Outside the Loop RADIO

Oct 26 2024 25 ep. 40 mins 562
Outside the Loop RADIO Podcast artwork

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

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

Oct 26 2024 42 mins  
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

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

Oct 19 2024 34 mins  
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

Oct 12 2024 38 mins  
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

Oct 06 2024 34 mins  
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

Sep 28 2024 43 mins  
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

Sep 21 2024 40 mins  
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

Sep 14 2024 42 mins  
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

Sep 07 2024 39 mins  
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

Aug 31 2024 38 mins  
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

Aug 24 2024 37 mins  
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.