Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen learns about a new report highlighting the risks of removing fluoride from drinking water from Dr. Helen Lee of the University of Illinois Chicago, gets an update on the new Southwest Chamber of Commerce from McKinley Park News publisher Justin Kerr, and chats with Naked Brunch vocalist Michael Hanna about the band's new music.

Mike Stephen gets an update on the hurdles to obtaining certificates of innocence from Injustice Watch senior reporter Dan Hinkel, checks out new music from Chicago's Cult Canyon with band leader Josh Chicone, and discusses Ricardo, a new film about identity, with writer, director, and actor Roberto Jay.

Mike Stephen explores the legacy of one of the most successful sports figures of the 19th century with Nancy Hays, author of Riding for America: The Story of Isaac Murphy, Sports Icon of the 19th Century, gets an update on the community-building work of HelloBaby from founder Debbie Frisch, and spotlights Chicago Pride Hockey.

Mike Stephen talks with local food journalist Nick Kindelsperger about his quest to eat at every restaurant in the Loop, learns about the challenges Chicago street vendors face from Maria Orozco, development manager for the Street Vendors Association of Chicago, and discusses an approach to addressing the affordable housing crisis with Illinois Answers Project investigative reporter Alex Nitkin.

Mike Stephen revisits a few previous segments from the show that explore the relationship between brewing, distilling, bar culture, and Chicago history.

Mike Stephen learns how bricks tell the history of Chicagoland with Will Quam, author of the new book Fire and Clay: How Bricks Reveal the Hidden History of Chicago, and then chats with Akele Spencer, a resident of the South Side and member of Southside Together, about his opposition to a new microelectronics park being built in his community.

Mike Stephen discusses the potential impact of food assistance cuts on Illinois grocery stores with Capitol News Illinois reporting intern Jenna Schweikert, learns how the local organization Timeless Gifts brings music education to youth from founder Joan Collaso, and discovers the secret history of local blues guitarist Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson.

Mike Stephen explores the controversy of Chicago Public Schools using public money to take students to a protest with Nick Kryczka, assistant professor of secondary education for social studies at the College of Education at National Louis University, and then chats with Injustice Watch senior reporter Dan Hinkel about how difficult it is to clear a wrongful conviction in Cook County.

Mike Stephen visits the shop of Mach MachinesMusical Instruments in Oak Park and talks to owner Dave Showalter, chats with Rima Ziuraitis, a Naperville woman who volunteered in the Ukraine War, and discovers the Secret History of guitarist Vince Black.

Mike Stephen talks to Takeout 25 founder Ravi Parakkat about 20fy.ai, an artificial intelligence system that is being used to help local restaurants, gets a preview of Goatstock in Norridge with Music Graphics Chicago co-owners Deb Sonzo and Jamie Riani, and chats with Chicagoan Todd Kessler about his new music.

Mike Stephen visits the Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association conference to discuss the future of journalism with Prospect High School teacher Jason Block and Prospect seniors Tessa Trylovich and Stella Palm and then discovers the Secret History of jazz guitarist Eddie Condon.

Mike Stephen chats with Roya Samarghandi, chief advocacy and innovation officer at The Chicago Bar Foundation, about a new program that allows residents to get legal aid at their local library, explores the ongoing debate around public money for private schools with Chalkbeat Chicago's Reema Amin, and gets the lowdown on a local organization that helps youth enter the workforce called Leaders in Transformational Education from CEO Candace Thier.

Mike Stephen revisits a segment from 2018 about Chicago Voyagers, learns about local trumpeter Sam Robinson's new music, and discovers the Secret History of folk singer Anne Hills.

Mike Stephen chats with Teri O'Brien, the new owner of The Hideout, visits Andrew and Hannah Follett, the owners of New Sound Cafe in the Austin neighborhood, and talks to saxophonist John Fournier about the new album from the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective.

Mike Stephen discusses the success of peer support programs in prisons with John Howard Association executive director Jennifer Vollen-Katz, chats with local musician Chris Neville about new music from Chicago's Meadowlark Lemons, and talks to Darryl Manuel, the director, and Phil Lee, producer, of the film EdiblEats.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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    

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.