OTL: Episode #559- Life After Hate, Inside a street vendor kitchen, Dream Version plays live

Mike Stephen talks with:   Life After Hate executive director and co-founder Sammy Rangel about his organization and what happens now that the Trump administration eliminated their grant;   Street Vendors Association of Chicago vice president Vicky Lugo about a new North Lawndale-based shared kitchen; and   local band Dream Version to the studio to play live for the hour and to talk about their new record Fight Fair.   Meanwhile, we discuss the new public participation rules for Chicago City Council meetings.   Local band Dream Version rocked the soundtrack for OTL #559! [L-R] Eric Brummitt, Alec Jensen, OTL host Mike Stephen (in the Brat Stop t-shirt!), Michael Kunik   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #554- The psychology of Chicago violence, The Secret History of Paris Smith, IL Fair Economy

Mike Stephen talks with:   Loyola University professor of Criminal Justice and Psychology Arthur Lurigio about the psychology of violence in Chicago;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about unheralded vibe man Paris Smith for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Fair Economy Illinois leader Erica Nanton about the March to Springfield movement for a state budget.   Meanwhile, we discuss how Mayor Emanuel is excited that Chicago is a U-Haul destination city!   This week’s local music is provided by Iverson 2.0.   OTL host Mike Stephen wraps up his pre-show vocal exercises in a seventh floor radio studio in the Tribune Tower.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #548- The Secret History of Eddie Hoh, Local teens raising awareness for LGBTQ issues

Mike Stephen talks with:   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about in-demand session drummer Eddie Hoh for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Ev, Ben, Will, and Connor, members of Oak Park and River Forest High School‘s gay-straight alliance student group A Place for All, about working for LGBTQ equality and their upcoming “Loud & Proud” fundraiser for the ACLU.   Meanwhile, we discuss whether frozen pizzas are best prepared in the microwave, the oven, or the Pizza Pizzazz.   This week’s local music is provided by Split Single.   Outside the Loop meets A Place for All [l-r] Connor, Ev, Ben, OTL host Mike Stephen, Will   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #546- Closing the IL gender pay gap, Future of the Great Lakes, The Secret History of Big Smokey Smothers

Mike Stephen talks with:   Women Employed policy director Melissa Josephs about Equal Pay Day, the Illinois Equal Pay Act, and preventing employers from asking about salary histories;   Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Dan Egan about protecting our region’s greatest natural resource, as detailed in his book The Death and Life of the Great Lakes; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about rhythm guitarist and ice cream vendor Otis “Big Smokey” Smothers for this week’s “Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we compare Chicago’s population density to other major cities.   This week’s local music is provided by Moon Bros..   OTL host Mike Stephen knows which stack of papers is his due to WGN Radio super engineer Bob Ferguson’s helpful note.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.