Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen talks to Anne Elizabeth Moore about her new book called Gentrifier: A Memoir, discusses the issues facing hockey culture with Evan F. Moore, the co-author of Game Misconduct: Hockey's Toxic Culture and How to Fix It, and revisits a segment from four years ago that takes us underneath Read-Dunning Park on the northwest side of Chicago. And Mike gives some love to The Hideout after that venue was vandalized twice in a month.

Mike Stephen gets on update on the local craft beer scene from Chicago Tribune reporter Josh Noel, chats with local musician David Stowell about his new music, and learns the Secret History of the 1960s group The Opals. And Mike hopes we can take a step back from looking at everything through a political lens and do what's right when it comes to the challenges we face in the world.

Mike Stephen talks to Tracy Baim, the co-publisher of the Chicago Reader, about that publication’s 50th anniversary and what it means to the city. Then, we learn about a proposal to fight homelessness in Chicago from Edrika Fulford, a member of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless' Grassroots Leadership Team. And Mike tells the story of a high school prank that will help improve that school's cybersecurity.

Mike Stephen learns about a new local Black-owned brewery called Funkytown from co-owners Richard Bloomfield, Zachary Day, and Gregory Williams, discusses the loss of affordable housing in Chicago with executive director of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University Geoff Smith, and discovers the Secret History of the local country rock band Ouray. And Mike recounts his standoff with a Chicago rat, since the city has once again been named the "rattiest" in America.

Mike Stephen discusses the impact of mass incarceration in Illinois with Meredith Nnoka of IL Humanities, learns about community participation in redrawing ward maps from Chaundra Van Dyk of CHANGE Illinois, and gets the lowdown on some new rock and roll from the local band The Footlight District with vocalist and songwriter Sarah Scarbrough. And Mike waxes poetic about local dive bars, even if they might not be the cleanest places...or the most structurally sound.

Mike Stephen learns about the Black Fives Era of basketball from journalist Ade Adeniji, discusses the passage of new climate legislation in Illinois with Colleen Smith of the Illinois Environmental Council, and discovers the Secret History of gospel musician Rev. Marvin Yancy. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Producer Collin says farewell and turns in his OTL ID before riding off into the sunset.

Mike Stephen discusses the future of media and democracy with Nikki Usher, associate professor of journalism at the University of Illinois and author of News for the Rich, White, and Blue: How Place and Power Distort American Journalism, and talks to civic educator and public defender Tom Tresser about the latest in the Chicago TIF saga. And in the OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin give some love to media and democracy. Yay, democracy!

Mike Stephen celebrates 30 years of the wonderful Quimby’s Bookstore with store manager Liz Mason, learns the Secret History of the late violin-shredder Johnny Frigo, and replays part of a conversation from 2019 about expectations for student success.

Mike Stephen learns about Takeout 25’s evolution into a non-profit from founder and board president Ravi Parakkat, gets the lowdown on The Iconic Chicago Restaurants Map from Chicago Reader columnist and Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield, and learns about the wonderful resources of area ethnic grocery stores from Fooditor editor Mike Gebert.

Mike Stephen gets an update on environmental policy in Illinois with Colleen Smith of the Illinois Environmental Council, learns about Edgewater’s local environmental work with Tricia Van Eck of the Edgewater Environmental Coalition, and discovers the Secret History of 1980s new wave rockers The Odd. And in the The OTL Wrap Party, Mike and Producer Collin remind us that we need to get on board with fighting climate change right now!