Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen learns about the rich history of children's cinema in Chicago with Ann Vikstrom, Director of the 34th annual Chicago Children's Intentional Film Festival, chats about the growing momentum for rent control in Illinois with  State Representative Will Guzzardi, and slows things down with Kristen Kaza, co-founder of Slo'Mo, a slow jam movement to celebrate LGBTQ communities in Chicago.  The local jamz this week are provided to us by K-Nein.

Mike Stephen crosses radio waves with WRFU-LP station manager DJ BJ Clark in Urbana, IL for another installment of Low Power to the People, chats with Vicki White, President of Chicago Books to Women in Prison, about the organization's efforts to bring a little humanity to inmates all over the US, and visits Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) to learn about the Secret History 1970s folk-pop band Stumpwater.

Mike Stephen brings the national gun headlines closer to home and chats with Colleen Daley, Executive Director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, turns south to learn about the unique history of railways with Allisa Opyd, Community Events Manager for the Village of Homewood, IL, and welcomes Keya Trammell into the studio to perform as our live musical guest and talk about her journey as a Chicago artist.

Mike Stephen chats with both Bethany Gomillion, Marathon Campaign Coordinator at Run Domestic Violence Out of Town, and Elizabeth Gray, marathoner and domestic abuse survivor, about fighting domestic violence; checks in with Natalie Anderson, co-owner of Batavia's Beardsgaard Barbers, about that booming small business; and discusses educating CPS students about healthy eating with May Tsupros, Executive Director and Co-founder of The Gardeneers. This week's local music provided by Fire Garden.

11 years of Outside the Loop Radio have brought Mike Stephen a myriad of laughs, debates, tacos, and gray hairs to his head. To celebrate OTL's 11th birthday, Mike features three stories connected to a topic near and dear to his heart, DIY media.His anniversary guests include Bob McChesney, Professor of Communication at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana and Outside the Loop's inaugural guest back in 2006, local artist Carla Fisher-Schwartz, who's installation "True North" is featured at the SUB-MISSION space in Chicago, and John Wilson, co-organizer of the Chicago Book Expo. The local music for this week's show is provided by EGI, Ethereal Groove, Inc..

Mike Stephen talks with Geoff Meyer, President of The Chicagoland Youth Football League, about where youth football stands in a CTE-aware world, visits Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) to learn about the influential '80s house musicians Master Plan in another installment of the Secret History of Chicago Music, and chats with Chicagoist Food Editor, Anthony Todd, about the wave of restaurant closings this year in Chicago.  The crew also waxes poetic about free chips and salsa in local taquerias. This week's local music is provided by Fletcher Rockwell. (And don't forget to take our listener survey!!)

This week Mike Stephen, with the help of his wife Jenny, drops a baby delivery bomb on the show by welcoming Joey Stephen to the world, checks in with Ere Rendon of the Resurrection Project concerning the recent news on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program, discusses the state of Chicago State University with interim president Dr. Rachel Lindsey, and explores a unique backyard community art space in Oak Park called Compound Yellow. This week's local music is provided by Tinkerbelles. (And don't forget to take our listener survey!!)

It's a new day on OTL as Mike Stephen welcomes his new producer Collin Seaman, debuts a new segment entitled "Low Power to People," featuring  WRHC in Harbor Country, MI, chats with Julian Roberts about the 28th annual African Festival of the Arts in Washington Park, and learns about 1980s pop punk punkers The Front Lines with Plastic Crimewave for another installment of The Secret History of Chicago Music. This week's local music is provided by Monobody. (And don't forget to take our listener survey!!)

Mike Stephen checks in with Chicago Fringe Festival executive director Anne Cauley about seeking out the weird and unique in the performing arts, visits with Bars of Chicago creator Katherine Hodges about Instagramming as many taverns as she can in the city and beyond, and bids farewell to Outside the Loop co-founder Andy Hermann as he leaves the city he's called home for almost two decades. Meanwhile, we play a voicemail from #1 OTL fan Mrs. Stephen... who wishes Andy the best in New York City. This week's local music is provided by Varsity. (And don't forget to take our listener survey!!)

Mike Stephen talks with Belt Magazine senior editor Martha Bayne about collecting stories for the new book Rust Belt Chicago: An Anthology, checks in with Hinsdale South High School librarian Ellen Lawrence about the importance of libraries in high schools, and chats with Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about arena-ready rockers Ritz for this week's edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music. Meanwhile, we present the Outside the Loop Listener Survey. We'd love your feedback! This week's local music is provided by Kerosene Stars.