OTL: Episode #528- Arts in the classroom, Feral cats help with rat control, The Secret History of Silver Abuse

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) executive director Amy Rasmussen about bringing art to public school classrooms and making a positive impact on the lives in students;   Tree House Humane Society Cats at Work program manager Paul Nickerson about about how feral cats can help control the local rat population; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about protopunk weirdos Silver Abuse for this week’s “The Fall of Punk” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we discuss throwing your trash in the garbage bins — whether they’re “your” bins or not. Just don’t contaminate our recycling!   This week’s local music is provided by The Artist Formerly Known as Vince.   OTL host Mike Stephen practices good recycling habits in Chicago.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #465- The future of affordable housing in Chicago, Petcoke’s presence on the South Side, Chicago’s best novels by neighborhood

Mike Stephen talks with:   CityLab staff writer Brentin Mock about the future of affordable housing in Chicago;   Southeast Side Coalition to Ban Petcoke member Jim Kinney about how a toxic byproduct of petroleum processing is affecting city residents; and   Local author/lecturer/screenwriter Adam Morgan about the “Best Chicago Novels by Neighborhood” (via Gapers Block).   This week’s local music is provided by Low Swans.   OTL host Mike Stephen practices for the show each week in a studio much like this one in a top-secret underground bunker.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #408- Are Chicago beaches clean?, STORY comes to Chicago, Citizens to Abolish Red Light Cameras

TO HEAR THE SHOW, PRESS THE “PLAY” BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST… (podcasting from the studios in the OTL Bunker, somewhere in Chicago) (broadcasting on the “smile, you’re on the red light camera” radio station WLUW-FM (88.7) Chicago) Mike Stephen discusses the pollution level of Chicago beaches, previews the STORY festival, and talks to a rep from Citizens to Abolish Red Light Cameras about that group’s work.   Josh Mogerman– Deputy Director of National Media for the Natural Resources Defense Council The NRDC makes it easy for us to see the pollution level of Chicago beaches through their website.  We find out how it works.       Katie Strandlund– Director of Operations for STORY On October 2-3, the STORY conference takes place in Chicago.  It’s an event where all creative types get together to network and learn from one another.  We get a preview.         Don Bransford– Committee member of Citizens to Abolish Red Light Cameras Are the red light cameras making us safer?  Not everyone thinks so.  We learn about the actions this organization is taking to get the cameras taken down.     A recent red light camera protest.   OTL #408 local music provided by Noah Harris…