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Artwork for The Arts Section

The Arts Section

WDCB's Gary Zidek
Chicago
Chicago Architecture Biennial
Dancing the Revolution
Natchez, Mississippi
Jazz
Marvels
Hekla
Chicago, United States
Theater
Nintendo
Summer Movie Season
Amadeus
Nouvelle Cuisine
International Jazz Day
American Writers Museum
Route 66
BAM Theater
Lazadro Museum Of Lapidary Art
Tuxedo Man
The Jackie Wilson Story

The Arts Section spotlights creative people, events and ideas. Every week, WDCB's Gary Zidek shines a light on arts and culture in the Chicago area. The mission is to focus on stories within the arts community that aren't being told, with additional commentary and discussions on literature, music, film, food, special events and anything else creative.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Performing ArtsTV & FilmArts

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Artwork for The Arts Section

Latest Episodes

Interviews With John Early and Gary Sinise Gary Zidek On this edition of The Arts Section, host Gary Zidek catches up with celebrated actor and comedian John Early to talk about his new film, MADDIE’S SECRET. Theater critic Jonathan Abarbanel will ... more

Anerican Weekender + Commute Photo Book Gary Zidek On this edition of The Arts Section, host Gary Zidek catches up with a Chicago couple that launched their own online dining publication that covers restaurants all over the country. Theater critic ... more

Tom Dreesen Obit + Opera Festival of Chicago Gary Zidek Happy Father’s Day! On this edition of The Arts Section, host Gary Zidek revisits his interview with celebrated comedian Tom Dreesen. The Harvey native, who enjoyed a decades-long career in sh... more

Soccer Photo Exhibit + The Alley Turns 50 Gary Zidek On this edition of The Arts Section, host Gary Zidek visits a new photo exhibit that illuminates the beautiful game. As the World Cup takes center stage, a suburban museum is presenting a new exh... more

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Recent Guests

Jeanette Andrews
Magician/artist featured in the Elmhurst Art Museum exhibit
Elmhurst Art Museum
Episode: The Arts Section 05/31/26: Artist/Magician Jeanette Andrews + New Cookbook Dives Into Regional Faves
Amy Cavanaugh
Dining editor, Chicago Magazine; cookbook author
Eaterland project; Chicago Magazine
Episode: The Arts Section 05/31/26: Artist/Magician Jeanette Andrews + New Cookbook Dives Into Regional Faves
Alex Ross
Renowned comic book artist
Marvels (project)
Episode: The Arts Section 05/24/26: Local Author Adapts Famous Comic Into Novel + Summer Movie Preview
Jonathan Abarbanel
Theater critic
Timeline Theater reviews
Episode: The Arts Section 05/24/26: Local Author Adapts Famous Comic Into Novel + Summer Movie Preview
Emily Werner
Theater critic
Timeline Theater reviews
Episode: The Arts Section 05/24/26: Local Author Adapts Famous Comic Into Novel + Summer Movie Preview
Chris Johnson
CEO
Classic Cinemas
Episode: The Arts Section 05/24/26: Local Author Adapts Famous Comic Into Novel + Summer Movie Preview
Melanie Lamoureux
Founder and artistic director
BAM Theater
Episode: The Arts Section 05/17/26: Route 66 Turns 100, Summer Theater Preview + Suburban Youth Theater Thrives
Kyle Brill
Executive Director
Lazadro Museum of Lapidary Art
Episode: The Arts Section 05/17/26: Route 66 Turns 100, Summer Theater Preview + Suburban Youth Theater Thrives
Luc Barr
Author of The Secret History Of French Cooking
Author/Writer
Episode: The Arts Section 05/10/26: Secret History of French Cooking + Minecraft Experience

Host

Gary Zidek
Host of The Arts Section; covers Chicago-area arts, culture and education, with a focus on underreported stories.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 5 ratings
  • Best Local Arts & Culture Show

    I look forward to my Sunday morning thanks to The Arts Section. It’s a great compilation of unique and interesting happenings throughout the Chicagoland area. I can’t recommend enough for thoughtful interviews and inspiring offerings!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    StephanieMWZ123
    United States6 years ago
  • Fantastic program

    Every week The Arts Section covers a wide-range of topics, often shining a light on stories not being covered elsewhere. Lots of arts, culture and life-style segments.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chicago Arts Fan
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

A great local arts show with thoughtful interviews and inspiring coverage of Chicago's culture scene.
Covers a wide range of topics and often highlights stories not covered elsewhere.
High-quality critics and guests provide valuable context for local arts events.

Top Performing Arts Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Arts Section 01/04/26: Happy New Year!
Q: How do you approach evaluating a new restaurant?
Start by understanding the place's identity, sample across menu sections (pasta, charcuterie, etc.), and assess whether the restaurant communicates a clear point of view through hospitality and ambiance.
The Arts Section 01/04/26: Happy New Year!
Q: What stood out to you in Chicago's restaurant scene in 2025?
A strong, diverse mix of pizza-focused concepts and personality-driven places expanding across neighborhoods, with West Town and Lincoln Park highlighted for new openings and distinctive concepts like Millie's and Creepies.
The Arts Section 11/09/25: Cinematographer Roger Deakins, Lit & Luz Festival + Gabe Polsky Interview
Q: How do you decide which projects to take on and what makes a script stand out for you?
The primary criterion is the story and the emotional engagement it offers; the scale or money involved are far less important than a project you feel passionate about and that you can connect with on a human level.
The Arts Section 11/23/25: New Book Revisits Farnsworth House + Thanksgiving's History
Q: How did Wendl approach moving from academic writing to a memoir-inflected narrative for a general audience?
She shifted toward memoir-style storytelling to relate her archival research to a broader audience, making the history accessible while preserving critical analysis and emphasizing personal experiences managing archival access and institutional dynamics.
The Arts Section 11/23/25: New Book Revisits Farnsworth House + Thanksgiving's History
Q: What was the starting point for this project for Nora Wendl?
Wendl says the starting point was reading a sensational NYT article that framed Farnsworth as part of a dubious love triangle, which motivated her to explore whether such narratives were necessary or accurate and to shift focus to Edith Farnsworth's patronage and life.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Arts Section

What is The Arts Section about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A Chicago-area arts and culture program that covers a wide range of topics from theater and visual arts to music, film, and local cultural events. Episodes spotlight local institutions, interviews with critics and creators, and behind-the-scenes looks at productions and exhibits, often tying historical context to contemporary culture. Notable strengths include a steady stream of insider perspectives from critics, curators, and artists, plus on-site reporting from galleries, theaters, and museums. The show seems particularly strong for listeners who want accessible, city-specific arts coverage with practical takeaways for fans, performers, and industry peers alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Arts Section?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Arts Section. 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 The Arts Section and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Arts Section get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Arts Section?

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How many subscribers and views does The Arts Section have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Arts Section 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 Arts Section?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Arts Section:

1. Pop Culture Happy Hour

How many episodes of The Arts Section are there?

The Arts Section launched 9 years ago and published 100 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 Arts Section?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Arts Section?

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What guests have appeared on The Arts Section?

Recent guests on The Arts Section include:

1. Jeanette Andrews
2. Amy Cavanaugh
3. Alex Ross
4. Jonathan Abarbanel
5. Emily Werner
6. Chris Johnson
7. Melanie Lamoureux
8. Kyle Brill

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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