Semi-pro football being played in Columbus Park. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen visits Columbus Park and sits down with Tom Robinson, the head coach of the Chicago Falcons semi-pro football team, learns about a new local business called Ludex that appraises trading cards through your phone from co-founders Brian Ludden and Heather Denniston, and gets an update on funding the fight against homelessness in Chicago from grassroots leader Harry Williams. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

OTL: Episode #570- Chicagoland Youth Football, The Secret History of Master Plan, Local restaurants closing in 2017

Mike Stephen talks with:   Geoff Meyer, President of The Chicagoland Youth Football League, about the state of youth football in the wake of head injury studies and player safety concerns;   Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) about ’80s house pioneers Master Plan for this week’s edition of The Secret History of Chicago Music; and   Anthony Todd, Food Editor for Chicagoist, about what’s behind the wave of restaurant closures in Chicago.    Don’t forget our Outside the Loop Listener Survey. We really appreciate your time and consideration!   This week’s local music is provided by Fletcher Rockwell. Mike Stephen is serious about eating his tacos at a local taqueria. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our iTunes page or RSS feed.