OTL: Episode #457- Metra riders are plugged in, The harsh reality of making it as a local musician, Chicago Hot Sauce Fest

Mike Stephen talks with:   DePaul University School of Public Service professor and Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development director Joseph Schwieterman about The Digitally Connected Commuter: Tracking the Rising Use of Personal Electronic Devices on Chicago Suburban Trains [PDF] study;   Musician David Safran about his recent Newcity story “Less Successful Numbers: The Money of Local Music;” and   Chicago Hot Sauce Fest organizer Adrian Gutierrez to preview next weekend’s spicy events.   This week’s local music is provided by the aforementioned David Safran.   OTL host Mike Stephen dreams of hot sauce before making a point.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #456- Utilizing IL urban wood, Illuminating TIFs in Chicago, The Secret History of Chicagoland’s 60s garage rockers The Riddles

Mike Stephen talks with:   Illinois Wood Utilization Team chairperson Edith Makra and IIT College of Architecture studio associate professor Paul Pettigrew about giving dead urban trees new life;   TIF Illumination Project lead organizer Tom Tresser (support their Indiegogo campaign!); and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about late-’60s suburban rockers The Riddles for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   This week’s local music is provided by Farkus.   OTL host Mike Stephen visits Illinois Wood Utilization Team chairperson Edith Makra and IIT College of Architecture studio associate professor Paul Pettigrew at the IIT Architecture Model Shop.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #454- The Wabash Lights project, Renters rights in Chicago, Singer-songwriter Dina Bach plays live

Mike Stephen talks with:   Jack Newell and Seth Unger, creators of The Wabash Lights, a new public interactive art project;   Mark Swartz, legal director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, about Chicago renters rights; and   Dina Bach, an amazing local singer-songwriter who stopped by the studio to play live for the hour!   Meanwhile, we re-file a report from the 2006 Chicago Pride Parade. #LoveWins   Mike Stephen poses with musician Dina Bach after she provided the soundtrack for OTL #454.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #452- A visit to Rebecca Zemans Jewelry Studio, Previewing the Chicago Scots’ Highland Games, and the Secret History of Chicago’s 90s rockers Green

Mike Stephen talks with:   Rebecca Zemans, owner/designer at Rebecca Zemans: Sculptural Designs in Jewelry studio, in Ravenswood;   Gus Noble, president of Chicago Scots, about the 29th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games in Itasca; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about alt-poppy almost-buzz band Green for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   This week’s local music is provided by Antony + the Tramps.   Outside the Loop host Mike Stephen III and his son Mike Stephen IV are suited up in their Blackhawks gear ready for Game 5!   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.