Need to return something at City Creek? Don’t do it this weekend! Downtown will be crowded for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ General Conference. Architectural designer CJ Hellige tells host Ali Vallarta about the storied history of City Creek, and how Salt Lake City is still reckoning with its future over one sky bridge. This episode originally aired Dec. 12, 2023. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on Cit...
Sep 28, 2023•17 min
If staring down colorful trees is not your idea of a good time, fear not! Autumn in Utah has so much more to offer than changing leaves. In the final installment of our Fall Getaway Guide, newsletter editor Terina Ria gives host Ali Vallarta tips for making the most of your weekends this season, whether you’re in the mood to pick apples, tour haunted sets, or chase salmon. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to ad...
Sep 27, 2023•20 min
It’s prime leaf-peepin’ time, people. Utah’s fall foliage is absolutely blushing right now, and you don’t want to miss the picture-perfect glory of our shortest season. In part two of our Fall Getaway Guide, producer Ivana Martinez joins host Ali Vallarta to share her top picks for enjoying the fall colors, plus tips for getting the perfect autumn photo. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cas...
Sep 26, 2023•19 min
Fall is a great time of year to head to Southern Utah and visit our “Mighty Five” national parks. But did you know you can experience the beauty and wonder of the parks without ever stepping foot inside one? In part one of our Fall Getaway Guide, host Ali Vallarta joins lead producer Emily Means to share her recommendations for taking in this season’s glory in the shadow of the national parks, without the fees, crowds, and chaos. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Inst...
Sep 25, 2023•23 min
Get ready to open up, Utah, because we’re digging into the state’s most “critical vulnerabilities” as laid out in a new legislative audit. Plus, despite our wet winter and spring, the Great Salt Lake is still in trouble — though it has a new, very famous ally. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta for a therapy session to break down all of our most pressing crises as well as sharing their picks of the week. Bike Main Street with Sweet Streets Saturday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m. Drink and vo...
Sep 22, 2023•29 min
The final installment of this season’s Salt Lake Twilight Concert Series hits Gallivan Plaza Friday. Andrea Racine, head of artist relations at S&S and the voice of our theme music, joins host Ali Vallarta to lay down some ground rules for how to be a good concert goer. Get tickets to Rina Sawayama. This episode originally aired May 11, 2023. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our option...
Sep 21, 2023•17 min
Salt Lake City recently resurrected a long-forgotten relic of the 2002 Winter Olympics: the Hoberman Arch. The 30,000-pound art installation has a new home near Salt Lake City International Airport — but it’s lived rent-free in host Ali Vallarta’s mind for years. Now that SLC has officially been blessed as the U.S. bid city for the 2030 or 2034 Games, Ali tells lead producer Emily Means the story of the Hoberman Arch. Read journalist Hunter S. Thompson’s take on the 2002 Olympics. Subscribe to o...
Sep 20, 2023•23 min
Former “8 Passengers” vlogger and Utah mom-fluencer Ruby Franke has been charged with aggravated child abuse. How did this story evolve, and what are the lessons to be learned? Deseret News features writer Meg Walter joins host Ali Vallarta to get candid about the money making business of “sharenting” online and how she grapples with posting about her family. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check o...
Sep 19, 2023•21 min
Salt Lake City is about to get its first ever sanctioned homeless camp, at 300 S. and 600 W. And if you’re thinking that’s very near the site of the former Road Home shelter, so are we. Lead producer Emily Means got the details from the city and state and tells host Ali Vallarta what we know about this big neighborhood project. Sign up for future volunteer opportunities around the sanctioned camp, like making welcome packets for new residents. Have more questions? The city put together an FAQ pa...
Sep 18, 2023•20 min
Sen. Mitt Romney announced in a video Wednesday that he will not seek reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2024. Host Ali Vallarta and lead producer Emily Means have big feelings about this decision and ask what the senator’s political legacy will be. Plus, Salt Lake City announces the site of a new sanctioned homeless encampment, and we share our picks of the week. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter for a Utah State Fair food ranking. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @Ci...
