The Love Fridge lends a helping hand in Chicago neighborhoods.

Mike Stephen learns how The Love Fridge works to combat hunger during a pandemic with co-lead organizer Lisa Armstrong, discusses Ballot Z’s mission of getting young people involved civically with founder Gretchen Coleman, and learns the Secret History of local 1960s funk and soul band The Artistics. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the good advocacy highlighted in this week’s show as well as Mike’s admission of standing in line overnight to see Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones back in 2002. The local pandemic tunez come from OHMME. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged

Mike Stephen reminds us that our vote counts.

Mike Stephen learns about Injustice Watch’s judicial election guide with Emily Hoerner, discusses the push to create fair ward boundaries in Chicago with CHANGE Illinois‘ Madeleine Doubek, and talks about being a musician during the pandemic with Audrey Foxx. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show and Collin reminds us of his important observation: courts are everywhere. The local pandemic tunez come from Audrey Foxx, of course! To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged

Inside Chicago’s Epiphany Center for the Arts.

Mike Stephen learns about efforts to bring back live music in Chicago with Mike Jeffers of the Epiphany Center for the Arts, learns about a new book on LGBTQ history called Our Gay History in Fifty States from author Zaylore Stout, and discovers the Secret History of the band The Chicago Loop. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show and Collin reminds us that he is a slow-working artist. The local pandemic tunez come from Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged

Inside Batavia’s Beardsgaard Barbers.

Mike Stephen talks to a variety of local business owners about how they are surviving the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hear from Joe Basilone, co-owner of Perkolator in Portage Park, Tyler & Natalie Anderson, co-owners of Beardsgaard Barbers in Batavia, and Jim & Kisha Williams, co-owners of Power Fitness Chicago in Roseland.  And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on this week’s show and reflect on helping out local businesses during the pandemic. The local pandemic tunez come from Chef Mike.

Posted 6 years ago Tagged