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 Beasley.

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

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.

Mike Stephen learns about a new exhibit at the National Public Housing Museum from UIC architecture professor Alexander Eisenschmidt, chats with actor and director Robert Townsend about his upcoming Chicago pop-up film fest, and re-visits a segment on local public transit reliability.

Mike Stephen discusses the role of local journalists during a time of local ICE occupation with McKinley Park News publisher Justin Kerr, gets the lowdown on new music from the local band These Peaches from frontman Rich Klevgard, and learns about the significance of the Haitian American Museum of Chicago from founder and CEO Elsie Hernandez.

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.

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.

Mike Stephen learns about a local nonprofit dedicated to helping veterans during this difficult time called Veterans Assistance Partnership from founder Tatshee Simmons, gets the lowdown on new local music from The Gunshy, and revisits a segment that explores rats in Chicago.

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.

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.

Mike Stephen visits Yo Soy Ella's Curbside Compassion van to learn about their therapy services from founder and executive director Sarah Taylor, explores the new Takeout 25 Community Cookbook with founder Ravi Parakkat, and gets the lowdown on new music from local musician Terry White.

Mike Stephen rewinds to get the story of Chicago's Media Burn archive and the Center for Immigrant Progress and then discovers the Secret History of Panicsville. AND we have a special announcement!

Mike Stephen learns about the effort to end politically drawn voting maps in Illinois from Chicago Magazine writer Ted McClelland, discusses the slowdown in overturning wrongful convictions in Cook County with Injustice Watch reporter Dan Hinkel, and highlights the important work of Share Our Spare in supporting young children and families with interim executive director Jesseca Rhymes. Also, help out Chicago street vendors!