We explore the issue of unsafe water in Illinois prisons. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen learns about the deteriorating conditions inside Illinois prisons from Alan Mills, executive director of the Uptown People’s Law Center, and then discovers the Secret History of Chicago tenor sax player E. Parker McDougal. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

What are the implications of vacant land near local transit stations? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen learns about the significance of vacant land near local transit hubs from Geoff Smith, executive director of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, discusses the historical significance of Stateville Correctional Center with Leila Wills, executive director of the Historical Preservation Society of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party, and discovers the Secret History of local blues guitar powerhouse Hip Linkchain. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

We learn about the latest efforts when it comes to studying our water. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen learns about the latest efforts in studying our local water systems from David Lampert, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, discusses a new report about who is working from home these days with the report’s co-author David Merriman, and chats about inclusivity in the media with Second Glance Productions founder Anthony Williams. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

We are in a crisis in journalism and democracy. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the local journalism crisis with Illinois Local Journalism Task Force member Mark Jacob, learns about the lack of electric vehicle infrastructure in certain areas of Chicago with Little Village Environmental Justice Organization Transportation Justice Program Manager Jose Miguel Acosta Cordova, and discovers the Secret History of local blues bass virtuoso Bernard Reed. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.