Chicago's Almost Above-Ground Audio Magazine
Mike Stephen discusses the story of the Italian beef sandwich (and how it’s hard to get a good one outside of Chicagoland) with Los Angeles Times food columnist and Oak Park native Lucas Kwan Peterson, chats about the semi-independence of the Chicago City Council with Geoffrey Cubbage of the Better Government Association, and talks to Jonny Untch about being a local musician and educator. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen discusses the impact of mass incarceration in Illinois with Meredith Nnoka of IL Humanities, learns about community participation in redrawing ward maps from Chaundra Van Dyk of CHANGE Illinois, and gets the lowdown on some new rock and roll from the local band The Footlight District with vocalist and songwriter Sarah Scarbrough. And Mike waxes poetic about local dive bars, even if they might not be the cleanest places…or the most structurally sound. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen discusses a new report about how the city could have prevented residential fires with Madison Hopkins of the Better Government Association, learns about a local nonprofit called Your Passion 1st that focuses on mentoring youth, and revisits a 2015 conversation with high school students about their experiences in Chicago neighborhoods. And the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show and reflect the importance of government oversight and local area codes. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen chats with Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st) about COIVD relief money, learns about the inclusive work of the Brave Space Alliance with director of programs Brittney Thomas, and discusses local history though the lens of the dance community in Chicago with Jenai Cutcher, executive & artistic director of the Chicago Dance History Project. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show while Collin enjoys a staycation at a downtown Chicago hotel. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.