Best CPS Test Podcasts (2025)

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Krampus is coming: The Christmas demon’s Chicago connection 12:20

Play Pause

7d ago12:20

12:20

On the morning of St. Nicholas Day, good kids rush downstairs to see what kind of gifts might be in their shoes. The bad kids? Unfortunately they might get a visit from Krampus, an ancient monster that has naughty children praying for a lump of coal instead.The origins of this half-goat, half-man folklore character date back centuries, largely to G…

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“A Christmas Carol”: An amateur actor’s journey into a Chicago holiday tradition 8:03

8d ago8:03

8:03

The Christkindlmarket, the CTA holiday train and “A Christmas Carol” at the Goodman Theatre. Chicago is full of holiday traditions. In this episode, we get an intimate look at the annual theater production through the eyes of our Chicago Sun-Times colleague, Stefano Esposito as he takes to the stage.…

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The first Black-owned airport in the U.S. was in Robbins, Illinois 20:03

14d ago20:03

20:03

The Robbins Airport, just southwest of Chicago, was the first Black-owned and -operated airport in the country. Its founders were pivotal to Black aviation.

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A museum, a mayor and a road: How Lake Shore Drive became a runway ... intentionally 6:27

15d ago6:27

6:27

Lake Shore Drive has served as a makeshift runway for emergency landings. But it’s also been an intentional runway for planned arrivals. We go back to 1983 to get the story of how a Chicago institution helped turn our lakeside expressway into an airstrip, at least twice.

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How one organization is transforming Englewood’s vacant lots 11:34

21d ago11:34

11:34

The city of Chicago owns thousands of vacant lots, and more than 80 percent of those parcels are in communities where the population is at least 80 percent Black. That’s according to a report from the Institute for Housing Studies at DePaul University. Residents and organizations are investing in these lots to improve the community. Last episode, w…

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Want to buy the vacant lot next door? It might take awhile 6:51

22d ago6:51

6:51

Buying a city-owned lot seems like a simple process, but buying one might take longer than expected. The city puts a limited number of parcels up for sale each year.

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Does your iguana need x-rays? A local exotic animal hospital can help 12:40

1M ago12:40

12:40

Stop us if you’ve heard this one: A hedgehog, a river otter and an iguana walk into a local exotic animal hospital …Whether intentional or otherwise, exotic pets like sharks, macaws and pythons have made Illinois their home. But finding medical care for these animals isn’t as simple as visiting the neighborhood vet.Last episode, we explored some of…

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A monkey on the loose: Odd animal sightings in Chicago 6:29

1M ago6:29

6:29

Animal control is used to dealing with stray cats and dogs. But what happens when there’s a peacock strutting down the alley? Curious City explores strange animal sightings in Chicago.

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Beyond the settlement: Helping Chicago’s many survivors of police torture 13:58

1M ago13:58

13:58

Chicago passed a reparations ordinance 10 years ago for the survivors of police torture committed under the direction of disgraced Chicago police commander Jon Burge.As we learned in our last episode, monetary reparations alone cannot heal decades of trauma. In this episode, we take a closer look at the limits of monetary settlements and what else …

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What impact do big payouts have on survivors of police torture and misconduct? 6:43

1M ago6:43

6:43

This year marks a new record, as Chicago city leaders have so far agreed to pay more than $266 million to resolve a wide range of police misconduct lawsuits. After the city washes its hands and the TV news cameras move on, what happens next? Do these payments help bring survivors closure or a sense that justice has been served?…

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Two-and-a-half minutes: Pilot John Ginley’s dance with disaster 14:54

2M ago14:54

14:54

While flying over downtown Chicago on July 18, 2018, a World-War-II era single-engine Ercoupe airplane suffered “complete mechanical failure.”“The throttle cable completely broke off of the carburetor,” said pilot John Ginley. “There was no way to control the engine.”Still, Ginley and his co-pilot — his then-girlfriend and now-wife Ally Ginley — ma…

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‘Mayday, mayday, mayday’: How many planes have landed on Lake Shore Drive? 7:25

2M ago7:25

7:25

A couple of pilots have made forced landings on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. What makes a road or any other non-airport spot the best option in an emergency?

