NOMAD with Jacoby Cochran
"My story is only as good as the threads it can connect to others." ✨
Thank you to everyone who joined us to hear Jacoby Cochran share his journey of creative nomadism through storytelling, community, and finding purpose in the wandering path. A special thank you to our friends at the Chicago Architecture Center for welcoming us into their gorgeous space.
City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran came back to his hometown ten years ago with a master's degree, national speaking championships, and absolutely no idea what to do next — so he did what any good storyteller would do and started driving around Chicago's South Side, parking outside his old apartments and recording himself talking about the memories each place held. What looked like creative wandering (photography one day, teaching storytelling in prisons the next, hosting events after that) was actually him figuring out that being a "creative nomad" isn't about being scattered — it's about giving yourself permission to explore while staying anchored to what truly drives you, which for him was connecting with people and mastering his craft. His journey from sitting in alleys recording the story of his uncle's bootleg cable installation to hosting 1,100+ podcast episodes about Chicago proves that sometimes the best career path is the one you create by following your curiosity, digging into your own story, and using your creativity to serve others instead of just yourself.
Jacoby Cochran is a writer, storyteller, and educator from Chicago. He is the award-winning senior host of City Cast Chicago, the city’s number one daily podcast. Whether exploring the public housing crisis, sitting down with the mayor, or roller-skating with his mom, Jacoby’s infectious curiosity has anchored the award-winning podcast for four years and over 1,000 episodes.
Graphic recording by Coté Soerens
Thank you to the Chicago Architecture Center for hosting us!
The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1966, dedicated to inspiring people to discover why design matters. A national leader in architecture and design education, the CAC offers tours, programs, exhibitions, and more that are part of a dynamic journey of lifelong learning.
Check out more pics from our Nomad event on our Flickr!
