Outside the Loop RADIO

Mike Stephen explores the dynamics of the new CPS school board with Chalkbeat reporter Reema Amin, pays tribute to his late father, Michael J. Stephen , and learns how Feed Chi plans to combat local food deserts with founder Brandon Bruner.

Mike Stephen discusses the McKinley Park News ' decision to leave Facebook and Instagram alongside publisher Justin Kerr, gets the lowdown on new local music from Emily Chloe Quinn , and explores a new University of Chicago To&Through Project report on the educational attainment of CPS students with executive director Dominique McKoy.

Mike Stephen explores the latest report on the state of local news with Medill School of Journalism professor and chair in local news Tim Franklin, gets the lowdown on new local music from saxophonist Harold Dawson , and learns about EveryVoice , an AI platform designed to fill gaps in mental health care for kids, from founder and CEO Malcolm Brown.

Mike Stephen chats with Matt Greenwell, owner of Oak Park's Trade , about a recent break-in, gets the lowdown on new local music from Canoe Speed with guitarist Jay Shearer, and explores the impact of a new state law designed to give people a second chance with Live Free Illinois executive director Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain.

Mike Stephen discusses new findings about inhumane conditions in Illinois jails with Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director of the John Howard Association , then chats with Jennifer Vianello, co-owner of MachMachines Musical Instruments , about the company's new podcast, Play For Keeps .

Mike Stephen explores the impact of food influencers on the Chicago culinary scene with freelance reporter Leigh Giangreco , chats with Rattleback Records owner Paul Ruffino about what it's like to run an independent record store, and takes a deep dive into Injustice Watch's 2026 guide to judicial elections with senior reporter Dan Hinkel.

Mike Stephen talks to Injustice Watch senior reporter Aura Bogado about her new report on how Illinois prosecutors are assisting federal immigration efforts, then chats with Antonia Turner, owner of the new Heritage Press and Blow Dry salon, about building community in Chicago.

Mike Stephen discusses the impact of cannabis on the teen brain with Dr. Patricia Jones Blessman, gets the lowdown on new local music from Paige Kizer , and explores the positive impact of restorative justice practices with Dr. Shaniqua Jones, founder of Purple Path

Mike Stephen dives into a new report on housing displacement pressure in Chicago with Geoff Smith, executive director of the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University, and revisits what went wrong with the Bring Chicago Home initiative.

Mike Stephen discusses the rise and fall of Old Style beer in Chicago with journalist Nick Kindelsperger, then learns about the important work of supporting people with disabilities from Debra Vines, founder and CEO of The Answer Inc .

Mike Stephen discusses disparities in tree planting in Chicago with Alex Nitkin of the Illinois Answers Project , learns about the Chicago Journalism Mental Health Fund from International Women's Media Foundation executive director Nadine Hoffman, and gets the lowdown on new local music from Jules Klee .

Mike Stephen previews the November Chicago School Board election with journalist Mary Wisniewski, chats with the local teen band Large Mouth about its upcoming Riot Fest gig, and discusses the cultural connection between Chicago and the U.K. with media producer Terry Jervis .

Mike Stephen looks back on segments previously aired on the show. Enjoy!

Mike Stephen gets the scoop on the new documentary Saving Ferris Butler from executive producer D.B. Frick, previews the upcoming Flamenco Quartet Project with Clinard Dance founder Windy Clinard, and learns how TaskForce Prevention & Community Services is strengthening communities across Chicago from assistant communications director Hannah Pewee.

Mike Stephen discusses the legacy and impact of the Heather Mack case with Rasul Freelain, a former Oak Park police officer and author of the new book When Lambs Become Wolves . Then he talks with Jennifer Mosley, board president of HelloBaby and senior associate at the Obama Foundation , about building community in Chicago's Woodlawn neighborhood.

Mike Stephen learns how Three Level Basketball is improving the game for area youth with co-founder and coach Matt Maloney and discusses a new report offering recommendations to improve math outcomes in Illinois schools with University of Illinois professors Erica Mason and Phi Nguyen.

Mike Stephen discusses the legacy of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 with Peter Cole of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project , explores how entrepreneurship is creating opportunities for people returning from incarceration with Judy Dawson and Rudy Gonzalez of the William H. Hall Center for Entrepreneurship , and celebrates the legacy of the Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts with owner and...

Mike Stephen visits the Hope Chicago 2026 Goal Getter Conference at the Illinois Institute of Technology.  Hope Chicago is a scholarship-focused nonprofit designed to provide students and their parents/guardians with the support they need to graduate from college debt-free.

Mike Stephen gets an update on the secrecy around a plan to buy back the city's parking meters from Block Club Chicago's Mick Dumke and learns about a new series of live local performances that explore the history of the Untied States from co-producers Cheryl Corley and Lucy Smith .

Mike Stephen learns about a new report highlighting the risks of removing fluoride from drinking water from Dr. Helen Lee of the University of Illinois Chicago, gets an update on the new Southwest Chamber of Commerce from McKinley Park News publisher Justin Kerr, and chats with Naked Brunch vocalist Michael Hanna about the band's new music.

Mike Stephen gets an update on the hurdles to obtaining certificates of innocence from Injustice Watch senior reporter Dan Hinkel, checks out new music from Chicago's Cult Canyon with band leader Josh Chicone , and discusses Ricardo , a new film about identity, with writer, director, and actor Roberto Jay.

Mike Stephen explores the legacy of one of the most successful sports figures of the 19th century with Nancy Hays, author of Riding for America: The Story of Isaac Murphy, Sports Icon of the 19th Century , gets an update on the community-building work of HelloBaby from founder Debbie Frisch, and spotlights Chicago Pride Hockey .

Mike Stephen talks with local food journalist Nick Kindelsperger about his quest to eat at every restaurant in the Loop, learns about the challenges Chicago street vendors face from Maria Orozco, development manager for the Street Vendors Association of Chicago , and discusses an approach to addressing the affordable housing crisis with Illinois Answers Project investigative reporter Alex Nitkin.

Mike Stephen revisits a few previous segments from the show that explore the relationship between brewing, distilling, bar culture, and Chicago history.

Mike Stephen learns how bricks tell the history of Chicagoland with Will Quam , author of the new book Fire and Clay: How Bricks Reveal the Hidden History of Chicago , and then chats with Akele Spencer, a resident of the South Side and member of Southside Together , about his opposition to a new microelectronics park being built in his community.