Oh, Malort!

By Solid Listen

Alyssa Dyksterhouse, Chicago tour guide, history lover and research extraordinaire, walks her friends through her favorite well-known and lesser-known moments in Chicago’s quirky past while explo... more

4.6

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FAQs about Oh, Malort!:

How many episodes does Oh, Malort! have?

The podcast currently has 158 episodes available.

Oh, Malort! episodes:

February 16, 2026Dibs: Take Care of your Neighbors
In this episode, Alyssa tells Risen about a Chicago Tradition known as Dibs.
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Show Notes:
Chicago Tribune: Let’s make a federal case out of dibs

Block Club Chicago: How Did Dibs Become A Thing? Thank Chicago’s Worst Blizzard

WTTW: How Did Dibs Become a Chicago Winter Tradition?

NBC 5 Chicago: Chicago's long-standing ‘dibs' tradition is technically illegal

City of Chicago: Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation to Begin Clearing Streets of "Dibs"

WBEZ: To Dibs Or Not To Dibs? The Essential Chicago Question

Axios: Southwest Siders file the most dibs complaints

ABC 7 Chicago: Chicago 'dibs': Items from wintertime parking spot tradition to be cleaned up

Chicago Magazine: Should You Use Dibs?

Chicago Sun-Times: Dibs calls always pour in to 311 after snow falls in

Chicago, from some areas more than others

Block Club Chicago: The History of 'Dibs': Did It Begin in Chicago?

Chicago Reader: Land GrabDNA Info: 'Dibs Shame' Campaign Raising Funds To End the 'Societal Plague'

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1h 16min
February 09, 2026John Kass: Indiana Blogger
In this episode Alyssa tells Vanessa from Reel Relationships about an Indiana Blogger named John Kass.

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Show Notes:
Chicago Reader: Be Like Mike

Neil Steinberg's Blog: In defense of John Kass

Chicago Reader: Mission accomplished: John Kass has been deplatformed

Chicago Reader: John Kass is a real chumbolone

Chicago Reader: John Kass, journalism’s ‘meat puppet’ master

Robert Feder: Tribune colleagues blast John Kass column as 'antithetical to our values'

Robert Feder: John Kass signs off at Chicago Tribune: 'An adventure happens'

Robert Feder: Robservations: Tribune's John Kass fires back at 'cancel culture' critics

Robert Feder: Robservations: John Kass boosts ‘enemy of the people’ slur against media

Chicago Reader: John Kass’s Humor Finally Reaches the 21st Century

Robert Feder: Robservations: 'Totally pumped' John Kass off and running with new blog

Chicago Reader: We’re taking John Kass’s bike bullying seriously

Chicago Sun-Times: Cook County judge removed after rebuke of conspiracy-filled blog post

Streetsblog Chicago: More Mental Kass-turbation About the Lake Shore Drive Divvy Rider

Chicago Sun-Times: Our year in Chicago: Moving back to the city

LA Times: The Obama and Ayers that Chicago knows

Chicago Magazine: How Bikes and Bike-Share Threaten a Way of Life

Chicago Tribune: Honor freedom with a beer can, chicken

Chicago Tribune: Something grows in the big cities run by Democrats: An overwhelming sense of lawlessness

Chicago Tribune: What happened to an America where you could freely speak your mind?

Chicago Tribune:Is this still a free country? The new movie ‘No Safe Spaces’ raises frightening doubts

Eric Zorn: Wee John Kass keeps poking the bear, so the bear dutifully pokes back

Eric Zorn: Former Tribune columnist John Kass has applied for a U.S. trademark on “The Chicago Way.”

Chicago Tribune: Surprise. Women love liver sausage, too.

Orlando Sentinel: Governor, quit dissing yogurt

Chapo Trap House: Staring into the Abyss With John Kass

Chapo Trap House: John Kass Confronts the Jesters

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1h 28min
February 02, 2026Weather Underground: All Theatre
Alyssa tells Hugh about the Weather Underground. Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on ⁠Twitter⁠, ⁠BlueSky⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠.
Show Notes:
⁠Time: Protest: The Disruptive Dozen⁠

⁠Chicago Tribune: DAYS OF RAGE NOW MORE LIKE A CONVULSION THAT BECAME BLIP IN HISTORY⁠

⁠WTTW: Days of Rage⁠

⁠New York Times: Bernardine Dohrn Gives Up To Authorities in Chicago; Arraigned on Local Charges Others Are Still Fugitives⁠