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A Curious City Halloween: Scary stories from spooked Chicagoans 29:45

2M ago29:45

29:45

Three stories from Chicagoans who endured a terrifying experience that they couldn’t explain, couldn’t get over, or couldn’t escape. Karen Holt tells the story of her haunted childhood home on Chicago’s Southeast Side. Was her house simply saturated with “residual energy”? Or was the ghost of a lost boy wandering the halls? Rachel Shuki tells the s…

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Gone and nearly forgotten: Lincoln Park’s High Bridge 7:09

2M ago7:09

7:09

A bridge constructed for sightseeing during the turn of the century soon became known as a place for death. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

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The unsung legacy of Margaret Burroughs: ‘We called her mama’ 7:28

2M ago7:28

7:28

Margaret Burroughs was a force to be reckoned with. An artist and a poet in Chicago from the 1920s until her death in 2010, she was also a teacher, an organizer, and the founder of the DuSable Black History Museum. Her birthday is November 1. Curious City and the Burroughs Legacy Project at the Invisible Institute tell the story of one of her lesse…

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Chicago is a jazz city, but where are the jazz radio stations? 6:36

2M ago6:36

6:36

The city is home to a vibrant jazz scene and the Chicago Jazz Festival. But WDCB is the only all-jazz radio station in the region. Why isn't there more jazz programming on the local radio dial?

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How a group of volunteers saved a rare Illinois wildflower 18:02

2M ago18:02

18:02

The Kankakee mallow is one of the rarest plants on the continent, according to the Smithsonian Garden in Washington D.C. It’s a pink flower that grows on tall stalks and is native to just one small island in the middle of the Kankakee River, about an hour south of Chicago. But when botanist Rachel Goad paddled over to take a look back in 2014 with …

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What’s that dead zone in the 19th Ward? 13:30

3M ago13:30

13:30

There’s a hole in the map of Chicago. It turns out, it’s a cemetery. But there are many other cemeteries in Chicago that don’t show up as holes on the map, so what’s up with this one? We take you to the 19th Ward and explore the history of this dead zone.

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The tale of the two-flat 12:47

3M ago12:47

12:47

You know the building: Two stories, an apartment unit on each floor, usually with bay windows and a facade of brick or greystone. But how did the two-flat become so popular, and who was it originally built to serve?In our last episode, we looked at the types of places Chicago’s single women lived in at the turn of the 20th century.In today’s episod…

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‘Women adrift’: How single women lived independently in early Chicago 6:52

3M ago6:52

6:52

At the turn of the century in Chicago, single women without a husband or family were considered to be "adrift," but they weren’t drifting at all. They were making choices that took them to different addresses.

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‘Friendship set to music’: Curious City goes square dancing on the South Side 19:51

3M ago19:51

19:51

It’s a Thursday night and a group of folks in Washington Heights do-si-do to the bassline from “Shake Your Groove Thing” by Peaches & Herb. Square dancing has a reputation as more of a hobby for white people set to country music. But social clubs like the Southside Squares are turning that image on its head. Last episode, we heard how square dancin…

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Square dance clubs used to be bumping on the weekends 7:03

3M ago7:03

7:03

Square dancing was once so popular that a center opened in the suburbs dedicated to the hobby. Today, veteran dancers are trying to recruit new fans.

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Is your local mall dying, thriving or evolving? 13:32

3M ago13:32

13:32

Malls hold a special spot in the hearts of many Americans of a certain age. One may have been the setting for your first date, the place you caught a now-classic summer blockbuster, or even a daycare of sorts after mom dropped you off with a few friends (and maybe a few bucks).In our last episode, we looked back at the history of Chicago’s Ford Cit…

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What was Ford City Mall like in its heyday? 6:50

3M ago6:50

6:50

Vacant shops and faded signs, Ford City Mall is in the process of being sold. But this shell of a shopping center was once a bustling hub, especially for young people.

