Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Est. Listeners
Insufficient chart data. Estimates will improve as the show charts.
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
N/A🎙 ~2x weekly·35 episodes·Last published 8mo ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
N/A - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
N/A
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
—
* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
From 10 epsHost
Recent guests
Recent episodes
Olympics 2026 behind the scenes: 100-DAY COUNTDOWN to Milan-Cortina!
Oct 29, 2025
31m 14s
Bulls 2025 Season Preview: Adam Amin on Giddey, Coby, Matas, his favorite calls + DJ side hustle
Oct 22, 2025
39m 53s
Why do we have Daylight Saving Time?
Oct 10, 2025
21m 19s
What can National Guard troops REALLY do in Chicago?
Oct 4, 2025
29m 32s
What happened to Jimmy Hoffa? Clues, cover-ups, new details
Sep 26, 2025
25m 34s
Social Links & Contact
Official channels & resources
Official Website
Login
RSS Feed
Login
| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/29/25 | Olympics 2026 behind the scenes: 100-DAY COUNTDOWN to Milan-Cortina!✨ | OlympicsMilan-Cortina+3 | Mike McGovern | Team USANBC Chicago’s+1 | Italy | athletesOlympic memories+3 | — | 31m 14s | |
| 10/22/25 | Bulls 2025 Season Preview: Adam Amin on Giddey, Coby, Matas, his favorite calls + DJ side hustle✨ | NBAChicago Bulls+3 | Adam Amin | turntableBulls+3 | — | Matas BuzelisCoby White+3 | — | 39m 53s | |
| 10/10/25 | Why do we have Daylight Saving Time?✨ | Daylight Saving TimeMeteorology+3 | Kevin Jeanes | The Takeaway with Alex | — | time changelaw+3 | — | 21m 19s | |
| 10/4/25 | What can National Guard troops REALLY do in Chicago?✨ | National GuardChicago+4 | Joe FergusonRichard Hayes | National GuardCivic Federation+1 | Chicagothe United States+1 | Civic FederationIllinois National Guard+1 | — | 29m 32s | |
| 9/26/25 | What happened to Jimmy Hoffa? Clues, cover-ups, new details✨ | Jimmy Hoffadisappearance+3 | Chuck Goudie | FBIthe Teamsters Union+2 | Detroit | cover-upsnew details+2 | — | 25m 34s | |
| 9/21/25 | What the Dallas Cowboys documentary DIDN'T show (ex-defensive coordinator tells all)✨ | Dallas Cowboysdocumentary+4 | Dave Wannstedt | NetflixDallas Cowboys+7 | — | America's TeamThe Gambler and His Cowboys+2 | — | 36m 59s | |
| 9/11/25 | Charlie Kirk assassination: Shooter search, FBI updates, political beliefs, reactions✨ | political violenceCharlie Kirk+3 | Mary Ann Ahern | FBITurning Point USA+2 | Utahthe United States+1 | assassinationpolitical discourse+3 | — | 16m 00s | |
| 9/3/25 | Bears Week 1: Caleb Williams & Ben Johnson, Vikings preview, win total✨ | Chicago BearsNFL+4 | Dave Wannstedt | BearsVikings+2 | — | offensive lineplaymakers+3 | — | 18m 51s | |
| 8/26/25 | Can Trump legally send the National Guard to Chicago?✨ | National GuardChicago+3 | Mary Ann AhernHarold Krent | the National GuardNBC Chicago+2 | ChicagoIllinois+2 | TrumpPritzker+3 | — | 24m 50s | |
| 8/23/25 | Dolton’s half-million-dollar superintendent✨ | educationfinance+2 | Regina Waldroup | DoltonDolton School District+2 | DoltonIllinois | superintendentDolton+3 | — | 12m 59s | |
Want analysis for the episodes below?Free for Pro Submit a request, we'll have your selected episodes analyzed within an hour. Free, at no cost to you, for Pro users. | |||||||||
| 8/14/25 | Is 'Speedway Slammer' the new Alligator Alcatraz? | “Alligator Alcatraz” and the “Speedway Slammer” are two of the Trump Administration’s newest ICE detention facilities. The buzzy titles may suggest similarity, but the sites are very different. Soon after the Department of Homeland Security announced the new facility in the Midwest, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle started digging into what the federal government has planned for the Indiana prison. Bennett joined The Takeaway with Alex to also explain what Indiana leaders say about the plan, how The Indianapolis Motor Speedway feels about the name, and how often the people whom ICE is detaining and deporting actually have criminal convictions. | — | ||||||
| 8/7/25 | Why Democrats fled Texas amid gerrymandering fight with Abbott, Trump & Republicans | Texas Democratic lawmakers have left their state, saying Donald Trump and fellow Republicans are unfairly redistricting and gerrymandering Texas. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has welcomed over 30 Democrats with open arms, supporting their cause as he seeks a third term in office — with one eye possibly on a presidential run in 2028. NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern has covered all kinds of stories in her career, but hasn’t seen anything quite like this. In this conversation of The Takeaway with Alex, she explains why redistricting matters, what gerrymandering is, how Illinois could respond and why the effects of this story go far beyond Illinois and Texas. | — | ||||||
