BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF “NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND” BLOG
I’m taking a quick break from covering nature in Chicagoland to celebrate the life of Pete Kastanes, a beloved Chicago podcaster who passed away this weekend. More articles about nature in the Chicago area coming soon, including coverage of LaBagh Woods and Sardeson Forest Preserve.
Pete Kastanes, the founder and host of the Vanished Chicagoland Stories podcast, passed away this weekend after a more than six-year battle with prostate cancer.
In his podcast, Kastanes chronicled and celebrated the history of the Chicago area—from famous restaurants and retail stores, to well-known radio and television figures, to memorable events in the area’s history, and much more.
In 2024, I interviewed Kastanes about Vanished Chicagoland Stories and being a podcaster for a book (Podcasters, ISBN 9781422249086, Mason Crest) that I wrote for teens about pursuing a career in podcasting. “Chicago has a rich history, and the topics are limitless,” he told me. “I love to share my knowledge and memories about Chicago. My audience features people of all ages, including younger people who have never heard of these topics. Some of them are very interested. That is very gratifying to me.”
Kastanes recorded a whopping 520 episodes of Vanished Chicagoland Stories since its launch in 2021. He published his last episode on March 1. Kastanes was very encouraging to aspiring podcasters. He gave my young readers the following advice about getting into podcasting: “First, find a catchy title that will grab their attention. Introduce yourself and the topics that you will discuss. Be calm and relaxed. Once you get started and record more episodes, you will enjoy them. Have a positive attitude and focus on what you love to do. You will be a great success in the long run.”
I’m going to be honest and tell you that I was only a semi-regular listener of his podcast because life is busy and there are so many other podcasts to hear, books and newspapers to read, and other media to consume. But I loved what I heard. As a lifelong Chicago resident (56+ years), I enjoyed the warm memories his podcasts and social media posts (which featured iconic and obscure images of Chicago) elicited in me regarding Chicagoland’s past. Kastanes’ social media posts and podcast episodes were a nostalgic time machine that transported Chicagoans back to Marshall Fields, Gately’s Peoples Store, Wieboldt’s, and other department stores during their heydays; long-gone restaurants such as The Golden Ox, Paul Bunyan Restaurant, Woolworth Grill restaurants, and the Ground Round; memorable Chicago-based TV shows such as Gigglesnort Hotel and The Magic Door; and Chicago stories, icons, and personalities such as The Son of Svengoolie, the 1985 Chicago Bears, Peacock Alley in Ford City Mall, Disco Demolition, and the Magikist Sign on the Kennedy Expressway.
Many of Kastanes’ Chicago experiences were my experiences. He grew up on the South Side in the 1960s and ’70s in South Shore, Roseland, then Ashburn, and I grew up in Beverly Hills/Morgan Park in the 1970s and ‘80s and spent many days and nights in Ashburn visiting friends and attending dances and sporting events at Ashburn Lutheran Church. Some of Kastanes’ fond memories were also my (and other listeners’) fond memories, which explains the popularity of his podcast and social media posts.
Vanished Chicagoland Stories was a breath of fresh air in an often-dark social media world that is sometimes filled with hate, grievances, endless (and repetitive) influencer posts, and disinformation. Kastanes was enthusiastic, authentic, and kind in his posts, and Vanished Chicagoland Stories podcast episodes and social media posts provided a comforting and entertaining place in which one could get away from the real world. In 2025, the Chicago History Museum honored Kastanes with the Citizen Historian Award for his efforts to celebrate the history of the Chicago area.
Kastanes battled metastatic prostate cancer for many years, and he chronicled his treatments and medical victories on his podcast and in his social media posts. His honesty about the challenges he faced and his advocacy for cancer screening and prevention initiatives was inspiring. Kastanes had the following to say at ProstateCancer.net, a Health Union community.
“I always tell people, ‘If something doesn’t feel right, go see a doctor.’ It might even save your life. Many men are embarrassed about going to get checked out, but trust me, it’s worth it to know if something’s wrong. My only regret in my cancer journey is not going to the doctor earlier.”
Kastanes also encouraged those who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer to not give up. “Many treatments didn’t exist a long time ago like they do now,” he explained, “and more are coming. Medicine has advanced so much. Don’t give up.”
Kastanes’ authenticity, kindness, and deep love of Chicagoland will be missed. But he leaves a legacy of 520 episodes of Vanished Chicagoland Stories, which are evergreen. May his memory be a blessing.
Copyright (text): © Andrew Morkes, except quoted material from ProstateCancer.net and the interview from my book, Podcasters (© Mason Crest)
Copyright (above photos): © Family of Pete Kastanes; above Chicago historical photos were found at Kastanes’ social media sites
Here are a few other Chicago stories to check out:
A Few Thoughts to Celebrate the Life of Ryne Sandberg
An Elegy for Chicago’s Walking Man
Saying Goodbye to Our Lady of Victory and Hoping to Save an Architecturally Significant Building
Visit to Lincoln Cemetery Reveals Rich African American Aviation History
On the Death of A.J. Freund and Healing the World
Looking for some other great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $19.99.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I’ve been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I also served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 80 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, College Readiness: The Vault Guide for High School Juniors and Seniors, the Vault Career Guide to Consulting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series), Lerner Publishing, and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades, Hands-On Careers, Social Media Today, Woman in STEM Careers, Getting Started, and Cool Careers in Science series).
Here’s a list of the environmental- and clean energy-focused titles that I’ve written or co-written:
- Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit
- Wind Turbine Technicians (Great Careers Without a Bachelor’s Degree series)
- Environmental Scientists (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Renewable Energy Careers (Cool Careers in Science series)
- Environment (Getting Started series)
- Solar Power Technicians (Careers in Infrastructure series)
- Women in Environmental Sciences (Women in STEM Careers)
Articles about my work have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Practical Homeschooling, and other publications. My photographs of musicians, artists, and the natural world have been published in several books. My poetry has been published in Cadence, Wisconsin Review, Poetry Motel, Strong Coffee, and Mid-America Review. As an amateur artist, I’m pleased to say that four of my paintings were included in the 2025 Beverly Art Walk.
