Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO

Outside the Loop RADIO

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

Tracks

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,011: Civics and a new Bears stadium, A veena virtuoso, The Secret History of The Dells

Mike Stephen discusses the civic implications of a new Bears stadium with civic educator and author Tom Tresser, previews a local world music performance from veena virtuoso Sara Ranganathan, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago's The Dells.

2/28/26 • 45:07

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,010: Check your judges in 2026, My Sweet George tribute show

Mike Stephen discusses the Injustice Watch 2026 Judicial Primary Election Guide with senior reporter Dan Hinkel and then previews a George Harrison tribute show featuring a wonderful lineup of talented local musicians with Ellis Clark, the lead singer of the band The Social Act.

2/21/26 • 32:53

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,009: Intonation Music, A new chapter for the Westside NAACP, The Secret History of Elsa Harris and Duke Tumatoe

Mike Stephen learns about the work of Intonation Music on the South Side of Chicago from executive director Tonya Howell, chats with Remel Terry, the new president of the Westside branch of the NAACP, and discovers the Secret History of Elsa Harris and Duke Tumatoe.

2/14/26 • 42:04

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,008: The history of Chicago dining, A new show from the Sideshow Villains, A Boy and His Dream

Mike Stephen talks to food journalist Mike Gebert about his new book that chronicles the history of Chicago dining, previews a Valentine's Day show from the Sideshow Villains with band leader Dante Ingram, and discusses the work of the local nonprofit A Boy and His Dream with founder Sunny Akhigbe.

2/7/26 • 45:38

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,007: Chicago independent music venues are the backbone of creativity, Revisiting the preservation of local signs

Mike Stephen talks to Jimalita Tillman and Chris Bauman, co-chairs of the Chicago Independent Venue League, about a new report that shows how important Chicago independent music venues are to the culture and economy of the city and then revisits a segment on preserving local signs.

1/31/26 • 42:09

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,006: Borderless Magazine tells the story of immigrants in Chicago, The connection between school attendance and successful students

Mike Stephen learns about Borderless Magazine's work of telling the immigrant story in Chicago from co-founder and executive director Nissa Rhee and then chats with Meril Antony, senior research analyst at the UChicago Consortium on School Research, about a new report looking at the link between school attendance and successful students.

1/24/26 • 36:15

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,005: Funkytown Beer expands, Paying musicians what they're owed, New music from Gina Marie and The Golden Bucks

Mike Stephen talks to Richard Bloomfield and Zachary Day, the owners of Chicago's Funkytown Beer, about their expansion plans, chats with Robert's Westside owner/operator Donnie Biggins about how that venue properly pays their artists, and chats with Gina Marie DeGregorio about her new music.

1/17/26 • 45:49

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,004: Wage theft in Illinois, A look at the state's fiscal health

Mike Stephen talks to Injustice Watch senior investigative reporter Alejandra Cancino to learn how wage theft of workers continues in Illinois and then gets the lowdown on a new report that examines the fiscal health of the state from Civic Federation senior policy advisor Paula Worthington.

1/10/26 • 39:48

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,003: A look back at 2025

Mike Stephen takes a look back at some highlights of the show from 2025.  Happy New Year from your friends at Outside the Loop!

1/3/26 • 42:05

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,002: A college in degree in Illinois can go a long way, The Secret History of Kitty Haywood

Mike Stephen discusses a new report that shows a college degree is the most promising path to a good job in Illinois with Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chief Becky Vevea and then discovers the Secret History of 20th century soul vocalist Kitty Haywood.

12/27/25 • 38:27

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,001: Straight Outta Skokie, Creative Cypher's Chicago entertainment ecosystem

Mike Stephen talks to Al Krockey, the author of a new book about coming of age in the 1960s and 70s in Skokie and Chicago called Straight Outta Skokie, and then learns about the plans Creative Cypher has for building an entertainment ecosystem in Chicago from founder Troy Pryor and interim president Cindy Beasley.

12/20/25 • 38:33

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #1,000: The 1,000th episode live from Fitzgerald's!

Mike Stephen hosts his 1,000th episode of Outside the Loop at Fitzgerald's Nightclub! Guests include: -Will Duncan and Jess King, owners of Fitzgerald's -Dominic Pacyga, professor emeritus of history at Columbia College Chicago and author of Clout City -Steve Krakow (aka: Plastic Crimewave), local musician and author of The Secret History of Chicago Music -Holley Brandchaft-White and Genia Yovankin, founders of SHFT Behavioral Health -Surprise guest: Andy "The Count" Hermann, co-founder and former producer of Outside the Loop and current producer at Nebraska Public Media    

12/13/25 • 89:53

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #999: The new editor in chief of the Chicago Reader, How are CPS students doing after they graduate?, New Holiday music from Kevin Brown

Mike Stephen talks to Sarah Conway, the new editor in chief of the Chicago Reader, about the future of the paper, discusses Chicago Public Schools student educational attainment post-graduation with the To&Through Project director of data and research Alexandra Usher, and gets the lowdown on new Holiday music from local guitarist Kevin Brown.

12/6/25 • 44:37

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #998: Rethinking housing in Chicago and beyond, The Robert Townsend Pop-Up Film Fest, Public transit reliability

Mike Stephen learns about a new exhibit at the National Public Housing Museum from UIC architecture professor Alexander Eisenschmidt, chats with actor and director Robert Townsend about his upcoming Chicago pop-up film fest, and re-visits a segment on local public transit reliability.

