The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin, Hayley Sperling, and Molly Stentz recap the Vice President’s visit to Madison, negotiations between the Madison Metropolitan School District and Madison Teachers Inc, and the unveiling of a new mural remembering Tony Robinson. Mentioned on the show: 👷🏾 Vice President’s Visit Kamala Harris announces executive order on union apprenticeships in Wisconsin [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Harris touts apprenticeships and infras...
Mar 08, 2024•24 min
We’re calling it: Mermaid Kitchen is Madison’s best-kept secret for bagels. But why has it taken the city so long to get good bagels? Lisa Jacobson, owner of Mermaid Kitchen, joins host Bianca Martin to talk about this bagel resurgence, why bagels are her thing now, and what it actually takes to make a good bagel. You can order bagels via Mermaid Kitchen’s website . Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Wanna talk ...
Mar 07, 2024•25 min
The Wisconsin Film Festival is April 4 through 11 at theaters across Madison. Bianca Martin catches up with Ben Reiser, Operations Director of the Wisconsin Film Festival to learn what’s changing in the wake of the AMC closing at Hilldale (RIP Sundance) and what surprises they’ve got in store. Wanna get the sneak peek of what’s at the festival? First Look at the Fest is tonight, March 6 at 7pm at Flix Brewhouse. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, March 9. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave ...
Mar 06, 2024•23 min
UW-Madison data was a part of a massive cyberattack targeting higher education . Thousands of records, some including personal information like social security numbers and addresses, were stolen from a third party by Russian cybercriminals. The kicker? This happened in spring of 2023. But the public was never notified. Why? That’s what student journalist Liam Beran wanted to find out when he stumbled upon the news through an open records request. He joins host Bianca Martin to talk about what ha...
Mar 05, 2024•17 min
Leopold Elementary School in Madison. Leopold Residence Hall at UW-Madison. The Leopold Nature Center in Monona. Look around Madison and you can see any number of tributes to one of Wisconsin’s most influential residents, Aldo Leopold, author of A Sand County Almanac. Carrying that legacy forward today is The Aldo Leopold Foundation of Baraboo, started by his family in 1982. Their goal? To inspire an ethical relationship between people and nature. This week, they’re hosting a series of free onli...
Mar 04, 2024•24 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin and Molly Stentz recap the weird-ass weather, the precarious state of affordable housing in Madison, and the deal for our new Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent. Plus, meet Phil Surkis , our new producer! Mentioned on the show: 🫠 What winter? Is Wisconsin's lost winter a harbinger of winters to come? [Wisconsin State Journal] Temperature swing in Madison sets new record [Badger Herald] 😱 Madison Housing...
Mar 01, 2024•24 min
It’s not every day that a strip club becomes a local grocery store. But that’s what happened on Madison’s east side, where the Visions Club once operated. It’s now been completely renovated and turned into Gooh Grocery , which offers a mix of food from around the world. Where else can you get fresh plantains, labneh cultured yogurt, millet, spicy peppers and halal meat all at the same place? Just for starters. Molly Stentz sat down with owners Samba Baldeh and Jerreh Kujabi to learn what’s good....
Feb 29, 2024•23 min
Whether you’re taking full advantage of this unseasonably warm weather, finding everything green in your closet for St. Patrick’s Day, or looking for a few new ways to explore our fair city, Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling have you covered. Here’s what’s happening around Madison this month. Our picks: 🧥Wisconsin Vintage Fest 🧼The Soap Opera’s 52nd anniversary 🧋Sencha Tea’s Taylor Swift Pop-up 🎙️ Several Questions with Nate Chappelle podcast taping ☘️ St. Patrick’s Day Parade 🌝PINK FLOYD D...
Feb 28, 2024•25 min
It seems like you cannot find a single weekend in Madison without a drag brunch or bingo. Even drag meat raffles are starting to catch on! But Madison hasn’t always had this deluge of drag events. So where did this boom come from? And with all the options these days, how do you pick which event to go to? Host Bianca Martin chats with local drag queen legend, Cynthia Mooseknuckle, about how the Madison drag scene has evolved in the last decade and why these events are building support for the que...
Feb 27, 2024•22 min
UW-Madison announced some ambitious goals for the planet : power the entire campus with renewable sources of electricity by 2030, send no new waste to the landfill by 2040, and become carbon neutral by 2048. For an institution with 420 buildings and another 9,500 acres of off-campus property, that’s no small feat. So how will they get there? Dylan Brogan talks to two people at UW-Madison who are making it happen: Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Dean Paul Robbins and Associate Vice Cha...
