Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen chats with Teri O'Brien, the new owner of The Hideout, visits Andrew and Hannah Follett, the owners of New Sound Cafe in the Austin neighborhood, and talks to saxophonist John Fournier about the new album from the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective.

Mike Stephen discusses the success of peer support programs in prisons with John Howard Association executive director Jennifer Vollen-Katz, chats with local musician Chris Neville about new music from Chicago's Meadowlark Lemons, and talks to Darryl Manuel, the director, and Phil Lee, producer, of the film EdiblEats.

Mike Stephen discusses the issue of Illinois' struggling population numbers with Chicago Magazine writer Ted McClelland, learns about the local organization called Project I Am from its founder Jahkil Jackson, and then talks to Milwaukee rapper Rap J about his life story and upcoming Chicago performance.

Mike Stephen discusses the civic implications of a new Bears stadium with civic educator and author Tom Tresser, previews a local world music performance from veena virtuoso Sara Ranganathan, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago's The Dells.

Mike Stephen discusses the Injustice Watch 2026 Judicial Primary Election Guide with senior reporter Dan Hinkel and then previews a George Harrison tribute show featuring a wonderful lineup of talented local musicians with Ellis Clark, the lead singer of the band The Social Act.

Mike Stephen learns about the work of Intonation Music on the South Side of Chicago from executive director Tonya Howell, chats with Remel Terry, the new president of the Westside branch of the NAACP, and discovers the Secret History of Elsa Harris and Duke Tumatoe.

Mike Stephen talks to food journalist Mike Gebert about his new book that chronicles the history of Chicago dining, previews a Valentine's Day show from the Sideshow Villains with band leader Dante Ingram, and discusses the work of the local nonprofit A Boy and His Dream with founder Sunny Akhigbe.

Mike Stephen talks to Jimalita Tillman and Chris Bauman, co-chairs of the Chicago Independent Venue League, about a new report that shows how important Chicago independent music venues are to the culture and economy of the city and then revisits a segment on preserving local signs.

Mike Stephen learns about Borderless Magazine's work of telling the immigrant story in Chicago from co-founder and executive director Nissa Rhee and then chats with Meril Antony, senior research analyst at the UChicago Consortium on School Research, about a new report looking at the link between school attendance and successful students.