Mike Stephen gets warm and cozy with: OTL listener CJ and Chris the bartender of Guthries Tavern for the first installment of the OTL’s 2018 Winter Tavern Tour; Shamus Toomey, editor-in-chief, Block Club Chicago, and Jill Doub, senior director of public engagement for Peggy Notebart Nature Museum, about the Chicago Volunteer Expo. This week’s local music is powered by Black Road. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #577- Ride sharing’s impact on local transit, Going behind the scenes of an IL gubernatorial campaign

Mike Stephen talks with with:   Regina Clewlow, Ph. D., research associate, UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies; and,   Sam Hobert, former campaign manager for the recent Pawar 2018 gubernatorial campaign in Illinois.    This week’s local music is provided by Blue Dream. Mike and Sam Hobert discuss the life of working in Illinois politics in studio.  To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.    

OTL: Episode #571- The future of journalism, Digital maps and local art, Chicago Book Expo preview

Mike Stephen talks with:   OTL’s very first guest Bob McChesney, Professor of Communication at the University of Illinois Champaign/Urbana, about the erosion of journalism;   Local artist Carla Fisher-Schwartz, whose installation True North is featured at the SUB-MISSION exhibition space in Chicago through October 21st; and   John Wilson, local author and co-organizer of the 2017 Chicago Book EXPO.   Meanwhile, Mike celebrates 11 years of Outside the Loop!   This week’s local music is provided by Ethereal Groove, Inc.. Mike Stephen receives his 11 year anniversary gift wrapped in diaper coupons. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #514- The Secret History of Charley Organaire, Mick Dumke on the Chicago violence epidemic

Mike Stephen talks with:   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about reggae and ska harmonica innovator Charley Organaire for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Mick Dumke about his special report on Chicago’s murder victims in first half of 2016 and addressing the crime problem at a community level.   Meanwhile, we discuss how Cook County is going after small venues for back amusement taxes.   This week’s local music is provided by Yell?jaket.   Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Mick Dumke and OTL host Mike Stephen rep the city and solve the world’s problems during their post-show breakfast meeting.   To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.