OTL: Episode #548- The Secret History of Eddie Hoh, Local teens raising awareness for LGBTQ issues

Mike Stephen talks with:   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about in-demand session drummer Eddie Hoh for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Ev, Ben, Will, and Connor, members of Oak Park and River Forest High School‘s gay-straight alliance student group A Place for All, about working for LGBTQ equality and their upcoming “Loud & Proud” fundraiser for the ACLU.   Meanwhile, we discuss whether frozen pizzas are best prepared in the microwave, the oven, or the Pizza Pizzazz.   This week’s local music is provided by Split Single.   Outside the Loop meets A Place for All [l-r] Connor, Ev, Ben, OTL host Mike Stephen, Will   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #546- Closing the IL gender pay gap, Future of the Great Lakes, The Secret History of Big Smokey Smothers

Mike Stephen talks with:   Women Employed policy director Melissa Josephs about Equal Pay Day, the Illinois Equal Pay Act, and preventing employers from asking about salary histories;   Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter Dan Egan about protecting our region’s greatest natural resource, as detailed in his book The Death and Life of the Great Lakes; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about rhythm guitarist and ice cream vendor Otis “Big Smokey” Smothers for this week’s “Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we compare Chicago’s population density to other major cities.   This week’s local music is provided by Moon Bros..   OTL host Mike Stephen knows which stack of papers is his due to WGN Radio super engineer Bob Ferguson’s helpful note.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #542- Affordable housing on the NW Side, Roses4Austin, The Secret History of Big John Wrencher

Mike Stephen talks with:   Chicago Housing Initiative organizer Ben Goldsmith about the controversial push for affordable housing in Jefferson Park;   Oak Park and River Forest High School senior Sydney Jackson and St. Catherine – St. Lucy School principal Sharon Leamy about the Roses4Austin after-school program and the importance of volunteering in the community; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about one-armed harmonica player Big John Wrencher for this week’s “Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, we discuss CityHealth’s questionable study that rates Chicago as one of the healthiest cities in America.   This week’s local music is provided by the Boogers.   OTL host Mike Stephen poses with Roses4Austin founder Sydney Jackson in a classroom at St. Catherine – St. Lucy School in Oak Park.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #538- Revitalizing the Pedway, Changes for Newcity, The Secret History of Little Brother Montgomery

Mike Stephen talks with:   Environmental Law & Policy Center president and executive director Howard Learner about ideas to improve Chicago’s vast pedway system;   Newcity editor/publisher Brian Hieggelke about changes in store for his venerable Chicago alternative newspaper; and   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about influential self-taught pianist Little Brother Montgomery for this week’s “Winter Blues” edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music.   Meanwhile, Mike reveals what the Chicago bag tax is really about right before making a surprise political announcement!   This week’s local music is provided by Cafe Racer.   OTL host Mike Stephen reads the 31st anniversary issue of Newcity — the last weekly edition of the venerable Chicago newspaper.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.