Mike Stephen travels to The Matchbox in West Town to kick off the 2020 OTL Winter Tavern Tour.

Mike Stephen kicks off the Winter Tavern Tour at The Matchbox in West Town, learns about a program that turns young writers into published novelists called Open Books Publishing Academy, and discusses the efforts to recruit more bilingual teachers in the state.  And this week we enjoy local music from Way to Go Radio. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen discusses gentrification in Logan Square.

Mike Stephen learns about an upcoming book about gentrification in Logan Square with sociologist and photographer David Schalliol, discusses a City Bureau analysis of local government transparency, and plays back the sounds of the Girls on the Run Chicago 5k.  The local music this week is brought to us by Batteries Not Included. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Author and human rights lawyer Pia Justesen and Mike Stephen in the WGN Skyline Studio.

Mike Stephen talks to Pia Justesen, author of a new book called From the Periphery: Real-Life Stories of Disability that is an oral history of those living with disabilities and then discusses mobility justice with Anton Seals, the lead steward of Grow Greater Englewood.  This week’s local music is brought to us by LagPass. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen discussing TIF districts in Chicago on this week's show.

Mike Stephen learns the powerful story of living with a personality-changing brain tumor from local author Mary Ellen Aschenbrenner, gets an update on TIFs in Chicago from civic educator Tom Tresser, and discusses the efforts to revitalize the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood. Check out the OTL Wrap Party towards the end of the show so you can let us know what you’d do if you were in charge of TIF money in Chicago!  This week’s local music is brought to us by Vo Era. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.