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 #479- The importance of CTU’s vote to strike, Jefferson Park Forward, The Secret History of local folker Bob Gibson

Mike Stephen talks with:   In These Times associate editor and Strike for America: Chicago Teachers Against Austerity author Micah Utrecht about the importance of the Chicago Teachers Union strike;   Jefferson Park Forward founder Ryan Richter about the future of Chicago’s northwest side; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about folk hero Bob Gibson for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we discuss Chicago the band entering the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame via a controversial fan vote.   This week’s local music is provided by Vamplifier.   OTL host Mike Stephen always dresses a little nicer around the holidays. Nice shirt!   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #474- Building connections in the classroom, The Secret History of McLuhan, A local Sci-Fi novella and cookbook in one

Mike Stephen talks with:   Taft High School history teacher Mayra Almaraz-De Santiago about her Gapers Block op-ed “Give Me a Mirror: Why Students Need to Connect to their Teachers” on building connections in the classroom;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about mysterious jazz-proggers McLuhan for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   author and cultural critic Anne Elizabeth Moore about her latest project — Afterparty: A Community Guide for the Future, a science fiction novella slash cookbook collaboration with Sonnenzimmer.   Meanwhile, Mike admits to his addiction to LaCroix in wake of learning of Chicagoans being overtaxed on sparkling water!   This week’s local music is provided by Chris Bolint.   OTL host Mike Stephen offers his services as a spokesperson for LaCroix Sparkling Water.   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.