Dec 27, 2025
Mike Stephen discusses a new report that shows a college degree is the most promising path to a good job in Illinois with Chalkbeat Chicago bureau chief Becky Vevea and then discovers the Secret History of 20th century soul vocalist Kitty...
Dec 20, 2025
Mike Stephen talks to Al Krockey, the author of a new book about coming of age in the 1960s and 70s in Skokie and Chicago called Straight Outta Skokie, and then learns about the plans Creative Cypher has for building an entertainment ecosystem in Chicago from founder Troy Pryor and interim president Cindy...
Dec 13, 2025
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...
Dec 6, 2025
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...