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City Cast Chicago

City Cast
Chicago
ICE
Chicago Public Schools
Trump Administration
Operation Midway Blitz
Chicago Police Department
Chicago City Council
CTA
Cook County
Mayor Brandon Johnson
Illinois
House Music
National Guard
Chicago Restaurant Week
Mexican Independence Day
Data Centers
Affordable Housing
Immigration Enforcement
Border Patrol
Homelessness

Chicago’s daily news podcast, fresh every weekday morning. Host Jacoby Cochran brings you timely conversations with news and culture makers; activists and artists; bus drivers and students; those who love and hate this place. City Cast Chicago is a smart and delightful new way to connect with the city we share. Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at chicago.citycast.fm. Named Best Podcast b... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1310Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for City Cast Chicago

Latest Episodes

Gov. JB Pritzker voiced support for a mega projects bill that incentivizes the Bears’ move to Arlington Heights, while shading Mayor Brandon Johnson, saying he has “no plan” to keep the Bears in Chicago. Johnson remains critical of the deal, calling ... more

Getting into Chicago Housing Authority units is hard enough, but the agency is also processing hundreds of relocation requests for current tenants facing health and safety issues. Executive producer Simone Alicea and creative producer Michelle Navarr... more

Chicago Public Schools are planning to cut teacher positions to minimize the $732 million budget deficit. Meanwhile, CPS CEO Macquline King has been subpoenaed by a congressional committee.

Executive producer Simone Alicea, City Cast contributor Jil... more

Mental health courts have proliferated in Illinois, but how effective are they? Grace Hauck with the Illinois Answers Project joins Justin Laurence with Crain’s and executive producer Simone Alicea to break it down. Plus,  the United Center’s 1901 Pr... more

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Recent Guests

Heather Cherone
From WTTW
WTTW
Episode: Why Is Mayor Johnson In Springfield? Plus, Chicago's First Baby Eagles in a Century
Kenny Riley
Senior Director of Youth Development Programs at the Carole Robertson Center for Learning
Carole Robertson Center for Learning
Episode: What Chicago Kids Want Us to Know
Jenny Lopez
Kindergarten Specialist and Instructor at the Carole Robertson Center for Learning
Carole Robertson Center for Learning
Episode: What Chicago Kids Want Us to Know
Anna Deshawn
Founder of E3 Radio and host of the Queer News Podcast
E3 Radio
Episode: Will Chicago Hospitals Resume Trans Youth Healthcare? Plus, What is the RIFL Act?
Michelle Navarro
Creative Producer
City Cast Chicago
Episode: Your Guide to May 2026 in Chicago
Scott Dahl
Director
Visit Springfield
Episode: Your Guide to May 2026 in Chicago
Simone Alicea
Executive Producer
City Cast Chicago
Episode: Your Guide to May 2026 in Chicago
AD. Quig
Chicago Tribune reporter and editor
Chicago Tribune
Episode: Why Are Thousands of Property Tax Bills Late ... Again? Are Illinois Farmers Having Buyer’s Remorse?
Simone Alisea
Executive Producer, City Cast Chicago
City Cast Chicago
Episode: FEMA Aid Delays, Ford City’s Limbo, and Time Travel Chicago

Host

Jacoby Cochran
Host of City Cast Chicago, facilitating discussions with various personalities across different fields of expertise.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 740 ratings
  • No more

    You guys focus so much on if the mayor is successful and do not talk enough about city council not doing what the city elected him for the city council gets away with being so conservative it’s pathetic and you just like the rest of the news won’t call them out

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Katgeary
    United Statesa month ago
  • Great but can be better

    Less Simone, she constantly interrupts and gets excited about things that aren’t remotely Chicago. More Michelle and Jacoby.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    fly1480
    United States2 months ago
  • great show

    so glad for this! Love staying plugged in and not just relying on WBEZ and SunTimes

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dr Hendrick
    United States2 months ago
  • A blind spot

    How is Israel “imperial in nature” (heard on the 1/29/26 episode)? What is the empire you are referring to?

    I like this podcast for its local coverage but I have noticed on the rare occasion whenever something related to Israel/antisemitism comes up the host reveals a glaring ignorance. Of course you can criticize Israel, but saying in passing that it’s “imperial” is an inaccurate statement that you should be able to back up.

