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Outside the Loop RADIO

  1. OTL #975: Supporting Chicago’s arts nonprofits, Guiding Chicago’s youth towards entertainment careers2025/06/21

    Mike Stephen discusses the importance of a healthy local nonprofit arts community with Vickie Lakes-Battle of IFF and Vanessa Sanchez of Villapalooza and then chats with Danita Patterson, founder of Destiny Outreach , about a new program aimed at guiding Chicago’s youth towards careers in the entertainment industry.
  2. OTL #974: Is Chicago prioritizing environmental justice?, The Secret History of Fred Below2025/06/14

    Mike Stephen gets an update on the struggle for environmental justice on the southwest side of Chicago from Anthony Moser, board president of Neighbors for Environmental Justice , and then discovers the Secret History of the local influential 20th century drummer Fred Below .
  3. OTL #973: A.I. in local journalism, Local immigrants are about to lose their healthcare2025/06/07

    Mike Stephen discusses the ethical questions around using artificial intelligence in local journalism with Justin Kerr, publisher of McKinley Park News , and then talks with Enddy Almonord, director of the Healthy Illinois Campaign , about how 33,000 low-income Illinois immigrants are about to lose their healthcare.
  4. OTL #972: Confronting student loan debt in Illinois, New music from AJ Rosales, The Secret History of The Radiants2025/05/31

    Mike Stephen discusses the student loan debt problem in Illinois with Illinois Answers Project journalist Claire Murphy, gets the lowdown on new local music from AJ Rosales , and discovers the Secret History of the 1960s Chicago doo-wop group The Radiants .
  5. OTL #971: Civic engagement through the 100K Project, CPS selling vacant land, Labeling Illinois schools2025/05/24

    Mike Stephen learns about recruiting candidates for local office through the 100K Project with lead organizer and steering committee member Tom Tresser and then gets an update on some local education issues with Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chief Becky Vevea.
  6. OTL #970: Books removed in local prison, New music from Ascendant, The Secret History of Chicago Music celebrates 20 years2025/05/17

    Mike Stephen explores the removal of certain books in Danville Correctional Center with local author Vee Harrison , gets the lowdown on new music from the band Ascendant from vocalist and keyboard player Kael Mboya, and looks back on 20 years of The Secret History of Chicago Music in the Chicago Reader with its creator and author Steve Krakow.
  7. OTL #969: The Chicago Lakefront: Protected, Yet Precarious, Second Glance Productions, Rob Moore’s new music2025/05/10

    Mike Stephen discusses the future of Chicago's lakefront with Emily Reusswig, VP of Conservation at Openlands , talks about the importance of inclusion in media with Anthony Williams, the founder of Second Glance Productions , and gets the lowdown on new music from Chicago-based bluesman Rob Moore.
  8. OTL #968: Why everyone hates white liberals, The Secret History of Hot Mama Silver2025/05/03

    Mike Stephen sits down with Kevin M. Schultz, chair of the history department at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the author of a new book called Why Everyone Hates White Liberals (Including White Liberals) , and then discovers the Secret History of 1970s and 80s rockers Hot Mama Silver .
  9. OTL #967: The origins of gun violence in Chicago, Andy Madden’s new music2025/04/26

    Mike Stephen discusses the origins of gun violence in Chicago with Jens Ludwig , author of the new book called Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence , and then sits down with local musician Andy Madden about his new music and upcoming record release performance .
  10. OTL #966: Bonuses for City Council aides on the rise, Greenlight Family Services offering support, The Secret History of The Notations2025/04/19

    Mike Stephen talks to Illinois Answers Project investigative reporter Alex Nitkin about how Chicago City Council staffers are getting more and more bonuses, learns about the impact of Chicago’s Greenlight Family Services with CEO Dr. Maria Nanos, and discovers the Secret History of the Chicago-based soul band The Notations .
  11. OTL #965: Funding cuts for Illinois Humanities, The future of journalism2025/04/12
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  12. OTL #964: Chicago’s immigration court, I Am Flytism, The Secret History of Jim Brewer2025/04/05

    Mike Stephen talks to Injustice Watch reporter Kelly Garcia about how Chicago’s immigration court works, learns about I Am Flytism , an organization on the South Side of Chicago that helps those impacted by autism, from founder Stephanie Butts, and discovers the Secret History of 20th century local bluesman Jim Brewer .
  13. OTL #963: Living as a profitable author, The Surabhi Ensemble unites through art, The West Side Book Fair2025/03/29

    Mike Stephen talks to Conspire Creative founder Sharon Woodhouse about her new book The Profitable Author: 1,001 Ways to Build a Business You Love Around Your Books , previews the Surabhi Ensemble’s live performance with guitarist Carlo Basile, and gets the lowdown on the upcoming West Side Book Fair from Bridgett McGill.
  14. OTL #962: The immigrant experience in Chicagoland, New music from Steve Knight, The Secret History of Bobby McClure2025/03/22

    Mike Stephen talks to Sandra Diaz, co-founder of the Center for Immigrant Progress , about the efforts to help Chicagoland immigrants in the wake of a hostile federal government, learns about the new album from local jazz guitarist Steve Knight , and discovers the Secret History of Chicago soul singer Bobby McClure .
  15. OTL #961: The importance of the Freedom of Information Act, Proposed legislation to regulate homeschooling in Illinois2025/03/15

