OTL #974: Is Chicago prioritizing environmental justice?, The Secret History of Fred Below
Release Date: 06/14/2025
OTL #1,003: A look back at 2025
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen takes a look back at some highlights of the show from 2025. Happy New Year from your friends at Outside the Loop!
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OTL #1,002: A college in degree in Illinois can go a long way, The Secret History of Kitty Haywood
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen discusses a new report that shows a college degree is the most promising path to a good job in Illinois with bureau chief Becky Vevea and then discovers the Secret History of 20th century soul vocalist .
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OTL #1,001: Straight Outta Skokie, Creative Cypher's Chicago entertainment ecosystem
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen talks to Al Krockey, the author of a new book about coming of age in the 1960s and 70s in Skokie and Chicago called , and then learns about the plans has for building an entertainment ecosystem in Chicago from founder Troy Pryor and interim president Cindy Beasley.
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OTL #1,000: The 1,000th episode live from Fitzgerald’s!
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen hosts his 1,000th episode of Outside the Loop at Fitzgerald’s Nightclub! Guests include: -Will Duncan and Jess King, owners of -Dominic Pacyga, professor emeritus of history at Columbia College Chicago and author of -Steve Krakow (aka: Plastic Crimewave), local musician and author of -Holley Brandchaft-White and Genia Yovankin, founders of -Surprise guest: , co-founder and former producer of Outside the Loop and current producer at
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OTL #999: The new editor in chief of the Chicago Reader, How are CPS students doing after they graduate?, New Holiday music from Kevin Brown
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen talks to , the new editor in chief of the , about the future of the paper, discusses with the To&Through Project director of data and research Alexandra Usher, and gets the lowdown on new Holiday music from local guitarist .
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OTL #998: Rethinking housing in Chicago and beyond, The Robert Townsend Pop-Up Film Fest, Public transit reliability
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen learns about from UIC architecture professor Alexander Eisenschmidt, chats with actor and director Robert Townsend about , and re-visits a segment on local public transit reliability.
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OTL #997: Local journalism ethics in a time of ICE occupation, New music from These Peaches, The Haitian American Museum of Chicago
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen discusses the role of local journalists during a time of local ICE occupation with publisher Justin Kerr, gets the lowdown on new music from the local band from frontman Rich Klevgard, and learns about the significance of the from founder and CEO Elsie Hernandez. AND...come out to Fitzgerald's at 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn on Saturday, November 22, at 3:00 p.m. for the Outside the Loop 1,000th episode taping! It's a FREE event, but you need to RSVP using .
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OTL #996: Home for the Holidays helps those in need, Indiscipline: The music of King Crimson, The Secret History of Charles E. Gerber
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen learns about a local initiative called that helps those less fortunate this Holiday season from founder Chef Ora Thompson, gets a preview of show from band leader Eric Butler, and discovers the Secret History of local actor and musician . AND...come out to Fitzgerald's at 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn on Saturday, November 22, at 3:00 p.m. for the Outside the Loop 1,000th episode taping! It's a FREE event, but you need to RSVP using .
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OTL #995: Helping local veterans in need, New music from The Gunshy, Chicago is a little less ratty
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen learns about a local nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans during this difficult time called from founder Tatshee Simmons, gets the lowdown on new local music from , and revisits a segment that explores rats in Chicago. AND...come out to Fitzgerald's at 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn on Saturday, November 22, at 3:00 p.m. for the Outside the Loop 1,000th episode taping! It's a FREE event, but you need to RSVP using .
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OTL #994: The state of local news, The Secret History of Aura
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen discusses with Medill professor Tim Franklin and then dives into the Secret History of the 1970s Chicago horn rock band . AND...come out to Fitzgerald's at 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn on Saturday, November 22, at 3:00 p.m. for the Outside the Loop 1,000th episode taping! It's a FREE event, but you need to RSVP using .
info_outlineMike Stephen gets an update on the struggle for environmental justice on the southwest side of Chicago from Anthony Moser, board president of Neighbors for Environmental Justice, and then discovers the Secret History of the local influential 20th century drummer Fred Below.