Chicago's Almost Above-Ground Audio Magazine
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.
Mike Stephen visits the Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association conference to discuss the future of journalism with Prospect High School teacher Jason Block and Prospect seniors Tessa Trylovich and Stella Palm and then discovers the Secret History of jazz guitarist Eddie Condon. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen learns about Borderless Magazine’s work of telling the immigrant story in Chicago from co-founder and executive director Nissa Rhee and then chats with Meril Antony, senior research analyst at the UChicago Consortium on School Research, about a new report looking at the link between school attendance and successful students. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.