Chicago's Almost Above-Ground Audio Magazine
Mike Stephen discusses the McKinley Park News‘ decision to leave Facebook and Instagram alongside publisher Justin Kerr, gets the lowdown on new local music from Emily Chloe Quinn, and explores a new University of Chicago To&Through Project report on the educational attainment of CPS students with executive director Dominique McKoy. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen explores the latest report on the state of local news with Medill School of Journalism professor and chair in local news Tim Franklin, gets the lowdown on new local music from saxophonist Harold Dawson, and learns about EveryVoice, an AI platform designed to fill gaps in mental health care for kids, from founder and CEO Malcolm Brown. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen explores the impact of food influencers on the Chicago culinary scene with freelance reporter Leigh Giangreco, chats with Rattleback Records owner Paul Ruffino about what it’s like to run an independent record store, and takes a deep dive into Injustice Watch’s 2026 guide to judicial elections with senior reporter Dan Hinkel. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen discusses disparities in tree planting in Chicago with Alex Nitkin of the Illinois Answers Project, learns about the Chicago Journalism Mental Health Fund from International Women’s Media Foundation executive director Nadine Hoffman, and gets the lowdown on new local music from Jules Klee. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.