WBEZs Podcasts

The latest news and features stories from WBEZ Chicago.

Nerdette is a weekly interview show that helps you unwind with fun conversations, inspiring ideas, and delightful recommendations. And join us every month for the Nerdette Book Club!

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

Each week we choose a theme. Then anything can happen. This American Life is true stories that unfold like little movies for radio. Personal stories with funny moments, big feelings, and surprising plot twists. Newsy stories that try to capture what it’s like to be alive right now. It’s the most popular weekly podcast in the world, and winner of the first ever Pulitzer Prize for a radio show or podcast. Hosted by Ira Glass and produced in collaboration with WBEZ Chicago.

WBEZ's critically-acclaimed bio-podcast series explores how an icon is made.

Chicago gangs: Real people. Real stories. A way forward. The new season of Motive explores violence on the streets of Chicago and the former gang members working to stop it.

WBEZ's daily talk show brings listeners the news and conversations that matter most to their day-to-day lives.

The latest Chicago Bears news and analysis from the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. Listen as we evaluate games, make predictions, provide insights and analyze the day’s big stories. Stay informed this football season with Chicago Sun-Times reporters and columnists Patrick Finley, Jason Lieser, Mark Potash, Rick Morrissey and Rick Telander.

In bite-sized episodes every weekday, we’ll keep you informed, tickled, geeked, and pondering on Chicago’s news, culture and people. Weekday mornings, stay in the loop with the news, as you take your first sip of adulting for the day. Three afternoons per week -- Monday, Wednesday and Friday -- hear the stories and conversations that shape the Windy City. The Rundown podcast is where curiosity meets FOMO.

Take two nationally respected rock critics, the latest music news, personal commentary, and exclusive interviews and performances, add a huge pile of records old and new, and the result is Sound Opinions, where people who love music can come together.

A podcast about the fatal police shooting of Laquan McDonald, the trial of Officer Jason Van Dyke, and the troubled relationship between African-Americans and the Chicago Police Department. Brought to you by WBEZ Chicago and The Chicago Tribune

WBEZ's global affairs program. Featuring in-depth conversations about international issues and their local impact. Also, foreign film reviews and human rights commentaries. Hosted by Jerome McDonnell. This podcast is free, in mp3, and updated weekdays.

“Clever Apes” is a nano-sized show with a cosmic scope. It tells the stories of the Chicago-area’s rich scientific community, its quirky characters and the fascinating, often mind-bending questions they’re out to answer.

Trouble — we've all been in it. Some more than others. Some worse than others. Award-winning storyteller Shannon Cason has faced a few problems of his own. Now he talks with others about getting in, and out, of trouble of all stripes.

Peter Sagal of 'Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me!' joins Greta Johnsen and Tricia Bobeda to scrutinize ... well, pretty much anything.

They changed the world. So can you. Each week, award-winning journalist Aarti Shahani meets fascinating humans who've done big things. They answer two questions: (1) How does power work in the real world, anyway? (2) How has wielding power changed you? The movement begins here. Listen now. Let your volcano erupt.

The Afternoon Shift was a live WBEZ show featuring in-depth interviews and conversations with newsmakers and innovators. Its last show was June 5, 2015.

Last year in Chicago, there was a person shot about every other hour. So who picks up a gun, and why? Stories from a yearlong WBEZ project.

Tanis is a bi-weekly podcast from the Public Radio Alliance, and is hosted by Nic Silver. Tanis is a serialized docudrama about a fascinating and surprising mystery: the myth of Tanis. Tanis is an exploration of the nature of truth, conspiracy, and information. Tanis is what happens when the lines of science and fiction start to blur... Support TANIS to hear exclusive MINI and BONUS EPISODES and more! http://patreon.com/tanispodcast Please rate and review on iTunes if you enjoy TANIS! http:/ ...

Cockroaches. Clean freaks. Cardboard pianos. Written Inside is a podcast about life inside a maximum-security prison cell.

