Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen drops into East Lakeview's Jacqueline's for the penultimate stop on our #WinterTavernTour, and then he discusses all things Primary Election in studio with Scott Kennedy of Illinois Election Data and Mick Dumke of ProPublica Illinois as part of OTL's Primary Prep Spectacular (featuring a special podcast-only extended conversation!).  This week's local music is powered by Pixel Grip.

Mike Stephen drops in on Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) to learn about the Secret History of Chicago blues drummer Sam Lay, visits the Grace & Leavitt Tavern for the fourth stop on the OTL Winter Tavern Tour, and welcomes the Black Oil Brothers into the studio to make some sweet, sweet jamz.

Mike Stephen grabs a coffee in Little Village with Democratic congressional candidate (IL-4) Sol Flores, drops into the Skylark bar in Bridgeport for this week's stop on the #WinterTavernTour, and  connects with operations coordinator for Oshkosh Media and WOCT-LP Jake Timm in Oshkosh, WI, for another installment of Low Power to the People. This week's local music is powered by Beach Bunny.

Mike Stephen sifts through the economic realities and possible long road to Illinois' fiscal solvency with co-director of the Fiscal Futures project David Merriman, visits the Friendly Tap for the second stop on the OTL Winter Tavern Tour, and drops in on Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) to learn about the Secret History of Chicago Blues musician Smilin' Bobby. This week's local music comes from The Chase Aways.

Mike Stephen embarks on the first stop of our 2018 Winter Tavern Tour to Guthries Tavern in Wrigleyville, chats with former DNA Info Chicago editor Shamus Toomey about the new hyper-local reporting venture Block Club Chicago, and discusses the upcoming Chicago Volunteer Expo. This week's local music is powered by Black Road.

Mike Stephen discusses rent control and affordable housing in Illinois with Miguel Jimenez of the Metropolitan Tenants Organization, visits Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) to learn about the Secret History of Chicago Blues musician Mary Lane, and discusses the applications of new technology in the classroom with Meg Ormiston, author of the book NOW Classrooms.  This week's local music comes from The Ions.

Mike Stephen discusses the future of Boystown with documentary filmmaker and INTO Editor-in-Chief Zach Stafford, hears from Media Engagement Center researcher Emily Van Duyn about how media portrayal of certain regions of Chicago makes a difference on how we perceive our own neighborhoods, and connects with Alexander Martin, president of WLLU-LP in Decatur, IL, for another installment of Low Power to the People. This week's local music comes from Devil in a Woodpile.

Mike Stephen get his mind digitally blown with Brian Dressel at m1 Interactive, checks in with Ere Rendon of the Resurrection Project concerning the recent government shutdown over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) debate, and visits Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) to learn about the Secret History of Chicago Blues musician, and alleged first musician to record a harp on a record, Daddy Stovepipe. This week's local music

Mike Stephen hosts the annual Outside the Loop Chicago Podcasting summit to talk about all things new and exciting in the world of local audio storytelling. Joining him in studio for this summit is Arnie Neikamp and Matt Young of Hello from the Magic Tavern, Colleen Pellissier of The Good News Podcast, and Dometi Pongo of CULture Race and Equity: a seat at the table. Special thank to Engines for powering this week's local music.

Mike Stephen rides the hog line with Jeff Sampson, president of Windy City Curling Club, connects with Tom Depauw and Darryl Roberts, co-founders of WTND-LP in Macomb, IL for another installment of Low Power to the People, and visits Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) to learn about the Secret History of Chicago Blues musician Johnny B. Moore. This week's local music comes from The Bama Lamas.