Byline Confidential

Peter Nickeas

As an overnight crime reporter, the Chicago Tribune's Peter Nickeas knows parts of city life other people turn away from. His job is to chase chaos and mayhem in this town while trying to make sense of it all. With spring and consequently more shootings approaching, we have a frank chat about his life in journalism and Chicago after dark.

"There are very few black and white anything in this city. That's one thing overnights has taught me."

Andrea Swensson

Several years ago, Andrea Swensson was a young college dropout in the midst of an identity crisis. Through pluck and perseverance, she's become a top music correspondent with Minnesota Public Radio's The Current, an innovative station. Andrea tells an uplifting story of her unorthodox path, proof there's more than one way to make it in journalism.

Amongst many other topics, we talk about her unexpected hiring at an alt-weekly, whether F-sharp is a thing, music criticism, depression, and the time Cee Lo Green called her gay on Twitter.

Bonus: Here's the video where the intro otter noises originated, for those of you who want to smile today.

Baby River Otter Makes Happy Noises