On Background is WBEZ Chicago’s weekly political podcast. Each week, our top-notch team of political reporters brings you the backstory on the week’s big story. We’ll take you inside the back rooms of Chicago and Illinois government to explain the story, and why it matters.

WBEZ’s way of helping you navigate the fast-changing world of technology and our digital lives (until the robots take over).

Asians have long been ignored, fetishized or made the butt of the joke in America. Shoes Off: A Sexy Asians Podcast wants to put that to rest. Each week, we celebrate badass Asians who are making a mark on pop culture and entertainment. Co-hosts Esther Yoon-Ji Kang and Susie An hang out with trailblazers in comedy, film, music and other fields—inviting them to reflect on their identities and redefine “sexy” on their own terms.

Host Jonathan Groubert and WBEZ have teamed up to bring back the revered program, The State We're In. In Season 1 of this podcast reboot, you'll hear astonishing true and personal stories from all over the globe. The sonically beautiful, and narratively gripping "talkumentary" program brings you guests who will amaze you, break your heart or leave you laughing -- sometimes, all at once. If you're a fan of This American Life, or captivating storytelling in general, you'll want to be sure to s ...

Front and Center explores the issues that make our region what it is, taking time to investigate hard questions and follow rich stories. Our first series explores the most obvious aspect of the region: water. Front and Center is sponsored by the Joyce Foundation.

'South Side Stories' is a celebration of the real-life people and places that inspired Comedy Central’s hit new comedy series, 'South Side.' With lots of laughs, love and plenty of real talk, 'South Side Stories' proves that what you see on the news is only a small slice of a big city. btb.

'Public Official A' uncovers the rise and fall of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. How he did whatever it took to reach the top. The trail of destruction left in his wake. And how the complexities, charisma, and tragic flaws of this public official resonate today.

The Paper Machete is a free, weekly “live magazine” covering pop culture, current events and American manners. Part spoken-word show, part vaudeville revue, The Paper Machete features comedians, journalists, storytellers and musical guests performing in the back room of a Chicago bar. The show was created and hosted by writer Christopher Piatt (pronounced like hot apple PIE-it). In June 2011 The Chicago Reader named The Paper Machete “Best Comedy Variety Show of 2011.” The Paper Machete podc ...

Excepts from Vocalo's afternoon show hosted by Luis Antonio Perez & Shantell Jamison

The Weekender is a weekend guide from WBEZ & Eight Forty-Eight's Alison Cuddy.

Inside the biggest stories in music, hosted by Rolling Stone senior writer Brian Hiatt. Featuring interviews with top artists, expert insight on new releases and breaking news from the Rolling Stone staff, and much more.

Tony Sarabia and Jerome McDonnell explore music from around the world in this segment from WBEZ's Worldview program.

Dueling theater critics Kelly Kleiman and Jonathan Abarbanel discuss the latest stage productions and dissect the best — and the worst — of Chicago's theater scene.

The Morning Shift is a live talk show from Chicago's WBEZ offering a dynamic mix of news, culture and music.

Coming to you live from Carter's Barbershop in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, The Barber Shop Show brings you a weekly dose of real talk, straight from the shop floor. No punches are pulled and no topic is considered off-topic. Produced in partnership with the Chicago Reporter, and hosted by WBEZ’s Richard Steele. Airs every Sunday at 9am CST on Vocalo 91.1FM, 89.5 FM, and streams live on Vocalo.org. The show also airs on Sundays at 3pm on WBEZ, 91.5FM, and streams live on WBEZ.org.

Podcast by Minor Interruption

From WBEZ Chicago, Chewing the Fat is a weekly podcast with food journalists Louisa Chu and Monica Eng. Together they tackle cooking, dining, culture food policy, culinary characters and more.

Each week Worldview film contributor Milos Stehlik of Chicago's Facets Multi-media reviews films and talks with actors, writers and producers of global cinema.