OTL: Episode #559- Life After Hate, Inside a street vendor kitchen, Dream Version plays live

Mike Stephen talks with:   Life After Hate executive director and co-founder Sammy Rangel about his organization and what happens now that the Trump administration eliminated their grant;   Street Vendors Association of Chicago vice president Vicky Lugo about a new North Lawndale-based shared kitchen; and   local band Dream Version to the studio to play live for the hour and to talk about their new record Fight Fair.   Meanwhile, we discuss the new public participation rules for Chicago City Council meetings.   Local band Dream Version rocked the soundtrack for OTL #559! [L-R] Eric Brummitt, Alec Jensen, OTL host Mike Stephen (in the Brat Stop t-shirt!), Michael Kunik   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #551- Chicago Market Co-Op, Our food truck scene has stalled, How to get craft beer in a local bar

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicagoist food editor Anthony Todd about the development of the Chicago Market, a new co-op grocery store that’s coming to Uptown;   Chicago Reader staff writer Julia Thiel about why Chicago’s once-promising food truck scene is having a rough time; and   Fooditor editor/publisher Michael Gebert about how your potentially favorite new beer gets into Chicago bars.   Meanwhile, we discuss how Mike recently spoke at the NISPA (Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association) high school journalism conference… about how much he loves tacos!   This week’s local music is provided by The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club.   OTL host Mike Stephen spoke at the 2017 Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association (NISPA) high school journalism conference about… tacos. Check out the screen behind him. [photo courtesy @EldesAyse]   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #537- Living with lead in Chicago, Fatal crashes and cell phone privacy, Is Restaurant Week a good deal?

Mike Stephen talks with:   City Bureau co-founder/editorial director Darryl Holliday about his news organization’s special issue “Living With Lead: How Generations of Chicagoans Carry the Weight of a Toxin Hiding in Plain Sight;”   Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield about his Chicago Reader column on whether or not police should be checking drivers’ phone records after serious crashes; and   Chicagoist food editor Anthony Todd about how not to get screwed by Restaurant Week 2017.   Meanwhile, Mike explains why he turned down Portillo’s this week!   This week’s local music is provided by Go Time!.   OTL host Mike Stephen III and his son Mike Stephen IV watch an episode of Elmo’s World while enjoying a tall glass of Chicago tap water. (Text “LEAD” to 312-697-1791 to find out more about potential lead poisoning in your area.)   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #536- Dodging the minimum wage increase, The Secret History of Johnnie Temple, Rocking Chicken Wings at Wing Fling

Mike Stephen talks with:   reporter Stephanie Grimoldby about how some Cook County suburbs are not complying with the new minimum wage and sick time requirements;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about obscure singer/guitarist Johnnie Temple for this week’s “Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Toons Bar & Grill owner Danny Beck for a preview of the Toons 6th Annual Wing Fling.   Meanwhile, we celebrate the best burritos in Chicago!   This week’s local music is provided by Black Bolts.   OTL host Mike Stephen serves as MC and milk slinger at the 4th Annual Wing Fling at Toons Bar & Grill! [photo circa 2015]   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.