PODCAST · society
Off The Beaten Podcast
by Dion McGill
Hosted by Chicago native and Army veteran Dion McGill, Off The Beaten Podcast uncovers the coolest stories and people you didn’t know you needed. Each episode takes listeners off the beaten path through honest, thought-provoking, and often funny conversations with artists, activists, thinkers, and everyday people doing extraordinary things.From deep dives into creativity and community to reflections on life, purpose, and resilience, Dion brings curiosity, heart, and a South Side sensibility to every conversation. Whether it’s a longform interview, a raw solo reflection, or a voice note from the field, this show is for anyone who thinks deeper and moves different.
Episodes
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Veterans Day 2025
In this heartfelt solo episode of Off The Beaten Podcast, host Dion McGill reflects on his military service in Afghanistan in honor of Veterans Day. He shares personal stories about his early reluctance to embrace the veteran identity, the bonds he built with Afghan soldiers, and the lessons he...
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#75 - Talking Poetry and Life w/ Ydalmi Noriega
Hello Friends! For this episode I had the opportunity to sit down with Ydalmi Noriega. Ydalmi is a Chicago transplant, as well as the Vice President of Programs and Engagement for the Poetry Foundation. After recently being labeled as a person who is redefining what poetry looks like, I had to…
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#74 - Reflecting on Pride Month
Hello Friends! While sitting and reflecting, it dawned on me I hadn't ever done an episode about Pride Month, which is a pretty big deal here in Chicago, so I took some time to reflect on some memories that tightly correlate in my head with the LGBTQIA+ community. It's story time!!! Resources:...
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#73 - Taking Action In The Wake of Tragedy: Robb Elementary School
Every time another school shooting or mass shooting happens, I am approached by people asking, "What can I do? What can we do?" So I wanted to take a moment to offer some actionable steps you can take in the face of this tragedy. State: UPDATE: Governor Pritzker has signed HB 4729, which will…
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Memorial Day 2022: Poetry and Remembrances
Saying "Happy Memorial Day" always feels weird to me. However, allow me to offer my sincerest gratitude to all those who have loved ones you are remembering today. I offer my thoughts on Memorial Day, and some of my favorite poetry that commemorates this day. Resources: In Flanders Fields by John...
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A Tale of Two Chicagos and Curfew
Hello Friends! Recently, following an evening of violence that left one youth dead, Mayor Lori Lightfoot instituted a ban on youth at Millennium Park after 6pm Thursday - Sunday. She also moved the citywide curfew for youth from 11pm to 10pm. I had to offer my thoughts. Resources: Lightfoot sets...
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#69 - Cookies Are Everything w/ Leah Tibbs of Cookies and Conversations
Hello Friends! This episode I indulge in my sweet tooth while visiting with Leah Tibbs, owner of Cookies and Conversations, a small black female owned business I became a fan of during the pandemic. Cookies and Conversations brings people together in conversations while baking and indulging in...
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#68 - Off The Beaten Podcast Went To France Y’all!!!
Hello Friends! Finally Off The Beaten Podcast has come back! It was a long cold winter, but we've come out of hibernation and kicking off Season 4 by bringing you up to speed on one of the more significant adventures I've had since I last posted. This episode I talk a little bit about my…
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#67 - A Chat With Cade Kamaleson of Chicago Eco House
Hello Friends! I've been sitting on this episode forever, and I'm so excited to get this episode out, and what more perfect time, when people will be getting flowers and wreaths to decorate their homes for the holidays, as well as honey to sweeten your various holiday teas. This episode I had the...
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#66 - Off The Beaten Podcast Invades the USA CBD Expo
Hello Friends! So yesterday I had the privilege and pleasure of visiting the USA CBD Expo as a member of the press. It was a day without the general public to dive in and check out everything, and get a chance to talk to the people behind some of the newest, freshest and most innovative CBD...
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#65 - I Didn‘t Meet a Mosh Pit I Didn‘t Like at Riot Fest 2021!!!
Welcome back to a very special episode of Off The Beaten Podcast. I went and sat outside on the curb, enjoyed a beautiful fall day, and recounted the amazing time I had at Riot Fest 2021, which made it's triumphant return after being cancelled in 2020. Tune in to hear about all of my mosh pit...
