Mike Stephen celebrates pride during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mike Stephen discusses the Pride Month celebrations this year and the significance of the recent LGBTQ civil rights Supreme Court decision with Tracy Baim, learns about the comeback of Chicago breweries and bars with Chicago Tribune reporter Josh Noel, and discovers the Secret History of 70s horn-rockers Chase. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin remind all of us to keep wearing masks during the pandemic and reflect on the recent street closure initiative in Chicago. The local quarantine music this week comes from Paddle Fish. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

While in Italy, Mike Stephen is amazed at the 13 course appetizer in front of him.

Mike Stephen learns about the Culinary Historians of Chicago, gets an update on how The Lantern Haus in Forest Park is surviving the pandemic, and discusses sustainable living during this unique time in our history with the executive director of Plant Chicago. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin decide that local political candidates can’t put ketchup on their hot dogs. The local quarantine music this week comes from Jonas Weir. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen’s son, Joey, is fascinated with the CTA’s “Ride the Rails” videos.

Mike Stephen discusses the racial disparity of COVID-19 with Duaa Eldeib of ProPublica Illinois, learns about the impact of the pandemic on the state’s environmental policy with Jen Walling of the Illinois Environmental Council, and chats about the pandemic’s effects on small business and self-employed workers with Dan Cooper of the Metropolitan Planning Council. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Producer Collin gives us his review of Alinea’s take out experience. The local quarantine music this week comes from Sugar Still. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

Mike Stephen at the Austin Blue Line stop.

Mike Stephen learns about the CTA Fails multimedia empire, discusses the pandemic’s impact on the local food scene with Mike Gebert, editor of Fooditor, and explores the Secret History of local 60s garage-rockers The Jokers. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show.   The local quarantine music this week comes from the Chicago Underground Quartet. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.