With the November election less than one month away, we’re zooming in on the local races that are critical to Madison. This week, we’re taking a look at the candidates running for Dane County executive. Today, executive producer Hayley Sperling speaks with State Sen. Melissa Agard to get her take on the issues Dane County is facing and why she thinks she’s the best candidate for the job. Be sure to also check out Hayley’s conversation with the other candidate in the running , Executive Director ...
Oct 09, 2024•26 min
The November election is just one month away. To keep you informed on the races, we’re talking to some of the candidates on the ballot. Today, executive producer Hayley Sperling speaks with Dane County executive candidate Dana Pellebon to get her take on the job, the issues, and her hopes for the future. You can find more information on the general election from My Vote Wisconsin . Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm . We’re also o...
Oct 08, 2024•29 min
The Wisconsin Book Festival’s Fall Celebration is a culmination of the work that happens all year round to connect Wisconsin readers to authors and writers from across the country. This year’s festival will take place Oct. 17-20 and features dozens of literary giants from across genres. To get the scoop on this year’s celebration, we caught up with the festival’s director, Jane Rotunda. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm . We’re a...
Oct 07, 2024•26 min
From hurricanes to lotto winners, it’s been a week full of news. Host Bianca Martin catches up with executive producer Hayley Sperling and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas to recap some top stories. This week, the team looks at the Madisonians stepping up to help with Hurricane Helene relief efforts, the city’s spat with a Wisconsin congressman over a ballot error, and two UW-Madison graduate students are facing disciplinary actions for their alleged roles in the pro-Palestinian enca...
Oct 04, 2024•27 min
“It’s fermented, cured, delicious, and often misunderstood and mispronounced.” So says Jesse Brookstein, author of A Perfect Pair: The History of Landjaeger in Green County, Wisconsin . They may look like beef jerky, but Jesse’s referring to the pairs of smoked, fermented sausages that hang in many bars around southern Wisconsin. The high-protein snack enjoyed by Swiss and German immigrants of the past century has found fans among many thirsty bar-hoppers in Madison today. We’re revisiting our c...
Oct 03, 2024•20 min
After years of planning, discussions, debate, and construction, Madison’s first bus rapid transit line is officially here. To mark the occasion, the city held a ribbon cutting ceremony and the City Cast Madison team went to the event to hear from city officials and bus riders alike to get their takes on this new era of transportation. All aboard! Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm . We’re also on Instagram ! You can get more Madis...
Oct 02, 2024•27 min
October is here and we are living for the fall vibes radiating throughout the isthmus. To get into the spirit of the season, host Bianca Martin is joined by executive producer Hayley Sperling and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas to talk sports, Halloween festivities (RIP Freakfest), fall festivals, and more. Grab some cider and let’s dive into October! If you’re new around here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you , with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City...
Oct 01, 2024•29 min
With winter just around the corner, now is a good time to start building habits to help you manage your mental health, according to Executive Director of NAMI Dane County Jeanne McLellan. Executive Producer Hayley Sperling caught up with Jeanne to hear some of her tips, as well as talk about the stigmas surrounding mental illness (and how to break them) and the resources NAMI Dane County provides to support the community. Please note: This episode contains mention of suicide. If you or anyone yo...
Sep 30, 2024•24 min
It’s another Friday news roundup and this week executive producer Hayley Sperling and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas are talking about everything from the politicians visiting Wisconsin and housing developments, to new Culver’s menu items. And buckle up, because Bus Rapid Transit is officially here. This is a roundup you won’t want to miss. Mentioned on the show: Highlights from the Bus Rapid Transit Ribbon-Cutting [City of Madison] What To Know About Bus Rapid Transit Pick Up Your...
Sep 27, 2024•28 min
It’s absolutely the season to curl up in a cozy coffee shop with a hot cup of joe. And Madison is rife with options. But which ones go above and beyond when it comes to quality coffee and top notch atmosphere? Bianca Martin speaks with Ashley Rodriguez, writer of the Boss Barista newsletter . Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madis...
Sep 26, 2024•21 min
The World Dairy Expo brings tens of thousands of people and millions of dollars in economic impact to Dane County every year. And not to mention, more than a few cows. The annual event will be in town Oct. 1-4, and to get the scoop on what folks can expect from this year’s showing, host Bianca Martin caught up with the expo’s general manager Laura Herschleb. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm . We’re also on Instagram ! You can ge...
