Dr. Debby Herbenick

cheeky sexpert

Dr. Debby Herbenick is Associate Director of the Center for Sexual Health Promotion in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Indiana University (IU) where she is a sexuality researcher and educator. She is also a sexual health educator at The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction where she writes (and hosts podcasts of) the "Kinsey Confidential" column and coordinates educational programming. She has a PhD in Health Behavior from IU, a Master's degree in Public Health Education (also from IU) and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Kim Peiffer

hollywood cheeky

Kim fell in love with writing, editing and fashion while studying abroad and interning at Vogue in London back in college and has been committed to the biz ever since. From working for In Style Magazine in Los Angeles to working as Marketing Director at CS Magazine, she has covered all the bases of the media world in the past five years. She has also worked for Oprah Winfrey and currently writes for People magazine, People.com, CS Magazine, DailyCandy, CS Brides, The Men's Book and many more. She is currently finishing up her Master's degree in Journalism at Northwestern University.

Stephanie Miller

cheeky on-the-town

Simply put: Stephanie is a wine and spirits guru. A PR pro by day and the drink editor of Chicago Scene by night, she has a pulse on the latest liquor trends, she knows the newest wine varietals and she could probably teach a course on the difference between scotch and whiskey. After all, her prized possession is the 1965 Glenlivet Cedar Collection that's resting on her bar. But whether it's chronicling Chicago's social scene, heading to liquor launch dinners or attending wine and food events hosted by some of Chicago's best restaurants (hello?! Avec, Blackbird and NoMi), Stephanie is passionate about all things Chicago. She honed her writing skills as an undergrad at Northwestern University and has been going strong ever since. In addition to her nearly three-year position as drink editor for Chicago Scene, Stephanie has contributed to The Daily Herald, Chicago Unzipped and penned the monthly Haute Historian column for Second City Style. She currently works at Ketchum Public Relations but, as you can see, she wears multiple hats and still finds time to update her blog regularly.

Debi Lilly

cheeky martha

Debi Lilly is a nationally renowned event-planning expert based in Chicago. She is the founder and president of A Perfect Event - Chicago's most successful special event company with a faithful (and famous) following, including Oprah Winfrey. Lilly is committed to the personalization of every event, including Oprah Winfrey's recently televised, 50th birthday bash and the wedding of Heather Headley, the award-winning Broadway actress. Other clients and companies include Brooke Shields, Debra Messing, Cartier, Leo Burnett, Starcom, McDonald's and the Symphony Orchestra, among others. In addition to her business acumen, she deftly balances a demanding career and a growing family. Debi continually serves as an industry expert for such publications as InStyle Magazine, Martha Stewart Weddings, Bride's, Modern Bride, Bridal Guide, Chicago Social, Chicago Magazine, and The Groom's Guide. She also has regular guest spots on The Oprah Winfrey Show and ABC 7 News Chicago. Debi Lilly graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Marketing. A born-and-bred "hostess", Lilly has always planned events both large and small, from as young as her elementary years. debi@cheekychicago.com.

Neph Basedow

cheeky soundgood

Neph is a New York native, Austin transplant and self-admitted music fanatic. After obtaining her degree in government and music at the University of Texas at Austin, Neph relocated to Chicago and is now embracing the 'flair' of the Midwest and the magic of its local music scene. A musician since age 10 and an avid show-goer, she is passionate about all things music. She loves discovering and supporting local artists and enjoys frequenting the city's independent music venues.

Think your music sounds good? Let our Cheeky Soundgood decide. Contact Neph at neph@cheekychicago.com for inquiries and submissions.

Kelli Zink

cheeky health freak

Once you realize the bubbly laugh is real and the expensive looking dress is really Forever 21, you realize - Kelli Zink is that chick you want to hate, but can't.

A self-admitted health freak, Kelli doesn't eat whatever she wants and hits the gym most mornings when her friends are just returning home from a night out. During her time in LA, she came to the conclusion that cleanses are a pain in the ass (literally) and that having a social life that includes cocktails and food is a must. After trimming off four sizes, she's convinced that a cheeky chick can achieve the figure she wants without sacrificing her social life.

