Mike Stephen’s original Nintendo Entertainment System. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen chats with Batavia native Kevin Jakubowski, the screenwriter of the upcoming film 8-Bit Christmas, talks to Oak Park & River Forest High School senior Jelena Collins about her experience at the UN Climate Change Conference, and learns about local musician Guy King’s new music. And Mike remembers the joys of old-school Nintendo from the 1980s. (Pictured above: Mike Stephen’s original Nintendo Entertainment System) To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 3 years ago Tagged

Mike Stephen and his son Joey celebrate the 4th of July early on Saturday morning.

Mike Stephen learns about the effort to protect voting rights in IL with Ami Gandhi of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, discusses the increase in fireworks in Chicagoland with Bob Chiarito of Block Club Chicago, and discovers the Secret History of blues diva Holle Thee Maxwell.   And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin talk about the importance of getting away from it all during this summer. The local phase four music this week comes from Jen Lem. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged

Laura Austin of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and Mike Stephen hanging out at Simon's Tavern on Clark St. in Andersonville.

Mike Stephen heads up to the Andersonville neighborhood and takes the show to Simon’s Tavern on Clark Street.  We hear conversations from members of the community about what makes the neighborhood tick.  Mike and OTL producer Collin Seaman welcome Laura Austin of the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce to talk about the strength of the community.  Simon’s Tavern owner Scott Martin sits down to discuss the importance of that bar in the neighborhood.  Next, we enjoy an architecture conversation with Thom Greene of Greene & Proppe Design.  And we explore what it’s like to own a local business with Milk Handmade owner Hallie Borden.  The local music this week is brought to us by Andersonville favorites Hodie Snitch.  We love you, Andersonville! To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged

Mike Stephen talks to the owner of the Heartland Cafe about the imminent closing of that Rogers Park institution, discusses equity when it comes to supporting all Chicago parks, and discovers the Secret History of a unique folk rock band called Dysfunctionells with local music historian Steve Krakow (aka: Plastic Crimewave).  The local music this week is brought to you by Jumpsuit. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged