Chicago's Almost Above-Ground Audio Magazine
Mike Stephen discusses the state of local news in 2025 with Medill professor Tim Franklin and then dives into the Secret History of the 1970s Chicago horn rock band Aura. 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 rewinds to get the story of Chicago’s Media Burn archive and the Center for Immigrant Progress and then discovers the Secret History of Panicsville. AND we have a special announcement! To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen discusses the push for rent stabilization in Illinois with the Lift the Ban campaign coordinator Diego Morales and then learns about XL Fest, a local festival that brings Chicago creatives together, from Creative Cypher founder Troy Pryor. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.
Mike Stephen talks with Chicago Reader staff writer Leor Galil about the resurgence of the compact disc, then delves into the history of Chicago before the Great Fire of 1871 with Northwestern University economics professor Louis P. Cain, author of the new book Chicago Before the Fire: An Economic History. Plus, a special appearance by Mike’s wife, Jenny Stephen! To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.