    Similarly, when you dismiss the IHRA definition of antisemitism as b... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Many Thoughts 123
    United States4 months ago
  • Jacobe and the entire crew at citycast bring a wonderful mix of accessible neighborhood events and hotspots backed by deep understanding of politics around the city and state. They bring in knowledgeable and interesting guests that unpack events. Indispensable daily listen.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    honor
    10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners feel certain topics become repetitive, expressing a desire for more varied content.
The podcast is frequently highlighted for its ability to connect listeners to their community while providing thoughtful, relevant news.
Overall, the hosting style and personal anecdotes are well-received, contributing to the podcast's charm and relatability.
Listeners appreciate the engaging and insightful discussions about local events and cultural topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#87
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#120
Brazil/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#197
Sweden/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Are Thousands of Property Tax Bills Late ... Again? Are Illinois Farmers Having Buyer’s Remorse?
Q: How are property tax bills supposed to be delivered on schedule, and what went wrong this cycle?
Bills are usually delivered on a predictable timetable, but a combination of data errors, slow testing, and a decade-long upgrade with Tyler Technologies led to delays and large backlogs in multiple offices.
FEMA Aid Delays, Ford City’s Limbo, and Time Travel Chicago
Q: Simone, what's going on with Ford City Mall and the emergency motion to shut it down?
The city had to act quickly due to safety concerns and a failing fire suppression system; a judge granted a short extension while other issues are addressed, but the overall outlook remains cautious and uncertain.
'Your City Could Be Better': Could a Nevada Brothel Help Redefine Labor Standards Nationwide? — Presented By City Cast Chicago
Q: What changes did Sheri's Ranch implement in late 2025, and why is that significant?
The new provisions around intellectual property rights and potential AI usage encroach on the workers' control over their own image and brand, highlighting how contract terms can undermine autonomy under an IC framework.
'Your City Could Be Better': Could a Nevada Brothel Help Redefine Labor Standards Nationwide? — Presented By City Cast Chicago
Q: What is this distinction between independent contractor and employee, and why is it important here?
It's about who bears control and responsibility in the work relationship; employees gain access to protections like overtime and workers' comp, while independent contractors often lack those protections, which affects whether they can unionize.
AI School Coming to Chicago and Delivery Robots Are Crashing Out
Q: What do you think about the idea of an AI powered school, no teachers, two hour lesson plans on the computer?
The hosts and Simone discuss that while the model promises shorter, more interactive lessons and real-world skill workshops, there are serious concerns about the lack of traditional teacher roles, the reliance on AI to drive curriculum, data privacy, and whether such a system can adapt to diverse learner needs.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Frequently Asked Questions About City Cast Chicago

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

The content focuses on a variety of topics pertinent to the city, including local news, culture, and community events. Discussions often engage with contemporary issues affecting the Chicago area, such as civic engagement, public safety, and cultural heritage. Noteworthy conversations range from the history of Chicago's hip-hop scene, modern gospel, and the legacy of the Black Panther Party, to discussions about local political developments and social justice issues. Uniquely, the conversations not only include expert insights but also personal anecdotes from hosts and guests, creating a relatable and engaging experience for listeners who want to stay informed about their city's ongoing narrative and events.

Where can I find podcast stats for City Cast Chicago?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for City Cast Chicago. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to City Cast Chicago and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does City Cast Chicago get?

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What are the audience demographics for City Cast Chicago?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for City Cast Chicago, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does City Cast Chicago have?

To see how many followers or subscribers City Cast Chicago 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 City Cast Chicago?

These podcasts share a similar audience with City Cast Chicago:

1. Curious City
2. Code Switch
3. It's Been a Minute
4. Throughline
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of City Cast Chicago are there?

City Cast Chicago launched 5 years ago and published 1310 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 City Cast Chicago?

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 City Cast Chicago?

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

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What guests have appeared on City Cast Chicago?

Recent guests on City Cast Chicago include:

1. Heather Cherone
2. Kenny Riley
3. Jenny Lopez
4. Anna Deshawn
5. Michelle Navarro
6. Scott Dahl
7. Simone Alicea
8. AD. Quig

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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