Winter in Chicago is ok! (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks to local journalist Vee Harrison about her new book called Hood Healing: Interviews with Some of Chicago’s Most Prolific Voices in Media and Black Culture, gives an update on beautifying the North Lawndale Neighborhood, and explores the Secret History of the late blues guitarist Sammy Lawhorn. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Pizza is so delicious.

Mike Stephen discusses the state of to-go pizza slices in Chicago with Chicago Tribune food & dining reporter Nick Kindelsperger, learns about a great literacy & art organization called Brown Books and Paint Brushes with CEO Candice Washington, and gets an update on empowering youth in Austin with Adam Alonso of BUILD. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show and ponder if we are eating too much pizza during the pandemic. The local pandemic tunez come from Photo Curio. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

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.