Outside the Loop RADIO

Dec 07 2024 25 ep. 39 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
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


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

Dec 07 2024 47 mins  
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

Nov 30 2024 36 mins  
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

Nov 23 2024 42 mins  
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

Nov 16 2024 40 mins  
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

Nov 09 2024 37 mins  
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

Nov 02 2024 35 mins  
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 Illinoi

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.