You voted, let’s talk about it! Allegheny County is under new leadership. Hear all about who got to celebrate, who conceded, and what it all might mean for Allegheny County Thanks to our guests: Kim Lyons, editor of the Pennsylvania Capital-Star Natalie Bencivenga, journalist, consultant, and City Cast contributor. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Not a fan of social? Then leave us a voicem...
Nov 08, 2023•26 min
To celebrate her 10-year anniversary in Pittsburgh, host Megan Harris is giving herself a challenge: learn how to say one sentence in a convincing Pittsburgh accent. Actor, voice coach, and speech teacher Don Wadsworth is here to provide a Pittsburghese lesson and break down what exactly makes the dialect so distinct. Don’t forget to vote today! Check out Hey Pittsburgh for a guide to all the voting guides in Pittsburgh and listen to our episode about what to expect on your ballot. Here’s how to...
Nov 07, 2023•17 min
If you spend all your time in your backyard birdwatching, you’re probably already halfway to contributing to a citizen science project. From listening to frog calls to catching lanternflies, there are so many ways anyone can collect data for researchers. Writer and museum educator Melanie Linn Gutowski has a list of wildlife-focused projects Pittsburghers can participate in, even with just 15 minutes of spare time. Project Owlnet is ongoing, and you can find more information on the National Avia...
Nov 06, 2023•17 min
It’s a special Election edition of the Friday news roundup, and it’s our 412th episode! (We love a Pgh holiday.) The polls are open Tuesday in Allegheny County from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the City Cast crew is here to walk you through the region’s biggest races — what the offices do, who’s running, what’s at stake, and why a few of the nation’s top political wonks may be watching Pittsburgh for clues to what could come in 2024. Plus, we’ve got a special audio treat at the very end! Check out Hey ...
Nov 03, 2023•26 min
As Allegheny County’s Latinx population grows, we’re also seeing more restaurants reflecting our changing demographics. Luz Amanda Hank and Howard Alvarez from Pitt’s Center for Latin American Studies are helping shape Pittsburgh’s Latin American food scene — from organizing festivals to getting restaurants off the ground. Hear their top picks for new and traditional favorites — from the perfect rice and beans to arepas and carne asada — plus grocery staples and so much more. Find their full res...
Nov 02, 2023•18 min
Pennsylvania’s laws can feel like they were written for another time, and that’s because many of them were. From a ban on fishing with dynamite, to a prohibition on for-profit fortune-telling, we get into some of the weirdest state laws still on the books. Host Megan Harris talks with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri, plus reporter Harrison Cann at City & State PA. Check out Harrison’s reporting on some of Pennsylvania’s most bizarre, outdated laws. Our newsletter editor, Francesca Dabecco,...
Nov 01, 2023•15 min
Happy Halloween! We’re celebrating with two twisted local tales that date back to the Prohibition era. First, folklorist and historian David Rotenstein breaks down the myths behind a Northside spot known as “America’s Most Haunted House” and shares what really happened at the site. Then, Print editor and writer Jan Kurth investigates the unsolved mystery of who is actually buried in William Beck’s grave in Smithfield East End Cemetery. You can find Jan’s story in NextPittsburgh. Want some more P...
Oct 31, 2023•25 min
Romance readers know the tropes — enemies to lovers, fake dating, there’s only one bed — but finding a story that centers LGBTQ+ identities and experiences isn’t always easy. If you’re looking for literary love and want to see your queer identity on the page, we’ve got the perfect book club for you! Thanks to Not “Gal Pals” founders Marylee Williams and Natalie Deluba for sharing their top picks. Sign up for upcoming events through Not “Gal Pals’” Meetup Group. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas The ...
Oct 30, 2023•18 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! The City Cast team is keeping it light heading into Halloween week. We’re bringing you some local lore, extremely insider-y Pittsburgh costume ideas, and our recommendations for lesser-known horror films shot in and around the city. Find more Hallo-weekend fun here: Subscribe to get Monday’s Hey Pittsburgh newsletter and see photos of the mysterious moving morgue Check out old photos showing how they moved the Allegheny County morgue The Gibson Girl and her homicida...
Oct 27, 2023•29 min
With fall in full swing, it’s soup season! Sarah McAlee, also known as brothmonger, is considered a soup-lebrity around town. She joins us to share tips for making your own delicious pot of soup or broth at home, plus her favorite spots to grab a warm bowl when you don’t feel like cooking. You can subscribe to the brothmailer newsletter for Sarah’s business updates and recipes, and check out her previous interview on the City Cast to learn more about how she got into the broth biz. Want some mor...
