Best Albert James PROductions Podcasts (2024)

1
OTL #922: Illinois’ hands-off approach to homeschooling, The legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks 37:22

5h ago37:22

37:22

Mike Stephen explores the impacts of the lack of homeschooling regulation in Illinois with Capitol News investigative reporters Beth Hundsdorfer and Molly Parker and then discusses the legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks with her daughter and president of Brooks Permissions: Nora Brooks Blakely.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #921: How do Chicagoans consume their news?, Plant-based school lunch options, The Secret History of The Pearl Handle Band 47:52

2h ago47:52

47:52

Mike Stephen dives into a new report about how Chicagoans consume and perceive their local news with Tim Franklin, director of the Medill Local News Initiative at Northwestern University, learns about the option for plant-based school lunches in Illinois with Balanced founder Audrey Lawson-Sanchez, and discovers the Secret History of The Pearl Hand…

1
OTL #920: Why did Bring Chicago Home fail?, Jerry Smith on The Flock reunion 46:46

6d ago46:46

46:46

Mike Stephen talks to Roberta Garner, professor emerita of sociology at DePaul University, about why the Bring Chicago Home initiative failed and then chats with Jerry Smith of The Flock about that band’s upcoming reunion show. Jerry shares some great stories about his time in the music business.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #919: A local education update, The Secret History of the Drew-Vels 37:12

19d ago37:12

37:12

Mike Stephen welcomes Chalkbeat reporter Reema Amin to discuss the latest on Chicago Public Schools’ position on police officers in schools and how schools are funded and then discovers the Secret History of the 1960s soul group from Evanston: The Drew-Vels.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #918: A failure of local government, Simon’s Tavern turns 90, New local music from Brett Ratner 37:32

20d ago37:32

37:32

Mike Stephen learns how the Chicago Housing Authority allows for nefarious deeds on some of its vacant properties from Block Club Chicago investigative editor and reporter Mick Dumke, celebrates 90 years of Andersonville’s Simon’s Tavern, and chats with local musician Brett Ratner about his new instrumental rock.…

1
OTL #917: The Takeout 25 Effect, Chicago Truck Data Portal, The Secret History of Charlie Schmidt 48:07

1M ago48:07

48:07

Mike Stephen learns about a new book about the impact of the local nonprofit Takeout 25 called The Takeout 25 Effect: Mobilizing for Positive Change with author Ravi Parakkat, explores a project mapping high concentration of truck traffic in Chicago called the Chicago Truck Data Portal with Jose Acosta Cordova of the Little Village Environmental Ju…

1
OTL #916: Should Chicago lower its speed limit?, Is Mayor Johnson incompetent or inexperienced?, Revisiting Chicago as a cycling city 39:10

1M ago39:10

39:10

Mike Stephen discusses the possibility of Chicago lowering its speed limit with Active Transportation Alliance managing director of advocacy Jim Merrell, explores the debate around Mayor Johnson’s possible incompetence or inexperience with Chicago Magazine contributing editor Ted McClelland, and revisits the topic of Chicago’s bikeability.…

1
OTL #915: Unpacking Chicago’s community map, The West Side Spring Book Fair, The Secret History of Plastics Hi-Fi 42:23

1M ago42:23

42:23

Mike Stephen learns about the significance of Chicago’s community map from and explores the possibility of updating it with Emily Talen, professor of urbanism and director of the Urbanism Lab at the University of Chicago, discusses the importance of literacy on the West Side of the city with founder of The Queen Within, Bridgett McGill, and discove…

1
OTL #914: Women Employed fighting for workplace equity, Arionne Nettles’ new book on Black culture in Chicago 39:03

2M ago39:03

39:03

Mike Stephen discusses the gender pay gap and efforts to combat it with Ibie Hart, director of business development at Women Employed, and then chats with local journalist Arionne Nettles about her new book entitled We Are the Culture: Black Chicago's Influence on Everything.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #913: Unsafe water in Illinois prisons, The work of the Uptown People's Law Center, The Secret History of E. Parker McDougal 37:46

