Takeout 25 Oak Park offers some food inspiration.

Mike Stephen learns about Takeout 25 Oak Park, an initiative to keep Oak Park area restaurants in business, from creator Ravi Parakkat, learns why State Representative-Elect Margaret Croke got into politics, and discusses the city’s plans for responding to mental health emergencies with Arturo Carillo of the Collaborative for Community Wellness and the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show and endorse getting local takeout, especially when you walk to pick it up. The local pandemic tunez come from Snooze. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

Remember 2017? Good times.

Mike Stephen gets the lowdown about this year’s Bourbon County Stout lineup from the Chicago Tribune’s Josh Noel, talks to ProPublica Illinois reporter Melissa Sanchez about immigrant teens working dangerous factory jobs in the suburbs, and chats about the empowering work of Girls on the Run Chicago with executive director Jill Eid. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show, including describing recent barrel-aged beer experiences. The local pandemic tunez come from Treesleeper. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

Exploring disinvestment on Madison Street in East Garfield Park.

Mike Stephen discusses the legacy of local disinvestment in East Garfield Park with Mick Dumke of ProPublica Illinois, talks with Ai-jen Poo, co-founder of the National Domestic Workers Alliance, about domestic workers rights, and learns the Secret History of local drummer Dave Tough. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show and remember the humble origins of Nate Silver when he was a guest on OTL thirteen years ago. The local pandemic tunez come from The Cheap Soap. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.

Voting is cool!

Mike Stephen learns about what it’s like to get out the vote with Janelle Rau-Clauson, chats about NewCity’s special “Best of Chicago” issue with guest co-editor Scoop Jackson, and gets some tips on enjoying winter during a pandemic from the Chicago Reader‘s John Greenfield. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin reflect on the show and Mike makes plans to visit Collin’s house to see his fire table. The local pandemic tunez come from Blue Spring. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page or RSS feed.