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#64 - A Veteran Reflects on the Afghanistan Withdrawal
My apologies for not recognizing my amazing supporters this episode either through your amazing feedback or buying me a cup of coffee, but I wanted to get right to the brass tax this episode. The ongoing withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, as well as the departure of refugees has had…
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#63 - Summertime Chi
First and foremost, if you're not signed up for the OTBP Newsletter, sign up immediately to get the Official OTBP 2021 Summer To-Do List. The contents in there is top secret! However, I decided to talk about a few #summertimechi events that didn't make the list, but that you all should know…
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#62 - Before All Else Coffee: Alicia Zyburt and Devon Owens - Founders of BAE Coffee
On this episode of the podcast, I had the pleasure of chatting with Alicia Zyburt and Devon Owens, co-founders of BAE Coffee. What do you do when you find yourself furloughed from work during a global pandemic? Well what Alicia & Devon did was put their talents together (marketing & culinary) as...
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#61 - Dispatches FromThe Road: Reflecting on America After George Floyd
This is the second of two episodes I recorded in the lovely podcast booth at The Russell Nashville Hotel. While enjoying the lovely sights and people of Tennessee, reality was swirling around me it felt at a mile a minute. Recorded a few days after the Derek Chauvin trial, I felt it would be…
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#60 - OTBP Presents: Real Talk "Stop Asian Hate" w/ Abby Goodman
In this episode of Off The Beaten Podcast, I showcase an episode created by my niece Abby Goodman, Real Talk: Stop Asian Hate. I thought my heart was gonna burst when I heard it, and I had to share it with all of you. Abby and her friend Anika tackle this topic amazingly well, so be sure to check...
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#59 - Dispatches From The Road: Nashville
This is a first time for OTBP. I took the show on the road. I recorded this episode in the lovely podcast booth at The Russell Nashville Hotel. I had to take advantage and offer my thoughts on the lovely city of Nashville (and huge shout out to Hendersonville). Resources down below for everyone…
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#58 - Talking Chicago History with Willarene McGill - Part 2!
Welcome to Off The Beaten Podcast. This episode, continues my conversation with Chicagoan Willarene McGill. This is part 2 of our conversation and continue on from how she got to Chicago, and how she made a way for herself in not only a new city, but a large, segregated city like Chicago, to...
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#57 - Talking Chicago History w/ Willarene McGill: Part 1
Welcome to Season 3 of Off The Beaten Podcast. This episode, I sat and talked with my mother, Willarene McGill, who has lived in Chicago since the 60's. I couldn't think of a more perfect person to talk about change over time. This is part 1 of our conversation! We set the stage of where she came...
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#56 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 26 - The Final Mile!
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 26 of my NaPodPoMo series. On this mile of our journey, I offer thank you's to everyone who joined this adventure, and stuck it out with me along the 24 miles of Chicago south to north. This is mile #24 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave,...
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#55 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 25 - West Ridge
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 25 of my NaPodPoMo series. On this mile of our journey, I talk about the community of West Ridge This is mile #23 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave, which spans 24 miles right through the city. We'll be taking the rest of 2020 to "Stroll...
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#54 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 24 - Rosehill Cemetery
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 24 of my NaPodPoMo series. On this mile of our journey, I talk about Rosehill Cemetery, the largest cemetery in Chicago. This is mile #22 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave, which spans 24 miles right through the city. We'll be taking the...
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#53 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 23 - Lincoln Square
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 23 of my NaPodPoMo series. On this mile of our journey, I talk about the community of Lincoln Square, which not only is where I train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but has some of the best cafes in the city! This is mile #21 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago,...
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#52 - NaPodPoMo Episode 22 - Northcenter
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 22 of my NaPodPoMo series. On this mile of our journey, I talk about the community area of Northcenter! This is mile #20 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave, which spans 24 miles right through the city. We'll be taking the rest of 2020 to...
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#51 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 21 - Riverview Park
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 21 of my NaPodPoMo series. On this mile of our journey, I talk about Riverview Park, former Chicago amusement park, billed as "the world's largest amusement park" in it's heyday! This is mile #19 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave, which...
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#50 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 20 - Logan Square/Bucktown
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 20 of my NaPodPoMo series. On this mile of our journey, I talk about the communities of Logan Square and Bucktown. This is mile #18 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave, which spans 24 miles right through the city. We'll be taking the rest of...
