Mike Stephen discussing TIF districts in Chicago on this week's show.

Mike Stephen learns the powerful story of living with a personality-changing brain tumor from local author Mary Ellen Aschenbrenner, gets an update on TIFs in Chicago from civic educator Tom Tresser, and discusses the efforts to revitalize the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood. Check out the OTL Wrap Party towards the end of the show so you can let us know what you’d do if you were in charge of TIF money in Chicago!  This week’s local music is brought to us by Vo Era. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged

OTL: #580- The Color of Law, The Secret History of Royal Flairs, Inside the OPRF Food Pantry

Mike Stephen talks with:   Richard Rothstein, author of The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about 60’s garage rockers Royal Flairs for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music, and;   Michele Zurakowski, Executive Director of the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry.   This week’s local music is provided by Montrose Man.  Mike stops by the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry to discuss the power of volunteerism 365 with Michele Zurakowski.  To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 7 years ago Tagged

OTL: #579- Teamwork Englewood, The Stamp King of Chicago, Chi Hack Night

This week Mike Stephen chats with:   Perry Gunn, the executive director of Teamwork Englewood;   Chicago’s “Stamp King” Charles Berg about ChicagoPEX 2017 and   Emily Drevets, organizer and Master of Ceremonies for Chi HackNight.   This week’s tasty local music was powered by WC and the Fam! Mike looks into bettering Chicago by using public data at Chi Hack Night. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 8 years ago Tagged

OTL: Episode #570- Chicagoland Youth Football, The Secret History of Master Plan, Local restaurants closing in 2017

Mike Stephen talks with:   Geoff Meyer, President of The Chicagoland Youth Football League, about the state of youth football in the wake of head injury studies and player safety concerns;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about ’80s house pioneers Master Plan for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Anthony Todd, Food Editor for Chicagoist, about what’s behind the wave of restaurant closures in Chicago.    Don’t forget our Outside the Loop Listener Survey. We really appreciate your time and consideration!   This week’s local music is provided by Fletcher Rockwell. Mike Stephen is serious about eating his tacos at a local taqueria. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 8 years ago Tagged