OTL: Episode #482- Documenting Chicago’s segregation in pictures, Protecting our civil liberties, The Secret History of Blues guitarist Eddie Taylor

Mike Stephen talks with:   Connected Division artist/photographer Austyn Wyche about documenting segregation in Chicago via his Connected Division project;   Scrappers Film Group journalism producer Yana Kunichoff about the new “Rights Lab” web series (in collaboration with Truthout) that premieres with the Can the Government Spy on My Phone? episode at High Concept Laboratories; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about Delta-to-Chicago blues link Eddie Taylor for this week’s “Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we discuss Andy Boyle going big-time viral for his personal story of quitting drinking (and play back an excerpt from his appearance on the 12/30 Mike Stephen Show fill-in shift), as well as Goose Island offering refunds for some odd-tasting beers.   This week’s local music is provided by Out the Car Window.   OTL host Mike Stephen and funny dude Andy Boyle discuss quitting drinking.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #481- Inside Uptown’s Shake Rattle & Read, Quitting social media cold turkey, Re-visiting Batavia’s Beardsgaard Barbers

Mike Stephen talks with:   Shake Rattle & Read owner Ric Addy about closing shop after 50 years in Uptown;   artist/author Dmitry Samarov about quitting social media cold turkey; and   Beardsgaard Barbers co-owners Natalie and Tyler Anderson about cutting hair in Batavia (from OTL #416, our first show on WGN Radio).   Meanwhile, HAPPY NEW YEAR!   This week’s local music is provided by City Mouth.   OTL host Mike Stephen in the Shake Rattle & Read basement   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #480- Local criminal justice stories of importance, The Secret History of guitarist Snake Boy Johnson, Clearing up common Chicago parking confusion

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Mick Dumke about criminal justice and some of the other important issues he wrote about in 2015;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about Luther “Snake Boy” Johnson for this week’s “Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   The Expired Meter blogger The Parking Ticket Geek about where you can and can’t park in the city in the winter months.   Meanwhile, “Santa Claus” calls in and nearly derails the show!   This week’s local music is provided by The Fource.   OTL host Mike Stephen III introduces his son Mike Stephen IV to his old friend and radio show guest Santa Claus.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

The OTL Christmas Spectacular 2015

Mike Stephen welcomes some great local musicians to the WGN Radio studios to hear their takes on some classic holiday songs. Danny Cozzi of All the Wine puts his unique spin on “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” Sam Burckhardt gives us his solo tenor saxophone version of “The Christmas Song,” and Noah Gabriel of Noah’s Arcade makes a strong case that “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” is indeed a Christmas song. We also feature a classic rendition of “Deck the Halls” from OTL #14 — our very first holiday spectacular back in 2006. Merry Christmas!   OTL host Mike Stephen gives the thumbs up to the greatest gift he received this year… the WGN Radio listeners!   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.   (additional music: “Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming” and “Silent Night” by Matthew Morgan, “All I Want for Christmas” by On A High Wire, “The First Noel” by PJ Anderson & John Pacini of Jackson Bailey, “Rock N Roll Pizza Party” by Tigernite, “Christmas Wish” by Mick Flores from Gidgets Ga Ga, “Mele Kalikimaka” by Magic Milk)