In fields as diverse as science, business and acting, people often hear that if they haven’t found success by their 20s or 30s, it’s not going to happen. And we know society tends to treat bursts of genius as the province of the young. But is this indeed the case? Educator, Pamela Meyer, singer-songwriter, Kathy Greenholdt, and filmmaker, Betty J. Jackson join us for the conversation.

Guests:

• Pamela Meyer is an instructor at DePaul’s School for New Learning and director of the Center for Advance Education for Adults.
• Kathy Greenholdt is a Chicago singer-songwriter.
• Betty J. Jackson is a documentarian.

April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day. We talk with Project Onward, a Chicago-based organization that provides artists with autism and other disabilities a workspace where they can create and sell their art. When Rob Lentz helped launch Project Onward 11 years ago, he only had six artists. Now, he has 55. He joins us in studio with more.

Guest: Rob Lentz is co-founder and executive director of Project Onward.

In late March 2015, it was announced that the last of the legendary Bobak’s stores on the Southwest Side would close on April, 4. The Bobak sausage brand was launched by Frank Bobak in 1967 and it holds a special spot in Chicagoans’ hearts. Owner Stanley Bobak, joins us to talk about the store’s closing.

Guest: Stanley Bobak is owner of legendary Bobak Sausage Company.

Scientists from Argonne National Laboratory have been studying the relationship between plants and microbial organisms in the soil and have uncovered some intriguing possibilities. Jack Gilbert is a microbiologist for Argonne and Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Chicago. He joins us to discuss his latest research.

Google’s Eric Schmidt, Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg, Tesla’s Elon Musk and Groupon co-founders Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky have all donated to Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s campaign. Donations from Silicon Valley and Chicago’s tech community add up to more than $1 million. WBEZ’s Chris Hagan has been reporting about the mayor’s relationship with those donors and he joins us in studio with more.

The Chicago Housing Authority is getting $3 million to help low-income residents find higher paying jobs. It’s part of a $24 million grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. CHA’s Altgeld Gardens on the city’s far South Side is one of nine public housing programs across the country to receive the award. WBEZ’s Susie An joins us with details.

Guest: Susie An is a WBEZ reporter.

Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time. The city rode high when ‘His Airness’ played for the Bulls. But he didn’t just change basketball. Curious City answers a question that might help us understand the impact he made on the city.

On Thursday, lawmakers in Indiana passed a so-called fix to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The bill, known as SB50, now awaits the signature of Republican Gov. Mike Pence. WBEZ’s Michael Puente joins us from the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.