Anthony Doerr is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. But he’s also one of us, Boise! And we are so excited to be talking with one of our all-time favorite authors today. He weighs in on our libraries, shouts out other local writers (looking at you, Alan Heathcock and Kerri Webster), and talks about what it’s like to call Boise home. If you haven’t read Anthony Doerr’s latest novel in which Idaho features prominently, you really should: we can’t recommend Cloud Cuckoo Land enough! Speaking of writ...
Oct 13, 2022•21 min
We’re not afraid to admit it—Boise’s shopping scene needs a serious revamp. Our closets are hurting! Local thrift stores are filling up with fast fashion items and the best pieces are often being re-sold online. And when it comes to local stores, they don’t always have what we’re looking for. Today on the podcast, host Frankie Barnhill rants with local fashion-obsessives Kymm Cornelison and Evelyn Avitia about our lack of shopping options in the city. Pssst…hey Nordstrom. Are you listening? We n...
Oct 12, 2022•16 min
Election Day is exactly one month away, on November 8. And there’s a lot at stake in this election: voters will choose our next governor and attorney general among other statewide spots, and local legislative and county seats are also up for grabs. But there’s also some confusion about voting this year — so today — we’re setting the record straight with Boise State Public Radio reporter James Dawson. You’ll want to hear Jimmy’s advice on how to exercise your rights this election. Important deadl...
Oct 11, 2022•17 min
We’re getting real with Boise’s political TikTok star @socialistlyawkward. Lindsay is the creator of snarky videos that call out Idaho Republicans and break down Boise politics for users to stay informed. Through this video-sharing platform, she’s gained 115,000 followers, with 6 million likes and counting. But it turns out that for a long time, Lindsay held the same political beliefs as the people she’s critiquing. So today, Host Frankie Barnhill chats with Lindsay (@socialistylawkward) about h...
Oct 06, 2022•15 min
Public school teachers in the Treasure Valley are going through it right now. Take the wild growth in schools of the last few years and overlay that with the turmoil of COVID and the messy stew of books bans, politics and bond failures — there’s a lot on their plates. How are they doing? And who is supporting them? Host Frankie Barnhill is doing a vibe check with Nic Darlinton. He’s an English teacher at Ridgeview High School in the Vallivue School District, and what he says about truth and choi...
Oct 04, 2022•18 min
Calling all ghouls and pumpkin spice latte lovers! October is finally at our doorstep. After the hellishly hot summer and early fall we’ve had, we’re beyond ready for real fall to kick in. Today on the podcast, October’s #1 fan Frankie Barnhill chats with Marissa Lovell with the From Boise newsletter. They have delicious seasonal food and drink picks, plus the best way to get haunted this Halloween. And hey: we’re looking for your ghost stories! Have you had a spooky experience in the Treasure V...
Sep 29, 2022•19 min
We have a lot of options for where to get our news in town, but diversity in local journalism is an issue. In particular, there aren’t enough Latinos in the Boise news scene. But former Idaho journalist and co-founder of Voces Internship of Idaho Nicole Foy is working to change that. Today on the show, she talks with Frankie Barnhill about why representation in our newsrooms matters and how this internship program is carving out a path for the next generation of reporters. Find out more about th...
Sep 27, 2022•17 min
Are bike bars the most obnoxious or entertaining Boise experience? We’re sure you’ve seen those loud spectacles cruising downtown, usually playing top hits while people dress up in their favorite party theme and whoop it up, pedaling from bar to bar! Even though bike bars may look a little different than they did a year ago, with no open containers or late night rides, Pedals and Pints driver Camden Gallagher wants to make it known that bike bars actually serve a greater purpose in the community...
Sep 22, 2022•17 min
Boise’s music scene has evolved a lot in a decade. When Treefort Music Fest started in 2012, it was this very homegrown thing from a newly formed company called Duck Club, with mostly local music fans checking out mostly local and regional bands. Today, Treefort is still homegrown — but it has matured a lot while helping to put our music scene on the map. Every March, the festival brings thousands of people to downtown Boise — many from out of state — to see indie bands from around the world. Bu...
Sep 20, 2022•15 min
We may call ourselves The City of Trees, but let’s face it, we live in a desert! Isn’t it time to start landscaping like it? Today, producer Jennifer Jerrett is talking with Anni Jack, the Adult Education Coordinator at the Idaho Botanical Garden, about why we should be thinking about low-water landscapes. But this conversation isn’t just about plants. It’s about who we are. And Anni says something about Boise’s identity that we can’t get out of our heads. Looking for resources and inspo for you...