| 8/4/25 | Is Chicago a safe haven against climate change? Meteorologist weighs in | Will Chicago be a haven against climate change? Do climate safe zones really exist? Extreme storms, higher prices and uninsurable property make Chicago more attractive, but climate change can still make midwest storms, flooding and heat worse. NBC Climate Reporter Chase Cain joins The Takeaway with Alex to share how the Midwest must adapt, how just talking about climate change can actually make a difference, and how artificial intelligence has positives and negatives for the future of our planet. | — | ||||||
| 7/25/25 | What happened to Emmett Till? Shocking details revealed decades later | A 14-year-old Chicago boy named Emmett Till was abducted and lynched 70 years ago in Mississippi after being accused of whistling at a white woman named Carolyn Bryant in her family's grocery store. Till's death became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement after images circulated of an open casket funeral arranged by his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Over time, his story began to fade from view, until decades later, the 2020 murder of George Floyd reignited the Black Lives Matter movement and sparked new conversations about the 1955 lynching that once shocked the country. Journalist Marion Brooks created the Emmett Till: Then and Now documentary that reexplores Till's life and death through the lens of his loved ones -- including Wheeler Parker who was there the day Emmett died. | — | ||||||
| 7/19/25 | Taxpayers spend MILLIONS on empty Chicago lot migrants never used | Taxpayers have spent over $3 million on an empty lot on Chicago’s south side meant for migrants that was never used. First proposed as a winter shelter for migrants that were bused to Chicago from the southern border, tests eventually showed the lot was contaminated with heavy metals. Three years after Chicago’s migrant crisis began, NBC Chicago Investigative Reporter Bennett Haeberle sits down on The Takeaway with Alex to walk through the missteps that led to millions of dollars being spent on the land, tents and site cleanup – with no shelter to show for it. With the flow of migrants significantly slowing in 2025, Haeberle also looks ahead to what effect the influx had on city and state finances, and Chicago neighborhoods already struggling with housing. With Donald Trump promising to end federal funding for sanctuary cities like Chicago and also deport millions of people, Haeberle also looks ahead to what the future might hold for migrants. | — | ||||||
| 7/12/25 | Iconic movies with HIDDEN Chicago connections | Chicago’s Hollywood history runs deep. Blockbusters like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Dark Knight and The Blues Brothers helped the world get to know our city. But did you know Chicago also has connections to Back to the Future, the Wizard of Oz and even The Great Gatsby? Host of NBC Chicago’s “Only in Chicago” series Lexi Sutter tells Alex Maragos the stories behind the famous scenes and sites. She also found a real police station that plays a fake police station on television, and describes what Chicago has to offer that few other show biz cities can match. | — | ||||||
| 7/2/25 | Guide to Chicago's music scene: Lollapalooza, hidden gems, artists to watch + MORE | From big events like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and Summer Smash to small street festivals across the city; Chicago’s summer soundtrack has lots of variety. With so many concerts to check out, two music critics give The Takeaway with Alex a guide to navigate the summer. Britt Julious of the Chicago Tribune and Selena Fragassi of the Chicago Sun-Times tell Alex Maragos about the shows they’re most excited to see this year, the festivals with great vibes, and their list of underhyped artists and venues in Chicago. Julious and Fragassi – who have seen over 1,000 concerts collectively – shared their excitement for the 2025 concert season by giving a list of who to look out for, how to master the many stages of Lolla (and the aftershows) and also predict who might be the next rising star to shoot out of Chicago’s music scene. | — | ||||||
| 6/26/25 | JB Pritzker running for third term as Illinois governor | Governor J.B. Pritzker’s run for a third term will have ripple effects far beyond Illinois. With more Democrats looking for a leader, Pritzker's criticism of Donald Trump, MAGA politics, and the Republican Party will all have more power coming from a current governor, according to NBC 5 Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, Ahern said the billionaire has shown several signals that higher office could be in his plans: more appearances with national media, regular speeches at Democratic Party events outside Illinois, and progressive posturing other Democrats have started to move away from. And there is his massive net worth – over $3 billion according to Forbes. Ahern said combine all of that, and it’s easy to see why Democrats have told her he could potentially be the next party leader. Ahern also dove into the potential perils a third term might bring; Pritzker will be forced to own more of Illinois’ problems, including a festering pension problem, a drop in federal funds, a transit fiscal cliff and a stagnating population and economy. | — | ||||||
