Mike Stephen discusses a new report about Illinois’ air pollution with Julian Reif, professor at the University of Illinois, discovers saxman Billy Harper’s story, and learns about the good work of the Chicago Recovering Communities Coalition with executive director Dora Dantzler-Wright. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

How should we go about protecting wetlands in Illinois? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen learns about efforts to preserve Illinois wetlands from Jennifer Bamberg, investigative reporter at Investigate Midwest, gets into Red Spot Rhythm Section’s new music with band founder Josh Siegal, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago blues drummer William Warren. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

We learn about the latest efforts when it comes to studying our water. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen learns about the latest efforts in studying our local water systems from David Lampert, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, discusses a new report about who is working from home these days with the report’s co-author David Merriman, and chats about inclusivity in the media with Second Glance Productions founder Anthony Williams. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

We are in a crisis in journalism and democracy. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the local journalism crisis with Illinois Local Journalism Task Force member Mark Jacob, learns about the lack of electric vehicle infrastructure in certain areas of Chicago with Little Village Environmental Justice Organization Transportation Justice Program Manager Jose Miguel Acosta Cordova, and discovers the Secret History of local blues bass virtuoso Bernard Reed. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.