Chicago Land

Xavier Zahnle

0.0 (0)
HISTORY

Chicago is where the American Empire was built. Armies of frontier pioneers poured in from eastern outposts, buoyed by waves of investment capital. Soon railroads radiated westward, funneling lumber, grain, and livestock back into the metropole. The landscape itself was dismantled and reshaped into a new country. Chicago Land is a "video podcast" examining the geographic history of Chicago and the American Empire hosted by Dr. Xavier Zahnle.

07/16/2025

Every Abuse Pt 1: Slow & Furious Glacial Drift (Ep 006)

The Calumet Watershed is a land of superlatives. It has "experienced every abuse that a wealthy society can subject", but simultaneously it remains one of the United states' most ecologically diverse landscapes. This is the first episode in a three part series. In this episode, we see how the rocks and sediments of southern Lake Michigan were deposited at first under an ancient shallow sea, and then much later by a continent-wide ice sheet... when we're not indulging in "Xavier's Airship Corner". Chicago Land relies on audience contributions: https://www.patreon.com/chicago_land Check out Allie's social media: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/pinealdecalcify Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alliemi.bsky.social More music from Chris Robbin’ (Chicago Land Theme composer): https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o358VkcDy0OGAyUzruVRA Find Xavier on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicago_land_pod/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/XZahnle Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xavier.zahnle Xavier also writes about cities when he feels like it: https://www.substack.com/@articulata

1h 6m
07/02/2025 · BONUS

Oops! All Grid Pt 2: A Tale of Two City Maps (Bonus Preview)

This is a bonus episode PREVIEW! Get the whole thing at https://www.patreon.com/chicago_land Is Manhattan the world's "Greatest Grid," or is it more of an accident of historical contingency? This is the final episode of a two part series. In this episode, Aaron Burr's allies stymy a rogue French surveyor's plan for the city. Then three out-of-towners are handed the reins. Check out Soma’s creative projects: Stoned Succubus: https://www.instagram.com/stoned_succubus_band Somatosensation: https://www.instagram.com/somatosensation More music from Chris Robbin’ (Chicago Land Theme composer): https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o358VkcDy0OGAyUzruVRA Find Xavier on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicago_land_pod/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/XZahnle Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xavier.zahnle Xavier also writes about cities when he feels like it: https://www.substack.com/@articulata

7 min
06/26/2025

The Golden Age of Cable Cars (Ep 005)

It's a little known fact that in the late 1800s, Chicago stood shoulder to shoulder with San Francisco as a cable car city. Join us as we "get a grip" on the glorious moment in history when cables ruled Chicago's streets. Who invented the Chicago city block? We just don't know, so we make some educated guesses. But we do know that Edward Brennan invented the Chicago address system! Chicago Land relies on audience contributions: https://www.patreon.com/chicago_land More music from Chris Robbin’ (Chicago Land Theme composer): https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o358VkcDy0OGAyUzruVRA Find Xavier on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicago_land_pod/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/XZahnle Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xavier.zahnle Xavier also writes about cities when he feels like it: https://www.substack.com/@articulata

1h 15m
06/18/2025 · BONUS

Oops! All Grid Pt 1: Fortification Ave (Bonus Preview)

This is a bonus episode PREVIEW! Get the whole thing at https://www.patreon.com/chicago_land Is Manhattan the world's "Greatest Grid," or is it more of an accident of historical contingency? This is the first episode of a two part series. In this episode, we see the original landscape of the island transformed by fires, fortifications, and finally by surveyors. Check out Soma’s creative projects: Stoned Succubus: https://www.instagram.com/stoned_succubus_band Somatosensation: https://www.instagram.com/somatosensation More music from Chris Robbin’ (Chicago Land Theme composer): https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o358VkcDy0OGAyUzruVRA Find Xavier on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicago_land_pod/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/XZahnle Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xavier.zahnle Xavier also writes about cities when he feels like it: https://www.substack.com/@articulata

5 min
06/11/2025

The Grid Pt 4: Quilt City (Ep 004)

The Grid is a set of imaginary lines that have been emblazoned onto the land itself. From Chicago streets to county roads, Isaac Newton’s coordinate grid is a fact of life for anyone who lives in Chicago Land. This is final episode in a four part series. Who invented the Chicago city block? We just don't know, so we make some educated guesses. But we do know that Edward Brennan invented the Chicago address system! Chicago Land relies on audience contributions: https://www.patreon.com/chicago_land Check out Soma’s creative projects: Stoned Succubus: https://www.instagram.com/stoned_succubus_band Somatosensation: https://www.instagram.com/somatosensation More music from Chris Robbin’ (Chicago Land Theme composer): https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o358VkcDy0OGAyUzruVRA Find Xavier on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicago_land_pod/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/XZahnle Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xavier.zahnle Xavier also writes about cities when he feels like it: https://www.substack.com/@articulata