Oct 26, 2023•16 min
Book bans have been cropping up all over the country, usually brought by conservative parent or community groups appealing to school boards saying they don’t want kids to have access to something for various reasons. Often it’s LGBTQ+ identifying characters, conversations about race, uncomfortable hardships, truths, or lived experiences that some people think students aren’t ready for. But while some parts of the state have been inundated with book challenges, Western Pennsylvania hasn’t. We’re ...
Oct 25, 2023•21 min
George Romero’s 1968 movie, “Night of The Living Dead,” is a cult classic. The horror flick is considered the godfather of the flesh-eating zombie genre and it was filmed in Pittsburgh with local talent. As a Halloween season treat, we’re revisiting our conversation with Judith O’Dea — better known as Barbara — about what it was like to star in such an iconic film. **This conversation originally published Oct. 31, 2022. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning H...
Oct 24, 2023•16 min
The Allegheny County Jail has one of the highest death rates per capita in the country. Last week, the family of Anthony Talotta, one of 21 men who’ve died in connection with the jail since April 2020, filed a federal lawsuit against the county, several doctors, and Allegheny Health Network. Lead producer Mallory Falk explains the family’s legal case and its chief allegation — a pattern of medical neglect. You can read the federal lawsuit over Talotta’s death, along with coverage from the Appeal...
Oct 23, 2023•17 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Archers have taken out a surprising number of deer in Pittsburgh parks; the city school board is considering closures (again); and many of our city’s institutions are striking — or thinking about going on strike. Plus, an update on Pittsburgh’s bid for a new energy production center. We love to cite our sources: WESA covered declining enrollment at Pittsburgh Public Schools Workers at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have been on strike for a year, with ongoing coverage ...
Oct 20, 2023•23 min
Something new for yinz! We’re talking all things food — a bunch of new restaurants are opening, a few restaurants are back, there are a couple of classic Pittsburgh brands branching out into new spaces, and the City Cast crew has everything you need to plan your weekend. City Paper ranked all the sandwiches you can order at Sheetz, NEXTPittsburgh has a great roundup of more autumnal events, and the Northside Chronicle did a really great feature on Wilson’s Bar-B-Q and the family behind it. Want ...
Oct 19, 2023•19 min
There’s an urban legend here about a man — a spectre with a glowing green face — doomed to roam the highways of Western Pennsylvania. He may have been burned by acid or fire or lightning. The details are squishy, but real story behind“The Monster of Beaver County” was a tragic one. City Cast’s Wil Fulton is here to explain how Charlie No-Face left an eerie mark on generations of Pittsburgh-area kids. Special thanks to City Cast's roving producer Elizabeth Kauma for her work on this one. Music an...
Oct 18, 2023•18 min
There’s a chill in the air. Pumpkin spice is on the menu. It’s the perfect time to buy a gift for the fall enthusiast in your life. From a cozy mug for camping trips to a seasonal spiced wine, the City Cast team is rounding up our favorite local gifts for October. Here’s where to find all of our top picks. Let us know what we should feature next! Things to buy: House plants from Greenhouse Co-op - follow their Instagram account for pop-up sales Ron Donoughe’s Ways of Pittsburgh book The Paris of...
Oct 17, 2023•19 min
A few weeks ago, Pittsburgh (quietly) got a lot bigger — not because some huge influx of people moved here, but because the White House decided to redraw the boundaries of our metro population. Now we’re eight counties instead of seven. But despite the new boundaries, Pittsburgh as a city isn’t growing. And that got us wondering why growth is so important, and whether it might actually be a good thing to be a city settled in its size. We took our questions to Chris Briem, a regional economist at...
Oct 16, 2023•20 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! A controversial diorama at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is being removed after a new decision about displaying human remains. But questions remain about the fate of the Christopher Columbus statue in Schenley Park. Plus, Downtown isn’t getting its long-awaited movie theater after all. We love to cite our sources! TribLive reported on the fate of the diorama at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History Listen to our previous conversation about “Lion Attacking ...
Oct 13, 2023•30 min
It's cider donut season! To celebrate, we're bringing back one of our tastiest episodes, when the City Cast crew tried 21 different donuts from all corners of Pittsburgh. From old standards like cinnamon sugar and glazed to more creative fare like huckleberry and buckeye, tune in to find out which we crowned our favorites. **This conversation originally published June 1, 2023. Special thanks to all the shops we sampled, plus those we missed that were recommended by our Hey Pittsburgh readers: We...
