OTL #1,005: Funkytown Beer expands, Paying musicians what they’re owed, New music from Gina Marie and The Golden Bucks
Release Date: 01/17/2026
OTL #1,022: Can grocery stores survive food assistance cuts?, Timeless Gifts, The Secret History of Luther Johnson
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen discusses the potential impact of food assistance cuts on Illinois grocery stores with reporting intern Jenna Schweikert, learns how the local organization brings music education to youth from founder Joan Collaso, and discovers the secret history of local blues guitarist .
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OTL #1,021: Civic miseducation in CPS, Denying innocence in Cook County
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen explores the controversy of Chicago Public Schools with Nick Kryczka, assistant professor of secondary education for social studies at the College of Education at National Louis University, and then chats with senior reporter Dan Hinkel about how difficult it is to clear a wrongful conviction in Cook County.
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OTL #1,020: Inside the shop of MachMachines Musical Instruments, A local hero in the Ukraine war, The Secret History of Vince Black
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen visits the shop of in Oak Park and talks to owner Dave Showalter, chats with Rima Ziuraitis, a Naperville woman who volunteered in the Ukraine War, and discovers the Secret History of guitarist .
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OTL #1,019: Using AI to help local restaurants, Goatstock, New music from Todd Kessler
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen talks to founder Ravi Parakkat about , an artificial intelligence system that is being used to help local restaurants, gets a preview of Goatstock in Norridge with co-owners Deb Sonzo and Jamie Riani, and chats with Chicagoan about his new music.
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OTL #1,018: The next generation of journalists, The Secret History of Eddie Condon
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen visits the Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association conference to discuss the future of journalism with Prospect High School teacher Jason Block and Prospect seniors Tessa Trylovich and Stella Palm and then discovers the Secret History of jazz guitarist .
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OTL #1,017: Legal aid through our libraries, Debating public money for private schools, Leaders in Transformational Education
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen chats with Roya Samarghandi, chief advocacy and innovation officer at , about a new program that allows residents to get legal aid at their local library, explores the ongoing debate around public money for private schools with Reema Amin, and gets the lowdown on a local organization that helps youth enter the workforce called from CEO Candace Thier.
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OTL #1,016: Revisiting Chicago Voyagers, Sam Robinson’s new music, The Secret History of Anne Hills
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen revisits a segment from 2018 about , learns about local trumpeter ’s new music, and discovers the Secret History of folk singer .
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OTL #1,015: New ownership of The Hideout, New Sound Cafe opens in Austin, The Chicago Soul Jazz Collective
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen chats with Teri O'Brien, the new owner of , visits Andrew and Hannah Follett, the owners of in the Austin neighborhood, and talks to saxophonist John Fournier about the new album from the .
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OTL #1,014: Peer support in prisons, New music from The Meadowlark Lemons, EdiblEats
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen discusses the success of with executive director Jennifer Vollen-Katz, chats with local musician Chris Neville about new music from Chicago’s , and talks to Darryl Manuel, the director, and Phil Lee, producer, of the film .
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OTL #1,013: The next generation of engineers, Revisiting The Levee, The Secret History of Ed Wilkerson
Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen learns about inspiring the next generation of civil engineers from founder & president Michael Bempah, replays his visit to bar in the Hermosa neighborhood, and discovers the Secret History of local saxman .
info_outlineMike Stephen talks to Richard Bloomfield and Zachary Day, the owners of Chicago’s Funkytown Beer, about their expansion plans, chats with Robert's Westside owner/operator Donnie Biggins about how that venue properly pays their artists, and chats with Gina Marie DeGregorio about her new music.