OTL: Episode #497- Chicago Pen Show preview, Bad Poetry Night, Rebooting tap dance

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Pen Show partner Paul Conterato about their mutual love of pens and the popularity of writing utensils;   Chicago Writers Conference founder Mare Swallow about what to expect from this year’s spectacular Bad Poetry Night event; and   jorsTAP Chicago artistic director and founder Kendra Jorstad about pushing the creative barriers in tap dancing and their new show Abstraction.   Meanwhile, we discuss Mike’s experience speaking at the NISPA (Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association) Conference yesterday.   This week’s local music is provided music provided by Ryland Foxx.   Future OTL host Mike Stephen proudly displays a small portion of his vast pen and mechanical pencil collection. [circa 1989 or 1990]   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #495- Chicagoland’s growing footprint, Taco Takedown Chicago, Equal Pay Day Chicago

Mike Stephen talks with:   Openlands president and CEO Jerry Adelmann about Chicagoland’s open spaces in decline and what our area could look like in the future;   The Takedown impresario Matt Timms about the upcoming 2nd Annual Chicago Taco Takedown at Lincoln Hall; and   Equal Pay Day Chicago chair Barbara Yong about efforts to finally eliminate the gender pay gap between men and women.   Meanwhile, we discuss the fact that the city of Chicago is failing to warn its citizens about lead risks in tap water.   This week’s local music is provided music provided by The Peace Exchange co-founder and The Chicago International Youth Peace Movement founder Jessica Disu (aka FM Supreme).   OTL host Mike Stephen dumps a bucket of Chicago city tap water over his head before learning about its potential lead risks.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #493- The militarization of CPS, Howard Brown comes to Englewood, Chicago food cart update

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Chapter of Veterans for Peace coordinator Arnold Stieber about his organization’s mission to demilitarize the Chicago Public Schools;   Howard Brown Health Center site medical director Maya Green about opening its first LGBTQ clinic on the South Side; and   Illinois Policy Institute managing editor Hilary Gowins about the latest on the business of food carts in Chicago.   Meanwhile, we discuss today’s march against rising rents in Logan Square and the wonders of Brussels sprouts.   This week’s local music is provided music provided by Jagged Jaw.   OTL host Mike Stephen III passes his love of vegetables along to his son Mike Stephen IV.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #492- Ending gender bias, Cell phone camera rights, The Secret History of Buster Benton

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Foundation for Women director of programs Alysia Tate about eliminating gender bias via The 100% Project and their Talk It Out program;   academic artist and activist Ricardo Gamboa about Can I Film the Police?, the third episode of the “Rights Lab” web series that’s screening at the Music Box Theatre; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about mysterious disco blues guitarist Buster Benton for this week’s “Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we tie together two previous OTL segments by discussing My Block, My Hood, My City moving into the Wicker Park “Boombox” storefront.   This week’s local music is provided music provided by Grood.   The Secret History of Chicago Music mastermind Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) and OTL host Mike Stephen strike the most badass of badass poses on Western Avenue.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.