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 quirky. Nope, they inserted nearly a minute of music as fluff at the end because the journalist did a horrible job on this story. Ai could do better.

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

I love the unique and interesting Chicago stories brought to light by this team at WBEZ!!! Thank you

This podcast WAS great for digging into interesting Chicago related topics of all kinds. But…recently, it’s become incredibly short and shallowly researched little blips of info. 7 minutes long to delve into a topic?? They barely even scratch the surface anymore. Do they think that everyone has short attention spans now? Or some kind of budget cuts made and they just don’t have the time or people to put in decent work? Regardless of the reasons, it’s a shadow of its former self.

I miss the days when Curious Chicago had episodes that were longer than 5 minutes. There are so many great topics- why not go more in depth?

Such great episodes about so much Chicago history! I am taken back to my childhood memories all the way ahead to today with so many little known experiences. Nothing phony here. The guests are real Chicagoans, telling their memories of the city I love. Subscribe and binge away.

I have to admit this show runs hot and cold. Either the topic is great or it’s kinda stupid. But the Snow Plow driver show was a new category. It was like listening to two high schoolers in a media class. I didn’t even get the whole way thru. “Gee whiz! That snow sure can get cold and you didn’t even wear gloves. Thee hee hee.”

I appreciate all the good work you put in to make an awesome podcast, it helps people like me to learn more about history, urban legends, and historical events/places. 🇨🇺🇺🇸

Love learning something new

I've been to the Baha'i Temple a number of times. Loved hearing the backstory. Love so many of the shows. So fun to learn more about the city I live in. Thanks!!! Love, Tom

I wish some of the episodes were a bit longer and would go further in-depth

Thank you for this episode about the history and inner workings of the city boards/councils as they relate to police accountability. I was caught off guard learning we are voting on council members but this put everything in perspective—including the magnitude of the mayoral election in Chicago.

I grew up in Chicago in the 1950s and 60s. I love Chicago history and you bring it to life in just a few minutes. The story of Dunning hit home. I took psychiatric nursing there in 1966. My father's aunt was a patient there until it closed and she was placed in a nursing home. Thanks for telling the stories that would be forgotten.

Great stories about the real Chicago-merci

I never heard this podcast before and I thought about giving it a try because I’m going to Chicago one day when I grow up. Savannah grace Birchfield, 16 years old. I was born in Pensacola, Florida on October 12, 2005.

Always interesting and well presented. TYVM

Lisa lutten, sorry for my insensitive remarks but enough is enough! please blow your nose, get a hold of Flonase or nasocort or see an ENT for that horrible stuffed up nose! Please!

I love discovering information about Chicago—the unique history, the stories behind local traditions, trends and how they started, etc, but the hosts are extremely irritating. So much so that I think about unfollowing every time I listen, and I would I I could find something similar. The hosts are simultaneously condescending, , pseudo-intellectual, elitist, and insulting. It’s like listening to your 12-year old tell you how ignorant you are. I suppose that is to be expected, considering the producers. I would explain, but I don’t need to. A few listens will demonstrate. The recent Halloween episode describing a suburban haunted road myth is a good example.

I love the stories this pod covers and shares with its audience! I do wish there were fewer repeated stories and fewer corporate sponsors/ads, but it's overall good info that I keep coming back for.

Helps me feel connected to Chicago even when I’m not there anymore

Used to be more episodes on Chicago history, it’s a lot more current issues being discussed these days

Where is the episode about the city expansion and the “gulping” up of neighborhoods? Where is the episode focusing on either Blue Island, Oak Park, or Evanston and why they choose not to join the city?

Anytime someone asks me for a podcast recommendation, I recommend this one.

Or if you just like history and human interest stories! Every episode of this podcast has a fun or interesting story about Chicago, its geography, its people, its history, etc. I love to learn about the great city in which I live, and there are a huge range of topics covered, so I’m always getting something new. Really love it and I recommend it to my friends!

