Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen learns about the broken promises of Cabrini-Green from Better Government Association senior investigative reporter Alejandra Cancino and then gets an update on the response of state correctional facilities to the COVID-19 pandemic from Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director of the John Howard Association of Illinois.

Mike Stephen talks to Greg Jacobs, co-director of a documentary called The Road Up, that tells the story of overcoming obstacles to employment, learns about the issues surrounding Chicago’s last black-owned bank with ProPublica journalist Mick Dumke, and talks to Kate Fagan about her new Holiday album. Happy new year from Outside the Loop!

Mike Stephen (with help from his youngest son Joey) plays some Holiday-themed clips from past years of the show.  Happy Holidays from Outside the Loop to you!

Mike Stephen discusses the future of the tiki bar with Streetsblog Chicago editor & Chicago Reader columnist John Greenfield and local playwright & script writer Hannah Ii-Epstein. Then we learn the Secret History of 1960s Evanston garage-rockers The Peep Show. And Mike announces a programming note and gives an update on the issue of the lack of public bathrooms in Chicago.

Mike Stephen talks with University of Illinois professor emeritus Robert McChesney about a proposal to save local journalism and democracy and then chats with local singer-songwriter Peter Joly about his new album. And Mike gives an update on some previous segments that aired on the show recently.

Mike Stephen talks with a Chicago Public School teacher Jeff Solin about the district’s interpretation of the Student Online Personal Protection Act, discusses Chicago’s Black exodus with Anthony Simpkins of the Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, and learns the Secret History of the late folkie Michael P. Smith. And Mike is excited that he was mentioned in the 8-Bit Christmas review in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Mike Stephen talks to Josh Noel of the Chicago Tribune about some access issues with Bourbon County beers this year, discusses the need for more public restrooms in Chicago with Courtney Cobbs of Streetsblog Chicago, and learns about the great work of West Town Feeds from board member Lauren Young. And Mike reminds us that if we really want this year's lineup of Bourbon County beers, it's ok to wait a little bit.

Mike Stephen learns about a people's history of Uptown through the Dis/Placements project from its co-founders Gayatri Reddy & Anna Guevarra and discovers the Secret History of 1980s alt-rockers Stark. And Mike thinks we should open up the fast food drive-thru lanes to bicycles. What could go wrong?

Mike Stephen chats with Batavia native Kevin Jakubowski, the screenwriter of the upcoming film 8-Bit Christmas, talks to Oak Park & River Forest High School senior Jelena Collins about her experience at the UN Climate Change Conference, and learns about local musician Guy King’s new music. And Mike remembers the joys of old-school Nintendo from the 1980s.

Mike Stephen talks to Erik Esse, the producer of a new documentary about the internal divisions in the co-op movement called Co-Op Wars, learns about the struggles of Afghan refugee youth in Chicago from ProPublica reporter Melissa Sanchez, and discovers the Secret History of 1970s one-hit wonder Jamestown Massacre. And Mike ponders the question: do we still need street sweeping in Chicago?