
Ask questions, vote and discover answers about Chicago, the region and its people. From WBEZ.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 663 | Founded | 14 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Arts | |||

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
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The city is currently having its citizens kidnapped en mass. ANY Chicago-centric show should be featuring this!
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.
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
I love how these short episodes delve into an aspect of Chicago history/culture!
Quick n easy n fun Chicago tidbits.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #205 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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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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
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.
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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.