I live in Tennessee and enjoy listening to this podcast. I get to learn so much history and random facts about the great city of Chicago.

This is a great podcast for anybody who’s ever lived in, or loved Chicago. And a lot of the stories will be interesting to folks who don’t have a deep link to Chicago, because they talk about the hidden side of things that are common to all cities. Infrastructure nerds from everywhere will love a lot of the episodes about how a city functions.

That song that starts of “I was born on the south side”, is the worst 10 second snippet of production I have ever heard. It’s embarrassing.

I’ve almost finished bingeing all the episodes since I’ve discovered the show. It’s just more proof that Chicago is the best big city & the research is amazingly well thought out

THAT IDA B WELLS EPISODE WAS EVERYTHING! But the Ending was my favorite. Y’all should do those little bonuses all the time. The host was the bomb!

I have lived by and eaten at a Nicky's for most of my life and without this show I don't think I ever would have truly appreciated the history and the story behind the place. In a time where the idea of neighborhoods and local oral history is eroding, this podcast helps fill that void by telling stories of places we take for granted and helping us find places we never would have known about.

How about, the hardest ticket to get in Chicago... Bozo a ten year waiting list. Ray Rayner, Dirty Dragon show... Future subjects to do??!!! Thank you

I am passionate about my beloved city’s cultural history and I love that this podcast is too!

I’ve been living in East Lakeview in Chicago for a year and a half now as a grad student at Northwestern. I’m a transplant from the Pacific Northwest and know next to nothing about the Midwest let alone Chicago. I’ve particularly enjoyed learning about what the heck an “Alderman” is and what they do, the corrupted origin of the lead in our water and that that is why water fountains in public parks run constantly, and that there are coyotes in the city 😮. Thanks WBEZ!

The podcast is all about Chicago (the city that I live in). I love that they talk about all of the topics possible and the CTA noise.

These questions are super interesting and the answers are well-researched. Unfortunately there are often technical glitches, e.g. this weeks episode on the civil war was cut off in the middle, and some episodes from the archive have played nothing at all.

This is a podcast for true Chicagoans who have curiosity about things they see or hear every day. Myths are debunked. The Half Day Road episode was particularly great at this. History is revealed. Not every episode hits the bullseye but most do. Love it.

As a Mexican American, that makes up per of the 30% Latino population of Chicago, I am amazed that you couldn’t find one voice working on curious city that could at least advice you to say something so ubiquitous as ‘Conchas’. I am a fan of many national radio shows and I wanted something more local, as a producer of a local radio station; wanted to see my what else is out there. And the lack of diversity speaks for itself.

Essential listening for curious Chicagoans

So glad I discovered this podcast! Every episode I've listened to so far has been really interesting. I've enjoyed the topics and all of the interviews with Chicagoans. Keep 'em comin!

5 stars for the 4 Star City!

If you live in Chicago then you must listen. And enjoy. Maybe connect dots you didn't before. I love it and learn something new every episode. In my opinion. Thank you.

I do not live in or anywhere near Chicago and this podcast is awesome. The information is fascinating and well presented and while definitely centers around Chicago, there's a lot of topics that are more broadly applicable in understanding America and the history of our cities. Either way, it's one of my favorites to listen to. Check it out.

Such great questions answered and so helpful to learning more about Chicago!

If you're a Chicagoan, love Chicago, or like random tidbits of history this podcast is for you! Thank you WBEZ for producing this show!

Such interesting stories!

I'm new to the city and this is a perfect way to get to know the area and its history!

For some reason, I'm getting an error when I try to listen or download an episode. I can listen to other WBEZ podcasts, so not sure what's up...

Makes me nostalgic for living in Chicago. Short and interesting stories and what goes on beneath the surface in Chicago.

You have to love hometown history. Particularly when it is filled with those factoids that makes you seem smart around out of town guests. Keep up the great work.