The Block Club Chicago Podcast

Block Club Chicago

The important, emotional, inspiring stories affecting Chicagoans.
New episodes Tuesdays, Thursdays, or whenever a BIG story breaks.

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20 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Episodes20

Newest first

Yesterday · 31 min
Is The American Justice System The Best? An Outsider Weighs In.
Australian true crime podcaster Jack Laurence joins Sidebar to discuss the American justice system from the outside looking in.
Thursday · 30 min
The Battle Between Chicago Renters And Landlords Is Heating Up
The fight over the future of renters’ rights in Chicago is heating up, as supporters of a proposal put forth by Mayor Brandon Johnson are blasting a competing measure as the “Chicago landlord’s big, beautiful bill.” Meanwhile, four Logan Square residents have filed the first lawsuit linked to the city’s tenants right pilot program, accusing their a landlord, his realtor and a brokerage company of running afoul of a Northwest Side anti-gentrification law. Reporters Melody Mercado and Ariel Parrel
Tuesday · 19 min
How Much Damage Did The Wildfire Smoke Do To Our Lungs?
The heaviest wildfire smoke in Chicago history has cleared away -- for now. But many Chicagoans are wondering just how damaging it is to our lungs, and if health experts are concerned about the smoke's growing presence during the summer months.
July 21 · 21 min
Is Wildfire Smoke Now A Permanent Part Of Chicago Summers?
As Chicago saw record-breaking poor air quality last week, local leaders advised people to stay inside and mask up to avoid the potential health effects. On today's podcast, a chat with WGN-TV meteorologist Bill Snyder on if this is just a part of Chicago summers from now on.
July 16 · 40 min
Spare A Kidney? The Surprising Perks Of Becoming A Living Organ Donor
Roughly 100,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney transplant, and the times to be matched with a donor can approach a decade. On today's Block Club Chicago podcast, sponsored by Rush, Dr. Aneesha Shetty explains everything you need to know to become a donor -- and shares the personal reason she works in this field.
July 14 · 20 min
Chicago History Discovered In The Rubble Protecting Our Lakefront
Blocks of carved stone from the Walker Warehouse — early examples of famed Chicago architect Louis Sullivan’s lauded ornamentation — have served alongside other rubble for decades as a lakefront revetment near Rainbow Beach.
July 9 · 32 min
Who Is Running For Chicago Mayor?
The mayor’s race is months away, but a crowded field of potential candidates is already forming to challenge incumbent Mayor Brandon Johnson. The 2027 mayoral election is Feb. 23. A runoff election will take place April 6 if no candidate garners at least 50 percent of the vote in the first round — a highly likely possibility with so many people expected to run.
July 7 · 16 min
How O'Hare Expansion Built A Thriving Home For Wildlife — 19 Miles Away
Mandated by the Federal Clean Water Act, the O’Hare Modernization Wetlands Mitigation Project resulted in the restoration of more than 500 acres of wetlands, now a thriving home for birds and other wildlife.
July 4 · 40 min
50,000+ Laws Have Been Passed In American History. These Are The Best.
Congress has passed roughly 50,000 laws since its founding. Some of them were objectively terrible, and have been repealed or allowed to expired. Some have been deemed "good" laws for some, but not all. Federal defense attorney Mike Leonard and employment lawyer Patrick Dolan do their best to pick "the best three laws in American history," on today's episode.
July 2 · 17 min
The New Laws That Just Went Into Effect
July 1 marks a second New Year’s Day in Illinois as a new budget takes effect along with more than a dozen new state laws. In addition to the state’s nearly $56 billion fiscal year 2027 budget being implemented and the 1-cent motor fuel tax increase being suspended for the remainder of the year, 14 news laws went into effect on Wednesday.
June 30 · 29 min
Chicago Could've Bought Back Its Parking Meters. The Mayor Said No.
Alderpeople learned last Thursday that Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration secretly offered about $3.3 billion last fall to reclaim control of the city’s parking meters — a whopping $800 million more than the next-highest bidder. In a statement afterward, a spokesperson for the mayor said when Johnson decided to drop the city’s bid in January, he highlighted the high cost of regaining control of the meters.
June 25 · 22 min
Why Men Die First — Discussing What Men Need To Know About Their Health
A lot of men are wired to solve problems privately—and health is one area where that instinct can backfire. Today's episode, sponsored by Rush, a conversation with Dr. Edward Qian about men's health.
June 23 · 19 min
Why Have Two Men Been Able To Assault North Siders For Years?
In a new petition, neighbors say officials and police have done little to address safety concerns stemming from encounters with Leon Jackson and Willie Wright, who have cycled through arrests and court hearings.
June 20 · 34 min
Sidebar: The Pope Is Critical Of AI, So Can You Stop Using It At Work?
On this week's Sidebar episode, employment lawyer Patrick Dolan on the story of a woman who claimed a religious exemption from using AI -- and her company agreed! Federal defense attorney Mike Leonard discusses a part of his practice that defends college students during disciplinary hearings -- a system Leonard refers to as a 'kangaroo court'.
June 18 · 21 min
Will The Obama Center Deliver What It Promised To South Siders?
“Hope,” like the Obama campaign slogan, is a common feeling for nearby residents awaiting this week’s opening. Others question what community benefits will come with the global destination.
June 16 · 17 min
Is Chicago Part Of 'Tornado Alley' Now?
Illinois has seen nearly 150 tornadoes so far in 2026, leading the nation. It’s the fourth year in a row where the state has surpassed 100 twisters, many in the Chicagoland area. WGN-TV's Bill Snyder answers the question -- is Chicago part of 'Tornado Alley' now?
June 11 · 27 min
Heading To The Vatican? You’ll Probably Run Into Some Chicagoans
As the sun rose over Vatican City, hundreds — including many Chicagoans — lined up to enter St. Peter’s Square ahead of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV. Reporter Ariel Parrella and Photographer Colin Boyle were there with the mayor and met many Chicagoans who also made the journey.
June 9 · 21 min
Illinois Banning Cellphones From Classrooms — Will It Work?
Illinois is set to join a growing number of states that have barred cellphone use in the classroom. Just as the Illinois General Assembly reached its deadline to wrap up its legislative session Sunday, the state Senate passed legislation that would largely restrict cellphones in Illinois schools. The legislation would go into effect for the 2027-28 school year, meaning school districts will have a year to plan before the restrictions are implemented.
June 6 · 26 min
Sidebar: Will US Attorney Resign? + Many Chicagoans Fall For New Scam
The local U.S. Attorney’s Office is instituting “sweeping internal reforms” to its handling of grand jury proceedings after a high-profile case against a group of protesters crumbled due to prosecutorial misconduct. But will it save Andrew Boutros' job? And an employment scam promising "pay for likes" costs hundreds of Chicagoans thousands of dollars. Federal Defense Attorney Mike Leonard and Employment Law Lawyer Patrick Dolan break it all down.
June 4 · 22 min
Why The Chicago Accent Is Dying
The so-called “Chicago accent” is one of the city’s greatest exports, alongside Italian beef, deep-dish pizza and up-and-coming sketch comedians. Most associate a particular kind of sound to the average Chicagoan. But there are actually many Chicago accents with different origins. And many of them are dying out.

