The Block Club Chicago Podcast
The important, emotional, inspiring stories affecting Chicagoans.
- Update frequency
- every 3 days
- Average duration
- 19 minutes
- Episodes
- 321
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
Episode 56 - What's The Deal With Chicago's Honorary Street Signs?
Scattered throughout Chicago's neighborhoods are brown (usually) honorary signs. Some people are famous, others are only known to those who lived on that block. And some have names t…
Episode 55 - Flower Power: How Random Bouquets Are Uniting Strangers
Host - Jon Hansen
Summary - Jessica Housley has made hundreds of bouquets of flowers and left them behind for complete strangers to find all over Chicago. It's bringing together people in incredible w…
Can These Chicago Kids Beat You In A Debate? Probably.
Host - Jon Hansen
For 25 years, Chicago Debates has prepared the next generation of leaders through competitive debate. Jon Hansen stopped by to check it out!
Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom…
Episode 53 - Chicago's Neighborhood Gems
Host - Jon Hansen
Chicago is a city of neighborhoods. Every neighborhood has a gem. Callers and Block Club Chicago reporters share their favorite local spots!
Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom…
Pilsen's Ultramarathoner On A Mission
Host - Jon Hansen
Edna Jackeline Vazquez Núñez is Monterrey-native who began running ultramarathons when she was 17, and never stopped. In 2016, she became the first Mexican-American to complete the d…
Episode 51 - How Shipping Containers Help Build Wealth In Black and Brown Communities
Host - Jon Hansen
Just off the Green Line at 51st, Boxville is Chicago's first shipping container marketplace that uses modified shipping containers for commerce in place of traditional brick and mort…
Episode 50 - 'Tagged' Shining Light On Chicago's Murals And Artists
A new film called 'Tagged' is a love letter to Chicago's public street art and the artists remain on the fringe of mainstream recognition. Grant Troyer and founder of local production company, Kernel…
Episode 49 - The Timeless Gifts Of Music And Mentorship
Timeless Gifts pairs up Chicago students with musical mentors, fostering a relationship and inspiring kids to follow their performance dreams!
Host - Jon Hansen
Guest - Joan Collasso, an Emmy Award wi…
Episode 48 - Building LGBTQ-Inclusive Spaces In Chicago
Block Club Chicago is celebrating Pride Month with a virtual panel about creating safe, inclusive spaces for all LGBTQ people. Our Jake Wittich will moderate, and he and panelist Jo MaMa joined Jon f…
Episode 47 - The Midwife Bringing Health Care To More Black Parents
Jeanine Valrie Logan, a Chicago midwife, is creating a South Side birth center. She hopes it can be the first step in empowering Black health care workers and patients and bring change to a community…
The Gardener Changing His Neighborhood One Corner At A Time
Edgar Florentino is brightening up the neighborhood he grew up in by landscaping "hot corners" — streets where there is a lot of gun violence.
Want to dona…
Episode 45 - Fixing Chicago’s Restaurants — One Future Chef At A Time
Impact Culinary Training is a 12-week, no-cost training program for 16-24 year olds from the city's West Side. The program aims to diversify our city's kitchens while improving an often stressful and…
Episode 44 - The New White Sox Host Is Living His Dream
Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE
Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, releva…
The Mom Who Fought For Clean Air
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Maxwell Evans
Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE
Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable…
Episode 42 -A Barber, An Entrepreneur, A Missing Ring, And A Mom Fighting For Her Son
The episode highlights:
The Bulls Barber Who Says Cutting Hair Saved His Life, The South Side Mom Stitching Together Her Dream, A Missing Ring's 25-Year Journey Home, and The Mom Who Fought For Black …
Episode 41 - The Logan Square Man Battling Muscular Dystrophy With An Apron And An Oven
After years of struggling with physical problems, Billy Zureikat was diagnosed with a rare disease. His love of cooking has provided a creative and therapeutic outlet, and he's on a mission to help o…
From Weed Arrests To Cannabis Entrepreneurs
People once arrested for marijuana possession are now learning how to work in the legal weed industry thanks to a scholarship program funded by cannabis tax revenues.
Host - Jon Hansen
Reporter - Pasca…
Episode 39 - We're Launching A TV Show!
Block Club Chicago is partnering with Weigel Broadcasting to launch a TV show on WCIU! Host Brandon Pope joins Jon Hansen to discuss the project, and why he's excited to be a part of the Block Club w…
Bonus Pod Swap! Week in Review with City Cast Chicago
Host - Jacoby Cochran
Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE
Who we are
Block Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpa…
Fighting Food Insecurity One Home Delivery At A Time
Host - Jon Hansen
Dion Dawson, founder of Dion's Chicago Dream, is expanding access to free, fresh food from Englewood directly to your door.
Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HERE
Who w…