2M ago37:46

37:46

Mike Stephen learns about the deteriorating conditions inside Illinois prisons from Alan Mills, executive director of the Uptown People's Law Center, and then discovers the Secret History of Chicago tenor sax player E. Parker McDougal.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #912: Paid Chicago school board members?, HelloBaby’s great work, Mark Lofgren’s new music 42:10

2M ago42:10

42:10

Mike Stephen discusses the possibility of paying Chicago school board members with Becky Vevea, bureau chief of Chalkbeat Chicago, learns about the important work of HelloBaby on the South Side from founder and executive director Debbie Frisch, and chats with local musician Mark Lofgren about his new album.…

1
OTL #911: Vacant land near local transit, Preserving local history, The Secret History of Hip Linkchain 43:06

3M ago43:06

43:06

Mike Stephen learns about the significance of vacant land near local transit hubs from Geoff Smith, executive director of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, discusses the historical significance of Stateville Correctional Center with Leila Wills, executive director of the Historical Preservation Society of the Illinois Chapter …

1
OTL #910: The future of journalism, Share Our Spare helping families in Chicago and beyond 36:45

3M ago36:45

36:45

Mike Stephen discusses the future of journalism at the Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association conference with Jason Block, multimedia communications teacher at Prospect High School, and learns about the important work of the Chicago-based organization called Share Our Spare. This organization helps families in need and executive director Al…

1
OTL #909: A new music venue in Forest Park, Dolph Chaney’s new music, The Secret History of Shanta Nurullah 42:45

3M ago42:45

42:45

Mike Stephen explores Robert's Westside, a new music venue in Forest Park, and talks to venue founder Donnie Biggins, learns about local musician Dolph Chaney’s new music, and discovers the Secret History of local sitar player Shanta Nurullah.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #908: From prison to Ph.D, The challenges of keeping community media afloat 42:47

3M ago42:47

42:47

Mike Stephen learns about the incredible story of Dr. Stanley Andrisse, endocrinologist and assistant professor at the Howard University College of Medicine, who was formerly incarcerated and is now a scientist and executive director of From Prison Cells to Ph.D and then discusses the challenges of local community media with Justin Kerr, publisher …

1
OTL #907: Public money for local sports stadiums?, Cosmic Bull’s new music, The Secret History of Dusty Brown 44:53

3M ago44:53

44:53

Mike Stephen discusses the civic issues around local sports teams using public money to build stadiums with civic educator Tom Tresser, chats with Mark Vickery, the frontman of Cosmic Bull, about that project's new music, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago Blues harmonica player Dusty Brown.…

1
OTL #906: The city council on foreign affairs, The 50 most powerful Chicagoans, The Flamenco Quartet Project 35:48

3M ago35:48

35:48

Mike Stephen discusses the history of the Chicago City Council getting involved in foreign affairs with Chicago Magazine contributing editor Ted McClelland, dives into the list of the most powerful Chicagoans, and learns about the local Flamenco Quartet Project from Wendy Clinard, founder and director of Clinard Dance.…

1
OTL #905: Chicago history through signs, The Illinois child tax credit, The Secret History of Kent Rose 43:46

4M ago43:46

43:46

Mike Stephen discusses the importance of signs in Chicago history with Kelsey McClellan, co-owner of Heart & Bone Signs and co-founder of the Chicago Sign Museum, learns about the Illinois child tax credit proposal from State Senator Mike Simmons (7th), and discovers the Secret History of local country musician Kent Rose.…

1
Studying our water, Who is working from home?, Second Glance Productions inclusivity 38:48

4M ago38:48

38:48

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…

1
OTL #903: A local journalism crisis, Electric vehicle challenges in Chicago, The Secret History of Bernard Reed 45:17

4M ago45:17

45:17

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 Histor…

1
OTL #902: Quality of life in Illinois prisons, The Big Read, Jared Rabin’s new music 37:16

4M ago37:16

37:16

Mike Stephen explores the quality of life in Illinois prisons with Jennifer Vollen-Katz, the executive director of the John Howard Association, talks with Illinois Humanities executive director Gabrielle Lyon about the new initiative called The Big Read, and chats with local musician Jared Rabin about his new music.…

