Outside the Loop RADIO
Local Music
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. Show co-founder Andy Hermann has returned to produce Phase III of OTL Radio. http://outsidetheloopradio.com
Location:
United States
Description:
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. Show co-founder Andy Hermann has returned to produce Phase III of OTL Radio. http://outsidetheloopradio.com
Twitter:
@outsidetheloop
Language:
English
Contact:
Outside the Loop WGN Radio 435 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611
Episodes
OTL #884: The state of Chicago bars, The Common Pantry continues after five decades, Ron Lazzeretti’s new music
9/23/2023
Mike Stephen gets an update on the state of Chicago bars and taverns with Mr. Chicago Bars, learns about the incredible work of the Common Pantry from executive director Maureen O'Conor, and chats with local musician Ron Lazzeretti about his new music and upcoming record release show.
Duration:00:36:56
OTL #883: Chicago’s most conservative wards, Youth mental health, The Secret History of The Brighter Side of Darkness
9/16/2023
Mike Stephen gets a profile of Chicago’s most conservative wards with Ted McClelland, contributing editor of Chicago Magazine, discusses new initiatives for youth mental health in Illinois with State Senator Mike Simmons, and discovers the Secret History of 1970s R&B group The Brighter Side of Darkness.
Duration:00:38:28
OTL #882: Latinos in the suburbs, The Invest In Kids controversy, Matt Tiegler’s new music
9/9/2023
Mike Stephen discusses a new report that explores the Latino experience in the Chicago suburbs with Sylvia Puente of the Latino Policy Forum, chats with Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Samantha Smylie about the controversy around the Invest In Kids program, and talks to local musician Matt Ziegler about his new music.
Duration:00:36:26
OTL #881: The first Green Dining Hub in Illinois, Inspired By You Fest, The Secret History of Marshall Vente
9/2/2023
Mike Stephen learns about the first Green Dining Hub in Illinois with Takeout 25 founder Ravi Parakkat, previews the Inspired By You Fest with the owner of Muse Coffee Studio, George Davis, Jr., and uncovers the Secret History of local pianist Marshall Vente.
Duration:00:38:05
OTL #880: A teacher of the year talks education, Music Graphics Chicago, An update on Chicago TIF Districts
8/26/2023
Mike Stephen sits down with Dr. Tyrone Williams, the Gilder Lehrman Illinois History Teacher of the Year and history teacher at Oak Park and River Forest High School, learns about supplying musicians with cool merch from Deb Sonzo and Jamie Riani, co-owners of Music Graphics Chicago, and gets an update on TIF districts in Chicago from Tom Tresser of the TIF Illumination Project.
Duration:00:47:54
OTL #879: The politics of a backroom land deal, The Secret History of Garland Green
8/19/2023
Mike Stephen gets an update on the backroom deal that sold off public housing land in Chicago with Block Club Chicago's Mick Dumke and then discovers the Secret History of 1960s local soul singer Garland Green.
Duration:00:35:40
OTL #878: Women in Vinyl, Chicago Rents, The Chicago Honey Co-Op
8/12/2023
Mike Stephen learns about the empowering work of Women in Vinyl with founder Jenn D'Eugenio, discusses the work of the Chicago Rents initiative with program manager Erik Czaja, and, in an OTL Rewind, reminds us of the importance of bees in our ecosystem.
Duration:00:36:30
OTL #877: Is Illinois prepared for climate change?, Problems in the state cannabis industry, The Secret History of Society’s Children
8/5/2023
Mike Stephen explores whether or not Illinois is prepared for the impacts of climate change with Jen Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, chats with solutions reporter at the Illinois Answers Project, Alex Nitkin, about the problems with the state’s cannabis industry, and discovers the Secret History of 1960s local garage band Society’s Children.
Duration:00:39:59
OTL #876: Punishment in schools, The Pickwick Theater’s next chapter, True Star Media inspires youth
7/29/2023
Mike Stephen talks to Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Samantha Smylie about Chicago Public Schools' compliance with a state law dealing with punishment in schools, learns about the next chapter of the historic Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge from Mike Jeffers, founder of Chicago Jazz Magazine and venue & programming consultant, and gets the lowdown on a local organization that empowers youth with media and storytelling skills called True Star Media from production team member Christopher Lockridge.
Duration:00:35:21
OTL #875: The new paid time off ordinance, Chicago as a cycling city, The Secret History of Peter Brown
7/22/2023
Mike Stephen discusses the impact of the proposed paid time off ordinance in Chicago with Christina Warden, director of policy and programs at Women Employed, and Shep Searl, organizer with Starbucks Workers United, explores a new report that ranks Chicago low in bikeability with Rebecca Davies, city ratings program director at PeopleForBikes, and discovers the Secret History of local disco musician Peter Brown.
