We get a state education legislation update. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen gets an update on education legislation in Springfield from Chalkbeat Chicago state education reporter Samantha Smylie and learns about Shorefront, an organization working to tell the story of Black history in the North Shore community, from its founder and executive director Dino Robinson. Also, it’s pothole season in Chicago! o subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

We are living the legacy of racial covenants in Chicago. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen learns about the history of racial covenants in Chicago from Virginia Tech history professor LaDale Winling, talks power pop with William Giricz, the vocalist of the Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club, and discovers the Secret History of local prog-rockers Apocalypse. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

This week we explore Black organizing in Illinois pre-Civil War. (Used with permission from Northwestern University. All photos in the public domain.)

Mike Stephen discusses a new online exhibit that examines the role of the Black community in pre-Civil War Illinois with Northwestern University history professor and project director Kate Masur. Check out her book called Until Justice Be Done: America’s First Civil Rights Movement, from the Revolution to Reconstruction. Then, we hear from local tai chi teacher Arlene Faulk to learn her remarkable story of how she fought back against multiple sclerosis. She recounts her journey in the book Walking on Pins and Needles: A Memoir of Chronic Resilience in the Face of Multiple Sclerosis. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.