As OTL takes over the air time previously held by The Saturday Morning Show, we give a shout-out to all the farmers who do important work!

Mike Stephen talks to Giselle Rodriguez, the co-founder of the Center for Immigrant Progress, about advocating for immigration reform locally and what life is like as an undocumented immigrant. Then we learn how community radio station WXMR-FM (94.3) serves Marengo, IL, from station president Tim Sebastian. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin offer some takeaways from the show. The local pandemic tunez come from Possum Lungs. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

The border of Chicago and Oak Park.

Mike Stephen discusses why the geography of Chicago stopped growing with Chicago Magazine contributor Ted McClelland, learns about efforts to save local performance venues with CIVL board member and venue owner Billy Helmkamp, and uncovers the history of 1930s bluesman Kokomo Arnold. The local pandemic tunez come from Alpha Colors. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

Coach houses are going to be all the rage!

Mike Stephen learns about a new city ordinance legalizing coach houses with Chicago Cityscape founder & CEO Steven Vance, discusses the impact of COVID-19 in state prisons with Illinois Prison Project executive director Jennifer Soble, and explores the pandemic’s impact on housing with Geoff Smith of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show and offer some takeaways. The local pandemic tunez come from Phillip Otto. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen learns about the fight against pollution on the southeast side of Chicago with Peggy Salazar of the Southeast Environmental Task Force, gets the skinny on The Fooditor 33, a new local food guidebook that’s adapted for the pandemic, with author Mike Gebert, and discovers the Secret History of avant-garde musician Frank Garvey. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show and give each other Christmas gifts. The local pandemic tunez come from Derek Clegg. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.