
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 | 1663 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Daily NewsNews | |||

Chicago’s massive system of underground tunnels and reservoirs is almost completely full for the first time. O’Hare International Airport got as much rain in the first five days of July as it typically gets all month. Chicago saw its least violent 4t... more
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling is retiring after being in charge of CPD for less than three years. Mayor Brandon Johnson is urging Chicagoans to be cautious this holiday weekend as a Midwest heat wave finally starts to let up. The Chica... more
Complaints of smoking on trains and buses in Chicago are dropping. The federal government has asked a judge to halt the country’s first reparations program in Evanston, Illinois. The Chicago Blackhawks opened free agency Wednesday by signing new defe... more
Advocates in Chicago are celebrating Tuesday’s Supreme Court ruling that affirms birthright citizenship. The Supreme Court today has ruled states can block transgender athletes from playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams at public schools and col... 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 | #195 |
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. Up First from NPR
4. Code Switch
5. The Ezra Klein Show
The Rundown launched 6 years ago and published 1663 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. Tamara Gere
2. Faye Ikishumari
3. Sloan Murphy
4. Carey Perloff
5. Beatrice Ponce de Leon
6. Jerry Markocha
7. Owen Keenan
8. Rebecca Kling
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.