Outside the Loop RADIO

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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…

Albert James PROductions


    • May 24, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 285 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Outside the Loop RADIO

    OTL #971: Civic engagement through the 100K Project, CPS selling vacant land, Labeling Illinois schools

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2025 39:52


    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.

    OTL #970: Books removed in local prison, New music from Ascendant, The Secret History of Chicago Music celebrates 20 years

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2025 39:33


    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.

    OTL #969: The Chicago Lakefront: Protected, Yet Precarious, Second Glance Productions, Rob Moore's new music

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2025 39:38


    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.

    OTL #968: Why everyone hates white liberals, The Secret History of Hot Mama Silver

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2025 57:02


    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.

    OTL #967: The origins of gun violence in Chicago, Andy Madden's new music

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2025 43:56


    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.

    OTL #966: Bonuses for City Council aides on the rise, Greenlight Family Services offering support, The Secret History of The Notations

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2025 39:33


    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.

    OTL #965: Funding cuts for Illinois Humanities, The future of journalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2025 39:40


    Mike Stephen discusses the potential impact of federal funding cuts for Illinois Humanities with executive director Gabrielle Lyon and Macomb-based singer-songwriter Chris Vallillo and then chats about the future of journalism with Prospect High School multimedia teacher Jason Block and seniors Claire Wynkoop and Kenny Munao while attending this year's Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association conference.

    OTL #964: Chicago's immigration court, I Am Flytism, The Secret History of Jim Brewer

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2025 42:40


    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.

    OTL #963: Living as a profitable author, The Surabhi Ensemble unites through art, The West Side Book Fair

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2025 40:23


    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.

    OTL #962: The immigrant experience in Chicagoland, New music from Steve Knight, The Secret History of Bobby McClure

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2025 42:41


    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.

    OTL #961: The importance of the Freedom of Information Act, Proposed legislation to regulate homeschooling in Illinois

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2025 41:07


    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.

    OTL #960: The Illinois nuclear power controversy, The Flamenco Quartet Project returns, The Secret History of Donald Rafael Garrett

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2025 41:32


    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.

    OTL #959: Bridging the wealth gap in Chicago, Supporting local nonprofits

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2025 42:12


    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.

    OTL #958: Continuing the fight against homelessness, The Secret History of Ruffian, Chicago Women of Color Fest

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2025 43:28


    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.

    OTL #957: The history and impact of Fitzgerald's, New music from Falling Stars

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2025 42:57


    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.

    OTL #956: The future of the Chicago Reader, The Secret History of The Monteras

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2025 37:58


    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.

    OTL #955: The future of electric vehicles in Illinois, Restorative justice in North Lawndale

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2025 40:10


    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.

    OTL #954: The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, The Secret History of Yama & The Karma Dusters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2025 38:59


    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.

    OTL #953: Chicago's “Taping Guy,” The Surge Institute's civil rights work

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2025 42:54


    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.

    OTL #952: Are we in dark civic times?, The impending “TIF Cliff,” HelloBaby expands

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2025 39:03


    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.

    OTL #951: Local education issues in 2025, Illinois corrections' programs that work, New music from Poi Dog Pondering

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2025 46:30


    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.

    OTL #950: A look back on Chicago in 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2024 41:52


    Mike Stephen highlights a few local conversations from the show in 2024.  See you in 2025!

    chicago mike stephen
    OTL #949: The lack of Chicago environmental regulations enforcement, The Secret History of JD, Foster, and Eastman

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2024 40:16


    Mike Stephen talks to Neighbors for Environmental Justice board president Anthony Moser about how local politics and a lack of enforcement are impacting Chicago's environmental policies and then discovers the Secret History of 1970s Chicago country rockers JD, Foster, and Eastman.

    OTL #948: Re-mapping Chicago, The state of local food journalism, Quimby's calls it quits

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2024 38:58


    Mike Stephen gets an update on the effort to re-map Chicago community areas from Emily Talen, director of The Urbanism Lab at the University of Chicago, discusses the state of local food journalism Mike Gebert, editor of Fooditor, and reflects on the good work of the soon-to-be-sold Quimby's bookstore in Wicker Park.

    OTL #947: Local housing assistance in 2025, What's left behind after gun violence, The Secret History of Dee Clark

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2024 47:10


    Mike Stephen discusses proposed housing measures for Chicago in the new year from Alejandra Cancino, investigative reporter at Injustice Watch, learns about a new documentary that focuses on gun violence victims' families and loved ones called What's Left Behind from director Dr. Janice Collins, and discovers the Secret History of 1960s soul and doo wop singer Dee Clark.

