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Artwork for Curious City

Curious City

WBEZ Chicago
Chicago
Chicago Public Schools
Lake Michigan
WBEZ
Filipino Cuisine
Education
Feral Cats
Schwinn
Road Salt
Domestic Terrorism
Extremism
Berlin Nightclub
Lake Shore Drive
Immigration
Cook County
Dusable Black History Museum
Soccer
Native American Community
Black Cinema
1919

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes663Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Arts

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Artwork for Curious City

Latest Episodes

Bynum Island was once a gem in Chicago’s Washington Park, but now it’s abandoned, overgrown and inaccessible to the public. Curious City looks into why, and whether the island will ever reopen.

Former Chicago Public Schools students say school lunch used to be delicious decades ago. That comes as a surprise to current CPS students, who give lunchroom offerings mixed reviews. Also missing from the menu is a once popular butter cookie. What h... more

One of the world’s largest scuba organizations was founded in the Chicago suburbs by Portage Park pool swim instructor Ralph Erickson. Decades later and Chicago still has a small but mighty scuba diving scene, driven in part by Lake Michigan’s many w... more

Block club signs are all over the city, usually welcoming you to the neighborhood or telling you what you should or should not do while you’re there. A Curious City listener said they often see these signs on their way to work, and they wondered abou... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ray Salazar
School teacher and former CPS student, the episode's question asker
Hancock College Prep (former CPS student)
Episode: School lunch used to ace the test
Andrea Kessler
Founding member of the Chicago Undersea Explorer Society
Chicago Undersea Explorer Society
Episode: Shipwrecks, mussels and sponges: Chicago is a scuba diving destination
Ashton Kinsey
PADI Master Instructor
Double Action Dive Charters
Episode: Shipwrecks, mussels and sponges: Chicago is a scuba diving destination
Lisa Didabo
First-time diver featured on boat dive
Episode: Shipwrecks, mussels and sponges: Chicago is a scuba diving destination
Madeline Crispell
Curator at the Chicago Maritime Museum
Chicago Maritime Museum
Episode: Shipwrecks, mussels and sponges: Chicago is a scuba diving destination
Ralph Erickson
Pioneer of scuba instruction in Chicago
Underwater Safaris / PADI
Episode: Shipwrecks, mussels and sponges: Chicago is a scuba diving destination
John Cronin
Co-founder of PADI
PADI
Episode: Shipwrecks, mussels and sponges: Chicago is a scuba diving destination
Keith Pearson
Crew member of Double Action Dive Charters
Double Action Dive Charters
Episode: Shipwrecks, mussels and sponges: Chicago is a scuba diving destination
Katie Micah
Founder of Chicago Undersea Explorers Society
Chicago Undersea Explorers Society
Episode: Shipwrecks, mussels and sponges: Chicago is a scuba diving destination

Hosts

Erin Allen
Host of Curious City, WBEZ Chicago, with multiple attributions across affiliation lines; primary voice on many episodes.
Ariane Nettles
Reporter and host for Curious City, with focus on local investigative and community stories.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 790 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 Statesa year 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 States2 years ago
  • Interesting Episodes

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BCguy94
    United States2 years ago
  • Quick n easy n fun Chicago tidbits.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    estellax
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Most insights on Chicago history and local stories come through with clear context and credible voices.
A solid resource for anyone looking to understand Chicago's neighborhoods and public spaces.
Episodes are concise and informative, though some listeners crave deeper dives.
Great variety of topics that illuminate underreported urban stories and community voices.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#205
United States/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why does Chicago have so little love for the ‘Watchdog’ of the lakefront?
Q: My question is, why isn't Montgomery Ward's name more prominently featured along the lakefront?
Ward fought to keep Grant Park forever open, clear, and free, and preferred privacy over public self-promotion; his legacy is more about the preservation of space than personal fame, which explains the muted public signature.
Why does Chicago have a monument named for fascist leader Italo Balbo?
Q: Why does Chicago still have the Balbo Monument?
The monument remains because there is no immediate plan to remove it, coupled with calls to contextualize it with signage and to fund a proper preservation or relocation, highlighting a broader conversation about how to handle controversial artifacts in public spaces.
‘This is how I speak’: The influence of the Black Chicago accent
Q: How did the reaction to your voice affect your career in journalism?
She recalls facing mic checks, criticism, and moments of doubt in grad school and early journalism work, but ultimately choosing to embrace her voice and pursue radio as a means to own her narrative.
‘This is how I speak’: The influence of the Black Chicago accent
Q: When did you realize you had an accent?
Arionne describes recognizing that her speech sounded different when she attended Florida A&M University and encountered people who perceived her Chicago-tinged southern-influenced speech as unique, leading to broader reflection on linguistic identity.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Curious City

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

Curious City centers on Chicago and its surrounding region, exploring history, culture, infrastructure, and community life through a mix of investigative reporting, storytelling, and local voices. Episodes range from neighborhood block clubs and festival cultures to urban planning, public spaces, and city lore, often featuring reporters, historians, and community leaders. The show tends to spotlight under-told local stories with a craft-focused approach, balancing accessible storytelling with concrete context and practical takeaways for residents and policymakers alike. A notable strength is its ability to pair archival insight with contemporary voices, producing tangible connections between past and present Chicago life.

Listeners are lik... more

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How many subscribers and views does Curious City have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Curious City?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Curious City:

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

How many episodes of Curious City are there?

Curious City launched 14 years ago and published 663 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?

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What guests have appeared on Curious City?

Recent guests on Curious City include:

1. Ray Salazar
2. Andrea Kessler
3. Ashton Kinsey
4. Lisa Didabo
5. Madeline Crispell
6. Ralph Erickson
7. John Cronin
8. Keith Pearson

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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