Beyonce, Metallica, Drake, Taylor Swift, and others will play Chicago’s biggest arenas and stadiums at hefty prices this Summer. But luckily for Chicagoans, every single day we’ve got artists playing at some of the coolest venues all around the city that won’t break the bank. City Cast’s Caroline Patton runs Chicago Show Calendar which she updates weekly with the latest music shows happening. She talks to host Jacoby Cochran about her list of best music venues in Chicago. Shows to Check Out Soon...
Mar 16, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Do you think you could solve a murder just by looking at a miniature re-creation of the crime scene? Frances Glessner Lee thought so. The Chicago heiress is known as the “mother of forensic science” for developing the tool that taught law enforcement how to investigate the scenes of unexplained deaths. The historic Glessner House in South Loop, where Lee’s family lived from 1887–1937, now has a life-sized version of one of her miniatures on display, free to view on Fridays and Saturdays through ...
Mar 15, 2023•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast It can feel like it’s all mayor’s race all the time as we head into the April 4 runoff election, but there’s plenty of other Chicago news to keep an eye on. Oral arguments begin today in the Illinois Supreme Court over the fate of cashless bail. Also in court today are the “ComEd Four,” as the state’s biggest corruption trial in a decade gets underway. And as we dream of warmer days, details are emerging about how downtown will look different this summer because of the NASCAR races set for July....
Mar 14, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ahead of the April 4th runoff, mayoral candidates Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson have made education a major part of their platforms. Johnson is a former public school teacher and organizer with the Chicago Teachers Union. Vallas is a former head of Chicago Public Schools. So it makes sense they’re dipping into those roles as they make the pitch to lead the 4th largest school district in the U.S. at a time when enrollments are dropping and achievement gaps are widening. Longtime education repor...
Mar 13, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mayoral Candidates Brandon Johnson and Paul Vallas had their first televised debate this week ahead of the April 4th runoff. CEO of Justice Informed Xavier Ramey and Crain’s reporter Corli Jay tell host Jacoby Cochran their reactions to the candidates’ performances and different visions for Chicago. We also breaking down the ongoing protest of the Chicago Fire’s proposed $80 million dollar soccer facility on CHA land, the importance of supporting women in trades, and Chicago fashion designer Joe...
Mar 10, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Most people around the world are familiar with Chicago’s classic foods—Chicago-style hot dogs, deep dish or tavern style pizzas, and Italian beefs. But fewer people are familiar with sweet steaks, Jibaritos, and Akutagawa. Food writers Monica Eng and David Hammond want to change that with their new book “Made in Chicago: Stories Behind 30 Great Hometown Bites.” They join host Jacoby Cochran to to share a little history, recipes, and places to grab some of the best Chicago foods! Want some more C...
Mar 09, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast For the last 20 years, Simeon Career Academy High School basketball has been one of the city’s most dominant sports programs. The team has produced dozens of high school, college, and NBA standouts, including Derrick Rose and Jabari Parker. Coach Robert Smith has led the Simeon Wolverines to eight city league titles and six IHSA state championships, including four in a row from 2009-2013. Chicago Tribune reporter Colleen Kane covered Simeon’s 2013 “like a pro team.” She went back recently and ta...
Mar 08, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Geoffrey Baer has been showing off Chicago’s architecture and natural beauty for decades. First as a docent for the Chicago Architecture Center, and then as the host at WTTW. Baer is out with a new special premiering tonight called “The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago” He tells host Jacoby Cochran what makes a place beautiful to him, and which spots he learned about making this special. "The Most Beautiful Places in Chicago" premieres Tuesday, March 7, on WTTW, Channel 11. Want some more City C...
Mar 07, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Next week, City Council is set to consider ordinances that would crack down on drivers parked in bus and bike lanes downtown and that would require the city to make safety improvements when it resurfaces roads. Making our streets safer and more accessible is going to be a huge task for the next mayor. CDOT Commissioner Gia Biagi tells host Jacoby Cochran what the city is doing now and what she hopes to see in the future. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our He...
Mar 06, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown announced Wednesday he’s resigning effective March 16. Both mayoral runoff contenders Paul Vallas and Brandon Johnson said on the campaign trail they would have replaced Brown if elected. Host Jacoby Cochran talks with lead producer Carrie Shepherd and producer Simone Alicea about other city agencies with vulnerable leaders, as well as how Tuesday’s election broke down by ward, local referenda with overwhelming support, and more people living in the Loop...
