Mike Stephen welcomes local raconteur Jack Zimmerman into the studio to preview a great local storytelling event, checks in with 33rd Ward aldermanic candidate Katie Sieracki on how her campaign is shaping up, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago 80s pop-rockers The Service with local music historian Steve Krakow (aka: Plastic Crimewave).  The local music this week is brought to you by Dramaglider. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen discusses some of the problems with Chicago’s recycling program with Madison Hopkins of the Better Government Association, talks to the new editor-in-chief of the Chicago Reader Anne Elizabeth Moore about what’s in store for the future of the paper, and discovers the Secret History of the local 1970s Bluegrass band Wildwood Pickers with local music historian Steve Krakow (aka: Plastic Crimewave).  The local music this week is brought to you by The Bombats. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen visits the Oak Park River Forest Museum to learn about the legacy of the Fair Housing Ordinance in Oak Park, discusses the impact of shifting wealth in Chicago households with Geoff Smith of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, and gets a peek into the Halloween-themed theater show called The Walls of Harrow House.  The local music this week comes from the Alpine Subs. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen learns about Illinois’ efforts to combat climate change with the executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, gets the lowdown on a story about Chicago with the creator of a new podcast called The City, and discovers the Secret History of legendary Chicago Bluesman Otis Rush with local music historian Steve Krakow (aka: Plastic Crimewave).  The local music this week is brought to you by Scamlines. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.