⁠Yale Books: Evading the FBI: The Weather Underground Organization⁠

⁠Time: How the Weather Underground Failed at Revolution and Still Changed the World⁠

⁠PBS: Interview with Bryan Burrough⁠

⁠Days of Rage⁠

⁠Chicago Reader: The Long, Strange Trip of Bill Ayers⁠

⁠Weather Underground Documentary⁠

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1h 24min
January 26, 2026The Parking Meter Deal: Chicago Math
Some people know exactly what the “parking meter deal” refers to but for others this might be a new idea. Alyssa breaks down the timeline of events which has been dubbed “a lesson in worse practices.” That is an understatement. Come for the mismanagment stay for the irony.
Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.
Show Notes:
Chicago Reader: FAIL, Part One: Chicago's Parking Meter Lease Deal

Chicago Reader: FAIL, Part Two: One BILLION Dollars!

Chicago Reader: FAIL, Part Three: The Insiders

Chicago Reader: Parking Meters — The Easy Version

Chicago Reader: Mayor Emanuel ensures parking meters remain in private hands

Chicago Reader: Rahm’s latest verdict: we’re stuck with the meter deal

Chicago Reader: Yet another attempt to prevent a parking meter redux

The Tribe: Today’s Chicago City Council regrets the infamous 2008 parking meter deal

Chicago Reader: Better late than never

Chicago Magazine: Chicago's New Parking Meter Rules: What You Need To Know

Chicago Reader: Wait, we sold that off too?

Chicago Reader: Rahm Emanuel’s shifting views of the parking meter deal

Chicago Reader: Daley joining law firm he previously hired for city’s meter deal and other privatization work

Chicago Reader: Not a dream

MoneyWise: ‘A lesson in worst practices’: Shocking audit reveals Chicago parking meters have made $2B for private company

Chicago Reader: The ongoing case against privatization

Chicago Reader: How Mayor Emanuel locked the parking meter deal in place

Chicago Sun-Times: Mihalopoulos: What one Daley sows, another Daley reaps

ABC 7 Chicago: Mayor Johnson considering buying back rights to Chicago parking meters: Sources

WTTW: Chicago Won’t Buy Back Parking Meters, Johnson Says

WBEZ: Chicago parking meters up for sale, but Johnson urged to proceed carefully on potential buyback

Chicago Sun-Times: Bally's shooting for end-of-year opening for permanent casino in River West

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1h 12min
January 19, 2026Summerdale Scandal: The Babbilng Burglar
In this episode, Alyssa is joined by John Zinn to discuss what some call the biggest scandal in Chicago Police Department history. We end fanaticizing
about the story getting the Ryan Murphy treatment.
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Show Notes:
Boss: Richard J. Daley of Chicago

To Serve and Collect: Chicago Politics and Police Corruption from the Lager Beer Riot to the Summerdale Scandal, 1855-1960

Chicago Tribune: INDICTMENTS TO BE SOUGHT FOR COP BURGLARY SUSPECTS

Chicago Tribune: The Summerdale Scandal and the case of the babbling burglar

Time: CRIME: Cops and / or Robbers

WTTW

Chicago Tribune: PEOPLE’S WORST FEARS

New York Times: SIX EX-POLICEMEN JAILED IN CHICAGO; 2 Others Fined as Members of a Burglary Ring

NBC Chicago: Officers Allege Widespread Corruption Inside Chicago Police Department

Chicago Tribune: JUDGE DOUBTS VIDEOTAPE, ACQUITS 2 OFFICERS OF BURGLARY

WTTW: Chicago Tow Truck Driver Charged in Vehicle Theft Conspiracy

Chicago Sun-Times: 3 more CPD employees, including a sergeant, face firing for PPP loan fraud

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58min
January 12, 2026Mr. Springer Goes to City Hall: Politcal Theatre
In 1999, under pressure from an activist priest, the City of Chicago Police and Fire Committee invited talk show host Jerry Springer to a hearing regarding violence on his show. Spoiler, it didn’t go well for Burke and the gang. Come for the government inefficiency stay for the schadenfreude.
Alyssa is joined by her college roomate Pam to mock this circus.

Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.
Show Notes:
CBS: That one time when Chicago City Council became 'The Jerry Springer Show'

WBEZ: How Jerry Springer delighted and infuriated Chicago
Chicago Tribune: SPRINGMASTER JER, COVER BOY BURKE WRESTLE WITH ENNUI

New York Post:SPRINGER ADMITS HE FAKES IT SOMETIMES

South Coast Today: Live at City Hall -- it's Jerry Springer

Footage: Jerry Springer Testifies (1999)

Tampa Bay Times: Springer goes live, and verbal punches fly

Media Burn: [Jerry Springer Chicago City Council hearing]

New York Daily News: SPRINGER SEZ SHOW MOCKS VIOLENCE

CBS: Springer Hedges On Violence

Chicago Reader: Political Atrocities of 1999

Chicago Magazine: 20 Very Bad Chicago Media Gaffes

Chicago Tribune: FINAL WORD ON SPRINGER’S CITY HALL GIG: SARCASM

Chicago Sun-Times: How Jerry Springer delighted, infuriated Chicago

Chicago Tribune: A DAY AT THE CIRCUS: WHICH ONE’S THE CLOWN?

Footage: Jerry Springer Reaction (1999)

Chicago Reader: The Fox and the Hounds

New York Times: Live, at Chicago's City Hall: It's the 'Jerry Springer Show'

Chicago Tribune:`SPRINGER SHOW’ PLAYS CITY HALL

Chicago Tribune: FINAL WORD ON SPRINGER’S CITY HALL GIG: SARCASM

Chicago Tribune: SPRINGMASTER JER, COVER BOY BURKE WRESTLE WITH ENNUI

Chicago Tribune: IT’S A FREE-FOR-ALL AS SPRINGER FACES COUNCIL

Chicago Tribune: NEXT IN CITY HALL: TALK SHOW HOST WITH EXPLAINING TO DO

Chicago Magazine: Father Courage: Michael Pfleger Takes on Jerry Springer

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1h 11min
January 06, 2026Van der Rohe V Farnsworth: Petty
Morgan joins Alyssa to talk about Van der Rohe V Fansworth which is case of contract law.

Show Notes:
Chicago Magazine: Remembering the Farnsworth House Feud

WTTW: Mies van der Rohe

Architectural Record: A Second Look at Edith Farnsworth and Her Mies van der Rohe–Designed Retreat

Architect Magazine: The Farnsworth House on Trial

New York Times: When Mies van der Rohe Went on Trial

WBEZ: Who was the mystery woman behind one of the Chicago area’s modernist marvels?

Tucker Carlson on Modern Architecture and Why it Sucks

Mies van der Rohe: A Critical Biography, New and Revised Edition

Oh Malort! Meis van der Rohe

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1h 60min
January 01, 2026 What is happening at The Kennedy Center?
To celebrate NYE, Alyssa and John combined their knowledge of performing arts venue management and recorded an impromptu episode to discuss the dumpster fire that is the Kennedy Center. These people are incompetent and seemingly hate the arts.
Grenell

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1h
December 29, 2025Y2K: Fear and Grifting in Chicago
In this episode Alyssa tells Risen about Y2K Chicago Style. This episode takes some surprising twists and turns and 2025 makes more sense.
Support the show by subscribing, leaving a five-star review, telling all your friends and following on Twitter, BlueSky, Instagram.
Show Notes:
Chicago Tribune: PRACTICAL ADVICE ON Y2K PREPAREDNESS

CNN: Chicago, retailers pushing for Y2K readiness

NPR: Y2K seems like a joke now, but in 1999 people were really freaking out

AP: Nearly 20 years ago, doomsayers admitted they were wrong about Y2K

Chicago Tribune: Y2K EXPO PREPARED TO PROVIDE FOR WORST

WBEZ: The panic of New Year's Eve 1999

Chicago Tribune: CITY SAYS IT’S READY FOR A SMOOTH Y2K ROLLOVER

Chicago Tribune: A HAPPY DAY: NO ONE GETS Y2KO’D

Chicago Tribune: FOR MANY CHICAGOANS, COVERAGE OF Y2K IS A BIT TOO MUCH

Chicago Tribune: Y2K NO CAUSE FOR PANIC

Chicago Tribune: WITH Y2K, HOARDING LIKELY TO BE BIGGEST BUG

Twin Cities Pioneer Press: Stockpilers prepare quietly for Y2K arrival

Chicago Sun-Times: Year 2000 computer fears bring out survival instinct

Chicago Sun-Times: Worriers are wasting time, money, one researcher says

Chicago Sun-Times: Shortage of caviar threatens festivities

Chicago Sun-Times: Buddy, can you spare an Official Barter Unit?

