It’s the 1,000th episode of Outside the Loop! (Photo credit: Collin Seaman)

Mike Stephen hosts his 1,000th episode of Outside the Loop at Fitzgerald’s Nightclub! Guests include: –Will Duncan and Jess King, owners of Fitzgerald’s –Dominic Pacyga, professor emeritus of history at Columbia College Chicago and author of Clout City –Steve Krakow (aka: Plastic Crimewave), local musician and author of The Secret History of Chicago Music –Holley Brandchaft-White and Genia Yovankin, founders of SHFT Behavioral Health -Surprise guest: Andy “The Count” Hermann, co-founder and former producer of Outside the Loop and current producer at Nebraska Public Media Plus, live music from AJ Rosales! To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 1 week ago Tagged

We meet the new editor in chief of the Chicago Reader. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks to Sarah Conway, the new editor in chief of the Chicago Reader, about the future of the paper, discusses Chicago Public Schools student educational attainment post-graduation with the To&Through Project director of data and research Alexandra Usher, and gets the lowdown on new Holiday music from local guitarist Kevin Brown. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Posted 2 weeks ago Tagged

We learn about ways to help those less fortunate in Chicago during this Holiday season. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen learns about a local initiative called Home for the Holidays that helps those less fortunate this Holiday season from founder Chef Ora Thompson, gets a preview of a local King Crimson tribute band show from band leader Eric Butler, and discovers the Secret History of local actor and musician Charles E. Gerber. 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.

Posted 1 month ago Tagged

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.

Posted 2 months ago Tagged