Mike Stephen learns about the important work of Chicago’s Urban Growers Collective from herbalism conductor Rev. Kim Crutcher, gets a preview of the Edgewater Music Fest from Garrett Karp, executive director of the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago blues guitarist Jimmy Rogers. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

We talk to the author of two Chicagoland-focused books. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks to Roger Day Bain, the author of a new book about growing up in suburban Clarendon Hills called Clarendon Hills Kid and a book about a very non-linear career path entitled Hardly Working: How I Found a Career and Kept My Soul.  Then, we learn about the continuing great work of Chicago’s Share Our Spare and its quest to find new funding partnerships from executive director Alex Goodfellow. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Is Chicago prioritizing environmental justice? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen gets an update on the struggle for environmental justice on the southwest side of Chicago from Anthony Moser, board president of Neighbors for Environmental Justice, and then discovers the Secret History of the local influential 20th century drummer Fred Below. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

We learn about the great work of The Neighborhood Bridge. (Photo Credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen visits with Prentice Butler, executive director of a local organization that provides a bridge to success for Chicago families called The Neighborhood Bridge, gets the lowdown on local musician Maxx McGathey’s new music, and discusses the legacy of the Uptown People’s Law Center with retiring executive director Alan Mills. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.