25 episodes
Outside the Loop RADIO Albert James PROductions
-
- Society & Culture
-
-
4.8 • 16 Ratings
-
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.
Show co-founder Andy Hermann has returned to produce Phase III of OTL Radio.
http://outsidetheloopradio.com
-
OTL #857: TIF districts across Illinois, Our Black History in 50 States, The Secret History of Bobby Jonz
Mike Stephen discusses the impact of TIF districts across Illinois with Tom Tresser of the CivicLab and the TIF Illumination Project, learns about an upcoming book exploring Black history called Our Black History in Fifty States from its author Zaylore Stout, and discovers the Secret History of blues and soul singer Bobby Jonz.
-
OTL #856: The impact of Chicago property taxes, Environmental legislative priorities, The Damen Silos saga continues
Mike Stephen explores the impact of property taxes on certain Chicago neighborhoods with Geoff Smith of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, discusses the environmental legislative agenda of Illinois with Jennifer Walling, executive director of the Illinois Environmental Council, and gets an update on the environmental justice story of the Damen Silos.
-
OTL #855: How the City Council spends its work time, Joe Rian’s new music, The Secret History of G.L. Crockett
Mike Stephen discusses an analysis about the substance of Chicago City Hall meetings with Better Government Association policy analyst Geoffrey Cubbage, talks to local musician Joe Rian about his new tunes, and discovers the Secret History of blues and soul singer G.L. Crockett.
-
OTL #854: Chicago’s guaranteed income pilot, The MAAFA Redemption Project, New music from Lia Caton
Mike Stephen discusses new research about Chicago’s guaranteed income pilot program with Misuzu Schexnider, program director at the Inclusive Economy Lab, learns about the community-building efforts of the MAAFA Redemption Project from co-founder and executive director Marshall Hatch Jr., and chats with Naperville’s Lia Caton about her new music.
-
OTL #853: Local public transit reliability, The impact of gun violence in Chicago, The Secret History of Linsey Alexander
Mike Stephen learns about tracking local public transit with cyberanalyst Brandon McFadden, discusses the impact of gun violence in Chicago communities with Cliff Nellis of the Lawndale Christian Legal Center, and discovers the Secret History of blues guitarist Linsey Alexander.
-
OTL #852: Expanding cultural access, Equitable grant distribution in Illinois, Local Motive’s new music
Mike Stephen learns about expanding access to cultural spaces for those with disabilities with Christena Gunther, president and founder of Cultural Access Collaborative, discusses a new funding opportunity for local cultural spaces with Illinois Humanities executive director Gabrielle Lyon, and gets the lowdown on Local Motive’s new music with band frontman Mike Vinopal.
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.