Sep 15, 2023•30 min
You’ve found it: your special outdoor spot. But if you let people in on the secret, do you run the risk of drawing too much traffic to paradise? And if you don’t share those spaces, what kind of legacy are you enabling? Western Desk founder Madeline McGill joins host Ali Vallarta to examine gatekeeping of our natural lands and who writes the rules for navigating them. Where to watch the kokanee salmon run. This episode originally aired April 17, 2023. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. Y...
Sep 14, 2023•20 min
It’s a lot of work to get life-saving Medicaid coverage in Utah. Right now, the state is reviewing the eligibility of every single recipient — and advocates and legislators alike are alarmed by how many people are losing coverage. Consumer advocate Stephanie Burdick joins lead producer Emily Means to break down what’s happening and what she believes the state could do to keep Utahns covered. Is your Medicaid eligibility up for renewal? Check out these resources to help you navigate the process: ...
Sep 13, 2023•21 min
A new era is dawning for 300 W. in Salt Lake City’s Ballpark neighborhood. Road construction is over, and the city’s first ever food truck park is on its way. Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson joins lead producer Emily Means to give us the details on the new park and look ahead to what’s next for 300 W. Is Salt Lake City the next Austin? Take the Ballpark NEXT community visioning survey through September. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSL...
Sep 12, 2023•22 min
If you’ve tried making an appointment with a health care provider recently, you’ve probably experienced an extremely long wait time to be seen. You’re not the only one. Salt Lake Tribune innovations reporter Sofia Jeremias joins producer Ivana Martinez to break down why Utahns are waiting several months to see a doctor. 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 ...
Sep 11, 2023•15 min
Big news this week with a primary election, a lawsuit to protect the Great Salt Lake, and households with dogs outnumbering households with kids in Salt Lake City. Producer Ivana Martinez joins lead producer Emily Means to break it all down and share their picks of the week. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Learn about the drama surrounding Celeste Maloy at the Republican GOP convention. Catch up on the CD2 primary ele...
Sep 08, 2023•27 min
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of your to-do list. Today, we invite you to slow down and romanticize your Salt Lake life with us. Producer Ivana Martinez and Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria join lead producer Emily Means to share the little Salt Lake City things that bring them joy. 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 po...
Sep 07, 2023•23 min
Cozy season incoming! The leaves and temperature are hinting at the arrival of fall in Salt Lake, and we can’t wait to curl up with the new book we got from an independent book shop. Looking to branch out from big-box stores? Provo-based author Whitney McGruder is on a quest to visit every locally owned bookstore in Utah and shares her top picks with producer Ivana Martinez. Whitney’s favorite bookstores: The Legendarium in Salt Lake City Poppy Books and Gifts in Spanish Fork Find Whitney’s book...
Sep 06, 2023•17 min
Primary Election Day is here! Some Salt Lake County residents have municipal races on their ballots. But the big-ticket item — for Republican voters in Congressional District 2 — is the GOP primary to replace outgoing Rep. Chris Stewart. KSL Radio reporter Lindsay Aerts joins lead producer Emily Means to break down the differences between the three candidates and explain the significance of this race. How and where to vote on Primary Election Day in Salt Lake County. Catch up on the hot election...
Sep 05, 2023•26 min
Salt Lake City has named an ambitious timeline for opening a new sanctioned campground: this winter. But where will it go? Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson joins lead producer Emily Means to round up the week’s news, including the far-off opening of a new cooperative food market. Plus, Taylor and Emily share their picks of the week. Listen to our conversations with the three mayoral candidates: Mayor Erin Mendenhall on homelessness Rocky Anderson on homelessness Michael Valentine on hom...
Sep 01, 2023•28 min
Earlier this month, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts opened the Tatau: Marks of Polynesia exhibit, which explores the art, tradition, and history of tatau (Samoan tattooing). Lead producer Emily Means talks with Verona Mauga, cofounder of the Pacific Islander advocacy organization Le Malu, about this tradition and its revival, as well as her own tatau experience. The exhibit runs through December. You can find out more and get tickets here. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us ...
