The Education Justice Project educates those who are incarcerated. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen chats with Rebecca Ginsburg, director of the Education Justice Project, about the impact of providing higher education opportunities for those who are incarcerated in Illinois and then talks with Frank Orrall, founder of Poi Dog Pondering, about nearly 40 years of making music and the band’s new album.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Mike Stephen gets an update on the impact of the latest election on the future of education in Chicago from Becky Vevea of Chalkbeat Chicago, celebrates the return of the International Pop Overthrow music fest to Chicago, and learns about Logical Fleadh’s new album from band leader Ethan Sellers. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Illinois’ student population decreased since last school year. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the decrease in public school students in Illinois with Chalkbeat Chicago’s Samantha Smylie, learns about Black organizing pre-Civil War in Illinois with Northwestern University history professor Kate Masur, and discovers the Secret History of local saxman J.T. Brown. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

The Illinois Tutoring Initiative helps students impacted by the pandemic. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks to Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Samantha Smylie and learns how Illinois is turning to tutors to help students, chats with legendary Chicagoan Pemon Rami about creativity and activism, and discovers the Secret History of saxman Clifford Jordan. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.