Rephonic
Artwork for City Cast Chicago

City Cast Chicago

City Cast
Chicago
Chicago Public Schools
Chicago, United States
ICE
Data Centers
Chicago Police Department
Chicago Restaurant Week
CTA
City Cast Chicago
Chicago Winter Weather
Chicago Bears
Structural Deficits
Brandon Johnson
Illinois
Madison
Route 66
Bears
Winter Preparedness
O'hare Airport
Pension Obligations

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1403Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for City Cast Chicago

Latest Episodes

As we enter the home stretch of 2026, we’ve got your guide for October. We’re talking Sox hats, budget battles, early voting, apple orchards, and tips for the Chicago Marathon. Plus, we need your help sourcing the best spots for Halloween costumes.

more

Chicago has over 70% more cycling accidents through September than this same period in 2021, including multiple fatal crashes involving speeding drivers. Contributors Yareni Murillo and Anna DeShawn are here to discuss what they believe must be done ... more

It took Block Club Chicago’s investigative reporter Mick Dumke 11 months to get one page of records from ICE about the clash between its agents and protestors outside of the Broadview detention center last year. The response had no records or reports... more

YouTube

Mayoral candidate Bill Quinlan’s lawsuit aims to block Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, and Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas from seeking reelection in their offices while running for mayor. Interim executive p... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Curious City
Curious CityWBEZ Chicago
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Adora Namigadde
Contributor, in-building guest on film and culture segment
City Cast Chicago
Episode: Why Are There Sukkahs in North Lawndale? Plus, Chicago’s Queer-Affirming Churches
Anna DeShawn
Film festival and culture guest in-building
City Cast Chicago
Episode: Why Are There Sukkahs in North Lawndale? Plus, Chicago’s Queer-Affirming Churches
Liegh Giangreco
Episode: Where Are the Flock Cameras? Plus, Circus on the River
Al Scorch
Episode: Where Are the Flock Cameras? Plus, Circus on the River
Elvia Malagon
WBEZ Arts and Culture Reporter, Chicago Sun-Times
WBEZ / Chicago Sun-Times
Episode: More Chicagoans Can’t Afford Food. Plus, Fall Storefront Theater
Yareni Murillo
Contributor focusing on local business and fall topics
City Cast Chicago contributor
Episode: Who’s Building Guerrilla Bus Benches in Ukrainian Village? Plus, Fall in the Air
Michael Gebert
Author, Chicago Way and Oral History of Chicago Dining
Chicago dining/history author
Episode: Who’s All Running For Mayor? Plus, Live From Printers Row
Jill Hopkins
Contributor to City Cast Chicago, discussing Narcan expansion
City Cast Chicago
Episode: City Expands Free Narcan. Plus, Best of Open House Chicago
Angela Cummings
Executive Director of the Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
AFSP Illinois
Episode: City Expands Free Narcan. Plus, Best of Open House Chicago

Host

Jacoby Cochran
Host of City Cast Chicago

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 756 ratings
  • Recycled Topics

    The show has gotten very repetitive. I’ve heard the same conversation around the film festivals multiple times. Haven’t heard anything on Riot Fest, Taste of Polonia, the local punk scene, the rise in country and honey tonk dancing.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    TexasToast890
    United Statesa month ago
  • 5-26-2026

    Could the one guy stop saying “you know what I mean” so annoying!

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    totaljive
    United States4 months ago
  • 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 States5 months 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 States6 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 States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners frequently say the show helps them stay connected with Chicago beyond traditional media.
Critiques note interruptions by a guest and seek tighter moderation.
Listeners appreciate hands-on local reporting and practical tips for civic life.
Many praise the show for staying local and offering diverse guest perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#90
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#153
South Korea/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#171
Poland/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#184
Brazil/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#201
Colombia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#225
Sweden/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

City Expands Free Narcan. Plus, Best of Open House Chicago
Q: Tell us about the Chicagoland Out of Darkness Walk and what happens on October 3rd.
The walk gathers thousands in Montrose Harbor for a large, supportive event with activities, beads, and community solidarity, offering a space for personal connection and collective action in suicide prevention efforts.
City Expands Free Narcan. Plus, Best of Open House Chicago
Q: What is the End of Life Options Act and how would it work in practice?
The law requires two doctors to confirm a six-month or shorter life expectancy and two verbal requests by the patient at least five days apart; it emphasizes voluntary, well-considered decisions with safeguards like mental capacity evaluation and avoidance of coercion.
Who’s All Running For Mayor? Plus, Live From Printers Row
Q: So for someone who doesn't know much about AFSP, what does the organization actually do day to day?
AFSP conducts prevention programs, education, and research; they support people affected by suicide, provide free educational resources, and run campaigns to encourage open conversations about mental health and suicide to save lives.
Washington Park Mass Shooting, Ye & North in Chicago, and Printers Row Lit Quiz
Q: What is the Chicagoland Out of Darkness walk and what should people know about it?
The walk is a large community event around Montrose Field that brings together thousands to raise awareness and funds; attendees can join with walk buddies and participate at their own pace while learning about local resources.
Washington Park Mass Shooting, Ye & North in Chicago, and Printers Row Lit Quiz
Q: So for someone who doesn't know much about AFSP, what does the organization actually do day to day?
AFSP runs educational programs, supports research, and provides resources to people affected by suicide, with an emphasis on talking openly about mental health to prevent deaths by suicide.

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 City Cast Chicago

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

City Cast Chicago delivers daily morning coverage focused on Chicago's local news, culture, and civic life. The show pairs a charismatic host with a rotating roster of journalists, policymakers, artists, and community voices to unpack city issues—from education funding and food access to housing, crime perception, and neighborhood events. Episodes often blend policy context with on-the-ground reporting, practical tips for residents, and calls to civic action, making it useful for listeners who want a current, city-centric pulse and actionable takeaways. A notable strength is the mix of locally grounded reporting with cross-city guest perspectives and a willingness to explore everyday city-life dilemmas through a hopeful, human lens.

The pr... more

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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for City Cast Chicago, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

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. Up First from NPR
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. The Daily

How many episodes of City Cast Chicago are there?

City Cast Chicago launched 6 years ago and published 1403 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.

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.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for City Cast Chicago?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of City Cast Chicago. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on City Cast Chicago?

Recent guests on City Cast Chicago include:

1. Adora Namigadde
2. Anna DeShawn
3. Liegh Giangreco
4. Al Scorch
5. Elvia Malagon
6. Yareni Murillo
7. Michael Gebert
8. Jill Hopkins

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days