Chicago Sun-Times: Bridges to next millennium will work here, city claims

Chicago Sun-Times: Y2K brings back '50s-like fearsChicago Sun-Times:

City defends Y2K progress - Report of delays `totally false,' computer chief says

Chicago Sun-Times: Mayor getting tough on Y2K con artists

Chicago Sun-Times: City may be first with Y2K con man law

Chicago Sun-Times: Lack of interest bugs Y2K expo - `Survivalist' supplies shunned

Chicago Sun-Times: Weaver says Ruby Ridge standoff could have continued

Chicago Sun-Times: City `confident' about Y2K - $55 million, 3-yr. preparation all but done

Chicago Sun-Times: Consumers say `ho-hum' to Y2K

Chicago Sun-Times: Police asked to monitor extremist groups - FBI warns of Y2K violence

Chicago Sun-Times: Grocers, retailers prepared for Y2K

Chicago Sun-Times: Daley tries to nip Y2K fears - CTA won't let trains run near midnight

Chicago Sun-Times: Daley rips Hillard's Y2K staff memo

Chicago Sun-Times: Fire, theft top Y2K fears - Public's reaction also a big worry

Chicago Sun-Times: Apocalypse delayed - Prophets retreat from predictions

Chicago Sun-Times: Oh no! What will we worry about in 2000?

Chicago Sun-Times: Survivalist's wallet ends up $15K lighter

Chicago Sun-Times: Returning items may not be easy

Chicago Sun-Times: Consumers likely are stuck with extra Y2K provisions

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1h 9min
December 22, 2025Johann Hoch: Bigamist and Murderer
Alyssa and Molly McAleer from Mother May I Sleep with Podcast travel back to the late 1890's/ early 1900's to discuss Chicago's Bluebeard Johann Hoch, a bigamist and murder whose crimes would be too much for a Lifetime Movie plot.
Show Notes:
Second City Sinners

New York Times: JOHANN HOCH HANGED, PROTESTING INNOCENCE; Wife Murderer's Lawyers to Test Denial of Stay in Last Hour. PRISONER FORCED DELAY Refused to Leave Death Cell Until Full Time Allowed by Sentence Was Run.

Digital Library of Chicago History: John Schmidt, aka Johann Otto Hoch thought to have killed over 50 women.
American Heritage: The Lady-killer

CBS: Chicago Hauntings: The Sinister Men Who Were Executed At The Old Cook County Jail Gallows, And Sightings At The River North Firehouse Now In Its Place

Chicago Tribune: WIVES OF HOCK FOUND ALL OVER.: Four More Listed by the New York Police Make Total of 37 Deluded Widows. EAST ALSO HIS PARISH. Much Married Man May Be Put on Way to Chicago This Morning on Extradition. Several Months in Landing One. Gets Her $900 and Skips. Will Demand His Punishment. May Be Still Another. Hock Again Is Remanded. Hock Flirts in Courtroom.

Chicago Tribune: THIS HOCK WIFE OF HIS OWN KIND.: Mrs. Ranken, His Spouse in 1895, Said to Have Too Many Husbands. POLICE SEE THE RECORDS. Documents Indicate Bigamist Was Married Twice in Seven Months. Justice Shows Hock Marriages. Matrimonial Agent Is Accuser. O'Neill Informed of Warrant.

Chicago Tribune: HOCK GLORIES IN MARITAL RECORD.: Thinks It Is Great Joke to Be Suspected of Murder of Many Wives, and Has a Happy Time. "WIDOWS HARD TO KEEP." Man "Explains" Sudden Deaths, Says He Is "Affectionate," and Tells of His Career, Which Began Early. Mysterious Powder in His Room. "GOt to suffer for Deserters," Sweatbox to Calin Him Down. Connoisseur of German Widows. Married Only Twice, He Says. It Is a Great Joke with Him. Angered by Talk of Poison.. "Disappointed" in Last Widow. Widows Weak, Savs Hock. Sava Police Are "Away Off." Adventurer Since Immigration. Taking Way with Widows. Chicago Headquarters for Years. Marriage "Ads" His Bait. New Wives in Quick Succession. Hopes He Can Meet the Woman. Doen Not Deny This Wife. Likes to Marry Sisters. Another One He "Can't Place." Explains Death of One More. Admits the Last Wives. Woman Sees Hock Again. Tells of Hammond Marriage. Still Kind to Her Husband. Will Get Startling Evidence.

Chicago Tribune: ROMANCE IN HOCK CASE.: BLUEBEARD CAUSES JEALOUS RIVAL TO WARN WIDOW. Romance in Story. Rival Suitor Suspicious. Suspicions Result in Arrest.

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1h 54min

FAQs about Oh, Malort!:

How many episodes does Oh, Malort! have?

The podcast currently has 158 episodes available.

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