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. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Mike Stephen learns about a local nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans during this difficult time called Veterans Assistance Partnership from founder Tatshee Simmons, gets the lowdown on new local music from The Gunshy, 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 this link. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Mike Stephen learns about the important work of Chicago’s Urban Growers Collective from herbalism conductor Rev. Kim Crutcher, gets a preview of the Edgewater Music Fest from Garrett Karp, executive director of the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, and discovers the Secret History of Chicago blues guitarist Jimmy Rogers. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Is Chicago prioritizing environmental justice? (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike 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. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.