    Mike Stephen talks to Pulitzer Prize-winning local journalists Sarah Conway of City Bureau and Trina Reynolds-Tyler of the Invisible Institute about the importance of the Freedom of Information Act and then gets an update on a proposed bill to regulate homeschooling in Illinois from Capitol News reporters Beth Hundsdorfer and Molly Parker.
  16. OTL #960: The Illinois nuclear power controversy, The Flamenco Quartet Project returns, The Secret History of Donald Rafael Garrett2025/03/08

    Mike Stephen discusses the controversial push to increase nuclear power production in Illinois with David Kraft, director of the Nuclear Energy Information Service , previews the return of the Flamenco Quartet Project with Wendy Clinard, founder of Clinard Dance , and discovers the Secret History of local avant-garde bassist Donald Rafael Garrett .
  17. OTL #959: Bridging the wealth gap in Chicago, Supporting local nonprofits2025/03/01

    Mike Stephen learns about efforts to bridge the wealth gap and to provide worker dignity at the local level from Julian Posada, President & CEO of LiftUp Chicago , and then discusses supporting the important work of local nonprofits with Jessica Nepomiachi, Director of Special Projects for the Real Estate Solutions Team at IFF .
  18. OTL #958: Continuing the fight against homelessness, The Secret History of Ruffian, Chicago Women of Color Fest2025/02/22

    Mike Stephen discusses ongoing efforts to fight homelessness in Chicago despite the chaos in the federal government with Carolyn Ross, president and CEO of All Chicago: Making Homelessness History , learns the Secret History of 1980s rockers called Ruffian , and then chats about a new local festival highlighting marginalized voices with festival founder Jaqueline Wade.
  19. OTL #957: The history and impact of Fitzgerald’s, New music from Falling Stars2025/02/15

    Mike Stephen sits down with Jess King and Will Duncan, the owners of Fitzgerald’s in Berwyn, to learn about the venue's history and impact on Chicago and then gets the lowdown on new music from the local band Falling Stars with guitarist and vocalist Mark Sheehy.
  20. OTL #956: The future of the Chicago Reader, The Secret History of The Monteras2025/02/08

    Mike Stephen talks to Amber Nettles the publisher of the Chicago Reader and Salem Collo-Julin, the paper's editor in chief, about the dire financial situation of the publication and its future and then discovers the Secret History of the local 1960s garage rock band The Monteras .
  21. OTL #955: The future of electric vehicles in Illinois, Restorative justice in North Lawndale2025/02/01

    Mike Stephen explores the potential impact of the Trump administration’s position on environmental funding with Brian Urbaszewski, director of environmental health programs at the Respiratory Health Association , and learns about the impact of restorative justice practices in the North Lawndale neighborhood from Cliff Nellis, president and CEO of the Lawndale Christian Legal Center .
  22. OTL #954: The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, The Secret History of Yama & The Karma Dusters2025/01/25

    Mike Stephen learns about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative renewal in Congress from Don Jodrey, director of federal relations at the Alliance for the Great Lakes, and then discovers the Secret History of the 1970s counterculture band Yama & The Karma Dusters .
  23. OTL #953: Chicago’s “Taping Guy,” The Surge Institute’s civil rights work2025/01/18

    Mike Stephen talks to Aadam Jacobs, a Chicagoan who has recorded thousands of local live music performances, about why he’s making his collection public and then discusses the ongoing civil rights work of The Surge Institute with executive director Ulric Shannon.
  24. OTL #952: Are we in dark civic times?, The impending “TIF Cliff,” HelloBaby expands2025/01/11

    Mike Stephen explores the impending "TIF Cliff" and its ramifications for Chicago with civic educator Tom Tresser , discusses the state of local civic life, and gets the lowdown on the expansion of HelloBaby on the South Side of the city with founder Debbie Frisch and Leva Family Foundation president Craig Leva.
  25. OTL #951: Local education issues in 2025, Illinois corrections’ programs that work, New music from Poi Dog Pondering2025/01/04

    Mike Stephen gets an update on important education issues in the new year from Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Reema Amin, discusses the positive impacts of a few Illinois Department of Corrections programs with Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director of the John Howard Association , and previews an upcoming show by the local band Poi Dog Pondering with band founder Frank Orrall.
Outside the Loop RADIO
http://outsidetheloopradio.com
Outside the Loop RADIO is Chicago's Almost Above-Ground Audio Magazine. Founded as a podcast in September 2006 and picked up for broadcast by Chicago Sound Alliance WLUW 88.7-FM in March 2007, "OTL" now airs on Chicago's Very Own 50,000-watt heritage powerhouse station WGN Radio 720-AM.

Storyteller and urbanologist Mike Stephen hosts this weekly program featuring fun segments and interviews with local newsmakers, artists, musicians, and others doing cool stuff around the greater Chicago area. The show covers topics stories that don't always get mainstream media attention... and it's all presented with a strong and independent Chicago slant.

http://outsidetheloopradio.com