Bianca Martin and all 12 other City Cast podcast hosts (from Austin, Boise, Chicago, DC, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Nashville, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland, and Salt Lake City) compete head-to-head in a high-stakes showdown to answer the question that’s been burning up our company-wide Slack for weeks: which city is the best for a summer weekend trip? From naked bike rides to ‘the country’s best farmers market,’ pickle festivals to Elvis impersonators driving pink convertibles, our hosts are br...
Jul 03, 2025•46 min
Surprise! The City Cast Madison team is here to give you a MIDWEEK round up of the news. Host Bianca Martin chats with producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas about a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision regarding UW nurses , potential changes coming to State Street , and Independence Day Celebrations . Plus, we try our hand at naming flamingos. Mentioned on the show: Wisconsin Supreme Court Expect to Rule Wednesday on 1849 Abortion Ban [WPR] Where to See Fireworks...
Jul 02, 2025•32 min
Believe it or not, it’s already July! Madison is bringing the heat this month with plenty of local festivities to enjoy. From Fourth of July fireworks to a magical pop-up bar, we’ve got lots of recommendations to make the most out of your month. 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 Madison Minutes morning newsletter. 🏠 Get ...
Jul 01, 2025•37 min
Pride Month may be coming to an end, but we’re sending it out with a bang and a twirl, and plenty of glitter. That’s right, girls, we’re talking about drag! Madison has become a hotbed for popular drag performers, and their acts are about so much more than feather boas and bingo. It’s a community, and in some cases, a chosen family. To learn more about drag culture and the family dynasties that rule in Madison, we caught up with local drag icons Bianca Lynn Breeze and her drag daughter Victoria ...
Jun 30, 2025•29 min
It’s that time of the week again — time for the Friday news roundup! This week the City Cast Madison crew is here to give you the (soggy) details on this week’s flooding , explain some highs and lows happening around education funding, and give you the scoop on the latest decisions from the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Plus, don’t get stuck in Morgan Wallen traffic this weekend. Mentioned on the show: Get Your Home in Tip Top Shape This Spring [ 🎧City Cast Madison] Are You Prepared for Severe Weath...
Jun 27, 2025•43 min
Now that it's food truck season in Madison, keep an eye out for that big, purple truck that took the city by storm last year! This purveyor of smash burgers and churros, Cinn City Smash , is just starting its third year making the rounds at local bars and festivals. So, we're bringing back a conversation host Bianca Martin had with the truck's owners — and long-time friends — Rutger Schiesser and Maximus “Noodle” Perdomo, about how they got started, their secret to success, and why you should gi...
Jun 26, 2025•23 min
Water bottle? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Hiking shoes and thick socks?? Check and check. Summer is the best time to get outside and explore Madison’s hiking trails. From the Lakeshore Nature Preserve to the UW-Madison Arboretum, there’s no shortage of places to explore around the isthmus. To get the scoop on the best trails for every ability and occasion, we turned to local author and the new Madison Public Library naturalist-in-residence , Andrea Debbink. Check out Andrea’s guide to Madison’s tra...
Jun 25, 2025•28 min
What do Motown, Mozart, and “Dark Side of the Moon” all have in common? The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra will be paying tribute to all of them in their annual six-week free outdoor concert series. Concerts on the Square is a Madison summer favorite that will attract thousands to the capitol each Wednesday through the end of July. Will you be one of them? To learn more, executive producer Hayley Sperling chats with WCO Music Director Andrew Sewell about what is in store this year, and what you sho...
Jun 24, 2025•30 min
As it stands, abortion access in Wisconsin is extremely limited. Of the 72 counties in the state, only three have abortion providers. That limited access hinges on the next few weeks. Any day now, the Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to rule on the validity of an 1849 law which some interpret as an abortion ban. Meanwhile, national lawmakers are working on a budget reconciliation bill – One Big Beautiful Bill Act – which in part includes defunding Planned Parenthood. To understand what is at ...
Jun 23, 2025•27 min
City Cast hosts are on the pulse of what's happening in our communities. So Bianca Martin and all 12 other hosts sat down with City Cast CEO David Plotz to talk about creative local problem solving that might work in your hometown too and to commiserate about stressors affecting most of our cities, from unaffordable housing to bike lanes. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 20th episode: Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. Wisco Home Goods Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST M...
