We go inside the Joy Tea mobile trailer outside of Keystone Park in River Forest. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks the art of tea with Max Blessen, owner of Chicagoland’s Joy Tea, gets an update on civil rights history in Illinois, and discovers the Secret History of the versatile musician from Chicago Billy Hinton. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

The compact disc is still a thing! (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks with Chicago Reader staff writer Leor Galil about the resurgence of the compact disc, then delves into the history of Chicago before the Great Fire of 1871 with Northwestern University economics professor Louis P. Cain, author of the new book Chicago Before the Fire: An Economic History. Plus, a special appearance by Mike’s wife, Jenny Stephen! To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Why does everyone hate white liberals? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen sits down with Kevin M. Schultz, chair of the history department at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the author of a new book called Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals), and then discovers the Secret History of 1970s and 80s rockers Hot Mama Silver. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.