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Artwork for Curious City

Curious City

WBEZ Chicago
Chicago
Black Cinema
The Railroad Porter
Black History Month
William D. Foster
Snow Plow Drivers
Oscar Micheaux
Treehouse Humane Society
Trap Neuter Return (TNR)
Department Of Streets and Sanitation
Black Exploitation Films
Herb Jeffries
Addiction
Street Art
Art
Graffiti
The Walnut Room
Blizzard Of 1967
Silent Film Era
American Negro Exposition

Ask questions, vote and discover answers about Chicago, the region and its people. From WBEZ.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes621Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationArts

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Artwork for Curious City

Latest Episodes

The Robbins Airport, just southwest of Chicago, was the first Black-owned and -operated airport in the country. Its founders were pivotal to Black aviation.

Lake Shore Drive has served as a makeshift runway for emergency landings. But it’s also been an *intentional* runway for planned arrivals. We go back to 1983 to get the story of how a Chicago institution helped turn our lakeside expressway into an ai... more

The city of Chicago owns thousands of vacant lots, and more than 80 percent of those parcels are in communities where the population is at least 80 percent Black. That’s according to a report from the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul Universit... more

Buying a city-owned lot seems like a simple process, but buying one might take longer than expected. The city puts a limited number of parcels up for sale each year.

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Anton Seals, Jr.
Co-founder and lead steward of Grow Greater Englewood.
Grow Greater Englewood
Episode: How one organization is transforming Englewood’s vacant lots
Kim Kelleher
Assistant manager at Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
Episode: Does your iguana need x-rays? A local exotic animal hospital can help
Lamor Gatineo
Practice manager at Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital
Episode: Does your iguana need x-rays? A local exotic animal hospital can help
John Ginley
Professional pilot and FAA-designated pilot examiner
Self-employed
Episode: Two-and-a-half minutes: Pilot John Ginley’s dance with disaster
Cedric X. Cow
A former student of Dr. Margaret Burroughs
Episode: The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’
Anthony Spalding
A former student of Dr. Margaret Burroughs
Episode: The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’
Marcos Gray
A former student of Dr. Margaret Burroughs
Episode: The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’
Carl Williams
A former student of Dr. Margaret Burroughs
Episode: The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’
Claire Keenan-Kurgan
Producer from the Points North podcast
Interlochen Public Radio
Episode: How a group of volunteers saved a rare Illinois wildflower

Host

Erin Allen
Host of a community-focused podcast that discusses a wide range of inquiries about Chicago and its populace, encouraging local engagement and curiosity.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 772 ratings
  • What about now?

    The city is currently having its citizens kidnapped en mass. ANY Chicago-centric show should be featuring this!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Bedpost#4
    United States2 months ago
  • Can do better

    Show has interesting topics but averaging 7 minutes a show, 2 and a half of which are ads or plugs for other shows, not really worth my time.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Klauski57
    United States9 months ago
  • Curiously Void of Information

    Overall, it’s been enjoyable listening to the various aspects of this wonderful city, however the show lacks so much detail now!

    The shorter episodes, and in particular this last one on traffic are a complete waste of time.

    Never did the episode go into the history of Chicago traffic or highway systems, touched on the backstory of the application and its development, or really explained how it works.

    It fell short in so many ways- there was a depth of info that could have been useful and qui... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Bluefinkillie
    United Statesa year ago
  • Interesting Episodes

    I love how these short episodes delve into an aspect of Chicago history/culture!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BCguy94
    United Statesa year ago
  • Quick n easy n fun Chicago tidbits.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    estellax
    a year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the unique and informative stories about Chicago's history and culture, often finding them engaging and educational.
Overall, there is a strong sense of community connection, with many listeners expressing gratitude for the show's ability to keep them connected to Chicago, even from afar.
Some feedback indicates a desire for longer episodes or deeper dives into specific topics, as newer episodes are shorter and perceived as less detailed than before.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#193
Singapore/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Two-and-a-half minutes: Pilot John Ginley’s dance with disaster
Q: What do you remember doing and thinking once you got safely on the ground?
John remembers an awesome Chicago police officer helped manage traffic and ensured their safety immediately after landing.
‘Friendship set to music’: Curious City goes square dancing on the South Side
Q: Do you have to sing as a caller?
Yes, it is part of being a caller even though not all callers sing.
‘Friendship set to music’: Curious City goes square dancing on the South Side
Q: Can you call something now?
Sandie explains that calling is part of her role as a square dance caller.
What happened after a dangerous year inside Cook County Jail
Q: Is there a system in place where prison officials are supposed to give those details to families?
No, there is currently no requirement for the government to inform families about the circumstances of their loved one's death without them requesting information.
What happened after a dangerous year inside Cook County Jail
Q: Can you give an example of one of the stories that really stood out to you, of how that person died, and just walk me through the misses that happened in that situation?
One notable case was that of Daniel Colon, who died within two days of being taken to Cook County Jail after reporting withdrawal symptoms. He was not checked on and eventually died alone in a bathroom stall.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Curious City

What is Curious City about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content offers a unique lens into diverse aspects of Chicago, ranging from its history and cultural narratives to current social issues and environmental concerns. Episodes tend to blend personal stories, expert insights, and communal experiences of residents, focusing extensively on local events, notable figures, and intriguing traditions within the city. A distinctive quality is the focus on listener-submitted questions, allowing the audience to engage interactively with the content and contributing to a sense of community involvement that reflects on both historical and contemporary themes.

Noteworthy is the broad spectrum of topics covered, from the challenges faced in exotic animal care to the poignant discussions surrounding poli... more

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How many listeners does Curious City get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Curious City has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Curious City?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Curious City:

1. City Cast Chicago
2. This American Life
3. Code Switch
4. Fresh Air
5. Throughline

How many episodes of Curious City are there?

Curious City launched 13 years ago and published 621 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Curious City?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Curious City?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Curious City from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Curious City?

Recent guests on Curious City include:

1. Anton Seals, Jr.
2. Kim Kelleher
3. Lamor Gatineo
4. John Ginley
5. Cedric X. Cow
6. Anthony Spalding
7. Marcos Gray
8. Carl Williams

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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