1
OTL #901: City land and a local housing crisis, The Secret History of Mezz Mezzrow 41:31

5M ago41:31

41:31

Mike Stephen discusses the vast city ownership of vacant land during Chicago’s housing crisis with Block Club Chicago reporter and investigative editor Mick Dumke and discovers the Secret History of prewar jazz clarinet player Mezz Mezzrow.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #900: Bridging the political divide, The state of climate media, Local food in the new year 40:21

5M ago40:21

40:21

Mike Stephen learns about the Crossroads America project from college students Lucas Kult-Banout and Ezekiel Wells, explores the state of climate media with Mike Fourcher, and chats about local food trends in 2023 and into 2024 with Mike Gebert, the editor of Fooditor.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #899: School choice in Chicago, The Secret History of Johnny Drummer 38:46

5M ago38:46

38:46

Mike Stephen discusses the future of school choice in Chicago with Reema Amin, reporter at Chalkbeat Chicago, and then learns the Secret History of local bluesman Johnny Drummer.By Mike Stephen

1
OTL #898: The Neighborhood Business Roundtable 42:31

5M ago42:31

42:31

Mike Stephen sits down with four local business owners at Janik’s Cafe in Wicker Park to discuss the challenges of 2023 and how to make 2024 a better year. The panel features Katie Coleman of Mulberry & Me, Scott Weiner of The Fifty/50, Mario Ponce of Takito Kitchen, and Felipa Janik of Janik's.By Mike Stephen

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Albert James PROductions Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Outside the Loop RADIO

Albert James PROductions

1
OTL #922: Illinois’ hands-off approach to homeschooling, The legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks 37:22

1
OTL #921: How do Chicagoans consume their news?, Plant-based school lunch options, The Secret History of The Pearl Handle Band 47:52

1
OTL #920: Why did Bring Chicago Home fail?, Jerry Smith on The Flock reunion 46:46

1
OTL #919: A local education update, The Secret History of the Drew-Vels 37:12

1
OTL #918: A failure of local government, Simon’s Tavern turns 90, New local music from Brett Ratner 37:32

1
OTL #917: The Takeout 25 Effect, Chicago Truck Data Portal, The Secret History of Charlie Schmidt 48:07

1
OTL #916: Should Chicago lower its speed limit?, Is Mayor Johnson incompetent or inexperienced?, Revisiting Chicago as a cycling city 39:10

1
OTL #915: Unpacking Chicago’s community map, The West Side Spring Book Fair, The Secret History of Plastics Hi-Fi 42:23

1
OTL #914: Women Employed fighting for workplace equity, Arionne Nettles’ new book on Black culture in Chicago 39:03

1
OTL #913: Unsafe water in Illinois prisons, The work of the Uptown People's Law Center, The Secret History of E. Parker McDougal 37:46

1
OTL #912: Paid Chicago school board members?, HelloBaby’s great work, Mark Lofgren’s new music 42:10

1
OTL #911: Vacant land near local transit, Preserving local history, The Secret History of Hip Linkchain 43:06

1
OTL #910: The future of journalism, Share Our Spare helping families in Chicago and beyond 36:45

1
OTL #909: A new music venue in Forest Park, Dolph Chaney’s new music, The Secret History of Shanta Nurullah 42:45

1
OTL #908: From prison to Ph.D, The challenges of keeping community media afloat 42:47

1
OTL #907: Public money for local sports stadiums?, Cosmic Bull’s new music, The Secret History of Dusty Brown 44:53

1
OTL #906: The city council on foreign affairs, The 50 most powerful Chicagoans, The Flamenco Quartet Project 35:48

1
OTL #905: Chicago history through signs, The Illinois child tax credit, The Secret History of Kent Rose 43:46

1
Studying our water, Who is working from home?, Second Glance Productions inclusivity 38:48

1
OTL #903: A local journalism crisis, Electric vehicle challenges in Chicago, The Secret History of Bernard Reed 45:17

1
OTL #902: Quality of life in Illinois prisons, The Big Read, Jared Rabin’s new music 37:16

1
OTL #901: City land and a local housing crisis, The Secret History of Mezz Mezzrow 41:31

1
OTL #900: Bridging the political divide, The state of climate media, Local food in the new year 40:21

1
OTL #899: School choice in Chicago, The Secret History of Johnny Drummer 38:46

1
OTL #898: The Neighborhood Business Roundtable 42:31

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