11/29/25 • 38:24

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #997: Local journalism ethics in a time of ICE occupation, New music from These Peaches, The Haitian American Museum of Chicago

Mike Stephen discusses the role of local journalists during a time of local ICE occupation with McKinley Park News publisher Justin Kerr, gets the lowdown on new music from the local band These Peaches from frontman Rich Klevgard, and learns about the significance of the Haitian American Museum of Chicago from founder and CEO Elsie Hernandez. AND...come out to Fitzgerald's at 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn on Saturday, November 22, at 3:00 p.m. for the Outside the Loop 1,000th episode taping! It's a FREE event, but you need to RSVP using this link.

11/22/25 • 39:24

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #996: Home for the Holidays helps those in need, Indiscipline: The music of King Crimson, The Secret History of Charles E. Gerber

Mike Stephen learns about a local initiative called Home for the Holidays that helps those less fortunate this Holiday season from founder Chef Ora Thompson, gets a preview of a local King Crimson tribute band show from band leader Eric Butler, and discovers the Secret History of local actor and musician Charles E. Gerber. AND...come out to Fitzgerald's at 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn on Saturday, November 22, at 3:00 p.m. for the Outside the Loop 1,000th episode taping! It's a FREE event, but you need to RSVP using this link.

11/15/25 • 37:20

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #995: Helping local veterans in need, New music from The Gunshy, Chicago is a little less ratty

Mike Stephen learns about a local nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans during this difficult time called Veterans Assistance Partnership from founder Tatshee Simmons, gets the lowdown on new local music from The Gunshy, and revisits a segment that explores rats in Chicago. AND...come out to Fitzgerald's at 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn on Saturday, November 22, at 3:00 p.m. for the Outside the Loop 1,000th episode taping! It's a FREE event, but you need to RSVP using this link.

11/8/25 • 36:39

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #994: The state of local news, The Secret History of Aura

Mike Stephen discusses the state of local news in 2025 with Medill professor Tim Franklin and then dives into the Secret History of the 1970s Chicago horn rock band Aura. AND...come out to Fitzgerald's at 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn on Saturday, November 22, at 3:00 p.m. for the Outside the Loop 1,000th episode taping! It's a FREE event, but you need to RSVP using this link.  

11/1/25 • 41:00

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #993: Curbside compassion with Yo Soy Ella, Takeout 25's new cookbook, New local music from Terry White

Mike Stephen visits Yo Soy Ella's Curbside Compassion van to learn about their therapy services from founder and executive director Sarah Taylor, explores the new Takeout 25 Community Cookbook with founder Ravi Parakkat, and gets the lowdown on new music from local musician Terry White.

10/25/25 • 41:27

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #992: Revisiting Media Burn and the Center For Immigrant Progress, The Secret History of Panicsville

Mike Stephen rewinds to get the story of Chicago's Media Burn archive and the Center for Immigrant Progress and then discovers the Secret History of Panicsville.  AND we have a special announcement!

10/19/25 • 39:19

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #991: Ending political maps in Illinois?, Fewer wrongful convictions overturned, Share Our Spare helps families

Mike Stephen learns about the effort to end politically drawn voting maps in Illinois from Chicago Magazine writer Ted McClelland, discusses the slowdown in overturning wrongful convictions in Cook County with Injustice Watch reporter Dan Hinkel, and highlights the important work of Share Our Spare in supporting young children and families with interim executive director Jesseca Rhymes. Also, help out Chicago street vendors!

10/11/25 • 39:40

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #990: Accessory dwelling units are legal (mostly), Federal government funding cuts for CPS, TaskForce celebrates inclusion in the West Side and beyond

Mike Stephen learns about Chicago's new ordinance allowing accessory dwelling units in certain areas from Illinois Answers Project reporter Alex Nitkin, discusses the federal funding cuts to Chicago Public Schools with Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chief Becky Vevea, and gets the lowdown on how TaskForce works to promote inclusion on the city's West Side from communications director Hannah Pewee.

10/4/25 • 40:44

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #989: A Chicago TIF update, New local music with a worldwide influence, Previewing the Black Fine Art Faire

Mike Stephen gets an update on the latest Chicago TIF numbers from Tom Tresser of the TIF Illumination Project, chats with local musician Carlo Basile about his local music with a worldwide influence, and previews the Back Fine Art Faire with Patricia Andrews-Keenan, founder of Pigment International.

9/27/25 • 43:07

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #988: How the Chicago area gets its news, Exploring the brain science locally, The Secret History of Lani Hall

Mike Stephen discusses the results of a new report on how Chicago gets its news with Medill professors Tim Franklin and Stephanie Edgerly, gets a preview of some upcoming local events about the brain from Illinois Science Council founder Monica Metzler, and discovers the Secret History of Lani Hall.

9/20/25 • 43:03

Show cover of Outside the Loop RADIO OTL #987: Trying to avoid an Illinois transit fiscal cliff, New "emergency" rules for prison communication

Mike Stephen discusses the work being done to avoid a transit fiscal cliff in Illinois with state representative Kam Buckner (26th) and John Greenfield, editor of Streetsblog Chicago. Then, John Howard Association executive director Jennifer Vollen-Katz discusses new "emergency" rules put in place to regulate communication with those who are incarcerated in state prisons.

9/13/25 • 42:30