Sep 15, 2022•16 min
18-year-old Boise High senior Shiva Rajbhandari loves to ski and runs track and cross country. And as of last week’s Boise school board election, he’s going to have a new project for his free time — helping to shape the future of our public schools. That’s right: a current student is about to be on the school board — a first for our city. Journalist Heath Druzin chats with host Frankie Barnhill about this and other results from our last election. Plus: how far-right groups continue to target sch...
Sep 13, 2022•17 min
Boise has a long history of punk music, from DIY basement house shows to unforgettable sets at Neurolux. And the genre is alive and well in 2022 — thanks in part to The French Tips. Angela Heileson, Rachel Couch and Ivy Merrell formed the band a few years ago and released their latest album “All the Rage” this spring. But the album almost never saw the light of day; it was delayed for a long time because of COVID-19. As the band joins Built to Spill on tour this month and prepares to play the fi...
Sep 08, 2022•19 min
We’re two weeks into our state’s abortion ban. But you know what? We’re tired of hearing soundbites from politicians. We want to hear from the people this actually affects: young folks. So today, host Frankie Barnhill is having a heart to heart with Julissa Melendez, a Gen Z abortion-rights activist. In a time of very bad news for reproductive rights in Boise, she made us feel hopeful. You’ll see. More information on reproductive health services in our region: Northwest Abortion Access Fund Plan...
Sep 06, 2022•11 min
We all know the story of Robin Hood. You know — stealing from the rich to help the poor and all that. Well in our city, we have Rocky Detwiler — aka the Boise River Robin Hood. Rocky has made it his business to find items claimed by the snags and twists of the Boise River, and does his best to return them to their owners using Facebook. Fancy phones, expensive sunglasses, lost car keys: the River Robin Hood has found (and often returned) it all. Today on City Cast Boise, we learn how he earned h...
Sep 01, 2022•20 min
When was the first time you visited the Sawtooths? Maybe it was a relaxing camping trip with friends along a cold mountain creek or the most challenging solo hike you’ve ever done — rewarded with a stop at a clear blue alpine lake — the place holds so many memories for people in Boise. Now 50 year after the Sawtooth National Recreation Area was created by Congress, is the area too popular for its own good? How do we protect a place we all love so much? Boise State Public Radio reporter Rachel Co...
Aug 30, 2022•15 min
What’s one thing that unites the people of Boise and Salt Lake City? We’ll give you a hint – we dip our famous Idaho potatoes in it. Yep, it’s fry sauce! This mayo and ketchup based sauce comes in a variety of flavors and we can’t seem to get enough. But where did fry sauce originate and why are we so obsessed with it? We have the answers. Ali Vallarta joins us to challenge our self-proclaimed title as the state with the best fry sauce. She’s the host of City Cast Salt Lake and makes it clear we...
Aug 25, 2022•18 min
2020 was the final nail in the coffin for the Boise GreenBike program. The bike share — run by Valley Regional Transit — was popular at first but didn’t have enough support to survive COVID-19. Now, VRT has a new pedal assisted program: Vall-eBike. A fleet of 50 e-bikes are on the streets now, locked up at pre-existing GreenBike stations in between rides. So what lessons did we learn from the previous bike share closure, and could e-bikes get more people out of their cars longterm? We’re chattin...
Aug 23, 2022•17 min
Boise is playing catch-up when it comes to vegan options, with only one vegan restaurant and another in the works. In a town that loves meat and potatoes, we know finding plant-based options can be tough. That’s why host Frankie Barnhill is talking with food writer Lex Nelson, who wrote about where you can get vegan food in Boise. Lex shares her tried and tested recommendations of the best vegan pizza and burgers, and makes a claim for Boise’s best breakfast burrito. What’s your go-to Boise vega...
Aug 18, 2022•15 min
Boise housing market has been out of control (and out of reach) for several years now, with the median home price hitting an all-time high in May of over $600K. But as Idaho Statesman reporter Paul Schwedelson tells us, things are starting to shift. Houses have been sitting on the market longer, prices have been dropping and at least one major homebuilder forecasts $400K as a reasonable price for new homes in the near future. So can wannabe buyers who were shut out in 2020 and 2021 finally affor...
Aug 16, 2022•12 min
The Boise Soul Food Festival is coming home this Saturday. After a nearly 5-year hiatus — and a forced break because of COVID-19 — organizers are bringing the event back to Julia Davis Park where it happened for about 20 years. But as festival founder Shari Baber tells us, this event is about so much more than delicious gumbo, catfish, mac n’ cheese, and sweet potato pie. It’s about celebrating Black culture and supporting Black-owned businesses in our mostly white city. Boise Soul Food Festival...
