Alison Cuddy (CHF Marilynn Thoma Artistic Director) and Tim Samuelson (Chicago cultural historian) are investigating tiny items that have big stories.

Do you have something you'd like us to investigate? Submit your object for study— It may be featured in an episode!

Alison Cuddy is the Festival’s Marilynn Thoma Artistic Director. Prior to joining CHF in 2014, she spent more than 10 years at WBEZ, Chicago’s NPR affiliate, as a reporter and the host of Eight Forty-Eight.

Tim Samuelson has been seeking out the stories of Chicago’s past for over forty years. As the city’s official “Cultural Historian”, he believes that history goes beyond good scholarship and careful footnotes – if history is to be vital and relevant, telling the story engagingly is equally important. And if it can be fun, so much the better! Samuelson has told Chicago’s many stories through well-received exhibits, books, public programs and media presentations. Topics include Chicago’s wide-ranging contributions to art and culture, with a special focus on architecture and music.