Aaron Rote

When I told some friends I’d be talking to Bill Burr in advance of a run of shows at the Chicago Theatre, I always received the same response. “I love Bill Burr,” they’d say. “But he’s probably going to bust your balls.” At least three people offered some variation of this half-compliment/half-warning. It was as if I’d told them I was going on a solo hike in Alaska. “That’s some truly beautiful country up there, but you’re probably going to be eaten by a bear.” If you’ve seen any of Burr’s specials or listened to his weekly podcast, Bill’s Monday Morning Podcast, this response doesn’t seem totally out of line. Like the majestic grizzly, Burr isn't one to suffer a fool or tolerate any bullshit. On stage, he has no problem poking a touchy subject with a stick and then laughing in its face as it tries to bite him. He is a comedian’s comedian, which really just means his peers envy that ability to stand on any stage, say just about anything and absolutely slaughter any audience. And yes, he’s busted a lot of balls along the way. Lucky for me, the Bill Burr who answers the phone on a Friday afternoon doesn’t seem too interested in causing physical or metaphorical harm to any part of my body—balls or otherwise. He does almost immediately excuse himself to answer the door, and I can hear a good amount of clinging and clanging in the background. The commotion implies the life of a comedian in the midst of a nation-spanning tour who still has a list of chores waiting on the kitchen co

With so much music, comedy and art going on at one time it should come as no surprise that Chicago has a flourishing podcast community to help keep all of this culture in check. From explorations of the city’s complex history to impassioned film criticism to in-depth interviews with local comedians, Chicago’s podcast landscape is vast—you'll have no problem finding something to keep you entertained as you try to avoid an awkward conversation with your Uber driver. Hell, you might even learn something in the process. Here are five of the best Chicago-based podcasts to have locked and loaded for your next commute. Curious City Curious City’s innovative approach to investigative journalism makes it a must-listen for anyone who calls Chicago home. Engaged citizens can log on and pose random questions about any and every city-related occurrence, from “What happened to the former residents of Cabrini-Green?” to “Why do Metra trains run on the left track in the direction of travel?” Listeners vote on the questions they’d like to hear answered. Then Curious City goes to work, combining archival WBEZ stories with new investigations. The resulting podcast can be educational, heartbreaking or just plain weird, but it’s guaranteed to be 100 percent Chicago. Filmspotting Film criticism podcasts are a dime a dozen, but Filmspotting has managed to rise above the fray by having just the right balance of reverence and irreverence. Every week the crew reviews a new movie, presents a "Top 5" li