Are Chicago students struggling? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the preliminary results of Chicago student test data with Mila Koumpilova of Chalkbeat Chicago, gets the lowdown on the expansion of the Chicago Tool Library from co-founder Tessa Vierk, and learns about a new locally-produced film featuring Chicago street artists called Tagged from writer and executive producer Grant Troyer. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

We get a state education legislation update. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen gets an update on education legislation in Springfield from Chalkbeat Chicago state education reporter Samantha Smylie and learns about Shorefront, an organization working to tell the story of Black history in the North Shore community, from its founder and executive director Dino Robinson. Also, it’s pothole season in Chicago! o subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit ourĀ Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or ourĀ RSS feed.

Why not celebrate 800 shows with the limited edition OTL cupcakes? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the state education legislation moving through Springfield with Chalkbeat reporter Samantha Smylie, learns the Secret History of local blues guitarist J.B. Ritchie, and celebrates 800 episodes of this podcast and radio show with co-founder and former producer Andy Hermann. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Mike Stephen learns about the power of the art of spoken word poetry with the Oak Park & River Forest High School spoken word team. We hear from teacher and coach Peter Kahn as well as some students and alumni. Their upcoming anthology of writing is called Respect the Mic: Celebrating 20 Years of Poetry from a Chicagoland High School. Then, Mike discovers the Secret History of blues pianist and guitarist Lazy Bill Lucas. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.