She currently interviews celebs on the red carpet and at parties as the host of CelebTV.com and is a weekly guest on Fox's The Mike and Juliet Show. She's worked her butt off (hello bikini!) for every job she's had including Fox Sports Net Chicago, Fox47 Sports, The NFL Network, Co-Host of the Mancow Radio Show, TV Guide Channel, CNN's Nancy Grace and Showbiz Tonight, MSNBC and Fox News' Geraldo at Large, Studio B with Shepherd Smith, Your World with Neil Cavuto and Michigan Avenue Magazine.

Email Kelli at kelli@cheekychicago.com. Ask her anything - she'll be sure to tell you the truth.

Rachel Gillman

Rachel's insatiable appetite (literally) and obsession with entertainment make her the perfect candidate for writing about dining and drama. She is happily eating her way through Chicago's restaurant scene and charting her culinary progress, both as a contributor to CheekyChicago and the resident dining columnist for Chicago Scene.

Rachel is also logging plenty of screen time as the site's new movie critic, a role she relishes as a devoted film fan and entertainment addict. On top of her freelance writing and full-time PR job, Rachel has appeared as a guest on Check, Please! and a dining expert on CBS Sunday Morning News. A graduate of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, Rachel also spent a year honing her journalism skills through Northwestern University's School of Continuing Studies.

Ali Weiss

nosy cheeky

Ever inquisitive, Ali conducts the "Nosy" interviews that bring you closer to the cheeky side of Chicago's creative types. She also contributes to the ‘Drama’ section and cannot resist writing up the occasional band or bar. She loves nothing more than telling stories, whether in writing, on stage or in video. A New York City native, Ali came to Chicago in 2003 to study a little improv and decided to stay. She has performed in theaters around town and is a published playwright with work produced all over the country. Most recently, Ali has delved into video editing and she currently works on content for the newly re-launched Playboy.com. She keeps her work and updates here.

Lyndsay Rush

tongue in cheeky

'Twas a balmy night in 1983 when Lyndsay made her first mark on the world. Since that moment, she has spent her 25 years storytelling, getting into trouble and trying to make people laugh. After graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in film and Spanish (not Spanish film), and gritting her teeth through almost three years in the world of corporate finance, she made a decision to finally pursue what she has always loved: writing.

On a normal day you can find Lyndsay watching Friday Night Lights, making fun of her friends, eating cheese and wearing a scarf. When she's not writing about the ridiculous things that happen to her on a daily basis, she spends her time shopping for antiques, volunteering with inner city youth and playing the guitar. Her short term goals include drinking more water, waking up earlier and sending more letters. Her long term goals include putting others before herself, telling the truth and biting her tongue. Lyndsay's current endeavors include freelancing for the Red Eye, working at her church and keeping up with her blog.

Sara Minard

the cheeky economista

Sara lives by two maxims in life: "Foie Gras Taste on a Spam income" and "Work to Live." After graduating from UW-Madison, she spent five years as a production assistant at a luxury chocolatier - Lucille Ball, anyone? Her life took a turn for the strange after being dumped by her boyfriend's mother (that's worse than a break-up via Facebook, right?). She decided Madison wasn't big enough for the three of them, so she packed her truffles and moved to Chicago. Her work life in Chicago has been a mix of working in and managing high-end restaurants, sidelining as a "picker" for a vintage couture boutique with locations in D.C. and Las Vegas and, when the season is right, working as a forager for some of the fanciest restaurants in the city.

Currently, she splits her week between a condo in the Gold Coast and an Indiana log cabin next to the lake that she shares with her steady, a Border Terrier and their cat, Mr. Man. If you can't find her in the kitchen – cooking as a private chef for her Chicago clients, canning or pickling something – check the local thrift store. You might just find her adding to her muumuu collection, or finding super sexy seventies and eighties designer dresses for six bucks. Sara definitely has something to say about the art of looking and living fabulously on a shoestring budget!

