Time to bury your puffy coat and refresh the wardrobe. Host Ali Vallarta and her friend Kate Groetzinger riff on the best places in Salt Lake to find a new fit, considering price, quality, and style. Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm. Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @C...
Apr 23, 2025•26 min
Utah's school voucher program — a core tenant of Republicans' education strategy — has been ruled unconstitutional. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means discuss the case and what happens next. Plus, Millcreek's mayor pushes back (again) on the Trump administration's deportation agenda, recognition for an influential local researcher, and good neighbors in Kanab. Resources and references: Judge rules 'Utah Fits All' voucher program is unconstitutional [FOX 13] ‘That’s not American...
Apr 22, 2025•37 min
Beginning in July, about 40,000 Utah kids will be eligible for free lunch — good news in a state where one in eight of us experience food insecurity. But there's still more work to do. Host Ali Vallarta asks Gina Cornia, executive director of Utahns Against Hunger, what it would take to eradicate hunger in Utah. Learn more about one Republican legislator's plan to feed students. Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free list...
Apr 21, 2025•26 min
Utah has boasted the number one economic outlook in the nation for 18 years, but according to who? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means dive into the data and compare it to support for Utah's labor movement. Plus, chickens in theaters, two new neighborhood murals, and ideas for Easter weekend. Resources and references: For 18th year, Utah ranks No. 1 for best economic outlook. What could threaten its top spot? [Utah News Dispatch] Adults required at ‘Minecraft’ movie after ‘chick...
Apr 18, 2025•34 min
It’s the Utah ShakeOut, which means you might have a friend or a kid in an earthquake drill right now. Host Ali Vallarta asks Keith Koper, director of the seismological observatory at the University of Utah, how prepared Salt Lake is for "The Big One." This episode first aired Nov. 14, 2024. Resource and references: Apply to Salt Lake City’s Fix the Bricks program. How to Prepare for “The Big One” [Hey Salt Lake] Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work...
Apr 17, 2025•23 min
With two bars closing on Main Street, how can Salt Lake City upgrade its nightlife? Lutz Leichsenring of VibeLab makes the case to host Ali Vallarta for a "night advocate" and explains the science behind creating a vibrant city after dark. Related listening: How To Keep Main Street Bars From Closing Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm. Subs...
Apr 16, 2025•26 min
Four Salt Lake restaurants shut their doors this past week, which has us asking: What went wrong? Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria and host Ali Vallarta talk about the closures and new places they’re hyped about. Plus, a wishlist for SLC’s lesbian bar, the launch of a Utah workers’ hub, and a must-see bathroom. Resources and references: Find out what $50 gets you at the Winter Farmers Market. Check out the Utah Workers Center. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best...
Apr 15, 2025•45 min
Hate filing your taxes? Jenna Williams, tax and budget policy analyst at Voices For Utah Children, joins host Ali Vallarta to explain what your taxes actually pay for and why you should be hyped. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm. Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Loo...
Apr 14, 2025•19 min
What if these Chinese tariffs help save the Great Salt Lake? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means explore this possible silver lining. Plus, what to do about noisy neighbors, help on your taxes, and small business shoutouts. Resources and references: Next Steps for Saving the Great Salt Lake [City Cast Salt Lake] Get free tax help at taxhelput.org. Check out what myrtle spurge looks like. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help...
Apr 11, 2025•31 min
First Alibi, now The Ruin; why are SLC bars on Main Street closing? Former Ruin owner Rheda Fouad joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about the challenges of doing business on Main and what we can learn from Central Ninth's nightlife. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm. Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also fin...
Apr 10, 2025•24 min
With the news that it’s now over twice as expensive to buy than rent in Salt Lake (!), host Ali Vallarta asked local realtor Kaitlin Hannig what the housing market is offering first-time homebuyers, the toxic traits of one particular neighborhood, and why maybe you shouldn’t buy a house. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm. Subscribe to Hey...
Apr 09, 2025•26 min
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by Monday, Bernie Sanders by Sunday. What are these men seeking in our city? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means talk about their visits, another $300 million dollars for Ryan Smith, a found parrot in Central City, and a third lottery win for a friend of the pod. Resources and references: Utah banned adding fluoride. How long will it take to flush out of SLC’s water? [KUER] RSVP for Bernie Sanders rally in SLC. In last-minute change, plan for new downtown S...
Apr 08, 2025•43 min
Are Latter-day Saint men falling prey to the "manosphere"? With Alpha Con 2.0 coming to town, Relationscapes podcast host Blair Hodges joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about the versions of masculinity that some Utah men are buying into and why. Resources and references: How a beta like me managed to get kicked out of Salt Lake City’s ‘Alpha Con’ [Deseret News] Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. G...
Apr 07, 2025•28 min
Is host Ali Vallarta's public bathroom dream coming true? Executive producer Emily Means joins her to talk through a best-case scenario for proposed city funds. Plus, the Salt Lake County Council chooses pettiness toward Sundance, construction expectations, and SLC’s best takeout. Resources and references: Salt Lake County pulls funding from Sundance’s final festival in Utah [Salt Lake Tribune] Salt Lake County mayor on Sundance bids: ‘They were courting money’ [KPCW] The best takeout in Salt La...
Apr 04, 2025•37 min
Birth control users listen up: President Donald Trump has frozen Title X funding in a number of states including Utah. Assistant Professor in Division of Family Planning at University of Utah, Dr. Rebecca Simmons joins host Ali Vallarta to explain what this means for access to low cost contraceptives in Utah. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycas...
