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The Block Club Chicago Podcast

Block Club Chicago
Chicago
Chicago Public Schools
ICE
Brandon Johnson
City Council
Rush University Medical Center
Block Club Chicago
Trump Administration
Illinois
Operation Midway Blitz
Community Engagement
Stroke
Chicago Bears
Covid-19
Climate Change
Chicago Teachers Union
Small Business
Domestic Violence
Loretto Hospital
Paczki

The important, emotional, inspiring stories affecting Chicagoans. New episodes Tuesdays, Thursdays, or whenever a BIG story breaks.

PublishesDailyEpisodes443Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for The Block Club Chicago Podcast

Latest Episodes

Recorded live at the Block Club Chicago Block Party on October 3rd, hosts Jon Hansen and Iridian Fierro asked obscure Chicago trivia questions, and attendees gave it their best shot! How many out of 6 questions would you have gotten right?

Hosts - J... more

News of the pope’s lung cancer diagnosis has been a blow to many Chicagoans and Catholics around the world. The news, while tough, could motivate more Chicagoans to get screened for lung cancer, something Americans are terrible at. On today’s Block C... more

Members of a group called the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance acknowledge they didn’t have permission from the city to install the benches, but the local alderperson said he supports the effort.

Host - Iridian Fierro

Reporter - Quinn Myers

Read Mo... more

When Great Lakes Credit Union moved into the Austin neighborhood, banks soon followed. And now, in what was once a financial desert, investment and infrastructure are starting to move into the community. On today's podcast, how GLCU members from all ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gillian Alex
Rush Thoracic Surgeon
Rush University Medical Center
Episode: How The Pope's Diagnosis Could Motivate More Lung Cancer Screenings
Steve Bugg
Executive at Great Lakes Credit Union
Great Lakes Credit Union
Episode: Austin Had No Banks For Years. Then A Credit Union Changed Everything.
Deborah Williams Thurmond
West Side community leader advocating for financial access
Leaders Network (partner) / West Side community advocate
Episode: Austin Had No Banks For Years. Then A Credit Union Changed Everything.
Lauren Bakos
From the Chicago Architecture Center, presenter of Open House Chicago
Chicago Architecture Center
Episode: Enjoy An Architecture Speed Date During Open House Chicago
Lisa Stempel
Physician discussing cancer screening and risk-based strategies
Rush University Medical Center
Episode: Why Are So Many People Reluctant To Get Screened For Cancer?
Mike Leonard
Federal defense attorney
Law firm (trial lawyer)
Episode: Will 'Broadview Six' Prosecutors Be Disciplined?
Makiya Seminera
Chalkbeat journalist
Chalkbeat
Episode: What To Know About Chicago's School Board Elections
Jim Lynch
Reporter for Block Club Chicago
Block Club Chicago
Episode: From Classroom To Crafting, This CPS Teacher's Side Hustle Finds A Home
Melissa Matthews
Owner of Adorned By M, CPS teacher
Adorned By M
Episode: From Classroom To Crafting, This CPS Teacher's Side Hustle Finds A Home

Host

Jon Hansen
Host of Block Club Chicago Podcast, coordinates interviews and leads storytelling.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 236 ratings
  • Great city podcast

    Jon and the team do an excellent job going behind the scenes of Block Club Chicago news coverage to deliver interesting and compelling stories about the vibrancy of Chicago. My favorite episode was from a few years ago when Jon interviewed a fireman about the changing landscape of fires in the city. Each episode is a reminder that our city has a rich history, a bright future and truly brilliant people rising to meet the challenges of a modern American city.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    That other other girl
    United Statesa year ago
  • Amazing local news offering

    The Block Club Chicago podcast consistently adds context and depth to discussions about news in Chicago. Thanks for keeping us informed, and taking us behind the headlines.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LANewsie
    United States2 years ago
  • Incredible hyper local news

