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...
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. http://outsidetheloopradio.com
Twitter:
@outsidetheloop
Language:
English
Contact:
Outside the Loop WGN Radio 435 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611
Episodes
OTL #1,013: The next generation of engineers, Revisiting The Levee, The Secret History of Ed Wilkerson
3/14/2026
Mike Stephen learns about inspiring the next generation of civil engineers from Pinpoint Scholars Foundation founder & president Michael Bempah, replays his visit to The Levee bar in the Hermosa neighborhood, and discovers the Secret History of local saxman Ed Wilkerson Jr.
Duración:00:40:52
OTL #1,012: Illinois' population struggles, Project I Am, Rap J's story
3/7/2026
Mike Stephen discusses the issue of Illinois' struggling population numbers with Chicago Magazine writer Ted McClelland, learns about the local organization called Project I Am from its founder Jahkil Jackson, and then talks to Milwaukee rapper Rap J about his life story and upcoming Chicago performance.
Duración:00:38:01
OTL #1,011: Civics and a new Bears stadium, A veena virtuoso, The Secret History of The Dells
2/28/2026
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.
Duración:00:45:07
OTL #1,010: Check your judges in 2026, My Sweet George tribute show
2/21/2026
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.
Duración:00:32:53
OTL #1,009: Intonation Music, A new chapter for the Westside NAACP, The Secret History of Elsa Harris and Duke Tumatoe
2/14/2026
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.
Duración:00:42:04
OTL #1,008: The history of Chicago dining, A new show from the Sideshow Villains, A Boy and His Dream
2/7/2026
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.
Duración:00:45:38
OTL #1,007: Chicago independent music venues are the backbone of creativity, Revisiting the preservation of local signs
1/31/2026
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.
Duración:00:42:09
OTL #1,006: Borderless Magazine tells the story of immigrants in Chicago, The connection between school attendance and successful students
1/24/2026
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.
Duración:00:36:15
OTL #1,005: Funkytown Beer expands Paying musicians what they're owed, New music from Gina Marie and The Golden Bucks
1/17/2026
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.
Duración:00:45:49
OTL #1,004: Wage theft in Illinois, A look at the state's fiscal health
1/10/2026
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.
Duración:00:39:48
OTL #1,003: A look back at 2025
1/3/2026
Mike Stephen takes a look back at some highlights of the show from 2025. Happy New Year from your friends at Outside the Loop!
Duración:00:42:05
OTL #1,002: A college in degree in Illinois can go a long way, The Secret History of Kitty Haywood
12/27/2025
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.
Duración:00:38:27
OTL #1001: Straight Outta Skokie, Creative Cypher's Chicago entertainment ecosystem
12/20/2025
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.
Duración:00:38:33
OTL #1,000: The 1,000th episode live from Fitzgerald's!
12/13/2025
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
Duración:01:29:53
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
12/6/2025
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.
Duración:00:44:37
OTL #998: Rethinking housing in Chicago and beyond, The Robert Townsend Pop-Up Film Fest, Public transit reliability
11/29/2025
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.
Duración:00:38:24
OTL #997: Local journalism ethics in a time of ICE occupation, New music from These Peaches, The Haitian American Museum of Chicago
11/22/2025
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.
Duración:00:39:24
OTL #996: Home for the Holidays helps those in need, Indiscipline: The music of King Crimson, The Secret History of Charles E. Gerber
11/15/2025
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.
Duración:00:37:20
OTL #995: Helping local veterans in need, New music from The Gunshy, Chicago is a little less ratty
11/8/2025
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.
Duración:00:36:39
OTL #994: The state of local news, The Secret History of Aura
11/1/2025
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.
Duración:00:41:00