OTL: Episode #562- Analyzing CPD data, International Sketchers Symposium, The Secret History of Philip Cohran

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Justice Project executive director Tracy Siska about his recent Freedom of Information Act filings with the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, the Chicago Police Department, and Mayor Emanuel’s office;   Urban Sketchers Chicago co-administrator Wes Douglas to get a preview of the 8th International Urban Sketchers Symposium being held here in town; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about visionary musician, inventor, composer, and educator Phil Cohran for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we play a voicemail from #1 OTL fan Mrs. Stephen… who’s concerned about the news that producer Andy Hermann is moving.   This week’s local music is provided by The Rubs.   OTL host Mike Stephen and producer Andy Hermann celebrate five years of friendship in 2006.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #561- Best beers for the summer, Localpalooza preview, Dina Bach plays live

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Tribune reporter Josh Noel about local beers to take you through the summer, the best macro beers in America, and his upcoming book on Goose Island Brewery selling to Anheuser Busch;   Localpalooza organizer Mike Vogus about a cool music festival benefiting The Patrick Grange Memorial Foundation for ALS research; and   local singer-songwriter Dina Bach back to the studio to play live for the hour and to tell us about her “Weekly Music” project.   Meanwhile, we discuss our optimism about the sale of the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Reader to the Eisendrath Coalition.   OTL host Mike Stephen is very excited to welcome local musician Dina Bach back to the WGN Radio studio to provide the live soundtrack to OTL #561!   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #560- Bag tax update, Play By Play on go90, The Secret History of Morris Jennings

Mike Stephen talks with:   DNAinfo Chicago City Hall reporter Heather Cherone about the Chicago bag tax and how it could cost the city millions;   Batavia native Kevin Jakubowski about his new coming-of-age show Play by Play on the go90 platform; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about prolific session drummer Morris Jennings for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we discuss the fate of landline telephones in Illinois (as covered in OTL #555), tell the tale of Mike visiting his local park district pool, and peruse a WGN Radio producers’ manual circa 2001.   This week’s local music is provided by Panda Riot.   OTL host Mike Stephen studies up on his WGN Radio producers manual from 2001.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #559- Life After Hate, Inside a street vendor kitchen, Dream Version plays live

Mike Stephen talks with:   Life After Hate executive director and co-founder Sammy Rangel about his organization and what happens now that the Trump administration eliminated their grant;   Street Vendors Association of Chicago vice president Vicky Lugo about a new North Lawndale-based shared kitchen; and   local band Dream Version to the studio to play live for the hour and to talk about their new record Fight Fair.   Meanwhile, we discuss the new public participation rules for Chicago City Council meetings.   Local band Dream Version rocked the soundtrack for OTL #559! [L-R] Eric Brummitt, Alec Jensen, OTL host Mike Stephen (in the Brat Stop t-shirt!), Michael Kunik   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.