Rephonic
Artwork for City Cast Chicago

City Cast Chicago

City Cast
Chicago
Chicago Public Schools
ICE
Chicago, United States
Chicago Police Department
CTA
Operation Midway Blitz
Data Centers
Chicago City Council
Chicago Restaurant Week
Obama Presidential Center
Mayor Brandon Johnson
Homelessness
Bears
Immigration Enforcement
Cook County
O'hare Airport
Chicago Winter Weather
Chicago Bears
City Cast Chicago

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1358Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for City Cast Chicago

Latest Episodes

The Board of Education is scheduled to vote tomorrow on a Chicago Public Schools budget plan that would lay off 760 teachers and 801 teacher aides, in addition to the 162 central office and citywide staff that have already been laid off. Contributors... more

Right now, Chicago’s City Council is weighing exactly how to update the city’s 40-year-old Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance. There are two competing visions: one from the mayor and the other from a bloc of alderpeople. Host Jacoby Cochran an... more

A new study from NORC at the University of Chicago indicates many Chicagoans feel like violent crime rates are rising even though the data doesn't support it. We dig into why that is with contributors Adora Namigadde and Brandon Pope. Plus, we break ... more

Seven Save-A-Lot grocery stores across the South and West Sides could close their doors as early as Saturday if Yellow Banana, the company that owns and operates them, can’t find new funding. Block Club Chicago’s Atavia Reed is here with the latest. ... 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.

Recent Guests

Kristen Schorsch
Reporter from WBEZ
WBEZ
Episode: Can Chicago Save Save-A-Lot Stores? Plus, Safety Net Hospitals Are Struggling
Erica Thompson
Arts and culture reporter with the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Episode: Did Mayor's ICE Order Actually Do Anything? Plus, 1,000 Teens Downtown
Mariah Woelfel
City Hall reporter with WBEZ
WBEZ
Episode: Did Mayor's ICE Order Actually Do Anything? Plus, 1,000 Teens Downtown
Jordan LaFleur
Executive Editor, The Onion
The Onion
Episode: Tips For Second Heat Wave. Also, Can the Onion Make Infowars Funny?
Julia Ramirez
Alderman, 12th Ward
City of Chicago
Episode: Why Massage Parlors Are Getting Raided in the 12th Ward
Araceli Gomez-Aldana
Guest on City Cast Chicago
City Cast Chicago
Episode: Who Will Replace Retiring Police Chief? Plus, Chicago's New Gayborhood?
Alexandra Petri
Columnist and author of a book about fake US history
The Atlantic
Episode: 'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast Chicago
Emmy Mack
Creative producer
4th of July Apparel
Episode: Your Guide to July 2026 in Chicago
Damon Williams
Co-founder, Respaire Production and Media
Respaire Production and Media
Episode: How Quantum Is Already Changing the South Side. Plus, Heat Wave Approaching

Hosts

Jacoby Cochran
Host of the show; City Cast Chicago staple with a focus on local news and culture.
Simone Alicea
Executive Producer and host, responsible for coordinating content and partnerships.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 749 ratings
  • 5-26-2026

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

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    totaljive
    United States2 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 States3 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 States4 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 States5 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 States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners want fewer filler words from hosts and a tighter balance between hosts.
Positive reception of timely policy discussions and community-focused segments.
Audience appreciates deep-dive local coverage and diverse guest voices.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#83
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#79
Poland/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#124
Sweden/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#150
Taiwan/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#177
Colombia/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#228
Mexico/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Can Chicago Save Save-A-Lot Stores? Plus, Safety Net Hospitals Are Struggling
Q: How did we get to this point with the Save-A-Lot stores and community reception?
City and community leaders had approved substantial funding and expected six stores to stay open into the mid-2030s; over time, financial headwinds and neighborhood pushback complicated the rollout, leading to the current uncertainty.
Can Chicago Save Save-A-Lot Stores? Plus, Safety Net Hospitals Are Struggling
Q: What is the latest here?
Yellow Banana has been asked to find a new supplier or investor as Save-A-Lot exits, with potential store closures looming unless new funding or partnerships are found.
'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast Chicago
Q: Which English-born founding father is credited with the anonymously released pamphlet promoting independence?
Thomas Paine.
'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast Chicago
Q: What city was the first to read The Declaration of Independence publicly on July 8, 1776, among the listed sites?
Trenton, New Jersey.
Tips For Second Heat Wave. Also, Can the Onion Make Infowars Funny?
Q: When will the new Infowars content go live and how will it be distributed?
Weekly episodes of the stream are planned for six to eight weeks, followed by a ramp-up of independent creator videos across platforms like YouTube and the Onion site, with broader distribution planned as the project matures.

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?

A daily Chicago-focused show that blends politics, policy, and culture with on-the-ground reporting. Episodes commonly center on local government, education funding, housing and development, transportation, and city events, often pairing policy analysis with personal anecdotes from reporters, educators, and community guests. The format tends to mix hard-news takes with lighter segments and hands-on neighborhood perspectives, making it a practical listen for professionals tracking city affairs and residents who want actionable insight into how Chicago operates. A standout trait is the consistent inclusion of diverse, locally embedded guests, from journalists and city officials to advocates and cultural voices, which helps translate complex i... 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 three 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. The Rundown | Chicago News
3. Code Switch
4. The Block Club Chicago Podcast
5. Up First from NPR

How many episodes of City Cast Chicago are there?

City Cast Chicago launched 5 years ago and published 1358 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. Kristen Schorsch
2. Erica Thompson
3. Mariah Woelfel
4. Jordan LaFleur
5. Julia Ramirez
6. Araceli Gomez-Aldana
7. Alexandra Petri
8. Emmy Mack

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