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What happened after a dangerous year inside Cook County Jail 14:29

4M ago14:29

14:29

The year 2023 was a deadly one at the Cook County Jail. Eighteen people died in custody, “for many reasons,” said reporter Carlos Ballesteros, who reported on the record year for Injustice Watch. His reporting cited drug overdoses, lapses from jail staff and failed oversight.In our last episode, we learned about a group of volunteers who set up out…

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What is that supply tent outside of Cook County Jail? 6:45

4M ago6:45

6:45

Almost every night, a group of volunteers sets up a table of supplies. Their goal is to assist everyone who is being released; from bottled water to a ride home. But sometimes, it’s a challenge when people are released well after midnight.

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Apple slices are a nearly forgotten piece of Chicago pastry history 14:33

4M ago14:33

14:33

Apple slices were a favorite Chicago pastry decades ago. Not many bakeries sell them today, but the dessert still has avid fans who hold on to its nostalgic flavor.

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Do pigs need rescuing? 15:14

4M ago15:14

15:14

The story of Pigasus, who unknowingly accepted the Youth International Party (Yippie) nomination for president in Daley Plaza in 1968, shows that sometimes pigs need rescuing. “My heart hurt for the pig,” said April Noga, executive director of Chicagoland Pig Rescue, of Pigasus’s run for president. “Because I put myself in the pig’s shoes of being …

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What happened to Chicago’s presidential pig? 6:55

4M ago6:55

6:55

During the demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention in 1968, activists trotted out a pig named Pigasus for president. Her campaign was cut short after she and protesters were arrested by the Chicago Police. Rumors swirled that Pigasus was barbecued, but what really happened to her?

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What’s the oldest book in circulation at the Chicago Public Library? 7:03

4M ago7:03

7:03

Curious City went out to find the oldest book in circulation at the Chicago Public Library. Turns out, the title is over 200 years old, and you can still check it out.

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School is in session, and we put the CPS butter cookie to the test 12:11

4M ago12:11

12:11

Summer is coming to an end, and it’s time to go back to school.Today, the number of Chicago Public School students complaining about school lunch might only be matched by the complaints over homework assignments. So it may come as a surprise that decades ago CPS students actually looked forward to eating cafeteria lunch. In our last episode, WBEZ’s…

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School lunch used to pass the test 6:50

4M ago6:50

6:50

Some Chicago Public School alumni say school lunch used to be delicious, which might shock current students. How did school lunch go from delicious to disappointing?

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What’s the history of Chinese gangs in Chicago? 9:41

5M ago9:41

9:41

Chicago is known for crime bosses like Al Capone, but the city is also home to two Chinese gangs that were once fierce rivals. This story first aired in 2018.

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What a failed robbery from 1951 tells us about Chicago crime 7:56

5M ago7:56

7:56

A courageous Chicagoan once helped foil a robbery by men in butcher smocks — a little-known gang from a bygone era of crime in the city.

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The other organizations empowering Chicago’s Chinatown 12:27

5M ago12:27

12:27

Community organizations are helping Chinatown residents preserve what long-standing family associations helped build.

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What happened to Chinatown’s family associations? 6:42

5M ago6:42

6:42

Family associations were once the backbone of social and economic organization for Chicago’s Chinatown. Their evolution over the decades tells the history of the community.

