Rephonic
Artwork for Curious City

Curious City

WBEZ Chicago
Chicago
Black Cinema
The Railroad Porter
Black History Month
William D. Foster
Snow Plow Drivers
Oscar Micheaux
Treehouse Humane Society
Department Of Streets and Sanitation
Black Exploitation Films
Herb Jeffries
Graffiti
Addiction
Art
Street Art
Birds
The Walnut Room
Blizzard Of 1967
Silent Film Era
American Negro Exposition

Ask questions, vote and discover answers about Chicago, the region and its people. From WBEZ.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes603Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Curious City

Latest Episodes

It’s a Thursday night and a group of folks in Washington Heights do-si-do to the bassline from “Shake Your Groove Thing” by Peaches & Herb. Square dancing has a reputation as more of a hobby for white people set to country music. But social clubs lik... more

Square dancing was once so popular that a center opened in the suburbs dedicated to the hobby. Today, veteran dancers are trying to recruit new fans.

Malls hold a special spot in the hearts of many Americans of a certain age. One may have been the setting for your first date, the place you caught a now-classic summer blockbuster, or even a daycare of sorts after mom dropped you off with a few frie... more

Vacant shops and faded signs, Ford City Mall is in the process of being sold. But this shell of a shopping center was once a bustling hub, especially for young people.

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

Carlos Ballesteros
Reporter at Injustice Watch
Injustice Watch
Episode: What happened after a dangerous year inside Cook County Jail
April Noga
Executive director of Chicagoland Pig Rescue
Chicagoland Pig Rescue
Episode: Do pigs need rescuing?
Jeffrey Newman
Culinary teacher at CPS
CPS
Episode: School is in session, and we put the CPS butter cookie to the test
Cheryl Crockett
Baker selling CPS-style cookies
Crockett Cookies
Episode: School is in session, and we put the CPS butter cookie to the test
Angela Johnson
HR Director at Chicago Sun-Times and former CPS student
Chicago Sun-Times
Episode: School is in session, and we put the CPS butter cookie to the test
Dave Misca
Master control engineer at WBEZ and former CPS student
WBEZ
Episode: School is in session, and we put the CPS butter cookie to the test
Paul Tsang
Restaurant owner who recently joined the Hipsing
Episode: What’s the history of Chinese gangs in Chicago?
Dr. Kim Tee
Member of the Fujian Association
Fujian Association
Episode: What happened to Chinatown’s family associations?
Mabel Moy
Co-president of the Moy Family Association
Moy Family Association
Episode: What happened to Chinatown’s family associations?

Host

Erin Allen
Host known for her storytelling ability and engaging approach to Chicago's unique questions and topics, often spotlighting local culture and history.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 764 ratings
  • Can do better

    Show has interesting topics but averaging 7 minutes a show, 2 and a half of which are ads or plugs for other shows, not really worth my time.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Klauski57
    United States6 months ago
  • Curiously Void of Information

    Overall, it’s been enjoyable listening to the various aspects of this wonderful city, however the show lacks so much detail now!

    The shorter episodes, and in particular this last one on traffic are a complete waste of time.

    Never did the episode go into the history of Chicago traffic or highway systems, touched on the backstory of the application and its development, or really explained how it works.

    It fell short in so many ways- there was a depth of info that could have been useful and qui... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Bluefinkillie
    United States8 months ago
  • Interesting Episodes

    I love how these short episodes delve into an aspect of Chicago history/culture!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BCguy94
    United States8 months ago
  • Quick n easy n fun Chicago tidbits.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    estellax
    9 months ago
  • Love the unique and interesting topics

    I love the unique and interesting Chicago stories brought to light by this team at WBEZ!!! Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Charmane Michelle
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience members enjoy the community engagement aspect, often providing positive feedback on the personalization of stories.
Listeners appreciate the informative and unique storytelling that highlights Chicago's rich culture and history.
Some remarks indicate that certain episodes lack detail compared to earlier content, suggesting a desire for a return to deeper discoveries.
There is some criticism regarding the short episode length, which leaves listeners wanting more in-depth exploration of topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#229
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#241
Taiwan/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What happened after a dangerous year inside Cook County Jail
Q: Is there a system in place where prison officials are supposed to give those details to families?
No, there is currently no requirement for the government to inform families about the circumstances of their loved one's death without them requesting information.
What happened after a dangerous year inside Cook County Jail
Q: Can you give an example of one of the stories that really stood out to you, of how that person died, and just walk me through the misses that happened in that situation?
One notable case was that of Daniel Colon, who died within two days of being taken to Cook County Jail after reporting withdrawal symptoms. He was not checked on and eventually died alone in a bathroom stall.
Yes, people really do win pledge drive giveaways at WBEZ
Q: Do people actually win these things?
Yes, pledge drive drawings are real, and real people win them.
There’s nature in Chicago. Go bathe in it.
Q: Can you talk about, you know, I know you just guided us through this whole experience, but if someone wants to try this and, you know, maybe they can't get out of their house or invite someone to come in and guide them, or if they just want to go somewhere and do it, what should they be thinking about?
They should find a safe place near home, return to the same spot regularly, and take the time to observe nature with soft fascination.
Even when nothing goes wrong, moving is trash
Q: What can renters do if things in their apartment aren't what the landlord promised?
Sam suggests talking to the landlord, calling 311, or sending a 14-day letter for unresolved issues.

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 Curious City

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

The content revolves around uncovering quirky, informative stories about Chicago, its history, culture, and community. The episodes often answer listener-submitted questions and explore a wide range of topics, including food history, significant events, and the evolution of local traditions. Each episode uniquely connects the past and present, featuring contributions from local residents and experts who provide personal anecdotes and insights. This podcast stands out by fostering community engagement, emphasizing personal stories, and creating a dialogue among Chicagoans about their shared history and identity.

Noteworthy is its format that combines historical exploration with contemporary issues, often featuring lesser-known narratives th... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Curious City?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Curious City. 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 Curious City and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Curious City get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Curious City, 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 Curious City?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Curious City, 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 Curious City have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Curious City 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 Curious City?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Curious City:

1. City Cast Chicago
2. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
3. This American Life
4. Fresh Air
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of Curious City are there?

Curious City launched 13 years ago and published 603 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 Curious City?

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 Curious City?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Curious City 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 Curious City?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Curious City. 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 Curious City?

Recent guests on Curious City include:

1. Carlos Ballesteros
2. April Noga
3. Jeffrey Newman
4. Cheryl Crockett
5. Angela Johnson
6. Dave Misca
7. Paul Tsang
8. Dr. Kim Tee

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