Mar 03, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Starting Saturday, the Ukrainian National Museum will host workshops on how to write pysanky, also known as Ukrainian Easter eggs. The centuries old practice involves using beeswax, dyes, and real eggs to create elaborate works of art with deep meaning. Host Jacoby Cochran spoke with master pysanky writer Anna Chychula last year about the history of the art form and its cultural significance. This conversation was originally published April 13, 2022. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then m...
Mar 02, 2023•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast City Cast Chicago is in you feed a little later this morning, so we could bring you the most up-to-date results of the 2023 municipal election. No mayoral candidate passed the 50% threshold needed to secure the seat, so we’re headed to a runoff in April. Some aldermanic races will also be decided then, but we have more on the two mayoral candidates who are moving forward and results from ward races that have been decided. For more results, check out our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycas...
Mar 01, 2023•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast As you head to the polls today, we want to offer a little respite from all the political coverage. And what better way to chill out than with a little Chi music? The latest “Sense of Place” series from NPR’s “World Cafe” is all about Chicago. Over the 13-part series, hosts Raina Douris and Stephen Kallao talk about the city’s historic role in genres like gospel and industrial, and interview emerging local artists. They talk with producer Simone Alicea about how community and a DIY attitude make ...
Feb 28, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Tomorrow, voters will choose who will run the city as they cast ballots for mayor and City Council. But aside from candidates’ plans and positions, we wanted to know why Chicago’s government has looked the same for the last century, with 50 alders representing 50 wards. William Howell is director of the Center for Effective Government at University of Chicago. He talks with host Jacoby Cochran about the trade-offs in our current system and why Chicagoans should care. Check out the center’s serie...
Feb 27, 2023•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast We've got something special for you this weekend. We're sharing the Weekly News Recap from our friends over at WBEZ's daily talk show "Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons." Every Friday, Sasha breaks down the biggest local stories with a panel of journalists, and this week, that panel included City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran. The WBEZ Recap is a great way to stay up to speed on the news that matters here in Chicago and the burbs. Take a listen! You can check out Reset six days a week wherever you ...
Feb 25, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast After months of campaigning, commercials, and forums, election day is Tuesday. But we’re wondering: Does the mayoral race have a true front-runner? We brought in two of WBEZ’s best hosts to tackle this question and more. Nerdette’s Greta Johnsen and Reset’s Sasha-Ann Simons are in the building to discuss election season, paid leave for Illinoisans, Black joy, and some more gooooood newwwws! Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us...
Feb 24, 2023•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast In a blow to Chicago comedy fans, HBO Max announced Tuesday that it would not pick up “South Side” for a fourth season. The show follows various characters — from workers at a rent-to-own store to wannabe rappers to cops — hustling on Chicago’s South Side. As we grieve the loss of this TV gem, we’re revisiting a conversation host Jacoby Cochran had with creators Diallo Riddle (who plays Allen Gayle), Sultan Salahuddin (Simon James), and Bashir Salahuddin (Officer Sandy Goodnight). They tell us h...
Feb 23, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Police district councils are new on the ballot in next week’s municipal election. Voters in each of the city’s 22 police districts will select three councilors, who will work with communities on policing issues and nominate members to a citywide police oversight commission. The Triibe’s Jim Daley has been covering the councils and police oversight extensively. He spoke with host Jacoby Cochran about how the councils are supposed to work. Plus, we hear from an interim member of the Community Comm...
Feb 22, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Chicago’s municipal election is one week from today. So how are voters feeling about the biggest issues facing the city? Lead producer Carrie Shepherd and producer Simone Alicea headed to the Triibe’s ballot party on the Near West Side to talk to voters about their questions and concerns. Learn more about Chicago Votes and check out the Triibe’s voting guide. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also t...
Feb 21, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast As the Chicago Bears closed on a $197 million property deal in Arlington Heights, Gov. JB Pritzker promised nearly $1 billion for students in his budget address Wednesday. Sun-Times education reporter Nader Issa joins City Cast Chicago’s Carrie Shepherd and Simone Alicea to talk about those stories plus: How communities are responding to a spike in after-school shootings, a study showing why Arab Americans should not be classified as “white” on the census, and how early early voting returns indi...