Feb 26, 2024•26 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz recap the latest in our U.S. Senate race: incumbent Tammy Baldwin is being challenged by Eric Hovde… again! And what will become the fate of the 100 block of Mifflin Street downtown? Plus, we examine changes coming to UW admissions, after Governor Evers signs a new bill mandating direct admission for the top 10% of all Wisconsin high school students. Mentioned on the show: 🏇U.S. Senate R...
Feb 23, 2024•26 min
When Wisconsin first became a state, it was one of the largest wheat producers in the country. Now, closer to two centuries later, southern Wisconsin is seeing a revival of interest in small grains. Not just wheat, but buckwheat, rye, spelt, oats and other grains are increasingly being grown locally for their taste and nutrition rather than large-scale production. From tortillas to bread to spirits, there’s a growing interest in tasty grains from the Madison area. Molly Stentz caught up with Cap...
Feb 22, 2024•23 min
New apartment buildings in Madison promise many amenities: granite countertops, fitness centers, and rooftop decks. But one new development, Bakers Place , promises something more: a chance to save us from climate change. The building uses a classic material – wood – with a new twist. It’s the first building in Madison to use mass timber , an engineered material to replace steel and concrete, which are environmentally costly to produce. The wood material also promises to slow climate change by k...
Feb 21, 2024•22 min
As one of the leading research universities in the country, UW-Madison marshals more than a billion dollars in research money annually. And the way Provost Charles Isbell sees it, the university’s scale and its public service mission makes it the perfect place to be at the forefront of the country’s artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, where computer systems are emulating human cognition. He’s UW-Madison’s new provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs and one of the most powerful peop...
Feb 20, 2024•29 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Dylan Brogan, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz recap the latest in our epic quest to get new political maps, the controversy surrounding Fitchburg’s attempt to build a new police station, and the surprising search for a new leader for Madison schools. Mentioned on the show: 🗳️More Wisconsin Republicans than Democrats backed Gov. Tony Evers' legislative election maps . What explains the role reversal? [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] 🚓Fit...
Feb 16, 2024•27 min
Sabi Atteyih ran Casbah and Lulu’s restaurants for years, bringing Middle Eastern flavors to Madison at a time when hummus wasn’t available on every grocery store shelf. After a stint at UW, he’s now the chef of Taza Mediterranean Kitchen in Middleton. Bianca Martin catches up with Sabi to learn how Madison’s embraced Palestinian cuisine and why hummus should be made with chickpeas! And when he’s not hosting diners at his restaurant, Sabi also hosts Salamat , a long-running weekly radio show on ...
Feb 15, 2024•18 min
For over 160 years, the YWCA has been on a mission to empower girls and women. And, for almost 10 years, Vanessa McDowell-Atlas has been on a mission to change the internal culture of YWCA Madison and to expose racism in our community. Her appointment as the YWCA Madison CEO made history, as she was the first Black woman to hold that role. And now, after nearly 7 years at the helm, this week is her last . Bianca Martin talks to Vanessa about her innovations at the YWCA, including the now annual ...
Feb 14, 2024•28 min
You’ve most likely noticed Dan Yoder’s handy work when driving through Madison. His company, Sign Art Studio , is responsible for the city’s most iconic signs: the huge new Orpheum marquee on State Street, the classic restored Badger Liquor sign a block away, the elegant, retro cool-looking Harvey House sign, and hundreds more. Bianca Martin sits down with Dan Yoder and finds out just how one becomes a “sign guy”, how many light bulbs it took to make the new Orpheum theater sign and why good des...
Feb 13, 2024•18 min
Hate crimes are on the rise in Wisconsin, and Madison is not immune. In the past year alone, Nazis marched in Madison and nearby cities three times. What’s the city’s response to this disturbing trend? Host Bianca Martin sat down with Madison Police Chief Shon Barns to find out about the MPD’s new Hate Crime Task Force, and what people can expect if they report a hate crime to the MPD. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm . We’re al...
Feb 12, 2024•25 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling recap a story about a state bill looking to ban race and ethnicity, among other protected statuses, as a consideration for financial aid. Plus, we have quite a wide range of suggestions for how to spend your Valentine’s Day… many of them coming from you! Thank you, boo! Mentioned on the show: Bill to ban race consideration in college financial aid gets hearing [The Cap Times] After a controversial deal...
