Why should we use public money to build local sports stadiums? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the civic issues around local sports teams using public money to build stadiums with civic educator Tom Tresser, chats with Mark Vickery, the frontman of Cosmic Bull, about that project’s new music, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago Blues harmonica player Dusty Brown. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

This week we explore Chicago’s Guaranteed Income Pilot program (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses new research about Chicago’s guaranteed income pilot program with Misuzu Schexnider, program director at the Inclusive Economy Lab, learns about the community-building efforts of the MAAFA Redemption Project from co-founder and executive director Marshall Hatch Jr., and chats with Naperville’s Lia Caton about her new music. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Media and democracy are important!

Mike Stephen discusses the future of media and democracy with Nikki Usher, associate professor of journalism at the University of Illinois and author of News for the Rich, White, and Blue: How Place and Power Distort American Journalism, and talks to civic educator and public defender Tom Tresser about the latest in the Chicago TIF saga. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin give some love to media and democracy. Yay, democracy! To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.