    OTL #946: The proposed Chicago liquor tax increase, Protecting our genetic privacy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2024 36:33


    Mike Stephen discusses the potential impact of the proposed Chicago liquor tax increase with Mr. Chicago Bars and then talks to Ericka Watson, principal and CEO of Data Strategy Advisors, about privacy issues stemming from private companies mapping our DNA.

    OTL #945: Stories from a local Uber driver, Shawn Maxwell's new music, The Secret History of Viewfinder

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2024 42:11


    Mike Stephen talks to Provy Taylor, a local Uber driver, about his new book of stories while on the job called Uber Me to Providence, gets the lowdown on local saxophonist Shawn Maxwell's new music, and discovers the Secret History of 90s alt-rockers: Viewfinder.

    OTL #944: The state of local journalism, Predatory lending's impact

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024 40:09


    Mike Stephen explores a new report on the state of local journalism with Tim Franklin, director of the Medill Local News Initiative, and discusses the impact of predatory lending in Illinois with Jane Doyle, senior regulatory policy associate at the Woodstock Institute. 

    OTL #943: Chicago hot dogs, Local pinball, The Secret History of Paulette McWilliams

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2024 37:47


    Mike Stephen eases us back into post-election life with a couple fun segments from 2015 and then discovers the Secret History of Chicago-born vocalist Paulette McWilliams.

    OTL #942: Housing in Chicago, A crisis in Illinois Early Intervention, Black Panther Party history update

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2024 35:31


    Mike Stephen discusses the impact of the departure of the Chicago Housing Authority CEO with Block Club Chicago investigative editor Mick Dumke, learns about a crisis in Illinois' Early Intervention Program from Start Early director of legislative affairs Jonathan Doster and speech pathologist Sarah Ziemba, and gives an update on the efforts to preserve the history of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party.

    OTL #941: A crisis in Illinois prisons, Educational attainment of CPS students, The Secret History of Nick Gravenites

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2024 42:43


    Mike Stephen discusses the crisis of Illinois state prison staff levels and working conditions with John Howard Association executive director Jennifer Vollen-Katz, learns about a new report about the educational attainment of CPS students from Alexandra Usher, the director of data and research at the To&Through Project, and discovers the Secret History of local blues rocker Nick Gravenites.

    OTL #940: CTA Surveillance, One year after the end of cash bail, McLuhan's new music

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2024 34:37


    Mike Stephen learns about a new CTA surveillance pilot program from Justin Agrelo, community engagement reporter at The Trace, discusses the impact of ending cash bail in Illinois with State Senator Robert Peters (13th), and gets the lowdown on local prog rock band McLuhan from vocalist & bassist Neal Rosner.

    OTL #939: The judicial election guide, Sideshow Villains' deviant cabaret, and The Secret History of Jo Mapes

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2024 38:58


    Mike Stephen learns about Injustice Watch's judicial election guide with managing editor Jonah Newman, previews the Sideshow Villains' upcoming deviant cabaret with band leader Dante Ingram, and discovers the Secret History of local folk singer Jo Mapes.

    OTL #938: The history of Black entrepreneurship in Chicago, Local education update

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2024 34:41


    Mike Stephen discusses the history of Black entrepreneurship in Chicago with Wichita State history professor Robert Weems Jr. and then gets an update on local education issues from Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Reema Amin.

    OTL #937: An American Suburb's Encounter with Evil

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2024 43:11


    Mike Stephen sits down with Lake Forest High School history teacher Michael Soffer to discuss his new book Our Nazi: An American Suburb's Encounter with Evil, which tells the story of how a WWII Nazi ended up as a high school custodian in suburban Chicago.

    OTL #936: The future of women comes to Chicago, The Transferable Skills Podcast, The Surabhi Ensemble's world music thrives

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2024 40:10


    Mike Stephen talks to Dr. Jamila Taylor, president and CEO of the Institute for Women's Policy Research, about their upcoming Chicago conference, learns about the new Transferable Skills Podcast from its creator and host Noah Mishkin, and previews the Surabhi Ensemble's gig at Navy Pier with guitarist Carlo Basile.

    OTL #935: Smartphones On Hold, Local journalism drama, The Secret History of George E. Lewis

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2024 42:59


    Mike Stephen learns about the Smartphones On Hold initiative with co-founders Kelly Kribs and Gideon Bob, discusses the latest issues in local journalism with McKinley Park News publisher Justin Kerr, and discovers the Secret History of experimental jazz trombone player George E. Lewis.

