Can you truly live car-free in Salt Lake? That’s the question host Ali Vallarta is trying to answer after her beloved old clunker took its last breaths. Now, she has a choice to make — buy a new car or find other ways to move about town. Lead Producer Emily Means joins her to weigh the pros and cons of going car-free. Learn more about Hive Pass for SLC residents. Get NBA Celebrity All-Star Game tickets. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twit...
Jan 11, 2023•23 min
The Utah Legislature’s annual general session can be tough for anyone who is nervous about what our state lawmakers can do in the span of 45 days. But you’re in good company, because freshman Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City, is right there with you. The newly elected senator joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about managing his first-day jitters, what’s on his agenda, and how he plans to follow through. Listen to our episode “How Any of Us Could Reverse An Overdose” and learn how to administer l...
Jan 10, 2023•19 min
All snow is good snow when you’re in a megadrought, but how it layers up can have big implications for backcountry recreators. Craig Gordon, a forecaster with the Utah Avalanche Center (and absolute legend) talks with host Ali Vallarta about why not all snow is made equal, what has him worried, and why his job might be getting harder every year. The Outdoor Retailer Snow Show is Jan. 10-12 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagr...
Jan 09, 2023•19 min
New year, new news. Welcome to 2023! Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about the top stories of the week, including mysterious devices in Salt Lake’s foothills, girding our loins for the Legislature’s General Session, and what to do about 2100 South. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more abou...
Jan 06, 2023•25 min
When civil engineer Christian Lenhart and designer Cameron Blakely teamed up to create the Rio Grande Plan, they never dreamed it would garner so much traction and public support — but here we are! City officials are entertaining a citizen-led design project to return the historic Rio Grande Station to its glory days as a bustling transit hub. Host Ali Vallarta asks Cameron Blakely how feasible this idea really is? “Bury the Rails” is on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Salt Lake City Library and free t...
Jan 05, 2023•17 min
If you’ve spent a winter in Salt Lake, you’ve probably found yourself staring at the brown film on the horizon while wondering if you should pack it all up and leave for fresher air. It’s a fair question — and besides air quality, there are lots of reasons people leave the Wasatch Front. But really, we hope you’ll stay. Community organizers Ashley Finley and Chandler Rosenberg join host Ali Vallarta to make the case for why Salt Lake needs you and is worth fighting for. Add the Save Our Great Sa...
Jan 04, 2023•21 min
Happy New Year! Let’s set some goals — but the cool, fun kind. Lead producer Emily Means and host Ali Vallarta share their plans for SLC 2023, along with some very resolute callers. Take Care Utah can help you enroll in a healthcare plan, online or in-person, before January 15, 2023. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn...
Jan 03, 2023•27 min
Legendary socialite Princess Kennedy tells host Ali Vallarta why she is getting out of the bar scene, after hosting the city’s largest Pride party for a decade. PK thinks she owes Salt Lake an apology, and is ready to move on. This episode first aired on June 22, 2022. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advert...
Dec 30, 2022•28 min
Utah's ongoing drought has us interrogating our summer fruit: How much precious water was used to grow this juicy peach? Host Ali Vallarta and lead producer Emily Means head north to talk with Thayne Tagge of Tagge's Famous Fruit and Vegetable Farm about saving water while growing the delicious produce we buy at the farmers market. This episode first aired on Aug. 22, 2022. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to a...
Dec 29, 2022•17 min
If you’ve seen a movie that was filmed in Salt Lake, then you’ve probably seen prop master Scott Arneman’s work in action. From creating rivers of blood to finding human look-alike appendages, he’s seen it all. Host Ali Vallarta spends a morning with Scott to hear his best stories and learn how the local film industry has changed. This episode first aired on Sept. 15, 2022. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to a...
Dec 28, 2022•19 min
Cuffing season is in full motion, and in the wise words of Olivia Rodrigo: “It’s brutal out here.” It’s been 10 years since the launch of online dating apps, and the people are over it. Host Ali Vallarta talks to gender and sexuality researcher Lisa Diamond about how to combat dating app burnout. This episode first aired on Sept. 19, 2022. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Ch...
Dec 27, 2022•22 min
Before you sled home for the holidays, lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about the shipwreck at the Great Salt Lake, the latest update on homelessness and some inspo for your movie-watching enjoyment. Volunteer at the Overnight Movie Night. Sign-up for the Great Salt Lake shipwreck stroll on Jan. 1, 2023. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our...
Dec 22, 2022•24 min
The Utes are going to the Rose Bowl (again)! Can they win this time? KSL University of Utah Athletics beat reporter Michelle Bodkin tells host Ali Vallarta how this team’s heartbreaking story keeps making for unusual — and emotional — football. Plus, will U of U athletes ever get on the state’s payroll? Buy tickets to Utah PAC-12 women’s basketball. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Sal...
Dec 21, 2022•19 min
We all hate flu season. But there’s a lot of other stuff going around right now, too. So, host Ali Vallarta wants to know which virus is worrying Dr. Angela Dunn, executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department, most during the holidays: Covid-19, the flu, or RSV? Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more a...
Dec 20, 2022•17 min
Santa, #takenote. TikTok’s own Queen of SLC, Kendall Rodriguez, joins host Ali Vallarta to count down who was good and who is getting coal this year in Salt Lake. Plus, were you recently laid off? Check out this brand new job board for Utahns. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about your...
Dec 19, 2022•25 min
Cheers to a snowy weekend, baby! Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to round out this week’s news, including air quality on Salt Lake’s west side, vacant houses coming down in the Ballpark neighborhood, and some good news for the Great Salt Lake. Oh, and hanukkah sameach! Listen to our episode on U.S. Magnesium. Share your west side pollution story with KUER & The Salt Lake Tribune. Study The New York Times household emissions map. Buy up the remaining Celebrity All-Star Game ...