Aug 31, 2023•17 min
September gets a bad rap. It’s kind of an awkward month that’s bookended by the end of summer and the start of fall. But producer Ivana Martinez and host Ali Vallarta argue it’s one of the best times of the year. They round out their best bets for you to try this month to make this September one to remember. Here are some of the events and places we talked about in this episode: Utah State Fair Celebración Sinfónica Night Lights at Deseret Peak Complex Salt Lake Bees games Sundance Resort Scenic...
Aug 30, 2023•24 min
From “oh my heck” to dropping our Ts, many Utahns have a special way of speaking. Lead producer Emily Means talks with theater professor and dialect coach Stacey Jenson about the origins of the Utah accent and what defines it. This episode originally aired Aug. 29, 2022. Take the Hey Salt Lake Utah phrases quiz. 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 podc...
Aug 29, 2023•20 min
The affordable housing crisis isn’t unique to Salt Lake City. In Park City, there are more jobs than residents, which means lots of people commute into town each day. So how will the city government get workers housed and out of traffic? KPCW reporter Parker Malatesta joins host Ali Vallarta to break down what housing projects are in the pipeline as well as other developments that could majorly change the trajectory of the ski town. Take the bus from Salt Lake City to Kimball Junction. Subscribe...
Aug 28, 2023•20 min
Enjoy the primary election while it lasts, because the Utah GOP is forcing Republican voters to go to caucus night for next year’s presidential election. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Andy Larsen joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the impacts of ditching primaries. Plus, Ali’s white whale — the Hoberman Arch — makes its triumphant return. And the new face of Utah-based Minky Couture is … a Backstreet Boy. The Salt Lake Tribune’s voter guide for municipal primary elections in Brighton, Bluffdale,...
Aug 25, 2023•28 min
Sometimes the tears well up and you can’t control it! So, where are the best places in Salt Lake to comfortably cry in public? With help from City Cast listeners and Hey Salt Lake readers, newsletter editor Terina Ria and producer Ivana Martinez join host Ali Vallarta to compile a list and map of the best local spots to find comfort, or solace from strangers. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on Cit...
Aug 24, 2023•25 min
Salt Lake City has a brand new, 5-year housing plan: Housing SLC. Host Ali Vallarta asks Ruedigar Matthes, a policy manager for Salt Lake City’s Community and Neighborhoods Department, what the plan entails and how the city will execute on a bold vision amidst our statewide housing crisis. “Getting Paid to Pay Rent in SLC” by City Cast Salt Lake. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt L...
Aug 23, 2023•20 min
The idea of gender affirming care has become increasingly politicized in Utah. But what does it actually mean? Al Fernandez recently underwent a breast reduction surgery that helped them feel more comfortable in their body. They join host Ali Vallarta to share tips for getting your insurance to cover this kind of procedure, and talk through the mythologies around gender affirming care. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. ...
Aug 22, 2023•17 min
The Utah Department of Transportation has officially greenlit the controversial proposal to build a 22-tower, 8-mile gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Host Ali Vallarta asks Salt Lake Tribune enterprise reporter Julie Jag what this means for the next 10 years of recreating in the canyon — and whether it’s still a pipe dream. 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 o...
Aug 21, 2023•24 min
Back to school season is raising difficult questions about back to school safety for legislators, educators, school board members, and students themselves. Plus, the sunscreen drama of TikTok has finally hit Utah. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Andy Larsen joins host Ali Vallarta to round up city news, and share picks of the week. Get tickets to this weekend’s Utah Beer Festival. Browse the Utah Jazz regular season schedule. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @Ci...
Aug 18, 2023•27 min
There’s lots of talk about how close the mountains are to Salt Lake City, but how many of us are really taking advantage of nearby trailheads? Prolific hiker Brandon Miller hiked 54 trails in 54 days, and he tells host Ali Vallarta the best local hikes for any occasion — from dog-afraid to dog-friendly, or with a 7-year-old in tow. Plus, we offer a few overnight hike suggestions, for the backpacking-curious. Here’s a list of the trails we mentioned in this episode: Donut Falls Trail Dog Lake Lak...
Aug 17, 2023•24 min
