Outside the Loop RADIO

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.