    OTL #934: The future of Chicago newsracks, Chicago Style celebrates local fashion history

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2024 39:13


    Mike Stephen learns about the disappearance of downtown newspaper racks from Brian Hieggelke, editor and publisher of Newcity and the chair of the Chicago Newsracks Task Force, and then talks to Illinois Humanities executive director Gabrielle Lyon and author Ayana Contreras to get a preview of an event that celebrates local fashion history called Chicago Style.

    OTL #933: Illinois' air pollution, Saxman Billy Harper's story, Chicago Recovering Communities Coalition

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2024 38:43


    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.

    OTL #932: The Neighborhood Bridge, New music from Max McGathey, The legacy of the Uptown People's Law Center

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2024 37:57


    Mike Stephen visits with Prentice Butler, executive director of a local organization that provides a bridge to success for Chicago families called The Neighborhood Bridge, gets the lowdown on local musician Maxx McGathey's new music, and discusses the legacy of the Uptown People's Law Center with retiring executive director Alan Mills.

    OTL #931: The Tenant Trap, The Secret History of Fred Holstein

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2024 35:51


    Mike Stephen talks to Injustice Watch senior reporter Alejandra Cancino about how some Chicago renters are trapped in unsafe buildings while forced to pay rising rents and then dives into the Secret History of local folk legend Fred Holstein.

    OTL #930: No Games Chicago, Inequities in mental health services for justice-involved youth

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2024 38:38


    Mike Stephen talks to community organizer Tom Tresser about his new book on the history of No Games Chicago and then talks to Maria Jose Luna, doctoral candidate in the clinical psychology program at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, about a new study that examines the inequities in mental health services for justice-involved youth.

    OTL #929: Preserving Illinois wetlands, Red Spot Rhythm Section's new music, The Secret History of William Warren

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2024 40:07


    Mike Stephen learns about efforts to preserve Illinois wetlands from Jennifer Bamberg, investigative reporter at Investigate Midwest, gets into Red Spot Rhythm Section's new music with band founder Josh Siegal, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago blues drummer William Warren.

    OTL #928: The future of additional dwelling units in Chicago, Money in the Chicago school board election, Hope for Homes Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2024 40:10


    Mike Stephen learns about Chicago City Council action regarding additional dwelling units from Cityscape Chicago founder and CEO Steven Vance, discusses the money flowing through the upcoming Chicago School Board election with Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chief Becky Vevea, and chats with La Case Norte executive director Jose Munoz about Hope for Homes Day: a day of giving to help end homelessness.

    OTL #927: Injustice Watch's judicial election guide, Revisiting Chicago Rents, The Secret History of Avondale Electric

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2024 42:28


    Mike Stephen learns about the upcoming judicial election guide from Injustice Watch with senior reporter Carlos Ballesteros, revisits an initiative that provides housing opportunities for Chicagoans, and discovers the Secret History of North Side rockers Avondale Electric.

    OTL #926: Remembering the Chicago Race Riot of 1919, Police settlement transparency ordinance, Removing lead pipes in Chicago

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2024 44:03


    Mike Stephen discusses the significance of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 with Peter Cole, founder and co-director of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project, learns about a proposed ordinance aimed at improving police settlement transparency from Tracy Siska, executive director of the Chicago Justice Project, and gets an update on Chicago's effort to remove lead water service lines from local writer Miles MacClure.

    OTL #925: Local metalpoint art, New music from Joe Di Zillo, The Secret History of Jackie DeShannon

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2024 37:53


    Mike Stephen chats with local metalpoint artist D. Lammie-Hanson, gets the lowdown on new tunes from Chicago musician Joe Di Zillo, and discovers the Secret History of local singer Jackie DeShannon.

    OTL #924: The impact of Hope Chicago

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2024 38:10


    Mike Stephen visits the Hope Chicago Goal Getters 2024 Conference at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Hope Chicago is a scholarship-focused non-profit designed to provide students and their parents/guardians with the support they need to graduate from college debt-free.  We learn about the amazing work of this local nonprofit from program manager Joeysha Dobbins, scholar Diana Solano, and parent of a scholar April Kern.

    OTL #923: Tutoring and tech's impact in schools, The Secret History of Motorhome

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2024 39:01


    Mike Stephen learns about the latest education research showing the benefits of tutoring combined with educational technology in schools from John Wolf and Monica Bhatt of the University of Chicago Education Lab and then discovers the Secret History of 1990s Chicago fuzzy pop-rockers Motorhome. 

    OTL #922: Illinois' hands-off approach to homeschooling, The legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2024 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.

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2024 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 Handle Band.

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