License to Operate

About License to Operate

What does it take to stop a shooting before it happens? License to Operate (LTO) takes you inside the streets where former gang members now broker peace and grieving mothers choose forgiveness over revenge. Kanoya Ali and Peter Cunningham host raw conversations with the people reducing gun violence in Chicago's hardest-hit neighborhoods. Hear the untold stories of transformation that are actually saving lives – not through politics or preaching, but through real relationships and proven strategies. This is what building safer communities looks like from the inside.

Publisher

Kanoya Ali and Peter Cunningham

Category

education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

13 Jun 2025

Latest episode

31 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

24 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   31 Jul 2026

   Celebrating success: 10 Years of Service to Chicago and Meaningful Careers for Life

   To mark the 10th anniversary of Chicago CRED and to close out Season 2 of License to Operate, co-hosts Kanoya Ali and Peter Cunningham conducted a live podcast with Rahn Jointer, a CRED alumnus who is now a professional painter, Dorothy Wilson, who helps manage clinical services for CRED, and Brandon Richardson, who trains participants in non-aggression skills. Collectively, they represent success -- both in the field of CVI and in the broader economy. Their stories are our stories. Their voices matter. Their example inspires us all.

2. 

   28 Jul 2026

   How Lived Experience Reshapes Public Policy and Philanthropy: Chris Patterson

   Chris Patterson shares how surviving violence and incarceration in Chicago led him to become a powerful voice in community violence intervention. He reflects on how recognizing trauma, mentorship, and education helped him build a new path forward.

3. 

   30 Jun 2026

   LTO Podcast Season 2 - How Personal Loss Created a National Advocate For Peace: Trevon "Tre" Bosley

   In this episode of License to Operate, Peter Cunningham and Kanoya Ali speak with Trevon Bosley about growing up in Roseland, losing family members to gun violence, and turning that experience into community-based violence prevention work. The conversation also explores youth programming, survivor support, and why solutions to violence are strongest when they are led by the people closest to the issue.

Who has been a guest on License to Operate

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dontay "Big Durk" Banks
• Bilaal Evans
• Billy Moore

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

86

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact License to Operate

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about License to Operate