️🏆 Your 2026 LFHS Paranoia Champions: the ISLAND BOYS.

Last squad standing after two months of Nerf warfare,
bush stakeouts & midnight-Sunday ceasefires. 🌺🔫

Flowers earned. Congrats Class of '26. 😎

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

🎵 "Division Street of the North Shore — The Teddy O's Sessions" is 8 original songs pulled straight from Ted's story: the 22 years, the live music that filled that room, and the fight to bring it all back.

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

22 years. No problem.

Ted Banick operated Teddy O's for 22 years with little to no issues.

The problems people associate with Teddy O's happened during the last four years under different ownership.

Should that matter?

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

🎬 Watch the full episode → https://t.co/THxZ2goXKW

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

🎵 "Division Street of the North Shore — The Teddy O's Sessions"

8 original songs inspired by the people, memories, live music, and stories behind Teddy O's.

🎧 https://t.co/YXyJYLWHHE

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

"I can't get any answers. I can't even have a conversation at this point."

Ted says he's been trying since April to get things moving so Teddy O's could open for summer.

Instead, he says he's hit a brick wall.

We document. You decide.

[The Lake Forest Podcast @LakeForestPod]

🎬 Full episode:
https://t.co/THxZ2goXKW