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Greta Johnsen

Greta Johnsen

Weekend Anchor/Reporter

Greta anchors weekends and reports on everything from Pi Day to innovative ways of saving endangered ferrets. She also co-hosts WBEZ’s Nerdette Podcast. Prior to joining WBEZ in 2014. Greta hosted Morning Edition at WCQS in Asheville, North Carolina and at KUAC in Fairbanks, Alaska. Greta has a BA in English from Saint Olaf College and a MS in Journalism from Northwestern University. In her abundant free time, Greta enjoys reading, knitting, and walking her corgi.

Recent Stories

Nerdette

'Doctor Who' Star Alex Kingston On The Women Who Drive A Sci-Fi Franchise

Alex Kingston discusses her role on ‘Doctor Who’ as fan-favorite River Song, which helped pave the way for the show’s first female Doctor.

Nerdette

The Viola And The Octopus: Nadia Sirota’s Two Loves

Violist Nadia Sirota talks about working with Kesha and why she spends so much time in aquariums.

Nerdette

Separating Fantasy From Reality With Author Kurt Andersen

The author of ‘Fantasyland’ argues the Internet and, to some degree, cosplay can be toxic to rational thinking.

Nerdette Recaps Game Of Thrones With Peter Sagal

Live Season 7 Recap Party ... With Costumes!

Tricia, Greta, Peter and about 400 wildlings met up in Chicago’s Lincoln Square for one last review of Season 7.

Nerdette

How The U.S. Poet Laureate Finds Poetry In Justin Bieber

Tracy K. Smith is using her new post to make poetry more accessible throughout the country.

Nerdette

An Everest Climber’s Never-Ending Quest For Adventure

Mountain climber Melissa Arnot Reid talks about reaching Everest’s peak without supplemental oxygen, and why she is obsessed with true crime stories.

WBEZ News

Three Takeaways From Governor’s Day And School Funding (In)Action

Illinois Democrats are gathering in Springfield Thursday for a day of fundraisers and political speeches as part of the Illinois State Fair.

Nerdette Recaps Game Of Thrones With Peter Sagal

Jon Snow, Zombie Hunter

This week's 'Game of Thrones' shows Jon teaming up with other fan favorites, a big reveal from Cersei, and a Tarly family barbecue.

Nerdette

Rainn Wilson: All About That Bassoon

On a special Nerdette all about bassoonery, we talk with 'The Office' star Rainn Wilson about being “The Bassoon King.”

WBEZ News

Chicago To Sue Feds Over Funding Threats To Sanctuary Cities

Chicago's Mayor Rahm Emanuel is pushing back against the federal government.

Nerdette

Jessica Pimentel: Actress By Day, Death Metal Frontwoman By Night

The ‘Orange Is The New Black’ actress says she finds inspiration for her death metal music in an unlikely place: Buddhism.

WBEZ News

Police Board President Term Ends Without Replacement

Police Board President Lori Lightfoot’s term is set to expire at the end of the day Monday, and Mayor Emanuel hasn’t said whether he’ll re-appoint her for the job.

Nerdette

Forget Cats: Jenny Slate Is A Plant Lady

Jenny Slate, known for her web series Marcel The Shell and her role on Parks and Recreation, has a little-known obsession with houseplants.

Nerdette

Author Samantha Irby Wants To Put Normal On TV

Comedian and essayist Samantha Irby says the first episode of her TV show will feature digestive issues — and no romance.

Nerdette

The Nerdette Summer Homework Special

Take down this bounty of summer homework assignments from astrophysicists, writers, sex-therapists and even Tom Hanks.

Nerdette

Jill Tarter On A Life Spent Searching For Extraterrestrials

Jill Tarter talks about Carl Sagan basing a novel on her career and why it’s important to listen to the universe.

WBEZ News

Some Opt Out Of County Minimum Wage Increase

In July, Cook County’s minimum wage increases to $10 an hour. But not everyone in the county will be getting that raise.

Nerdette

From ‘Homeland’ To ‘Freaks And Geeks,’ She Can Direct Anything

Lesli Linka Glatter talks about directing ‘The West Wing’ and ‘Gilmore Girls’ and how she once accidentally hung up on Steven Spielberg.

WBEZ News

Chicago Charter School Teachers Vote To Join Chicago Teachers Union

Members of the Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff, the union representing teachers at city's charter schools, have voted to join the Chicago Teachers Union.

Nerdette

W. Kamau Bell On Embracing Awkward And Loving Shark Tank

The comedian says one time he changed his routine after a friend pointed out how sexist it was. “I was like, 'Who am I doing this for?'”

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