Jun 20, 2025•1 hr
An estimated 15,000 people flooded the streets of Madison in the “No Kings” protest last weekend, pushing back against the Trump administration. But as tensions between law enforcement and demonstrators continue to escalate across the country, it’s more important than ever to know your rights — and how to stay safe while making your voice heard. City Cast Madison executive producer Hayley Sperling talked with Ryan Cox, Legal Director for the ACLU of Wisconsin , about the DOs and DON’Ts of protes...
Jun 18, 2025•28 min
Have you ever looked at the tag on your shirt and stopped to wonder who grew your clothes? In a world where roughly 30% of the microplastics in our oceans come from synthetic clothing material, it’s more critical than ever to build a connection to the fibers we wear every day. As the founder of the Midwest Linen Revival , Leslie Schroeder is leading a movement in Madison to make the fashion industry more sustainable. The Midwest Linen Revival is hosting a three-day event series called “Field To ...
Jun 17, 2025•28 min
Wisconsin is failing to protect Black women and girls from violence and murder, according to state Rep. Shelia Stubbs. And she has the numbers to back that claim up. In 2020, Black women in Wisconsin were 20 times more likely to be murdered than white women, according to a study from Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. So what’s going wrong and how do we fix it? We spoke with Stubbs, who is pushing for legislation on the issue, to get to the ro...
Jun 16, 2025•36 min
It’s Friday the 13th and you’re in luck! The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. Did you know there’s a special election on Tuesday? Host Bianca Martin has the details for Dane County Supervisor District 1 residents. Speaking of politics, expect floods of people to hit the streets this Saturday as part of the worldwide “No Kings” protest . But wait, there’s more! This weekend is bringing a host of festivities and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas has you c...
Jun 13, 2025•30 min
It’s patio season y’all! Are you ready for rooftops, lake fronts, and hidden gems? Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians joins the show to dish on what’s new around town and give her recommendations for every patio occasion. Plus, she’s got the latest on what new cocktails and spirits you can expect to see at bars around town. 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? L...
Jun 12, 2025•30 min
Warm weather is here and thankfully, the Madison area is full of beaches and pools that are perfect for cooling off on those hot summer days. To round up the best spots around town, we caught up with Alisa Sleep, co-founder of the Madison Family parenting site, formerly known as Madison Mom. Alisa shared her favorite spots and what she keeps in mind before getting in the water. Ready to dive in? 🐟 Are the lakes safe for swimming? You can check the lake forecast from the Clean Lakes Alliance. Pu...
Jun 11, 2025•16 min
The Madison Jazz Festival is live! The decades-long running fest brings music from one end of town to the other all this week– most of it free. Host Bianca Martin talked to the two organizers of the event, Wisconsin Union Theater artist services manager Kate Schwartz and Arts + Literature Laboratory co-director Jolynne Roorda, about their vision for the festival. Then, as a special treat, Bianca talks to multi-Grammy winning pianist Arturo O’Farrill , who closes the festival on the UW Memorial U...
Jun 10, 2025•37 min
It’s been just over a week since UnityPoint Health-Meriter nurses ended their strike and got back to work with a new contract in hand . Roughly 1,000 unionized nurses walked off the job May 27 to demand better safety measures, pay increases, and adequate staffing levels. To get a better picture of what conditions are like inside the hospitals and what the nurses were fighting for, executive producer Hayley Sperling spoke with Pat Raes, president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Wi...
Jun 09, 2025•29 min
Happy Friday! The end of the work week means it’s time for the Friday news roundup. Striking Meriter nurses return to work after ratifying a new two-year contract. And controversy grows over the Wisconsin Historical Society’s decision to break tradition and not fly the pride flag. Host Bianca Martin is joined by Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas to discuss it all. Plus, if you’ve ever waited for a table at Ahan, you’ll be excited about a new bar coming to Willy Street! We’re also supe...
Jun 06, 2025•23 min
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, so you can bet Madison knows a thing or two about ice cream. But with such an abundance of flavors to choose from, whose cream reigns supreme? The whole City Cast Madison crew is on a mission to find out. Listen in as we eat our way through Madison’s best ice cream. You’ll never guess who our favorite is. 🍦 You know what else is sweet? Victory. We’re in the running for Madison Magazine’s 2025 Best of Madison co...
