Bars and restaurants are coming back! (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen gets an update about the local hospitality industry’s rebound with the scribe behind the Chicago Bars Twitter feed, learns the story of biking to a Waffle House in Indiana from Chicago Reader columnist and Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield, and discovers the Secret History of local rocker Ron Haydock. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show and discuss how more of us should be sitting at the bar. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged

Looking up at the Tribune Tower and pondering the future of media diversity. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen chats about diversity in local journalism with Brandon Pope, the new president of the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, learns about a new bill that strengthens civics education for incarcerated youth from Ami Gandhi, senior counsel at the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, and gets the lowdown on Tautologic‘s new album from singer & keyboardist Ethan Sellers. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show and discuss the importance of mentorship and rickshaws. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged

Takeout 25 Oak Park is helping to save local restaurants. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen learns about the expansion of Takeout 25 Oak Park from its creator and Oak Park trustee Ravi Parakkat, talks to Shawn Maxwell about his new jazz album, and discovers the Secret History of local soul singer Jackie Ross. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show and Mike shares his story of taking harmonica lessons from the great Howard Levy. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged

We get a more complete story of carjackings in Chicago. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen gets the story behind the increase of carjackings in Chicago with University of Chicago sociologist Dr. Robert Vargas, discusses the impact of the pandemic on working mothers with Frank Manzo of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, and chats with Keya Trammell about her new music. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show and offer some takeaways. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 5 years ago Tagged