The Block Club Chicago Podcast

Is The American Justice System The Best? An Outsider Weighs In.

The Battle Between Chicago Renters And Landlords Is Heating Up

How Much Damage Did The Wildfire Smoke Do To Our Lungs?

Is Wildfire Smoke Now A Permanent Part Of Chicago Summers?

Spare A Kidney? The Surprising Perks Of Becoming A Living Organ Donor

Chicago History Discovered In The Rubble Protecting Our Lakefront

Who Is Running For Chicago Mayor?

How O'Hare Expansion Built A Thriving Home For Wildlife — 19 Miles Away

50,000+ Laws Have Been Passed In American History. These Are The Best.

The New Laws That Just Went Into Effect

Chicago Could've Bought Back Its Parking Meters. The Mayor Said No.

Why Men Die First — Discussing What Men Need To Know About Their Health

Why Have Two Men Been Able To Assault North Siders For Years?

Sidebar: The Pope Is Critical Of AI, So Can You Stop Using It At Work?

Will The Obama Center Deliver What It Promised To South Siders?

Is Chicago Part Of 'Tornado Alley' Now?

Heading To The Vatican? You’ll Probably Run Into Some Chicagoans

Illinois Banning Cellphones From Classrooms — Will It Work?

Sidebar: Will US Attorney Resign? + Many Chicagoans Fall For New Scam

Why The Chicago Accent Is Dying