Apr 03, 2025•22 min
Stinky trees blooming, skiing across a pond dressed as Jesus — April is here. Host Ali Vallarta and Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria bring you a guide to making the most of this month, from pizza eating to 900,000 tulips. Plus, if you’re hitting up the final winter farmers market, listen to our episode on how to stretch $50 there. If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Salt Lake community. For e...
Apr 02, 2025•27 min
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has been a busy bee deciding which bills to sign into law or veto. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means talk through the most controversial ones and how they will impact you. Plus, a new mental health resource, a must-have accessory, and how to get fluoride. Resources and references: Cox vetoes bill giving him the power to pick the Utah Supreme Court’s chief justice [KUER] Cox vetoes property tax and school funding bill [FOX 13] Utah Gov. Cox signs away the ...
Apr 01, 2025•39 min
Salt Lake City is constantly changing, with new construction happening all the time. But is there a version of our city that was never built? Wendi Pettett, co-host of the Demolished Places podcast, joins host Ali Vallarta to share her picks for the wildest projects that never got off the ground — but could have changed Salt Lake as we know it. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the detai...
Mar 31, 2025•27 min
The Sundance Film Festival is moving to Boulder, Colorado in 2027! Host Ali Vallarta and producer Ivana Martinez try to get to the bottom of why Boulder beat out Salt Lake’s bid, and what could emerge to take Sundance’s place in Utah. Plus, how to start your garden for cheap, a great fusion dessert, and a block party Sunday. Related links: Interested in hearing more about Sundance’s identity crisis? Shop the free seed library. Get the matcha tiramisu at Junah. Central 9th referendum block party ...
Mar 28, 2025•40 min
As the federal government slashes national park funding, there’s been a lot of emphasis on the dollar value of Utah’s landscapes. But according to Dr. Megan Call, assistant clinical professor in psychiatry at the University of Utah, the state’s natural beauty also makes us smarter. This episode first aired on August 14, 2024. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at m...
Mar 27, 2025•23 min
Eggs cost an arm and a leg at the grocery store these days, but have you tried shopping at your local farmers market? Host Ali Vallarta and Utah Food Coalition co-founder Chandler Rosenberg hit up Salt Lake City’s winter market to see how the prices compare and what $50 gets them. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm. Subscribe to Hey Salt L...
Mar 26, 2025•27 min
What does Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall think about the state bossing our city around this past legislative session? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means discuss key takeaways from the mayor’s media roundtable. Plus, a teacher dancing for lunch money, the Black Hole award, and a winning streak for U of U Gymnastics. Resources and references: The 2025 Bills That Targeted Salt Lake City [Hey Salt Lake] A Utah teacher has raised over $11,000 for her students by dancing on Tik...
Mar 25, 2025•42 min
Utah has a math problem: Seven presidents at six different universities in just four years. Host Ali Vallarta asks Salt Lake Tribune reporter Courtney Tanner why nobody wants to run a college anymore, and what that means for those of us who aren’t in school. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm. Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning ...
Mar 24, 2025•17 min
Utah has $60 million in gold hidden somewhere in Salt Lake City. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means discuss why the state is investing in precious metals. Plus, legalizing recreational cannabis, the protein bar wars, and March Madness. Resources and references: Built Bars sues Springville protein bar startup over trade secret accusations [KSL.com] Utah has invested $60M of taxpayer money in gold — so far. Here’s how the state plans to use it. [Salt Lake Tribune] New poll says m...
Mar 21, 2025•38 min
The Great Salt Lake is home to millions of different species of wildlife, with penises as unique as they are. Yeah, you read that right. Biologist Jaimi Butler joins host Ali Vallarta to explore the genitalia of our namesake, plus the weird phenomenon of sexualizing brine shrimp. Interested in our sea monkeys? Learn why they’re so important to the Great Salt Lake. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to com...
Mar 20, 2025•21 min
Salt Lakers crave the sun and red rock splendor of southern Utah, but a lot can go wrong in the desert. Host Ali Vallarta asks Escalante search and rescue volunteer Rick Green how to avoid dangerous (and expensive) mistakes. Check out Rick’s visitor checklist. If you’re planning a spring trip in southern Utah, try these alternatives to the Mighty Five. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all t...
Mar 19, 2025•22 min
Is SLC’s hottest club a brunch spot? You decide. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means debrief on Salt Lake’s breakfast food scene and give their recs. Plus, the Sundance saga continues, a new coffee shop, and doorknocking for a cause. Resources and references: Utah’s Hopes Of Keeping Sundance Threatened By Anti-Pride Flag Bill On Governor’s Desk [Deadline] Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for year...
Mar 18, 2025•32 min
The SLC Twilight Concert Series lineup just dropped — did you get a ticket? Outdoor music season is about to hit Salt Lake, so host Ali Vallarta asked avid concert goer Reuben Hoyos for his best tips and tricks to enjoy the show. Plus: Ever wonder how the SLC Twilight lineup gets booked? We’ve got answers. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.f...
Mar 17, 2025•22 min
Air taxis have arrived in Utah. Will you get on board? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means dive into the details and possible silver linings. Plus, how the Twilight Concert Series has changed, Pi Day treats, and Utah’s nosy neighbors. Resources and references: The 2025 SLC Twilight lineup and tickets Future of flight? Electric air taxi glides into Salt Lake City [Deseret News] The best local pie for Pi Day [Hey Salt Lake] Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the be...
Mar 14, 2025•35 min
Spring is in the air, and we’re already sneezing our butts off. Why are allergies hitting so hard this year? Dr. Adriana Andreae, an allergist with University of Utah Health, joins host Ali Vallarta to explain what’s plaguing Salt Lakers’ immune systems and how to ease our suffering. Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm. Subscribe to Hey Sal...
Mar 13, 2025•20 min
