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Artwork for Curious City

Curious City

WBEZ Chicago
Chicago
Black Cinema
Feral Cats
The Railroad Porter
Black History Month
William D. Foster
Snow Plow Drivers
Oscar Micheaux
Department Of Streets and Sanitation
Herb Jeffries
Black Exploitation Films
Addiction
Graffiti
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 weeklyEpisodes644Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsEducation

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Artwork for Curious City

Latest Episodes

The Lady Elgin left Chicago for Milwaukee on a stormy September night in 1860 with around 400 passengers aboard. Another vessel was also out in the storm — a small lumber schooner called The Augusta — which crashed into the Lady Elgin a few hours lat... more

Lighthouses were manned by keepers until automation took over. Now, preservationists are working to restore Chicago’s most iconic one.

At the turn of the 20th century, Black photographers were starting to make a name for themselves. Photographers like William E. Woodard, James Van Der Zee and Miles Webb were opening and running their own studios. In African American art history, the... more

What was Chicago's first art gallery? Curious City investigates. Nowadays, it’s easy to see and experience art all over Chicago. But where did it all begin, and who was allowed to show their art?

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Madeline Crispell
Curator, Chicago Maritime Museum
Chicago Maritime Museum
Episode: The story of the Lady Elgin, the deadliest shipwreck in Great Lakes history
Wayne Barton
Former lighthouse keeper
Grosse Point Lighthouse (Evanston)
Episode: What are Chicago area lighthouses used for?
Don Terrace
Lighthouse historian/guide
Grosse Point Lighthouse caretaker
Episode: What are Chicago area lighthouses used for?
Kurt Lensch
Guide to Chicago Harbor Lighthouse
Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse
Episode: What are Chicago area lighthouses used for?
Alison Levy
Question-asker featured in the story
Public resident
Episode: What are Chicago area lighthouses used for?
Katie Reardon
Reporter for this week's story
WBEZ
Episode: What are Chicago area lighthouses used for?
Amy Mooney
Art history professor at Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago
Episode: How early Black Chicagoans used photography to redefine their image
Diane Dillon
Scholar in residence at the Newberry Library
Newberry Library
Episode: What was Chicago's first art gallery?
Scott W. Berg
Author of The Burning of the World, The Great Chicago Fire and the War for a City's Soul
Author
Episode: Chicago came under martial law after the Great Fire. Did it help?

Host

Erin Allen
Host of a show exploring various aspects of Chicago's culture and history, often inviting community questions and contributions.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 781 ratings
  • What about now?

    The city is currently having its citizens kidnapped en mass. ANY Chicago-centric show should be featuring this!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Bedpost#4
    United States6 months ago
  • 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago
  • Interesting Episodes

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BCguy94
    United Statesa year ago
  • Quick n easy n fun Chicago tidbits.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    estellax
    a year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the unique focus on Chicago's history and culture, often noting the engaging storytelling and community aspects of the content.
Some critiques mention the brevity of episodes, suggesting that deeper dives into topics would enhance the experience.
Overall, the podcast is regarded as a valuable resource for both locals and those interested in learning more about Chicago's diverse narratives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#74
South Africa/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How early Black Chicagoans used photography to redefine their image
Q: Tell me about the community and the social practice of taking and making photographs.
The guest explains that social photography was a community activity, with studios hosting salons and gatherings where images circulated and people connected around shared spaces and culture; the interaction helped build a local Black visual culture.
No cars, no road salt: How one Midwestern community avoids salt all winter
Q: How are packages delivered? Is it the horse and buggy situation as well?
Supplies are delivered via a journey involving freight boats and then transported on large wagons pulled by horses.
No cars, no road salt: How one Midwestern community avoids salt all winter
Q: How do you get there again?
Usually you take a ferry, but in winter when the water freezes, you book a flight over Lake Huron.
When is it no longer ‘cooler by the lake’?
Q: So is lake effect snow more toward the southeast?
Yes, lake effect snow tends to hit Northwest Indiana and Michigan harder than Chicago because the conditions for it, such as cold air hitting the relatively warmer lake, favor those regions.
Two-and-a-half minutes: Pilot John Ginley’s dance with disaster
Q: What do you remember doing and thinking once you got safely on the ground?
John remembers an awesome Chicago police officer helped manage traffic and ensured their safety immediately after landing.

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?

This podcast offers a unique exploration of Chicago, focusing on various aspects of the city's culture, history, and landscape. With episodes covering topics ranging from the experiences of women in the FBI to the quirky traditions that shape the city, the content often highlights underrepresented stories and encourages community engagement. By inviting listeners to submit questions about Chicago, the podcast not only provides answers but fosters a sense of connection among residents. The discussions tend to mix personal narratives with historical context, making the content relatable and informative while preserving a strong focus on Chicago's identity.

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?

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What are the audience demographics for Curious City?

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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. Throughline
3. 99% Invisible
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Curious City are there?

Curious City launched 14 years ago and published 644 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?

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What guests have appeared on Curious City?

Recent guests on Curious City include:

1. Madeline Crispell
2. Wayne Barton
3. Don Terrace
4. Kurt Lensch
5. Alison Levy
6. Katie Reardon
7. Amy Mooney
8. Diane Dillon

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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