Jen Hesser

cheeky does charity

Born and raised in Chicago, Jennifer has been spreading her charitable wings since she was very little; wearing adult sized t-shirts down to her knees – volunteering at multiple fundraisers, walks and motorcycle rides held by The American Brain Tumor Association. While attending school at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, Jennifer could be found in and around Allentown donating time to painting walls at the local YMCA, serving dinner at a downtown soup kitchen or picking up trash throughout local parks.

Graduating with both a major in history and Asian culture, Jen has opted to go in a completely different direction and works in Chicago as a concierge. Jen continues on with her charitable work, currently donating time between the Jane Adams Hull House, The Greater North Michigan Avenue Association, Chicago's 2016 Olympics and other organizations and projects citywide.

Jennifer is an artist, with dreams of one day opening her own gallery, but for right now she uses her living room walls in liu of. Wonderful other hobbies and habits including attacking the Chicago jazz scene, wandering the zoo and getting lost in the Art Institute still happen in between her charitable endeavors and work.

Amanda Troop

cheeky music-obsessed

Amanda's never had a problem music couldn't fix. Most hours, you will find her with headphones permanently attached to her ears. She has lived in Chicago for most of her life, with the exception of a 4-year stint in the great state of – you guessed it – Iowa. After graduating from Drake University with degrees in creative writing and psychology, she moved back to the city because she believed Chicago missed her dearly (she still maintains this is true).

When she's not reviewing shows and CDs for Cheeky, she is an avid dancer and musician (when she thinks no one is looking), a part-time psuedo-therapist, and a full-time expert texter. She is currently working on a memoir because her life is just that interesting.

dayna salasche, MD

doctor cheeky

As one of the founding physicians of the Northwestern Specialists for Women (NSW), Dr. Dayna Salasche offers nearly ten years of medical expertise and specialist training. In addition to being a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrician Gynecologists, she is also on staff at Prentice Women's Hospital and a clinical instructor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University's affiliate medical school, The Feinberg School of Medicine.

With solid experience in all areas of obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Salasche is passionate about caring for women and assisting in all life transitions - from adolescence to childbearing to menopause and beyond. In her practice, she specializes in the treatment of abnormal pap smears, minimally invasive treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding (including hysteroscopy and endometrial ablation), laparoscopic surgery and both high (including multiple pregnancy and advanced maternal age) and low risk obstetric patients.

Dr. Salasche received her B.S. at the University of Illinois in Psychology and graduated medical school at Rush University Medical College in Chicago. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Lutheran General Hospital, where she also served as Chief Resident.

In her spare time, Dr. Salasche is an avid runner and loves to travel to new places. Above all else, she treasures quality time with her family and friends in her home town of Chicago.

brooke samson miller, MA, MFTi

cheeky dear abby

Brooke Samson Miller, MA, MFTi was born in Detroit, grew up in Chicago, lost herself in Los Angeles and found herself in San Francisco...sort of.

She’s witnessed 1 house fire, survived 2 brain surgeries, mended 3 broken hearts, lived in 8 apartments, tried on 4 wedding dresses…and wore 1. Brooke graduated from the University of Southern California and after a 4 year dose of Hollywood, she adamantly got her Masters degree in Psychology. Somewhere between trying to understand it all and becoming gleefully addicted to growth... she became a psychotherapist. She works with teens, adults, and couples in San Francisco so if you live there, she could be your therapist... lucky you. But she does phone sessions too. Lucky everyone.

She’s also a writer, an advice columnist to be exact... think Carrie Bradshaw becomes a real therapist. We love it. Her blog, Soapbox Therapy, has been called "Raw, honest, thought-provoking, and wisely witty" by readers and critics and can be read in several publications including The San Francisco Chronicle’s monthly insert, TheIsCollection and Primer Magazine. And now she’s Cheeky Chicago’s very own advice guru AKA Cheeky Dear Abby... could we be happier?

A Chicago girl at heart, Brooke now lives, loves, works, writes, and analyzes everything with a soy chai latte in hand, in the city by the bay. She can be contacted at Brooke@cheekychicago.com

*Brooke is a registered marriage and family therapist intern #55548 supervised by Cynthia Hoffman LMFT#40736