| 6/18/25 | BEST food in Chicago? Food critic talks underrated restaurants, deep dish pizza + MORE | When you think of Chicago food, you may think of pizza or hot dogs, but there's so much more the city has to offer. Every dish in every restaurant has a story, and it takes people like Steve Dolinsky to share those stories with the world. With nicknames The Hungry Hound and The Food Guy, Dolinsky has traveled far and wide through Chicago, the suburbs and well beyond for 30 years to tell people where to eat and why to eat there. After chronicling the best meals and restaurants on TV, Dolinsky is headed to a new role — but not before he stopped by The Takeaway with Alex for a taste of some Superdawg, a deep dig on why he loves pizza and his picks to have your next meal in the best food city in the world. | — | ||||||
| 6/6/25 | Ishbia-Reinsdorf deal EXPLAINED: When will White Sox have a new owner? | Jerry Reinsdorf has been controlling owner of the White Sox since 1981, but has agreed to sell the team to Justin Ishbia as early as 2029. On this episode of the Takeaway with Alex, The Athletic’s Jon Greenberg dives into this reporting on the White Sox succession plan. In February, Greenberg’s reporting foreshadowed the deal, and today he tells the story of how Ishbia was approached to take a bigger stake in the team and how the final agreement ultimately came together. Greenberg talks to Alex Maragos about what the ownership change means for the White Sox staying in the city, whether they move to a new stadium, and how it can get the White Sox back on the road to a championship. | — | ||||||
| 5/29/25 | Who is Larry Hoover? Ex-Chicago gang leader's sentence commuted by Trump | Who is Larry Hoover, and why did President Donald Trump commute sentence? He is one of America's most notorious criminals, with convictions ranging from murder to racketeering landing him behind bars for over 50 years. Now Hoover is one step closer to freedom, thanks to a commutation of his federal prison sentence by President Trump. From humble beginnings in Englewood, Hoover eventually ruled the streets of Chicago for decades as leader of the Gangster Disciples. His empire was built on guns and drugs, growing his group to be one of the biggest and most successful in the country. The commutation is a victory for family, friends and supporters including Chicago native Kanye West, who say Hoover is a changed man, genuinely sorry for his past and eager to do good in society. Others, including many in law enforcement, say Hoover's trail of addiction and destruction overrules his chance for mercy. On this episode of The Takeaway with Alex, NBC 5's Chuck Goudie looks at Larry Hoover's past and future. | — | ||||||
| 5/24/25 | Globetrotters: How a Chicago team changed basketball and helped win the Cold War | Despite their name, the Harlem Globetrotters actually got their start in Chicago. It was an unlikely partnership between a young, 5’3” Jewish entrepreneur named Abe Saperstein and a collection of younger Black basketball players from the South Side. From barns to ballrooms to arenas filled to the brim, the Globetrotters brought basketball to towns that barely had any organized sports. Along the way, they showed the promise of Black talent and achievement in a country that largely treated them as second-class citizens. Persevering through discrimination, they won over crowds with a mix of tricks and talent – along the way changing the landscape of race relations and American sports. Marc Jacobs, author and former editor for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, tells the unlikely tale of Abe Saperstein rising from fledgling team founder to pioneer of modern entertainment. Through ingenuity, a few tall tales and plenty of courage, Saperstein took basketball around the world, proving the unifying power of sports to bring people together. | — | ||||||
| 5/17/25 | Who killed Chicago mob boss Sam 'Momo' Giancana? | Who killed Momo? It’s one of the Chicago Outfit’s longest kept secrets — and we’re finally getting some answers. NBC 5 Investigative reporter Chuck Goudie joined the Takeaway to share how he dug up some truth about what really happened to former mob boss Sam Giancana. | — | ||||||
| 5/9/25 | Who is Pope Leo XIV? | Who is Pope Leo XIV, and why did he choose that name? The former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Miguel H. Díaz joins the podcast this week to share his personal experiences with the new pope, and to shed light on some things we may not know about him. | — | ||||||
| 5/2/25 | Conclave explained: Top candidates, white smoke, timeline | With the papal conclave just days away, there are many questions surrounding the process of selecting the next pope. NBC 5's Mary Ann Ahern and Chuck Goudie break down everything from the voting process and the white smoke to the names of potential candidates. | — | ||||||
Showing 25 of 35
Pitch Fit is a Pro feature
See how bookable this show is for guests, which brands already advertise, the per-episode ad value, and the best-fit guest and sponsor profile. The numbers are blurred on the free plan.
How readily this show books outside guests like you.
How proven this show is for host-read sponsorships.
For Guests
ProFor Advertisers
ProUpgrade to Pro to unlock guest cadence, sponsor categories, fit scores, and per-episode ad value for this show.
