Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen discusses the state of unions in Illinois, explores how low-income students often face low expectations, and learns about the exciting work of ProjectArt Chicago.  Plus, we track down Producer Collin at Midway Airport for the OTL Wrap Party!  This week's local music is brought to us by Good Enough.

Mike Stephen discusses the idea of the CTA being free for riders, learns about the empowering work of Girls on the Run Chicago, and discovers the Secret History of local Funkadelic artist Pedro Bell.  This week's local music is brought to you by Adjacent Cruise.

Mike Stephen learns the powerful story of living with a personality-changing brain tumor from local author Mary Ellen Aschenbrenner, gets an update on TIFs in Chicago from civic educator Tom Tresser, and discusses the efforts to revitalize the Auburn-Gresham neighborhood.  Check out the OTL Wrap Party towards the end of the show so you can let us know what you'd do if you were in charge of Chicago!  This week's local music is brought to us by Vo Era.

Mike Stephen learns about the possibility of new regulations on urban farm animals, discusses the controversy around a proposed greenway in Lincoln Park, and discovers the Secret History of weird duo Moc Artsy.  This week's local music is brought to you by Tenci.

Mike Stephen learns about the proposal to municipalize Chicago’s electricity infrastructure from the executive director of the Citizens Utility Board, explores the gaming industry’s influence on local politics with Jason Grotto of ProPublica Illinois, and discusses racial equity in the area’s transportation with Oboi Reed, founder of Equiticity.  This week's local music is brought to us by Rachel A. Schrock.

Mike Stephen discusses the rise of democratic socialism in the Chicago City Council with author Edward McClelland, learns that it’s safe to fish in the Chicago River (kind of), and discovers the Secret History of radio DJ Jerry-O.  This week's local music is brought to you by Lester Ray.

Mike Stephen drops by an old post office van in Humboldt Park to chat with the founder of Chicago Mobile Makers, learns about an event at The Plant raising awareness about food consumption, and previews the Kite Fest happening at the Chicago Botanic Garden.  And we have a special guest in the OTL Wrap Party: Sister-In-Sound Ashelyanne Krigbaum, producer of Rightnowish, on KQED 88.5 FM in San Francisco!  This week's local music is brought to us by Fuzzy Poser.

Mike Stephen welcomes members of the local band Radio Free Honduras into the studio to perform live and then explores the Secret History of legendary local arranger and musician Johnny Pate.

Mike Stephen gets the story of the 1919 Chicago Race Riots, learns about Openlands’ strategic plan for conservation, and discusses how WVMO-LP serves the community of Monona, WI.  The local music on this week's show comes from Purple Mountains.

Mike Stephen celebrates the creepy 666th episode by learning about the benefits of eating insects, gets the lowdown on the increase in dark lagers brewed locally, and discovers the Secret History of soul singer Barbara Acklin.  This week's local music is brought to you by Opacia.