Feb 17, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast When you ask about East Side, many Chicagoans will look at you quizzically and say, “What, like Lake Michigan?” But it’s so much more than that. Once a bustling industrial corridor, East Side and surrounding communities near the Indiana border have become a hub for environmental restoration and the city’s Mexican community. Maya Rodriguez’s family has been in the area for at least three generations. She and host Jacoby Cochran meet at Big Marsh Park to talk about things to eat, see, and do aroun...
Feb 16, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast As Feb. 28th approaches, political ads for the municipal elections are only getting more frequent and aggressive. Democratic media strategist Terrie Pickerill explains what goes into making effective political ads, how much it costs, and why we see so many negative ads on TV. Some news: The Chicago Board of Elections has released more detailed information for voters with disabilities about accessible polling places. You have until noon today to vote City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Hey Chic...
Feb 15, 2023•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Happy Valentine’s Day! Whether you’ve got a date planned with the love of your life or you’re going solo, the holiday is a reminder that the journey to find love can be long and exhausting, but also exhilarating and joyful. And often it can take many dates. City Cast contributor Leigh Giangreco and host Jacoby Cochran listen to your best and worst date stories and offer their own insight into Chicago’s dating scene. Tomorrow is the last day to vote City Cast Chicago as Best Podcast and Hey Chica...
Feb 14, 2023•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast Over the years, the Chicago Bulls have had some of the biggest names in basketball. And while players come and go, the brightest star at the United Center isn’t a player at all. Benny the Bull has danced, dunked, and flipped his way into the Mascot Hall of Fame. City Cast Chicago got to go behind the scenes with Benny to learn what it takes to hype the UC crowd 41 times a season. Some news: Early voting in all 50 wards opens today. Plus, the Lincoln Park and Garfield Park conservatories’ spring ...
Feb 13, 2023•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast A new film studio in South Shore broke ground this week, and neighbors are excited for the possibilities. Meanwhile, as U.S. Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García paints himself as a progressive in the Feb. 28 mayor’s race, some organizers question his record. Host Jacoby Cochran, Triibe reporter Tonia Hill, and Block Club Chicago’s Maxwell Evans discuss those stories, plus how Chicago will spend federal funds to address houselessness, the plight of residents at a problem building in South Shore, and the ope...
Feb 10, 2023•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast We are back with another edition of Re:VIEWS, where we rewatch and break down some classic Chicago films. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we are enjoying the 1997 romantic comedy “Love Jones” starring Larenz Tate and Nia Long. Between the poetic plot, amazing soundtrack, and cast’s impeccable on-screen chemistry, it is without a doubt one of Chicago’s smoothest romance movies. Host Jacoby Cochran, producer Simone Alicea, and teacher and “Love Jones” expert Zephanie Battle talk about some their...
Feb 09, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast “Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. We want to put that to rest.” That’s the mission of the new podcast, “Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast” from WBEZ. Host Jacoby Cochran sits down with hosts Susie An and Esther Yoon-Ji Kang to talk about how they decided on that title, upcoming guests, and what they learned about themselves making the podcast. Some news: Bid on jerseys, game balls, awards and more owned by Walter Payton at an auction this week. Wa...
Feb 08, 2023•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Between retirements, resignations, and redistricting, at least 11 of Chicago’s 50 wards is getting a new alderperson. And there are a few incumbents facing big challenges in the municipal election. The City Cast team breaks down some key races across the city and talks about the issues facing City Council, from development to public safety to the environment. Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Chicago newsletter. Follow us @citycastchicago You can also t...
Feb 07, 2023•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast While cannabis has been legal in Illinois for a few years, until now there hasn’t been a place for medical patients to buy seeds to grow marijuana. MoneyTree Genetics in Irving Park opened in November as the country’s first brick-and-mortar cannabis seed shop, offering seeds and other services to individuals and cannabis businesses. Co-owner Tom Wilson explains how changes in federal and state law opened the door to this type of business and what it takes to grow weed at home. Some good news: Th...
Feb 06, 2023•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mayor Lori Lightfoot hoped City Council would approve a proposed 15-year contract with utility giant ComEd this week, but alders had other plans. The deal has been sent down to committee and will be back up for a vote after the Feb. 28 election. Director of Audio Journalism at Northwestern Arionne Nettles and Chicago writer Heidi Stevens join host Jacoby Cochran to make sense of the political gamesmanship at work. The group also discusses the city’s expanded opioid response team, Illinois’ push ...
Feb 03, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
