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.

OTL: Episode #473- Chicago Loot Drop helps the kids, Improvised Star Trek, Mac and Cheeze Takedown

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Loot Drop chairman Mike Chuck about helping out deserving kids at The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital;   Improvised Star Trek producer/cast member Matt Young about their live show run at iO Chicago; and   The Takedown impresario Matt Timms about the upcoming Chicago Mac and Cheeze Takedown at Lincoln Hall.   Meanwhile, we play a concerned voicemail from #1 OTL fan Mrs. Stephen!   This week’s local music is provided by The Roalde Dahls.   Future OTL host Mike Stephen displayed signs of his neediness at a young age. [circa 1990 or 1991]   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #472- End Result’s secret punk history, The future of affordable housing in Chicago, Justin Roberts rocks kids music in studio

Mike Stephen talks with:   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about early-1980s avant-garde punks End Result for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music;   Communities United board president Diane Limas about what her organization is doing to keep rents affordable despite the upcoming Chicago property tax hike; and   Grammy-nominated local children’s music artist Justin Roberts… who hung out and played live for the hour!   Grammy-nominated musician Justin Roberts poses with Mike Stephen after rocking the soundtrack for OTL #472.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #471- Spying on Chicago citizens, Lucas Museum on the Lakefront, Pinball Chicago plays on

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Mick Dumke about how the Chicago Police have been spying on protesters;   Friends of the Parks executive director Juanita Irizarry about the Lucas Museum causing headaches for those who advocate for a free and open lakefront; and   Pinball Chicago founder and commissioner Ben Vigeant at the Emporium barcade about Chicago’s competitive pinball scene.   Meanwhile, Chicago Baseball publisher and editor Matt Smerge can claim a victory for free speech as we update a story from OTL #463.   This week’s local music is provided by Cousin Dud.   OTL host Mike Stephen takes on Pinball Chicago founder and commissioner Ben Vigeant in a round of Twilight Zone pinball.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.