When you think of Chicago food, you may think of pizza or hot dogs, but there's so much more the city has to offer. Every dish in every restaurant has a story, and it takes people like Steve Dolinsky to share those stories with the world. With nicknames The Hungry Hound and The Food Guy, Dolinsky has traveled far and wide through Chicago, the suburbs and well beyond for 30 years to tell people where to eat and why to eat there. After chronicling the best meals and restaurants on TV, Dolinsky is headed to a new role — but not before he stopped by The Takeaway with Alex for a taste of some Superdawg, a deep dig on why he loves pizza and his picks to have your next meal in the best food city in the world.

Jerry Reinsdorf has been controlling owner of the White Sox since 1981, but has agreed to sell the team to Justin Ishbia as early as 2029. On this episode of the Takeaway with Alex, The Athletic’s Jon Greenberg dives into this reporting on the White Sox succession plan. In February, Greenberg’s reporting foreshadowed the deal, and today he tells the story of how Ishbia was approached to take a bigger stake in the team and how the final agreement ultimately came together. Greenberg talks to Alex Maragos about what the ownership change means for the White Sox staying in the city, whether they move to a new stadium, and how it can get the White Sox back on the road to a championship.

Who is Larry Hoover, and why did President Donald Trump commute sentence? He is one of America's most notorious criminals, with convictions ranging from murder to racketeering landing him behind bars for over 50 years. Now Hoover is one step closer to freedom, thanks to a commutation of his federal prison sentence by President Trump. From humble beginnings in Englewood, Hoover eventually ruled the streets of Chicago for decades as leader of the Gangster Disciples. His empire was built on guns and drugs, growing his group to be one of the biggest and most successful in the country. The commutation is a victory for family, friends and supporters including Chicago native Kanye West, who say Hoover is a changed man, genuinely sorry for his past and eager to do good in society. Others, including many in law enforcement, say Hoover's trail of addiction and destruction overrules his chance for mercy. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC 5's Chuck Goudie looks at Larry Hoover's past and future.

Despite their name, the Harlem Globetrotters actually got their start in Chicago. It was an unlikely partnership between a young, 5’3” Jewish entrepreneur named Abe Saperstein and a collection of younger Black basketball players from the South Side. From barns to ballrooms to arenas filled to the brim, the Globetrotters brought basketball to towns that barely had any organized sports. Along the way, they showed the promise of Black talent and achievement in a country that largely treated them as second-class citizens. Persevering through discrimination, they won over crowds with a mix of tricks and talent – along the way changing the landscape of race relations and American sports. Marc Jacobs, author and former editor for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, tells the unlikely tale of Abe Saperstein rising from fledgling team founder to pioneer of modern entertainment. Through ingenuity, a few tall tales and plenty of courage, Saperstein took basketball around the world, proving the unifying power of sports to bring people together.

Who killed Momo? It’s one of the Chicago Outfit’s longest kept secrets — and we’re finally getting some answers. NBC 5 Investigative reporter Chuck Goudie joined the Takeaway to share how he dug up some truth about what really happened to former mob boss Sam Giancana.

Who is Pope Leo XIV, and why did he choose that name? The former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Miguel H. Díaz joins the podcast this week to share his personal experiences with the new pope, and to shed light on some things we may not know about him.

With the papal conclave just days away, there are many questions surrounding the process of selecting the next pope. NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern and Chuck Goudie break down everything from the voting process and the white smoke to the names of potential candidates.

It's a burn Chicago drinkers know all too well. Some love it, some hate it, and many just love to hate it. This week on the podcast, author Josh Noel breaks down the success and failure of Chicago's (least) favorite shot: Jeppson's Malört.