Dec 16, 2022•25 min
The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services aka the DABS aka our state alcohol regulator are out of bar licenses for 2022, leaving some business owners out of luck. When will the Utah Legislature start to get with the times on liquor laws? Fox 13 reporter Ben Winslow tells host Ali Vallarta why 2023 could be the year we start to see real policy changes. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on Ci...
Dec 15, 2022•22 min
Happy birthday, City Cast Salt Lake! For our first anniversary celebration, host Ali Vallarta and lead producer Emily Means throw down some hot predictions for the next year of city news –– from rooftop bars and this Jazz team, to our mayoral race and the future of the Great Salt Lake. Take the Guiding Our Growth survey. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options...
Dec 14, 2022•24 min
Nothing says the holidays like the bustle at City Creek mall, where last-minute shoppers and casual mall walkers unite on the shopping center’s iconic sky bridge. But the story of City Creek and its place in our skyline goes deeper than American consumerism. As architectural designer CJ Hellige tells host Ali Vallarta, it’s about a vision for a beautiful and grand Salt Lake City — and the power and influence it took to look the part. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find u...
Dec 13, 2022•19 min
Oddly beautiful or beautifully odd? How do we best describe Ralphael Plescia’s Christian School on State Street? Salt Lake Tribune culture reporter Palak Jayswal joins host Ali Vallarta to chat about the future of this iconic Salt Lake sculpture project, now that its beloved founder has died and left the city without a clear direction. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? C...
Dec 12, 2022•20 min
It’s the most wonderful time of the week — its end. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to recap the news, including elementary school closures, Salt Lake City’s investment in permanent supportive housing, and the IOC’s wild idea that could bring the Olympics to Utah a lot more often. Plus, newsletter editor Terina Ria lays out a whole weekend of festive festivities. Sign-up for the Point in Time Count by filling out this form or emailing ali.vallarta@citycast.fm. Subscribe to “Hey...
Dec 09, 2022•28 min
Depending on who you are, you either love shopping for gifts or find it demoralizing. Don’t know what to get your co-worker or girlfriend’s dad? Fret not, because the annual City Weekly Holiday Gift Guide has you covered with thoughtful local gifts for Salt Lakers. Editor Benjamin Wood joins host Ali Vallarta to swap ideas for gleefully finishing your shopping list long before Dec. 24. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCast...
Dec 08, 2022•17 min
It’s that time of year when your uncle tries to small-talk with you about sports at your grandma’s holiday party. Yikes. But don’t let the dread settle in just yet — we have the tools to help you succeed. Salt Lake Tribune Jazz beat writer Andy Larsen joins host Ali Vallarta to get us up to speed on Utah’s favorite NBA team. Plus, Ali gives a rundown on University of Utah football. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC....
Dec 07, 2022•21 min
There are few people in this world who feel a fiery passion for salads: Michelle Obama, rabbits, and our very own Shireen Ghorbani. Shireen, a community health director for Intermountain Healthcare and greens enthusiast, joins host Ali Vallarta to make her case for why salads are sexy meals and the best spots in Salt Lake to grab a bite — or a fistful. Peruse the Kem C. Gardner Institute population data here. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastS...
Dec 06, 2022•19 min
Ready for more construction on I-15? The Utah Department of Transportation is making plans to widen the section between Salt Lake and Farmington to as many as 23 lanes (with shoulders). But who pays the price for all this urban sprawl? Host Ali Vallarta asks Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, how he’s thinking about this controversial project, because the Utah Legislature has already appropriated $1.6 billion for these kinds of projects, and the proposal falls pretty squarely in his district. Revi...
Dec 05, 2022•20 min
Hello weekend, my old friend. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about Rocky Anderson’s rebrand as he launches his mayoral campaign (again) and whether the value of alfalfa is worth the water it uses. Plus, Ali is vindicated in her analysis that yes, it is actually really cold. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and...
Dec 02, 2022•27 min
If you saw Donny Osmond in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, you may have had, oh, we don’t know –– a queer awakening! More than 20 years later, Provo-based theater director Kacey Spadafora has a technicolor dream of his own: to revive this story as the big gay musical he always knew it could be. He tells host Ali Vallarta what it would take to make it happen. Read Wes Long’s piece about the history of Salt Lake’s theater scene in City Weekly. Subscribe to our daily morning newslette...
Dec 01, 2022•18 min
There are a lot of things city slickers need in this life: a good hairstylist, a credit score, a cell phone. How about a will? It’s a bit morbid, we know. But what will happen to your belongings (or your pet) if you don’t have one? Host Ali Vallarta talks with Candace Waters, a cool young estate lawyer, about why you should write a quick will — even if it’s just on a napkin. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Lookin...
Nov 30, 2022•22 min
Have you heard about Mongo? His story brought Utah’s wild horse conundrum close to home and served as unusually good press for the Bureau of Land Management’s wild horse roundups. Growth, land use, and the good old fashioned “way of life” question are all at stake in Utah’s wild horse debacle — which host (and horse girl) Ali Vallarta and Salt Lake Tribune reporter Brian Maffly try to unravel. See Grieg Huggins’ photo exhibit at Sandy City Hall. Call us with your thoughts on “Falling for Christm...
Nov 29, 2022•18 min
Utah is known for a lot of things: the greatest snow on earth, fry sauce, national parks — and getting scammed. Year after year, Utah is named one of the top states for fraud and is even one of the first to set up a white collar crime registry because of this. Deseret News Features Editor Meg Walter joins host Ali Vallarta to categorize Utah’s various scammers and figure out who’s to blame. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @Cit...
Nov 28, 2022•17 min
