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Artwork for Curious City

Curious City

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

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes650Founded14 years ago
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Artwork for Curious City

Latest Episodes

A concentrated Filipino community area is not as easy to spot as neighborhoods like Chinatown or Little Village. In this episode, we’ll look at the long history Filipinos have had in Chicago stretching back to the early 1900s. We’ll also look at how ... more

Curious City listeners wondered if helicopters they heard buzzing around their Chicago neighborhoods at night were part of the federal government’s immigration enforcement. There is some truth to that, but it turns out odd helicopter flights have bee... more

There’s an ancient Roman column in Chicago hidden in plain sight near Soldier Field. It was a gift given by Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini during the 1933-1934 Chicago World’s Fair, commemorating a daring transatlantic flight to the fair b... more

Have you ever noticed a branded stamp in the sidewalk? Keen-eyed Chicagoans have found some that date back to Depression-era infrastructure projects by the Works Progress Administration. Who were the workers behind the WPA and why did they brand Chic... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Clarissa Alentera
Archer Heights resident who created a Filipino historical tour
Independent community member
Episode: Does Chicago have a Filipino neighborhood?
Francis Almeida
Owner of Side Practice; co-owner of Novel Pizza; involved in Casama; Filipino entrepreneurship advocate
Side Practice, Novel Pizza, Casama
Episode: Does Chicago have a Filipino neighborhood?
Kathy Vega-Hardy
Owner and chef at My Next Stop, a taste of the Philippines
My Next Stop
Episode: Does Chicago have a Filipino neighborhood?
Julius Takeneda
Chef at Connain; involved in Filipino culinary scene in Ravenswood
Connain (Ravenswood)
Episode: Does Chicago have a Filipino neighborhood?
Kara Novi
Question asker from Westtown
Curious City listener
Episode: Why are there helicopters flying over my neighborhood every night?
David Hanna
Author and historian, author of Italo Balbo's Flight to the 1933 Chicago World's Fair
Independent scholar/author
Episode: Why does Chicago have a monument named for fascist leader Italo Balbo?
Don Fiore
Author of the 2023 book Italo Balbo's Flight to the 1933 Chicago World's Fair
Historian/author
Episode: Why does Chicago have a monument named for fascist leader Italo Balbo?
Ali Abu Latif Amida
Author of Genocide in Libya, Shar, A Hidden Colonial History
North Africa colonial history scholar
Episode: Why does Chicago have a monument named for fascist leader Italo Balbo?
Bill Savage
Professor at Northwestern University, author on Chicago roads and infrastructure
Northwestern University
Episode: Standing on history: Who built Chicago’s WPA sidewalks?

Host

Erin Allen
Host of Curious City with deep ties to WBEZ Chicago; frequent contributor and lead host in many episodes.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 782 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 States8 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.

Fans highlight a consistent, approachable delivery with strong on-site reporting and archival context.
Critiques often focus on pacing and episode length rather than content quality.
Some listeners feel episodes have become shorter and less in-depth.
Many praise the show for providing tangible Chicago history and urban insights.
Listeners appreciate the city-specific historical depth and engaging expert guests.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Curious City

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

This show consistently explores Chicago's history, culture, and urban life through focused, sometimes quirky, investigations. Episodes span topics from public memory and monuments to infrastructure, maritime history, and linguistic identity, often featuring historians, journalists, and local experts who bring context to how Chicago has shaped—and been shaped by—its people and places. A strength across episodes is the way guests illuminate nuanced angles on public memory, civic decisions, and regional identity, while keeping the stories highly tangible with on-site reporting and vivid historical anecdotes. The format tends to blend archival context with contemporary relevance, offering listeners a compact but informative window into the city... more

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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. 99% Invisible
3. This American Life
4. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of Curious City are there?

Curious City launched 14 years ago and published 650 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. Clarissa Alentera
2. Francis Almeida
3. Kathy Vega-Hardy
4. Julius Takeneda
5. Kara Novi
6. David Hanna
7. Don Fiore
8. Ali Abu Latif Amida

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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