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#49 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 19 - Humboldt Park/Wicker Park
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 19 of my NaPodPoMo series. On this mile of our journey, I talk about the communities of Humboldt Park and Wicker Park. Did you know that Frank Baum wrote 'Wizard of Oz' while living in Humboldt Park? Well, tune in to this episode to learn a bunch of other things you may...
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#48 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 18 - Ukrainian Village
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 18 of my NaPodPoMo series. On this mile of our journey, I talk about the community area of Ukrainian Village, as well as the local cafe and Chicago coffee powerhouse, Dark Matter Coffee! This is mile #16 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave,...
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#47 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 17 - Near West Side
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 17 of NaPodPoMo 2020. On this mile of our journey, I talk about the vast community area of the Near West Side, which encompasses a number of Chicago neighborhoods and attractions. This is mile #15 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave, which...
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#46 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 16 - Tri-Taylor Historic District
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 16 of NaPodPoMo 2020. On this mile of our journey, I talk about one of my favorite independent cafes, Chicago Hope Coffee, as well as one of my least favorite places in the city, The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. We top off the discussion by looking…
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#45 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 15 - Douglass Park
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 15 of NaPodPoMo 2020. On this mile of our journey, I talk about one of my favorite parks in the city, newly renamed Douglass Park, and one of my favorite events that happen there, Riot Fest! This is mile #13 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western...
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#44 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 14 - La Villita (Little Village)
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 14 of NaPodPoMo 2020. On this mile of our journey, I talk about one of my favorite neighborhoods in this city, La Villita aka Little Village. This is mile #12 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave, which spans 24 miles right through the city....
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#43 - NaPodPoMo - Episode 13: McKinleyPark
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 13 of NaPodPoMo 2020. On this mile of our journey, I talk about the McKinley Park neighborhood. This is mile #11 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave, which spans 24 miles right through the city. We'll be taking the rest of 2020 to "Stroll…
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#42 - NaPodPoMo Episode12 - Back of the Yards
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 12 of NaPodPoMo 2020. On this mile of our journey, I talk about the Back of the Yards neighborhood? How did it get that name? Let's talk about! This is mile #10 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave, which spans 24 miles right through the…
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#41 - NaPodPoMo Episode 11 - The Fire Museum of Greater Chicago
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 11 of NaPodPoMo 2020. On this mile of our journey, I briefly talk about the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago. Have you ever been there? This is mile #9 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave, which spans 24 miles right through the city. We'll be...
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#40 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 10 - Gage Park
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 10 of NaPodPoMo 2020. On this mile of our journey, we explore Gage Park. We also talk Chicago Bungalows and Chicago Gangs. How do we cover so much ground in one mile? Listen to find out. This is mile #8 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave,...
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#39 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 9 - The Dividing Line
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 9 of NaPodPoMo 2020. On this mile of our journey, we explore three Chicago neighborhoods; Englewood, Chicago Lawn, and Marquette Park, which has a long history of racial strife here in Chicago. Did you know that the National Socialist Party of America, aka, The Nazi...
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#38 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 8 - Ashburn & Harold's Chicken
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 8 of NaPodPoMo 2020. Man, we had such an amazing night last night, we had to take a break from posting. No worries, we still have full confidence that we will hit our NaPodPoMo goal of 30 episodes in 30 days, we just gotta double up. In this mile of Western Avenue, we...
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#37 - NapodPoMo: Episode 7 - We have a new President Elect!
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 7 of NaPodPoMo 2020. So we had to stop and breathe for a moment. If you're like me, you're processing a lot right now. Today we all received news that we have a new President and VP President elect of the United States. History was made this election. Kamala Harris will...
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#36 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 6 - Dan Ryan Woods
Hey Everyone! It's Episode 6 of NaPodPoMo 2020. We're surrounded by all of these beautiful trees, so we might as well take a little sojourn and talk about why there is basically a small forest in the middle of the city. We'll also be talking about a cool event that starts here every year in...
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#35 - NaPodPoMO: Episode 5 - Evergreen Park/Rainbow Cone
Hey Everyone! It's episode 5 of NaPodPoMo. We'll be working ourselves out of Beverly Hills...however, before we do, we have to talk about 2 places: Evergreen Park, the Chicago suburb right across the street, and the amazing Original Rainbow Cone. This is mile #4 of our exploration of the longest...
