Choose Chicago, the city’s official destination marketing organisation, has announced the launch of the All for the Love of Chicago podcast, an extension of the wider All for the Love of Chicago initiative that began in August across Instagram and TikTok. With podcasting continuing to grow internationally – surpassing 584 million listeners in 2025 and expected to expand further in 2026 – Choose Chicago is adopting the format as a way to reach audiences through longer, more immersive storytelling. Unlike short‑form social media, podcasting offers space for deeper discussion, broader context, and more sustained engagement, making it a valuable tool for sharing the city’s stories.
The All for the Love of Chicago podcast aims to encourage travel, civic pride, and local exploration by spotlighting the people who shape the city every day: artists, chefs, business owners, cultural figures, and residents. The platform focuses on authentic, first‑person narratives, presenting Chicago in a way that is grounded in lived experience while remaining accessible to listeners around the world.
Produced by Choose Chicago and hosted by president and chief executive officer Kristen Reynolds and chief marketing officer Lisa Nucci, the podcast includes recurring segments such as The Deep Dish, We’re Loving It, and Let’s ChicaGO. Each episode features interviews, timely conversations, and perspectives on the individuals, places, and ideas influencing Chicago today.
“Podcasting gives us the opportunity to slow down and share Chicago’s story with greater depth and authenticity,” said Kristen Reynolds, president and chief executive officer of Choose Chicago. “All for the Love of Chicago was created to ensure residents have a voice in how the city is represented, and this podcast extends that approach to a wider audience. Through long‑form storytelling, listeners can experience Chicago through the people who live and contribute to it every day.”
New episodes will be released fortnightly from 15 January 2026 and will be available on major podcast platforms as well as YouTube. The first episode focuses on Chicago’s culinary landscape and the anticipation surrounding Chicago Restaurant Week (23 January – 8 February). It features chef Jonathan Sawyer, James Beard Award winner, chef partner at Kindling Downtown Cookout & Cocktails, and host chef of the 2026 First Bites Bash, the official opening event for Chicago Restaurant Week.
The second episode turns to the city’s performing arts community and the upcoming Chicago Theatre Week, featuring Glenn Davis, artistic director at Steppenwolf Theatre and 2025 Tony nominee.
“Our aim is to build meaningful connections – between listeners and the city, and between Chicagoans and those discovering it from afar,” said Nucci. “Each episode is crafted to encourage curiosity, inspire future visits, and offer genuine insight into what makes Chicago distinctive, while highlighting the voices and stories that originate here.”
For more information and to explore upcoming events, neighbourhoods, and travel ideas, visit choosechicago.com