Chicago's Almost Above-Ground Audio Magazine
Mike Stephen discusses the importance of training the next generation of journalists with Jason Block, multimedia communications teacher at Prospect High School, learns about local jazz saxman Shawn Maxwell’s new music, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago Blues harmonica legend Billy Branch. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen discusses increase in crime on the CTA with Chicago Reader columnist and Streetsblog Chicago co-editor John Greenfield, learns about the Anixter Center’s After 22 program that helps youth with developmental disabilities from vice president of growth and organization, Dina Donahue-Chase, and has a conversation about the connection between the war in Ukraine and preserving democracy at home with Benedictine University political science professor Dr. Joel Ostrow. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen learns about the power of the art of spoken word poetry with the Oak Park & River Forest High School spoken word team. We hear from teacher and coach Peter Kahn as well as some students and alumni. Their upcoming anthology of writing is called Respect the Mic: Celebrating 20 Years of Poetry from a Chicagoland High School. Then, Mike discovers the Secret History of blues pianist and guitarist Lazy Bill Lucas. 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.