Mike Stephen discusses the importance of a healthy local nonprofit arts community with Vickie Lakes-Battle of IFF and Vanessa Sanchez of Villapalooza and then chats with Danita Patterson, founder of Destiny Outreach, about a new program aimed at guiding Chicago’s youth towards careers in the entertainment industry. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Why were some books removed from the Danville Correctional Center? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen explores the removal of certain books in Danville Correctional Center with local author Vee Harrison, gets the lowdown on new music from the band Ascendant from vocalist and keyboard player Kael Mboya, and looks back on 20 years of The Secret History of Chicago Music in the Chicago Reader with its creator and author Steve Krakow. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Why does everyone hate white liberals? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen sits down with Kevin M. Schultz, chair of the history department at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the author of a new book called Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals), and then discovers the Secret History of 1970s and 80s rockers Hot Mama Silver. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

What are the potential impacts of cutting the funding for Illinois Humanities? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen?WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the potential impact of federal funding cuts for Illinois Humanities with executive director Gabrielle Lyon and Macomb-based singer-songwriter Chris Vallillo and then chats about the future of journalism with Prospect High School multimedia teacher Jason Block and seniors Claire Wynkoop and Kenny Munao while attending this year’s Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association conference. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.