Sep 25, 2024•25 min
It’s time for another installment of Must See Madison! City Cast Madison producer and Madison newbie Phil Surkis recently moved from the east to the north side and gave executive producer Hayley Sperling and host Bianca Martin a taste of what this part of town has to offer. We’re talking fish fries, nature walks, and…a mental hospital? Get ready because this show is an adventure. Mentioned on the show: Cherokee Marsh Natural Resource Area Athens Grill Westshire Conservancy Jackson Landing Park &...
Sep 24, 2024•29 min
Plastic containers? Yes. Plastic bags? No. Navigating our city’s recycling rules can be daunting. Thankfully there are professionals out there who want to help. To get tips on what can and can’t be recycled, and information on how to live a generally more sustainable life in Madison, host Bianca Martin spoke with Lorenza Zebell, program manager for Sustain Dane. Mentioned on the show Recycle Better, Sustain Dane City of Madison drop off sites Ripple Effects Wanna talk to us about an episode? Lea...
Sep 23, 2024•26 min
The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week and it’s been a big one! Host Bianca Martin, executive producer Hayley Sperling, and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas recap how long lines at Camp Randall led to some angry sports fans and why two local nonprofits are suddenly making headlines for the wrong reasons. Plus, the city has officially opened a new park, and if that wasn’t enough, Vice President Kamala Harris is in town today stumping for her presidential c...
Sep 20, 2024•26 min
Madison Vegan Fest is right around the corner. On Sept. 28, food vendors, exhibitors, musicians, and speakers will flock to Lunney Lake Farm Park for a day of animal rights advocacy, funky music, and of course good vegan food. To get the scoop on what to expect from this annual festival, host Bianca Martin caught up with Emma Cameron, the festival’s lead organizer. Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Wanna talk t...
Sep 19, 2024•31 min
Opera, ballet, and theater — oh my! The fall season for Madison’s performing arts scene is here. To get a look at what’s on the schedule around town, executive producer Hayley Sperling caught up with Cap Times reporter Lindsay Christians, who recently published a roundup of local shows . Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm . We’re also on Instagram ! You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the ...
Sep 18, 2024•27 min
City Cast Madison is back with another installment of Must See Madison, where we take on Madison’s must-see attractions and hidden gems. On today’s episode, we head over to the Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood on the west side to spotlight the 46th annual Monroe Street Festival coming up this Saturday, Sept. 21. Executive producer Hayley Sperling sat down with the festival chair Joanne Berg, owner of Mystery to Me bookstore on Monroe St., to get the lowdown on what to expect from this yearly celebrat...
Sep 17, 2024•21 min
The 13th biannual PhotoMidwest exhibition is opening tomorrow, and the photography festivities have just begun. Bianca Martin catches up with the Curator and Director of FlakPhoto Projects, Andy Adams, to learn more about the featured photographers, what you can learn at the workshops, and what he has been doing with PhotoMidwest and the Arts and Lit Laboratory to build the Madison Photography scene. Mentioned on the show: PhotoMidwest FlakPhoto Arts and Lit Laboratory Wanna talk to us about an ...
Sep 16, 2024•21 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Executive producer Hayley Sperling and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas recap the largest private donation to the University of Wisconsin and what’s going on with the city’s capital budget. Plus the story behind Madison’s newest upcoming music festival. Mentioned on the show: With $75 million gift for new UW–Madison engineering building, brothers’ impact spans generations and transcends campus boundaries [UW-Madison] Amid t...
Sep 13, 2024•23 min
Like many of us, Lauren Rudersdorf is busy. Between her day job at Edible Madison magazine, raising a toddler, and writing several food blogs, she doesn’t have as much time to cook as she used to. But she’s here to show you that you CAN do it. She shares her food prep hacks for cooking and eating well at home - and some delicious seasonal recipes for fall. Find Lauren’s writing: The Leek and the Carrot Locally Grown by Lauren Rudersdorf Edible Madison Lauren’s Favorite Early Fall Recipes: 🥣 Cab...