Jun 05, 2025•36 min
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to issue a host of decisions on some major legal cases this month. What’s the rush? Justice Ann Walsh Bradley is retiring and the justices must issue decisions on all of the cases they’ve heard arguments for before the term ends on June 30. The clock is ticking. To get the details on the court’s inner workings and the cases before it, we spoke with Erin McGroarty, the state government and disinformation reporter at the Cap Times. ⚖️ Plus, the jury is still...
Jun 04, 2025•26 min
Been to any good shows lately? Madison is getting a brand new music venue in a historic east side building later this month. Atwood Music Hall opens June 13 with a star-studded show and continues the month with a nod to all the talent Madison has to offer. Ahead of the opening, host Bianca Martin sat down with venue owner Toffer Christensen to learn about the new space and get his takes on where Madison’s music scene is thriving and where it’s falling flat. 🗳️ Like what we’re doing? Vote for us...
Jun 03, 2025•29 min
It’s officially June, which means it’s Pride Month, y’all! On paper, Madison is a pretty queer-friendly city. Many of our government officials, from City Council to the U.S. Senate, identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. The city and county are both self-proclaimed trangender sanctuaries. We also have tons of queer-owned businesses, several LGBTQ+ non-profits, and drag shows galore. But even with all of that, there’s still room for growth. So today we’re asking the question — how queer friend...
Jun 02, 2025•32 min
It may have been a shortened week but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a newsy one! The City Cast Madison team is here for the Friday news roundup to fill you in on the stories you need to know. Host Bianca Martin has the latest on the historic UnityPoint Health - Meriter nurses strike . Producer Jade Iseri-Ramos gives a sobering update on the search for a missing boater on Lake Monona . And executive producer Hayley Sperling gives the scoop on some new apartments popping up around town. Mentioned on...
May 30, 2025•32 min
Summer is here! The city is buzzing with life and the City Cast Madison team is here with tips for how to make the most out of June in Madison. From festivals and flotillas to pinball and heavy metal, there’s truly something for everyone. Are you ready for it? 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 Madison Minutes morning news...
May 29, 2025•33 min
It’s mushroom season y’all! And more importantly, it’s morel mushroom season. These coveted fungi can fetch $50 per pound at your local farmers’ market. But they’re free to pick in state parks and forests — if you can find them. So where do you look? We turned to expert Melissa Klotka to find out. This show originally aired on May 25, 2023. 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 new...
May 28, 2025•20 min
None of us are perfect. Everyone’s got that thing they do as a Madisonian that could be considered toxic, whether it's actually hurting somebody else or not. It’s time to spill the tea on Madison’s most toxic traits, from bad manners on the bike trail to the sorry state of our lakes. The City Cast Madison team dishes on our hot takes, plus we hear from you! What’s Madison’s most toxic trait? Tune in to find out. Have toxic thoughts of your own? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and you...
May 27, 2025•36 min
Buckle up because it’s time for another Friday news roundup! The City Cast Madison podcast team is here to break down the biggest local stories of the week. Producer Jade Iseri-Ramos has news on some exciting new construction around town, including a new 911 operations center and the Imagination Center . Executive producer Hayley Sperling has the latest on the impending nurses’ strike . And host Bianca Martin brings us into election season with Judge Chris Taylor’s announcement that she’s runnin...
May 23, 2025•27 min
Madison’s restaurant scene is growing, and fast. Blink and you just might miss your next favorite place to eat. To catch us up on what’s new and notable in town, we chat with Lindsay Christians, food and culture editor at the Cap Times. Her latest article highlights 24 newly opened restaurants in Madison, as well as some recent closures. Hungry? Let’s dig in. 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 a...
May 22, 2025•28 min
The Madison Mallards are celebrating their 25th season this year! This is a pretty big deal, considering Madison historically has never had a taste for baseball. Today, we’re taking a look back at the team’s origin story, how they helped shape the world of collegiate summer baseball, and how they changed the city’s attitude toward the sport. To get the details, we spoke with Tom Alesia, longtime local writer and author of the new book “Baseball Like It Oughta Be: How a Shoe Salesman’s Madison Ma...
May 21, 2025•36 min
