
In one bite-sized episode every weekday, we'll keep you informed, tickled, geeked, and pondering on Chicago's news, culture and people. Each episode starts with a quick news roundup from the WBEZ newsroom, followed by a deep-dive into one of the biggest or most curious stories from our city. The Rundown podcast is a one-stop-shop for all things Chicago.
| Publishes | Daily | Episodes | 1653 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | NewsDaily News | |||

The Obama Presidential Center was dedicated today in a star-studded ceremony featuring everyone from former presidents to Grammy-winning artists. Chicago actor Harry Lennix is in town this weekend lending his booming voice to an orchestral performanc... more
A Hazardous Weather Outlook is in effect for parts of north central and northeast Illinois as well as northwest Indiana. The city of Chicago is cracking down on airbag thefts. The City Council passed a measure Wednesday making it unlawful to purchase... more
Another veteran politician is entering what’s expected to be a crowded 2027 race for Chicago mayor. Illinois Democratic lawmakers have passed a measure to protect trans youth in foster care. The James Beard Awards brought some of the country’s bigges... more
Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama are back in Chicago for the Obama Presidential Center's official grand opening later this week. The head of the team that steers arts and culture programming in Chicago says she wants... more
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Love this podcast, but what’s up with the audio quality this week?
Love to have a quick recap of things around Chicago twice a day. Keep up the good work!
The Rundown is a great resource akin to NYTimes’s The Headlines but with the Chicagoland area as the focus. My only complaint is that I can’t count on each morning’s episode coming out at or near a consistent time. I don’t mind a reasonable window (e.g. between 7a-7:30a) but the current system is not conducive to incorporating the show into my morning routine.
I’m so grateful to have this to keep up with what’s happening in Chicago!
They do a great job of summarizing local Chicago & state-wide news in an easily digestible format.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #119 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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The show provides a fast-paced daily Chicago-focused briefing: a quick WBEZ-anchored news recap followed by a deep-dive into a distinctive local story or culture beat. Across recent episodes, it frequently covers city governance, education, immigration-related issues, and cultural happenings, often pairing investigative context with on-the-ground reporting and expert commentary. Notable strengths include concise yet informative format, strong ties to local journalism, and a willingness to blend policy, culture, and human-interest perspectives in a single episode. Listeners can expect a mix of hard-edged reporting, timely municipal updates, and reflective features on Chicago's arts, neighborhoods, and history, making it valuable for people w... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Rundown:
1. City Cast Chicago
2. Curious City
3. WBEZ News
4. Throughline
5. The Block Club Chicago Podcast
The Rundown launched 6 years ago and published 1653 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
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Recent guests on The Rundown include:
1. Kayla Lemon
2. Richard Townsville
3. Ani Jamjian
4. Rodneka Mack
5. Christy Ramsey
6. Infinity Gant
7. Esther Yunji Kang
8. Norman Teague
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.