A view of the ABLA land on Chicago’s near west side. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses Chicago’s affordable housing issues with ProPublica reporter Mick Dumke, talks to local musician Al Rose about his new album, and discovers the mysterious Secret History of R&B singer Barbara Livsey. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Mike Stephen talks to Greg Jacobs, co-director of a documentary called The Road Up, that tells the story of overcoming obstacles to employment, learns about the issues surrounding Chicago’s last Black-owned bank with ProPublica journalist Mick Dumke, and talks to Kate Fagan about her new Holiday album. Happy new year from Outside the Loop! To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

Inside The Co-Op Wars. (Photo Credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen talks to Erik Esse, the producer of a new documentary about the internal divisions in the co-op movement called Co-Op Wars, learns about the struggles of Afghan refugee youth in Chicago from ProPublica reporter Melissa Sanchez, and discovers the Secret History of 1970s one-hit wonder Jamestown Massacre. And Mike ponders the question: do we still need street sweeping in Chicago? To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.