Mike Stephen learns how Three Level Basketball is improving the game for area youth with co-founder and coach Matt Maloney and discusses a new report offering recommendations to improve math outcomes in Illinois schools with University of Illinois professors Erica Mason and Phi Nguyen. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

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.

Local journalism is key to a healthy democracy. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks with University of Illinois professor emeritus Robert McChesney about a proposal to save local journalism and democracy and then chats with local singer-songwriter Peter Joly about his new album. And Mike gives an update on some segments that aired on the show recently. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

This week we take a look at housing instability in the wake of the pandemic. (Photo Credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the pandemic’s affect on housing instability with Michelle Layser of the University of Illinois, talks to the John Howard Association of Illinois‘ Jennifer Vollen-Katz about how prisons are beginning to open up to more oversight, and finds out how Burning Bush Brewery has survived the pandemic so far from owner Brent Raska. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin recap the show, offer some takeaways, and offer words of encouragement for one another’s March Madness brackets. The local music this week comes from Cranes & Mirrors. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.