Duration:00:39:24
OTL #874: The Unvarnished history of housing discrimination, The Chris Greene Quartet brings the local jazz
7/15/2023
Mike Stephen talks to Donna Sack, vice president and chief program officer of the Naper Settlement, about a new project called Unvarnished that documents the impacts of housing discrimination and then chats with local jazz saxman Chris Greene about his upcoming gig and his band’s music.
Duration:00:38:39
OTL #873: The state of rental housing in Chicago, The Secret History of Gerald Sims
7/8/2023
Mike Stephen discusses the state of rental housing in Chicago with Geoff Smith, executive director of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, and then discovers the Secret History of local guitarist Gerald Sims.
Duration:00:34:06
OTL #872: The lack of City Council committee meetings, Paint the City, Nigel Mack’s new music
7/1/2023
Mike Stephen discusses the lack of Chicago City Council committee meetings with Block Club Chicago editor and reporter Mick Dumke, learns about connecting local artists to one another through Paint the City from co-founders Barrett Keithly and Missy Perkins, and gets the lowdown on local bluesman Nigel Mack’s new album.
Duration:00:37:49
OTL #871: Transforming juvenile justice in Illinois, The RTA’s strategic plan for transportation, The Secret History of Dorothy Donegan
6/24/2023
Mike Stephen discusses the process of reforming Illinois’ juvenile justice system with Jennifer Vollen-Katz of the John Howard Association of Illinois, learns about the RTA’s strategic plan for local transportation from Streetsblog Chicago's Sharon Hoyer, and discovers the Secret History of piano virtuoso Dorothy Donegan.
Duration:00:42:11
OTL #870: 1619: The Journey of a People, No official onboarding for City Council members, New walking tours of local LGBTQ+ history
6/17/2023
Mike Stephen talks to Ted Williams, the creator of the musical 1619: The Journey of a People, about the impact of the show's story, learns about the lack of an official onboarding process for newly-elected alderpeople from Dave Glowacz, staff reporter at Inside Chicago Government, and gets the lowdown on new walking tours highlighting local LGBTQ+ history from Mike McMains, founder of Tours With Mike.
Duration:00:48:01
OTL #869: Chicago Science Fest preview, The Surabhi Ensemble’s new music, The Secret History of Derf Reklaw
6/10/2023
Mike Stephen gets a preview of the upcoming Chicago Science Festival from Illinois Science Council founder & executive director Monica Metzler, learns about the music of the local group Surabhi Ensemble from guitarist Carlo Basile, and discovers the Secret History of local multi-instrumentalist Derf Reklaw.
Duration:00:40:58
OTL #868: Nuclear power in Illinois, AI’s impact on local journalism, “Born In Chicago” documents Blues history
6/3/2023
Mike Stephen learns about the possibility of repealing the nuclear construction moratorium in Illinois from David Kraft of the Illinois Nuclear Energy Information Service, discusses the impact of artificial intelligence on local journalism with Justin Kerr, publisher of McKinley Park News, and dives into the unique history of blues music in Chicago with John Anderson, co-director of the film Born in Chicago.
Duration:00:50:00
OTL #867: The power of poetry, The Artist Formerly Known As Vince’s new music, The Secret History of Cleveland Eaton
5/27/2023
Mike Stephen discusses the power of poetry with Poetry Out Loud Illinois champion, Yohanna Endashaw, as well as Susan Dickson of the Illinois Arts Council Agency and Sheila Walk of the Springfield Area Arts Council, gets the lowdown on new music from The Artist Formerly Known As Vince, and discovers the Secret History of the talented bass player Cleveland Eaton.
Duration:00:39:03
OTL #866: The possibility of wind power in Illinois, The Chicago Alternative Comic Expo, Immigration is a human rights issue
5/20/2023
Mike Stephen discusses the possibility of bringing wind power to Illinois with State Sen. Robert Peters (13th), previews the Chicago Alternative Comic Expo with organizers Chris Lopez and Sage Coffey, and replays part of a conversation about immigration and human rights.
Duration:00:37:11
OTL #865: The history of country music in Chicago, Andy Hermann is a public radio sensation
5/13/2023
Mike Stephen talks with Mark Guarino, the author of a new book called Country and Midwestern: Chicago in the History of Country Music and the Folk Revival on the history of country music in Chicago and then reconnects with former Outside the Loop producer, Andy Hermann, about his new gig as a public radio producer and host at Nebraska Public Media.
Duration:00:37:21