Feb 09, 2024•27 min
It can be hard to make friends as an adult, and harder yet to be social in public on your own. That’s the idea behind “ Don’t Cook for Cowboys ,” dinner parties you can bring your friends to, or your kids, or your parents, or just your own self. They’re popping up at restaurants and venues all over the Madison area, generally once a month. They combine dinner and sometimes dancing, and always community, all in beautifully designed settings. Kaitlin Sherman and Nikki Hageman are the creative forc...
Feb 08, 2024•20 min
Wisconsin state lawmakers are debating two bills to further ban nudity in public spaces. Madison has long been a “Top Free” city, where laws around nudity are not enforced as aggressively as the rest of the state. No one understands the power of this type of protest better than “Topless Evangelist” Lili Luxe who often sits shirtless on the State Capitol steps. Host Bianca Martin sat down with Lili to talk about the new bills, the naked bike ride controversy that spurred this legislation, and her...
Feb 07, 2024•24 min
Twenty years ago, the Mad Rollin' Dolls, a campy women-only roller derby league was born in Madison. It was one of the first flat-track roller derby leagues in the country and helped pioneer the revival of the sport in the 2000s. Now, the scrappy sports league has become Madison Roller Derby, an inclusive community non-profit organization with four home teams and two traveling teams. This season, they’re playing at the Alliant Energy Center and celebrating their hundredth home game. Host Bianca ...
Feb 06, 2024•28 min
The lakes are finally frozen which means it’s time to break out those fishing rods and worms…it’s ice fishing season! And there are some spots around Madison this year that are brimming with biting fish. Host Bianca Martin gets the inside scoop from chief worm wrangler Pat Hasburgh, owner of D&S Bait, Tackle, & Fly Shop. Pat shares what the conditions have been like on the lakes so far this year and which spots in town you’re almost guaranteed to catch a fish. You can find Pat’s weekly f...
Feb 05, 2024•20 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Molly Stentz and Hayley Sperling recap the news that the former Madison College downtown campus is one step closer to becoming new housing and we talk about the latest ruling over poop from big dairy farms. Plus, it’s Groundhog’s Day! Hopefully Jimmy’s in a better mood this year . Mentioned on the show: Madison Council approves rezoning former MATC downtown campus site for 11-story hotel [Channel 3000] Wisconsin judge affirms regulator...
Feb 02, 2024•25 min
Are you in need of a treat this winter? Look no further than Madison’s own pop-up paczki sale. Laurel Burleson of the Ugly Apple Cafe grew up eating these delicious custard and jam-filled Polish pastries for Mardi Gras and now she’s making them for us in Madison. Executive Producer Molly Stentz catches up with Laurel to learn more about the history of the paczki and how to find them in Madison. Order paczki n ow through Mardi Gras, February 13th . Or find them at Pasture and Plenty on February 1...
Feb 01, 2024•19 min
Winter fans rejoice! We get one extra day in February this year. For everyone else who might be looking for a little, ahem, inspiration this time of year, fear not. Host Bianca Martin and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Hayley Sperling have you covered on the coolest things going on in Madison this February. Galentine’s and Valentine’s Events: Thrifty Market at Communication Hearts and Crafts at Wayward Tattoos Galentine Day at Thistle + Elm Palentine’s Bash at Lucille’s Madison Makers Winter ...
Jan 31, 2024•25 min
Our friends at Tone Madison listen to a LOT of music. And every year, they round up the year in local music and give you DOZENS of their favorite picks, the tracks that stuck with them, knocked them over, haunted them, and downright impressed. Bianca Martin talks to Tone Madison Music Editor Steve Spoerl about some of the best that you might have missed. Mentioned on the show: Tone Madison’s Favorite Songs of 2023 . And there’s more ! And even more Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a v...
Jan 30, 2024•25 min
Madison will soon not only have pro soccer and volleyball teams for women, we’re getting a fast-pitch collegiate softball team now, too. Samantha Rubin is blazing a path as the general manager of Madison’s men’s baseball team, the Madison Mallards, and she’s been tapped to lead their new women’s softball team. The team needs a name, by the way… and they’re taking ideas through Feb. 1. Bianca Martin caught up with Samantha to learn what’s on deck. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voi...
Jan 29, 2024•23 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Executive producer Molly Stentz and newsletter editor Hayley Sperling are joined by Cap Times food editor Lindsay Christians to talk about the locals who’ve been nominated for James Beard awards and the two women vying to be Dane County Executive. Plus, there were Nazis on the UW-Whitewater campus this week. Mentioned on the show: 🍫 Locals win big food awards James Beard honors Mint Mark, CocoVaa and Pasture & Plenty [Cap Times] T...
Jan 26, 2024•28 min
