Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen discusses an analysis about the substance of Chicago City Hall meetings with Better Government Association policy analyst Geoffrey Cubbage, talks to local musician Joe Rian about his new tunes, and discovers the Secret History of blues and soul singer G.L. Crockett.

Mike Stephen discusses new research about Chicago’s guaranteed income pilot program with Misuzu Schexnider, program director at the Inclusive Economy Lab, learns about the community-building efforts of the MAAFA Redemption Project from co-founder and executive director Marshall Hatch Jr., and chats with Naperville’s Lia Caton about her new music.

Mike Stephen learns about tracking local public transit with cyberanalyst Brandon McFadden, discusses the impact of gun violence in Chicago communities with Cliff Nellis of the Lawndale Christian Legal Center, and discovers the Secret History of blues guitarist Linsey Alexander.

Mike Stephen learns about expanding access to cultural spaces for those with disabilities with Christena Gunther, president and founder of Cultural Access Collaborative, discusses a new funding opportunity for local cultural spaces with Illinois Humanities executive director Gabrielle Lyon, and gets the lowdown on Local Motive’s new music with band frontman Mike Vinopal.

Mike Stephen discusses the decrease in public school students in Illinois with Chalkbeat Chicago's Samantha Smylie, learns about Black organizing pre-Civil War in Illinois with Northwestern University history professor Kate Masur, and discovers the Secret History of local saxman J.T. Brown.

Mike Stephen learns about the new expansion of Chicago literacy nonprofit Open Books from executive director Eric Johnson, learns how ChicagoJazz.com is back in full swing and delivering new local music coverage from its founder Mike Jeffers, and discovers new local tunes from musician Daniel Gunderson.

Mike Stephen discusses the impact and significance of the Chicago Public Library over the last 150 years with library commissioner Chris Brown and then discovers the Secret History of local blues vocalist and drummer Ms. Johnnie Mae Dunson.

Mike Stephen talks to former Chicago Tribune reporter Josh Noel about his decision to leave the paper and then learns about local train crawls from Scott Presslak, the founder of Yard Social.

Mike Stephen learns about The Answer Inc, a local organization that helps those with disabilities, from founder and CEO Debra Vines, gets the lowdown on the best Led Zeppelin tribute band from "Bobby Plant 2" (aka: Bruce Lamont), and discovers the Secret History of blues guitar master John Primer.

Mike Stephen airs a few big show conversations from 2022.  Happy New Year from your friends at Outside the Loop!