Rephonic
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
Rats
Department Of Streets and Sanitation
Herb Jeffries
Black Exploitation Films
Addiction
Street Art
Graffiti
Art
Birds
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 weeklyEpisodes616Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Curious City

Latest Episodes

Animal control is used to dealing with stray cats and dogs. But what happens when there’s a peacock strutting down the alley? Curious City explores strange animal sightings in Chicago.

Chicago passed a reparations ordinance 10 years ago for the survivors of police torture committed under the direction of disgraced Chicago police commander Jon Burge. As we learned in our last episode, monetary reparations alone cannot heal decades o... more

This year marks a new record, as Chicago city leaders have so far agreed to pay more than $266 million to resolve a wide range of police misconduct lawsuits. After the city washes its hands and the TV news cameras move on, what happens next? Do these... more

While flying over downtown Chicago on July 18, 2018, a World-War-II era single-engine Ercoupe airplane suffered “complete mechanical failure.” “The throttle cable completely broke off of the carburetor,” said pilot John Ginley. “There was no way to c... more

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

John Ginley
Professional pilot and FAA-designated pilot examiner
Self-employed
Episode: Two-and-a-half minutes: Pilot John Ginley’s dance with disaster
Cedric X. Cow
A former student of Dr. Margaret Burroughs
Episode: The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’
Anthony Spalding
A former student of Dr. Margaret Burroughs
Episode: The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’
Marcos Gray
A former student of Dr. Margaret Burroughs
Episode: The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’
Carl Williams
A former student of Dr. Margaret Burroughs
Episode: The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’
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

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 769 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 month 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 States8 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 States10 months ago
  • Interesting Episodes

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BCguy94
    United States10 months 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.

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.

Top Arts Podcasts

The Moth
The MothThe Moth
99% Invisible
99% InvisibleRoman Mars
The Best 5 Minute Wine Podcast
The Best 5 Minute Wine PodcastForrest Kelly, Bleav
The Neon Testament
The Neon TestamentJohnny Galvan 3
Spooked
SpookedKQED and Snap Studios
Fantasy Fangirls
Fantasy FangirlsFantasy Fangirls

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
‘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.

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. The Rundown | Chicago News
3. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
4. This American Life
5. Crain's Daily Gist

How many episodes of Curious City are there?

Curious City launched 13 years ago and published 616 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. John Ginley
2. Cedric X. Cow
3. Anthony Spalding
4. Marcos Gray
5. Carl Williams
6. Claire Keenan-Kurgan
7. Sandie Bryant
8. Stephanie Cegielski

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