Aug 11, 2022•18 min
With reproductive rights up for debate in the Idaho Supreme Court and a Department of Justice lawsuit against the state’s abortion trigger ban pending — there’s a lot on the line, especially for activists in our community. Are they OK? Today, we’re talking with local activist Leta Harris Neustaedter. She’s a therapist, a musician and an experienced community organizer (among many other titles). What Leta has to say is going to shift how you think about being an activist — or anyone devoted to cr...
Aug 09, 2022•25 min
We’re used to seeing public art around the Treasure Valley. Unique and colorful murals in particular help create a sense of place, turning everyday buildings into eye-catching attractions. And we can’t get enough – we want more! Today on the podcast, we’re talking with Miguel Almeida, painter, digital artist, and muralist. He reflects on his experience as a first generation Mexican American artist living in Idaho, and why representation in art matters. You can see Miguel’s murals, “Un Mundo Mejo...
Aug 04, 2022•19 min
Idaho’s abortion bans are having their day in court, with Planned Parenthood challenging two laws — a trigger ban passed in 2020, and a Texas-style ban passed in 2022. Abortion rights advocates are bracing for the Idaho Supreme Court’s decision to come soon after Wednesday’s hearing in downtown. It’s been a complicated story to follow, with lots of legal twists and turns along the way. That’s why we’re talking with Boise State Public Radio reporter James Dawson. He helps clear up confusion about...
Aug 02, 2022•16 min
We know Boise is nicknamed the City of Trees. But how deep do those roots go? Today on the podcast, our producer Jennifer Jerrett tells us about the City of Trees Challenge which aims to get 100,000 urban trees planted by 2030. We chat about the city’s climate goals and how homeowners can contribute to our tree canopy with some drought tolerant options. And, we learn what to do (and what not to do) after Jennifer’s own backyard beautifying with some new trees this year. Later on the show, we tal...
Jul 28, 2022•22 min
Folks, Boise is sweltering. The National Weather Service is forecasting triple digit heat for the next week and we may break some record highs, in yet another indication that climate change is here. Most of us can retreat to our air conditioned homes and shady backyards to cool down. But for our unhoused neighbors, escaping the heat is a daily struggle that can have deadly outcomes. So Interfaith Sanctuary Executive Director Jodi Peterson-Stigers is here to tell us how we can help. Plus, we talk...
Jul 26, 2022•19 min
One of the things on everyone’s summer bucket list is floating the Boise River. And we all have a story about it. That time you lost your brand new iPhone. Or the day your friend popped the pool floaty. Or when you watched your flip flops go sailing downstream without you. Even though tubing the river is pretty straightforward, it’s not without its complications. That’s why we’re talking with Robbie Sosin from Ada County Parks and Waterways. Robbie’s got lots of pro tips on how to float the rive...
Jul 21, 2022•20 min
For the first time in almost 30 years, Congress has done something to try to address gun violence and mass shootings. But our guest today has a wake-up call when it comes to the legislation that passed earlier this summer. Journalist and podcaster Heath Druzin follows the gun rights movement in Idaho and around the country. He says before any meaningful debate or change can occur, we need to face the fact that there are 400 million firearms already in circulation in America. Our obsession with g...
Jul 19, 2022•23 min
We’re starting to turn the corner to the second half of summer (wild!) but there’s still so much more on our community events calendar. When it comes to festivals, Marissa Lovell has the download on what to check out before the season wraps up. She’s the writer and editor of the From Boise newsletter, which is a great source for concerts listings and other rad events going on around the community. (Plus, we’re partnering with From Boise so you’ll see us talking eachother up on the regular!) From...
Jul 14, 2022•20 min
We all know a lack of affordable housing is one of the biggest issues facing the Treasure Valley. For folks with low incomes, it’s especially challenging. So what’s Boise doing to solve this problem? In the first of many conversations about our housing crisis to come, we’re talking with Idaho Statesman reporter Paul Schwedelson, who covers growth and development. Have thoughts on how the City of Boise should fix our housing woes? The city is holding three open houses this month to get feedback o...
Jul 12, 2022•19 min
The heat has officially arrived and if you’re like City Cast Boise host Frankie Barnhill, you’re strategizing about how to stay cool while also enjoying the sun. That’s why our producer Evelyn Avitia joins Frankie to share her favorite places to swim and chill out when it’s just plain HOT. From a popular-yet-divisive pond to bars that know how to keep things frosty, we have insider tips to share. So how are you staying cool? Let us know on Twitter and Instagram, or send us a text: 208-546-9485. ...
Jul 07, 2022•10 min
