Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen gets an update on the impact of TIF districts on Chicago neighborhoods over the past year with Tom Tresser, co-founder of The CivicLab, and then re-airs a conversation with Illinois native Kevin Jakubowski, the screenwriter of the Holiday film 8-Bit Christmas.

Mike Stephen learns how pollution is impacting McKinley Park from Anthony Moser, board president of Neighbors for Environmental Justice, discusses the creation of the first Green Dining District in Illinois with Ravi Parakkat, Oak Park trustee and founder of Takeout 25, and discovers the Secret History of 1960s soul singer Jo Ann Garrett.

Mike Stephen discusses the “We Will Chicago” plan and its criticisms with City Bureau reporters Jerrel Floyd and India Daniels, talks to local photographer Marty Perez about his 40 years of music photography and his new book called Kill a Punk For Rock & Roll: 1976-2019 Photographs, and chats with Peter Moore, artistic director at Steep Theatre, about that theater company's new grant from the City of Chicago.

Mike Stephen learns about the fascinating history of Kaskaskia, IL, from Illinois Humanities' Matt Meacham and then dives into the story of the 1980s-era metal band Witchslayer.

Mike Stephen talks to local journalist and Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield about his controversial article about the firing of a Hideout employee and then gets a preview of this year’s Goose Island Bourbon Co. Stout line from Josh Noel of the Chicago Tribune.

Mike Stephen gives an update on the Chicago City Council’s inaction when it comes to fighting homelessness, gets the lowdown on new music from Chicago’s Curious Grace & Black Rabbit, and discovers the amazing Secret History of local polka legend Walter “Li’l Wally” Jagiello.

Mike Stephen talks to sociologist David Schalliol about the societal impact of demolishing buildings in Chicago, discusses the state of politics in Springfield during this polarized time with State Rep. Margaret Croke (D-12th), and plays audio of his experience at the immersive FORTS! experience at the Filament Theatre in Portage Park.

Mike Stephen talks to Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Samantha Smylie and learns how Illinois is turning to tutors to help students , chats with legendary Chicagoan Pemon Rami about creativity and activism, and discovers the Secret History of saxman Clifford Jordan.

tional Association of Media Literacy Education, chats with Don Villar, secretary-treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor, about the proposed Workers’ Rights Amendment, and chats with Brian Webb of the local band Nice Motor about their new music.

Mike Stephen gets an update on the state of public housing in Chicago from ProPublica's Mick Dumke and then discovers the Secret History of organist Odell Brown.