Sep 12, 2024•24 min
The Madison Public Library has a wealth of resources beyond books. Your little orange card can help you grow a garden or get across town. You can digitize those old family photos or make cheap photocopies. Madison’s Public Library Director Tana Elias lets us in on a few things you probably didn’t know your little card can do. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm . We’re also on Instagram ! Want more Madison news delivered right to y...
Sep 11, 2024•18 min
It’s football season, which means on select Saturdays (and a couple Fridays) during the fall and winter, seas of red-and-white-clad humans flood the streets of Madison to cheer on the Badgers. The parties are bountiful, and each neighborhood does things a little differently. To get the scoop on how and where Madisonians tailgate, executive producer Hayley Sperling and host Bianca Martin chat with local DJ Nick Nice , who’s helped bring the party to Regent Street for the past decade. Mentioned on...
Sep 10, 2024•28 min
The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art wants to give the community a behind-the-scenes look at some of its largest, and rarely exhibited artwork. A new exhibit titled Snapshots invites visitors to see the inner workings of maintaining the museum’s permanent collection every Thursday and Friday in September. The exhibition is an attempt to bring more transparency to the museum’s processes after it faced massive community backlash in 2022 for a series of missteps that occurred during the Wisconsin...
Sep 09, 2024•27 min
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Executive producer Hayley Sperling is joined by interim newsletter editor Ava Wojnowski to talk traffic changes that are coming to the isthmus soon (AKA get ready for lane closures and big buses!). Plus, incoming newsletter editor Rob Thomas makes his City Cast Madison debut to dish about drama happening at the UW Athletics department surrounding bricks. Mentioned on the show: Olin/Turville Ct and E Lakeside St Resurfacing Project [Cit...
Sep 06, 2024•25 min
Robinia Courtyard has been a staple of the East Washington corridor since it opened on the 800 block in 2015. It’s gone through many iterations since joining the scene but most recently consisted of Black Locust Café, Madison Tap, and Jardin. The outdoor space was a hub for community events and one of the few spots in Madison that still served a late-night crowd. That is, until the restaurant group closed its doors this year. Cap Times food editor Lindsay Christians dug into what happened that l...
Sep 05, 2024•26 min
Get your patterns and needles out because the Great Wisconsin Quilt Show is right around the corner! This Thursday through Saturday, countless fiber artists will celebrate the art of quilting at the Alliant Energy Center and the Madison community will be well represented. To get the scoop on this event and learn more about Madison’s own quilting scene, host Bianca Martin caught up with Gael Boyd, owner of Blue Bar Quilts in Middleton. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 60...
Sep 04, 2024•21 min
If you’re new around here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you , with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Madison community. September is a lively month in Madison. It’s the start of UW-Madison’s fall semester. And for this college town, that means that the campus returns to life and Badger football season is here! So expect more bright sounds from marching bands and Badger tailgates. Plus, you can find more fun outside at the Ironman Wisconsin race and Madison’s...
Sep 03, 2024•27 min
It’s Friday! With the long weekend upon us, the City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Host Bianca Martin and interim newsletter editor Ava Wojnowski will tell you how to do Labor Day weekend right, including staying safe on the water and navigating street closures. Madison schools reopen next week, and district officials are cautiously optimistic that last year’s school bus troubles are over. And how many candidates will be on the fall presidential ballot in Wisconsin? SO many...
Aug 30, 2024•20 min
Taste of Madison is right around the corner. The annual two-day festival brings dozens of food vendors to the Capitol Square Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 and this year, the festival has 90 (!!) vendors and some exciting new additions. (Like manicures, shade tents, and free water to name a few.) To get the scoop on the event and what to expect, host Bianca Martin spoke with Sara Klemme, the president of Madison Festivals. Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and ba...
Aug 29, 2024•24 min
It’s no secret Madison has had a wet, hot, and itchy summer. Several early deluges of rainfall have created the perfect environment for mosquitoes to multiply and wreak havoc on ankles everywhere. And as the seasons change, so do the bloodsuckers in our environment. Host Bianca Martin spoke with Lyric Bartholomay, director of the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease, to get the details on how to protect yourself (and your pets) from ticks and mosquitos this fall. Wanna talk to u...
Aug 28, 2024•26 min