45 min
06/04/2025

The Grid Pt 3: The Illinois & Michigan What? (Ep 003)

The Grid is a set of imaginary lines that have been emblazoned onto the land itself. From Chicago streets to county roads, Isaac Newton’s coordinate grid is a fact of life for anyone who lives in Chicago Land. This is the third episode in a four part series. Chief Blackhawk didn't believe land could be bought and sold. The U.S. Army set out to prove him wrong and, in the process, discovered a nifty little harbor with the potential to unite the Mississippi and Great Lakes watersheds. Chicago Land relies on audience contributions: https://www.patreon.com/chicago_land Check out Soma’s creative projects: Stoned Succubus: https://www.instagram.com/stoned_succubus_band Somatosensation: https://www.instagram.com/somatosensation More music from Chris Robbin’ (Chicago Land Theme composer): https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o358VkcDy0OGAyUzruVRA Find Xavier on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicago_land_pod/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/XZahnle Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xavier.zahnle Xavier also writes about cities when he feels like it: https://www.substack.com/@articulata

53 min
05/28/2025

The Grid Pt 2: Polypotamia Land (Ep 002)

The Grid is a set of imaginary lines that have been emblazoned onto the land itself. From Chicago streets to county roads, Isaac Newton’s coordinate grid is a fact of life for anyone who lives in Chicago Land. This is the second episode in a four part series. It turns out the “vacuum domicilium” is actually full of people and nature. While the surveyors struggle in the mountains, the US government is deeply in debt. Chicago Land relies on audience contributions: https://www.patreon.com/chicago_land Check out Soma’s creative projects: Stoned Succubus: https://www.instagram.com/stoned_succubus_band Somatosensation: https://www.instagram.com/somatosensation More music from Chris Robbin’ (Chicago Land Theme composer): https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o358VkcDy0OGAyUzruVRA Find Xavier on social media: Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/XZahnle Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/xavier.zahnle Xavier also writes about cities when he feels like it: https://www.substack.com/@articulata

46 min
05/21/2025

The Grid Pt 1: The Rapping Slave Masters (Ep 001)

The Grid is a set of imaginary lines that have been emblazoned onto the land itself. From Chicago streets to county roads, Isaac Newton’s coordinate grid is a fact of life for anyone who lives in Chicago Land. This is the first episode in a four part series. We see how Enlightenment principles lead “rapping slave master” Thomas Jefferson to envision a rural mathematical republic. Chicago Land relies on audience contributions: patreon.com/chicago_land Check out Soma’s creative projects: Stoned Succubus: instagram.com/stoned_succubus_band Somatosensation: instagram.com/somatosensation More music from Chris Robbin’ (Chicago Land Theme composer): open.spotify.com/artist/3o358VkcDy0OGAyUzruVRA Find Xavier on social media: Twitter: twitter.com/XZahnle Facebook: facebook.com/xavier.zahnle Xavier also writes about cities when he feels like it: substack.com/@articulata

47 min
05/20/2025

Chicagoland and Chicago Land Introduction (Ep 000)

What exactly is Chicagoland? We review the history of the term and introduce the Chicago Land podcast. Chicago Land relies on audience contributions: patreon.com/chicago_land More music from Chris Robbin’ (Chicago Land Theme composer): open.spotify.com/artist/3o358VkcDy0OGAyUzruVRA Find Xavier on social media: Twitter: twitter.com/XZahnle Facebook: facebook.com/xavier.zahnle Xavier also writes about cities when he feels like it: substack.com/@articulata

12 min

9 Episodes

Chicago is where the American Empire was built. Armies of frontier pioneers poured in from eastern outposts, buoyed by waves of investment capital. Soon railroads radiated westward, funneling lumber, grain, and livestock back into the metropole. The landscape itself was dismantled and reshaped into a new country. Chicago Land is a "video podcast" examining the geographic history of Chicago and the American Empire hosted by Dr. Xavier Zahnle.

Creator

Xavier Zahnle
Years Active

2K
Episodes

9
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Xavier Zahnle 2025
Show Website

Chicago Land