    Block Club Chicago is a group of hard working, talented Chicagoans looking to highlight stories from the hyper-local to the national. They do so with integrity, vigor, and (on this podcast and the ‘It’s All Good’ variety) a dash of optimism where appropriate.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RubyB612
    United States2 years ago
  • Disappointingly boring

    As a lifelong Chicagoan, I was excited to find this podcast. Some of the stores are covered in a very poor fashion. They unfortunately disproportionately cover street crime like the rest of Chicago media. Block Club Chicago articles are typically pretty good. This needs a revamp

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    MyFavoriteNicknameWasTaken
    United States2 years ago
  • Great Chicago journalism, for your ears

    The Block Club Chicago podcast gives a voice to a city full of people with stories to tell. It’s a refreshing source of informative and interesting local journalism, delivered with a conversational tone that feels like an informed neighbor telling me about the things that are going on around me that I should know about. I’ve been enjoying it as a regular source of local news and often recommend this podcast to other Chicagoans.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    beckyjf
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show for providing deeper context to Chicago news and community stories.
A minority finds some coverage repetitive or overly focused on crime.
Many appreciate positive, uplifting storytelling alongside hard-hitting reporting.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Enjoy An Architecture Speed Date During Open House Chicago
Q: So Open House Chicago is put on every year by the Chicago Architecture Center, and we work with sites across the city, you know, house museums and places of worship and commercial buildings that aren't normally open to the public.
Lauren explains the festival's scope, how sites are selected, and that it is free and self-guided with a centralized planning hub on openhousechicago.org.
Austin Had No Banks For Years. Then A Credit Union Changed Everything.
Q: How does Great Lakes Credit Union support underserved neighborhoods beyond just opening a branch?
They partner with community organizations, provide HUD-certified counseling, offer financial education, and create dealer-free paths to loans and services that help residents build credit and financial stability.
Austin Had No Banks For Years. Then A Credit Union Changed Everything.
Q: What is a credit union and how easy is it to join like Great Lakes Credit Union?
Credit unions are open to anyone in the community in many cases, not just employees or closed groups, and membership can be as simple as a small fee and providing basic information to access a full suite of financial products.
Why Are So Many People Reluctant To Get Screened For Cancer?
Q: What are the key age ranges and risk factors that influence screening recommendations for breast cancer?
Most guidelines advocate starting breast cancer screening at age 40 for average-risk women, with risk assessment in the 25–30s for high-risk individuals who may benefit from earlier MRI or additional imaging.
Why Are So Many People Reluctant To Get Screened For Cancer?
Q: Why is cancer screening hard for people to adopt, even when they feel healthy?
Anxiety and fear about what screenings might reveal, plus confusing or conflicting recommendations, make many people postponing or avoiding screening; yet early detection offers the best chance for cure and less invasive treatment.

Audience Metrics

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

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Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Block Club Chicago Podcast

What is The Block Club Chicago Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show focuses on hyper-local Chicago stories, blending investigative reporting, community voices, policy debates, and human-interest angles. Episodes commonly explore city governance, housing and renters' rights, public health, infrastructure, and local culture, often featuring reporters, city officials, and subject-matter experts. A distinctive thread is a constructive, community-oriented lens that combines rigorous reporting with uplifting, human-centered storytelling—frequently highlighting how residents and organizations are solving problems and building resilient neighborhoods.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Block Club Chicago Podcast?

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How many listeners does The Block Club Chicago Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Block Club Chicago Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Block Club Chicago Podcast 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 The Block Club Chicago Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Block Club Chicago Podcast:

1. City Cast Chicago
2. Curious City
3. The Mincing Rascals
4. The Rundown | Chicago News
5. Pod Save America

How many episodes of The Block Club Chicago Podcast are there?

The Block Club Chicago Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 443 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 The Block Club Chicago Podcast?

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 The Block Club Chicago Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Block Club Chicago Podcast?

Recent guests on The Block Club Chicago Podcast include:

1. Gillian Alex
2. Steve Bugg
3. Deborah Williams Thurmond
4. Lauren Bakos
5. Lisa Stempel
6. Mike Leonard
7. Makiya Seminera
8. Jim Lynch

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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