Mike Stephen enjoys a Zoom call with improv performer Jay Sukow.

Mike Stephen learns how improviser Jay Sukow is helping us to laugh through online improv, discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the local homeless population, and gets insight into how real estate is handling the pandemic with writer AJ LaTrace. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin discuss “Zoom Fatigue.”   The local quarantine music this week comes from The Waco Brothers. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen broadcasts from his home…while in his pajamas and robe.

Mike Stephen discusses the impact of COVID-19 on Illinois’ finances, learns about the work of Beyond Hunger during the pandemic, and discovers the Secret History of the jazz fusion group The Ashby Ostermann Alliance. In the OTL Wrap Party segment Mike and Producer Collin try to remain positive during the pandemic and, in an OTL first, make a Demolition Man reference. The local quarantine music this week comes from The DeFunked. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen plays some quarantine harmonica in his basement home studio.

Mike Stephen discusses how local musicians are coping without the ability to play gigs with Mike Jeffers, host of Chicago Music Revealed, learns about Tone Deaf Records, a Portage Park record store that now delivers albums, and discovers the Secret History of 60s pop-rockers The Apocryphals. Plus, we debut a new song about COVID-19 from The Black Oil Brothers and in the OTL Wrap Party segment Mike and Producer Collin express hope that local venues will rise again. The local quarantine music this week comes from the late great John Prine. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Laura Austin of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and Mike Stephen hanging out at Simon's Tavern on Clark St. in Andersonville.

Mike Stephen heads up to the Andersonville neighborhood and takes the show to Simon’s Tavern on Clark Street.  We hear conversations from members of the community about what makes the neighborhood tick.  Mike and OTL producer Collin Seaman welcome Laura Austin of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce to talk about the strength of the community.  Simon’s Tavern owner Scott Martin sits down to discuss the importance of that bar in the neighborhood.  Next, we enjoy an architecture conversation with Thom Greene of Greene & Proppe Design.  And we explore what it’s like to own a local business with Milk Handmade owner Hallie Borden.  The local music this week is brought to us by Andersonville favorites Hodie Snitch.  We love you, Andersonville! To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.