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 #449- A conversation with the future of Chicago

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (broadcasting on the “future of Chicago” radio station WGN-AM 720) Mike Stephen visits Chicago Vocational Career Academy in South Chicago and talks to three high school students about their views on life in Chicago and the city’s future.   Pierre Walton, Monique Covington, Shakayla Walker– Students at Chicago Vocational Career Academy This week we take the show on the road and visit Dave Stieber’s history classroom so we can talk about the future of Chicago with…the future of Chicago!   (L to R) Dave Stieber, Pierre Walton, Mike Stephen, Shakayla Walker, Monique Covington at the Chicago Vocational Career Academy.     OTL #449 local music provided by Deeper…