OTL: Episode #547- Once Upon a Castle, Chicago Rot is finished, Westside Bee Boyz

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Children’s Museum president Jennifer Farrington about Once Upon a Castle, the new exhibit that seeks to eliminate gender stereotypes;   Chicago Rot director/co-writer Dorian Weinzimmer about finishing his long-awaited locally-produced independent horror film (as featured on OTL #248 in 2011); and   Westside Bee Boyz founder Thad Smith about finding his purpose, selling honey, and running a successful local urban apiary service.   Meanwhile, Mike discusses his dudes’ trip to Portland, Maine.   This week’s local music is provided by Nest.   OTL host Mike Stephen shows off his Westside Bee Boyz honey… which he tried out in his official radio show tea this morning.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #546- Closing the IL gender pay gap, Future of the Great Lakes, The Secret History of Big Smokey Smothers

Mike Stephen talks with:   Women Employed policy director Melissa Josephs about Equal Pay Day, the Illinois Equal Pay Act, and preventing employers from asking about salary histories;   Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Dan Egan about protecting our region’s greatest natural resource, as detailed in his book The Death and Life of the Great Lakes; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about rhythm guitarist and ice cream vendor Otis “Big Smokey” Smothers for this week’s “Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we compare Chicago’s population density to other major cities.   This week’s local music is provided by Moon Bros..   OTL host Mike Stephen knows which stack of papers is his due to WGN Radio super engineer Bob Ferguson’s helpful note.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #501- Sister Donna Quinn on her life of activism, Run Domestic Violence Out of Town, Dina Bach performs live

Mike Stephen talks with:   activist nun Donna Quinn about fighting for gender equality as detailed in her new book Chicago Catholic Women: Its Role in Founding the Catholic Women’s Movement;   Run Domestic Violence Out of Town marathon campaign coordinator Bethany Gomillion Thompson about how running the Chicago Marathon can benefit the fight against domestic violence; and   local singer-songwriter Dina Bach, who provided the soundtrack for the show! Check out her new EP Kiss Me Like That.   Meanwhile, we discuss Melissa’s Pal Crépes… the city’s first officially licensed food cart!   Local musician Dina Bach previewed her new EP Kiss Me Like That all throughout OTL #501. Fortunately, OTL host Mike Stephen is only posing here.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.