Rich Robbins shows Mike Stephen his picture on the Oak Park & River Forest High School Spoken Word Wall of Fame. (Photo Credit Peter Kahn & Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen sits down with local musician Rich Robbins to learn about his new album and inspiration, discusses the importance of labor history with Larry Spivack of the Illinois Labor History Society, and gets the lowdown on the health of local commercial real estate during the pandemic with AJ LaTrace, editor of RE Journals. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show and wonder if the possible renaming of Lake Shore Drive will impact classic rock jamz. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

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Posted 2 months ago Tagged

The Three Patriots Statue. (Photo public domain)

Mike Stephen learns the historical significance of the Three Patriots statue with Chicago Jewish Historical Society co-president Dr. Rachelle Gold, discusses vaccine equity in Chicago with The Triibe’s Matt Harvey, and chats about a new recycling contract for the city with Madison Hopkins of the Better Government Association. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show, discuss local recycling, and seek a special connection with Aldi. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

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Posted 2 months ago Tagged

Kids, this is called a videocassette. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks to Sara Chapman and learns about Media Burn’s work to archive cultural history, discusses the best new local tacos with Chicago Tribune food & dining reporter Nick Kindelsperger, and discovers the Secret History of folk and rock musician Michael DeLisle. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show, offer some takeaways, and praise the cultural force that is the local taco. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

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Posted 2 months ago Tagged

So much Illinois love!

Mike Stephen discusses the possibility of downstate Illinois seceding from Chicago with Ted McClelland of Chicago Magazine, learns about a new book called Bullets for Dead Hoods that gives us a look into local mobsters of the 1930s from curator John Corbett, and reviews an analysis of how the state has spent COVID-19 funds with ProPublica Illinois‘ Ash Ngu.  And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show and discuss the need to be better about bridging the divide between northern and southern Illinois. The local pandemic tunez come from Away Team Forever. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

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Posted 8 months ago Tagged