Oct 12, 2023•25 min
If you polled a bunch of Pittsburghers and asked who’s the most beloved person in our city, it’s safe to say today’s guest would show up on that list. Rick Sebak is known for his TV documentaries on WQED. And now, he’s dipping his toes into audio. Rick joins us to talk about his new podcast Gumbands, the one Pittsburgh story he’s still dying to tell, and the local rites of passage that make someone a true Pittsburgher. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning He...
Oct 11, 2023•20 min
If you plan to buy something in the city this weekend, come prepared, because Pittsburgh’s plastic bag ban goes into effect on Saturday. But who has to comply? Will paper bags cost us? Are stores ready for the change? And with cities all over adopting policies like this, what do we know about the bans’ effects on the environment? City Cast lead producer Mallory Falk is ready to explain! We love to cite our sources! The city’s website answers common questions about the plastic bag ban. Pittsburgh...
Oct 10, 2023•19 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Lawmakers in Washington have been up in arms — about the possibility of a shutdown, yes — but also the state of John Fetterman’s shorts; Pennsylvania’s favorite amphibian, the snot otter, is getting some official state love on local cars; and if you’ve ever wanted to buy 100 single air pods, the county airport auction is just for you. We’re lucky to have socially conscious journalist and media consultant Natalie Bencivenga on mic today. She’s also the newest City Ca...
Oct 06, 2023•26 min
Pittsburgh Coffee Week kicks off October 15, and we’ve got all you need to know to celebrate our local shops. Barista Clarisa Espinoza-Delgado shares some tips on how to order efficiently, how much to tip, and just how long you can camp out at a table. Check out Pittsburgh Coffee Week’s website for a full lineup of events and drink specials. The coffeeshops we recommended include Trace Brewing, Commonplace Coffee, Inkwell, De Fer, La Prima, and Soluna. For even more recommendations, listen to ou...
Oct 05, 2023•17 min
Pittsburgh has always had its problems, and complaining about them is one of our favorite sports. But there’s also a long tradition of outsiders coming here — or even just reading about our town — and thinking it’s OK to add their two cents. In fact, dumping on the Steel City actually goes back over 230 years. Local writer Virginia Montanez rounded up some of the funniest and most creative insults lobbed at Pittsburgh over two centuries. She joins us to share her favorites and explain why our ci...
Oct 04, 2023•18 min
District attorney isn’t typically a sexy race, especially in Allegheny County where the same person has held the office since the late 1990s. But this year, incumbent Democrat Stephen A. Zappala has a big challenge. Not only because he already lost the party nomination in April to fellow Democrat and public defender Matt Dugan, but also because a tremendous amount of outside money is suddenly pouring in. Why do George Soros and Andrew Yang care about our upcoming election, and will it make any d...
Oct 03, 2023•13 min
The Steel City loves to revel in its own history, but many of those stories are rooted in colonialism and the generations of immigration that followed. Why don’t we learn more about the Indigenous peoples who preceded them? Ahead of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we’re revisiting this conversation between City Cast’s Elizabeth Kauma and Miguel Sague from the Council of Three Rivers Indian American Center, about whose land we’re actually on. **This conversation originally published October 11, 2022. Wa...
Oct 02, 2023•13 min
It’s the Friday news roundup! Allegheny County leadership is at odds again — this time, over the fate of the Shuman juvenile detention facility in the East End; the new covid boosters are allegedly available, but Pittsburghers are having a lot of trouble finding them both in stock and covered by their insurers; and Banned Books Week kicks off this weekend, as state lawmakers consider ways to make it both easier and harder for individual school districts and libraries to be subject to those bans....
Sep 29, 2023•27 min
Maybe you like IPAs or lagers. Maybe a seasonal or sour is more your taste. Or maybe you’re just in it for the lawn games. Trace Brewing’s Aadam Soorma is here to share his favorite breweries for fall, including spots to watch a game, take a hike, pet some pigs, and of course — have a great-tasting bevvie alongside it all. This is the third in a three-part series on the best fall getaways in our region. Want some more Pittsburgh news? Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh new...
Sep 28, 2023•18 min
The nights are longer and there’s a chill in the air… it’s almost Halloween! And that means scare season for local haunt actors Stacey Federoff and Dave Archer. They’re sharing their love of the holiday, which area haunts are worth a day trip from Pittsburgh, and how you and your friends can safely (and creepily?!) experience the frights and delights of their favorite “haunted” attractions. This is episode is the second in a three-part series on the best fall getaways in our region. For hard-cor...
Sep 27, 2023•21 min
