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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
Trap Neuter Return (TNR)
Treehouse Humane Society
Department Of Streets and Sanitation
Herb Jeffries
Black Exploitation Films
Graffiti
Addiction
Street Art
Art
The Walnut Room
Blizzard Of 1967
Silent Film Era

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

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes608Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsEducation

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Artwork for Curious City

Latest Episodes

The city is home to a vibrant jazz scene and the Chicago Jazz Festival. But it’s hard to catch the genre on the local radio dial.

The Kankakee mallow is one of the rarest plants on the continent, according to the Smithsonian Garden in Washington D.C. It’s a pink flower that grows on tall stalks and is native to just one small island in the middle of the Kankakee River, about an... more

There’s a hole in the map of Chicago. It turns out, it’s a cemetery. But there are many other cemeteries in Chicago that don’t show up as holes on the map, so what’s up with this one? We take you to the 19th Ward and explore the history of this dead ... more

You know the building: Two stories, an apartment unit on each floor, usually with bay windows and a facade of brick or greystone. But how did the two-flat become so popular, and who was it originally built to serve? In our last episode, we looked at ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Claire Keenan-Kurgan
Producer from the Points North podcast
Interlochen Public Radio
Episode: How a group of volunteers saved a rare Illinois wildflower
Sandie Bryant
A world-renowned square dance caller from Chicago.
Episode: ‘Friendship set to music’: Curious City goes square dancing on the South Side
Stephanie Cegielski
Vice President of Research and Public Relations at ICSC
International Council of Shopping Centers
Episode: Is your local mall dying, thriving or evolving?
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

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 767 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 States7 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 States9 months ago
  • Interesting Episodes

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BCguy94
    United States9 months ago
  • Quick n easy n fun Chicago tidbits.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    estellax
    10 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
#234
United States/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

‘Friendship set to music’: Curious City goes square dancing on the South Side
Q: Do you have to sing as a caller?
Yes, it is part of being a caller even though not all callers sing.
‘Friendship set to music’: Curious City goes square dancing on the South Side
Q: Can you call something now?
Sandie explains that calling is part of her role as a square dance caller.
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.

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

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How many listeners does Curious City get?

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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. The Rundown | Chicago News
3. Radiolab
4. This American Life
5. Throughline

How many episodes of Curious City are there?

Curious City launched 13 years ago and published 608 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?

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What guests have appeared on Curious City?

Recent guests on Curious City include:

1. Claire Keenan-Kurgan
2. Sandie Bryant
3. Stephanie Cegielski
4. Carlos Ballesteros
5. April Noga
6. Jeffrey Newman
7. Cheryl Crockett
8. Angela Johnson

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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