Outside the Loop RADIO Albert James PROductions
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- Society & Culture
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Outside the Loop RADIO is Chicago's Almost Above-Ground Audio Magazine. Founded as a podcast in September 2006 and picked up for broadcast by Chicago Sound Alliance WLUW 88.7-FM in March 2007, "OTL" now airs on Chicago's Very Own 50,000-watt heritage powerhouse station WGN Radio 720-AM.
Storyteller and urbanologist Mike Stephen hosts this weekly program featuring fun segments and interviews with local newsmakers, artists, musicians, and others doing cool stuff around the greater Chicago area. The show covers topics stories that don't always get mainstream media attention... and it's all presented with a strong and independent Chicago slant.
http://outsidetheloopradio.com
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OTL #914: Women Employed fighting for workplace equity, Arionne Nettles’ new book on Black culture in Chicago
Mike Stephen discusses the gender pay gap and efforts to combat it with Ibie Hart, director of business development at Women Employed, and then chats with local journalist Arionne Nettles about her new book entitled We Are the Culture: Black Chicago's Influence on Everything.
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OTL #913: Unsafe water in Illinois prisons, The work of the Uptown People's Law Center, The Secret History of E. Parker McDougal
Mike Stephen learns about the deteriorating conditions inside Illinois prisons from Alan Mills, executive director of the Uptown People's Law Center, and then discovers the Secret History of Chicago tenor sax player E. Parker McDougal.
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OTL #912: Paid Chicago school board members?, HelloBaby’s great work, Mark Lofgren’s new music
Mike Stephen discusses the possibility of paying Chicago school board members with Becky Vevea, bureau chief of Chalkbeat Chicago, learns about the important work of HelloBaby on the South Side from founder and executive director Debbie Frisch, and chats with local musician Mark Lofgren about his new album.
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OTL #911: Vacant land near local transit, Preserving local history, The Secret History of Hip Linkchain
Mike Stephen learns about the significance of vacant land near local transit hubs from Geoff Smith, executive director of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, discusses the historical significance of Stateville Correctional Center with Leila Wills, executive director of the Historical Preservation Society of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party, and discovers the Secret History of local blues guitar powerhouse Hip Linkchain.
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OTL #910: The future of journalism, Share Our Spare helping families in Chicago and beyond
Mike Stephen discusses the future of journalism at the Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association conference with Jason Block, multimedia communications teacher at Prospect High School, and learns about the important work of the Chicago-based organization called Share Our Spare. This organization helps families in need and executive director Alex Goodfellow discusses their efforts.
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OTL #909: A new music venue in Forest Park, Dolph Chaney’s new music, The Secret History of Shanta Nurullah
Mike Stephen explores Robert's Westside, a new music venue in Forest Park, and talks to venue founder Donnie Biggins, learns about local musician Dolph Chaney’s new music, and discovers the Secret History of local sitar player Shanta Nurullah.
Customer Reviews
Great way to experience Chicago
Love listening to this show, it’s a great way to learn about one of the best cities in the world!
What a Blast
Truman's Ridge, Chicagoland's up and coming bluegrass band had a total blast perfoming on "Outside the Loop," on Chicago 720am radio on Dec. 30, 2017. It was an honor to play in front of the window in Tribune Tower. Mike Stephen, host, Collin Seaman, producer and Bob Ferguson, engineer are not only professionals in every sense of the word, but are also down-to-earth, sincere and extremely accommodating. The response to our band from the radio audience has been phenomenal and we can't wait to join "Outside the Loop" again. Thanks so much for the opportunity - bless you all in 2018!
Independent Chicago Podcast
Mike's been at this since 2006 and continues to feature great local stories, communites, and the music of Chicagoland. I find it to be one the best independent podcasts dedicated to reporting all things Chicago.