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Is women’s pro softball here to stay? 20:13

5M ago20:13

20:13

What is it about softball? “What is it not about softball?” replies Megan Faramio, a star pitcher for the Talons in the all-new Athletes Unlimited Softball League, or AUSL. “I can literally talk about softball for days.” The AUSL is about to wrap up its first season with a three-game playoff series in Alabama between Faraimo’s Talons and the Bandit…

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A league of Chicago’s Own: The other women’s pro league of the 1940s 6:42

5M ago6:42

6:42

There was the Rockford Peaches, women’s pro baseball team of the 1940s that was celebrated in the movie "A League of Their Own." But there was also a pro softball league at the time that had Chicago fans going wild.

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Car, bike, public transit: What’s the best way to get around town? 21:48

5M ago21:48

21:48

What would win in a race between a car, bike and the Chicago Transit Authority? Over the past few years, Chicago has been abuzz with road construction projects. There are more protected bike lanes, pedestrian refuge islands and curb bump-outs across the city. As we learned in our last episode, that also includes the installation of miniature traffi…

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Who thought traffic circles were a good idea? Do we need them? 6:44

5M ago6:44

6:44

Mini traffic circles at the intersections of residential streets might annoy drivers because they force cars to slow down. But their safety features outweigh the inconvenience.

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The curious case of the Swami Vivekananda Way street sign 20:57

6M ago20:57

20:57

Swami Vivekananda is credited with introducing Hinduism to the West. His work earned him an honorary street sign on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue, but it went missing.

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Chicago’s LGBTQ+ library is a space for people to ‘find themselves in the shelves’ 17:13

6M ago17:13

17:13

Early LGBTQ+ history can be hard to find. Photos, letters, literature and other artifacts have been destroyed or hidden away, in acts of homophobia, out of a fear of repercussions, and even by witting and unwitting family members. “I think a lot of LGBTQ people, when they were passing away, their materials were being destroyed by family members tha…

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Where are the girls? A look at early lesbian nightlife in Chicago 7:00

6M ago7:00

7:00

It’s not hard to find the LGBTQ+ hangouts in Chicago these days, but at one point it was. There’s a history of lesbian nightlife that goes back more than 100 years.

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Yes, people really do win pledge drive giveaways at WBEZ 6:16

6M ago6:16

6:16

One Curious City listener was skeptical about whether real people actually win WBEZ’s pledge drive giveaways. They do. But there’s a little more to that answer. Plus, an economist who studies fundraising explains why people give money during pledge drives in the first place. This episode was originally published on March 3, 2022.…

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Do people actually donate cars to public radio? 5:00

6M ago5:00

5:00

An on-air spot soliciting car donations is a fixture of public radio, but do people actually donate? Yes, about 50 cars are donated a month.

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There’s nature in Chicago. Go bathe in it. 15:04

7M ago15:04

15:04

“Forest bathing” is the exceptionally simple Japanese practice of taking a walk — or a seat — in the woods. Why? For your health, of course! In our last episode, we learned about Chicago’s urban forest — including the $416 million in benefits all those trees provide, in terms of energy cost savings, stormwater mitigation and air purification. Today…

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Are healthy Chicago trees getting the ax? 7:12

7M ago7:12

7:12

Some Chicagoans have noticed city workers cutting down seemingly healthy trees. Who is responsible, and why are they cutting down these trees?

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‘Have you checked on your ancestors?’ This woman brings dignity to deceased Black Chicagoans 15:06

7M ago15:06

15:06

Tammy Gibson wants you to visit the gravesites of your deceased relatives. “Have you checked on your ancestors?” said Gibson, the founder of Sankofa TravelHer, an organization dedicated to honoring the legacy of African-Americans who were often denied dignity in death. As we learned last episode, Chicago’s long history of segregation affected both …

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Exploring the segregated past of Chicago cemeteries 6:57

7M ago6:57

6:57

Mayor Harold Washington is buried in a cemetery that was once for “whites only.” Protests and legislative fights desegregated area cemeteries.

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What happened to Chicago's Japanese community? 7:00

7M ago7:00

7:00

Lakeview once had a thriving Japanese community, but it fell victim to a push for assimilation. As one Japanese-American puts it: “You had to basically be unseen.”