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#34 - NaPodPoMo:Episode 4 - Evergreen Plaza
Hey Everyone! It's episode 4 of NaPodPoMo. We're still in Beverly Hills, but we're checking out two mainstays institutions of this community for many years: St. Barnabas Catholic Parish and Evergreen Plaza, which technically is not in Chicago but is in the suburb of Evergreen Park. This is mile…
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#33 - NaPodPoMo: Episode 3 - Beverly Hills!
Hey Everyone! It's episode 3 of NaPodPoMo. We've gone from Morgan Park, and entered the wild and crazy Beverly Hills. Did you know there was a Beverly Hills in Chicago? MIle #2 of our exploration of the longest street in Chicago, Western Ave. We'll be taking the next 30 days to "Stroll down…
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#32 - NaPodPoMo - Episode 2: The Southern Tip
Hey Everyone! It's episode 2 of NaPodPoMo. We'll be taking the next 30 days to "Stroll down Western Ave." and explore the longest street in Chicago. Western extends 24 miles from Howard Street on the north, to 119th St. on the south. We will be dropping one episode a day for the entirety of...
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#31 - NaPodPoMo Episode 1 - Why Western?
Hey Everyone! So OTBP is participating in National Podcast Post Month. We'll be taking the next 30 days to "Stroll down Western Ave." and explore the longest street in Chicago. Western extends 24 miles from Howard Street on the north, to 119th St. on the south. We will be dropping one episode a…
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#30 - Say Her Name: Breonna Taylor
Say Her Name! Breonna Taylor It becomes hard to think what to say about yet another miscarriage of justice in America, particularly as a black man. I hope this episode serves to inspire some conversation. I firmly believe we have to demand better from the system, as well as of ourselves. After...
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#29: Pod Birthday!
Hello Friends. September 5th was the 1-year anniversary of Off The Beaten Podcast! It's our Pod Birthday! I'm so excited to reach this milestone, and I wanted to share my excitement with all of you. Accordingly, Amazon Studios reached out and asked us to partner with them on a documentary film...
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#28 - Let's Talk About Mental Health
Hello Friends. We're still in the middle of a pandemic, and it appears new stressors are coming at us every day. I personally have been struggling with my mental health, so I thought it a perfect time to talk about it, and offer some tips and resources for others who may be struggling also. If...
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#27 - Talking Superman w/Marq Withers
Hello Friends...This episode, I finally had the pleasure of talking with Marq Withers, co-host of the new podcast Nerd Cage Live. I've been trying to get my life together and talk with Marq since November. The point of getting together was to talk about Superman, and his relevance as a character…
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#26 - Let's Talk About Juneteenth 2020
Hello Friends...Happy belated Juneteenth! Did you celebrate? This week I talk about my Juneteenth, which was great, as well as some of the issues surrounding the holiday. I start with some audio I took after an amazing rally and march organized by Activate:Chi. Enjoy! After listening, share this...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hosted by Chicago native and Army veteran Dion McGill, Off The Beaten Podcast uncovers the coolest stories and people you didn’t know you needed. Each episode takes listeners off the beaten path through honest, thought-provoking, and often funny conversations with artists, activists, thinkers, and everyday people doing extraordinary things.From deep dives into creativity and community to reflections on life, purpose, and resilience, Dion brings curiosity, heart, and a South Side sensibility to every conversation. Whether it’s a longform interview, a raw solo reflection, or a voice note from the field, this show is for anyone who thinks deeper and moves different.
HOSTED BY
Dion McGill
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Off The Beaten Podcast have?
Off The Beaten Podcast currently has 76 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Off The Beaten Podcast about?
Hosted by Chicago native and Army veteran Dion McGill, Off The Beaten Podcast uncovers the coolest stories and people you didn’t know you needed. Each episode takes listeners off the beaten path through honest, thought-provoking, and often funny conversations with artists, activists, thinkers, and...
How often does Off The Beaten Podcast release new episodes?
Off The Beaten Podcast has 76 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Off The Beaten Podcast?
You can listen to Off The Beaten Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Off The Beaten Podcast?
Off The Beaten Podcast is created and hosted by Dion McGill.
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