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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
Dusable Black History Museum
Immigration
Cook County
Soccer
Native American Community
Black Cinema
1919

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes673Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Arts

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Artwork for Curious City

Latest Episodes

Around Chicago, there are ribbons of paint on utility boxes that look like little doodles. But there’s much more to these paint splotches. The street artist and graffiti writer behind this and much larger work says painting has been a lifesaver.

Thi... more

Chicago has a rich and sometimes sordid past, making it ripe for creepy, perhaps paranormal activity. In that spirit, Curious City recently hosted a live event at the Empty Bottle called “Tales from the Curious Crypt,” where storyteller Jonathan Pitt... more

Nuclear power is Illinois’ biggest source of energy — over 50% — and nukes are once again in the spotlight as AI data centers jack up the demand for energy. What does this massive spike in demand mean for consumers in Illinois? Why are our electric b... more

In Chicago, it was house. In Detroit, it was techno. The two genres ushered a new electronic sound into the dance music world. Despite their proximity and shared roots in disco, some consider them rivals. But are they? And what about their adjacent d... more

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Recent Guests

Jonathan Pitts
Storyteller who worked at the Athenaeum Theater for 15 years.
Athenaeum Theater
Episode: Tales from the Curious Crypt
Nudia Hernandez
Vocalo host and DJ.
Vocalo
Episode: Tales from the Curious Crypt
Lily Be
Storyteller who shares personal stories about family, loss and paranormal experiences.
Episode: Tales from the Curious Crypt
Brett Chase
Environmental reporter and assistant editor for the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
Episode: Data centers are stressing the electric grid. What does that mean for Illinois consumers?
Charles Lee Parks IV
Chicago footwork dancer known as King Charles
Creation Footwork Kings
Episode: ‘Rivalry is our last name:’ Chicago and Detroit battle on the dancefloor
Leyva Garcia
Chicago-based dancer and educator known as Lady Soul
Lady Soul, educator, dancer
Episode: ‘Rivalry is our last name:’ Chicago and Detroit battle on the dancefloor
Mike Manson
Detroit Jitters master and prominent figure in Detroit jit
Detroit Jitters
Episode: ‘Rivalry is our last name:’ Chicago and Detroit battle on the dancefloor
Chip Eberhardt
Chicago DJ and record shop figure linked to early house
Imports Etc.
Episode: ‘Rivalry is our last name:’ Chicago and Detroit battle on the dancefloor
Kirk Harris
Founder, Center of Equity Practices and Planning Justice, UW–Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Episode: Industrial jobs left Detroit, Chicago, and Milwaukee. Why did it hit these cities differently?

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 792 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 States2 years 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
#154
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#166
Austria/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Data centers are stressing the electric grid. What does that mean for Illinois consumers?
Q: Why do I, as a consumer, need to pay more for my bill? Why don't the data centers themselves pay for the extra energy that they use or plan to use?
Higher demand raises electricity prices, and current regulations do not ensure data centers pay what consumers might consider their fair share, so ComEd passes costs on to all consumers.
Data centers are stressing the electric grid. What does that mean for Illinois consumers?
Q: So Brett, with all the resources that data centers use, are we at risk of frequent blackouts again?
Chase says not at present: Illinois has enough power, and grid investments have made outages less likely, although data-center demand complicates the state's clean-energy plans.
Did Chicago invent the rage room? A look inside “the Frustration Room”
Q: Does modern research support rage rooms as effective anger management?
Experts cited in the episode indicate that while venting can provide momentary relief, there is no strong evidence that rage rooms reduce anger in the long term, and some research suggests they may not lower overall aggression.
Did Chicago invent the rage room? A look inside “the Frustration Room”
Q: Who conceived of the Frustration Room and what happened to it?
The Frustration Room was designed by Harry Linsky and built as part of the Imperial Inn in Chicago in 1962 as a promotional feature; it generated significant publicity but eventually disappeared from records by the late 1960s as ownership and branding changed.
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.

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?

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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Which podcasts are similar to Curious City?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Curious City:

1. City Cast Chicago
2. Throughline
3. Radiolab
4. This American Life
5. Code Switch

How many episodes of Curious City are there?

Curious City launched 14 years ago and published 673 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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What guests have appeared on Curious City?

Recent guests on Curious City include:

1. Jonathan Pitts
2. Nudia Hernandez
3. Lily Be
4. Brett Chase
5. Charles Lee Parks IV
6. Leyva Garcia
7. Mike Manson
8. Chip Eberhardt

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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