City Cast Madison
Join the City Cast Madison team every weekday morning for can’t-miss conversations about what’s happening in Madison, with a dose of local news to keep you up to speed. Host Bianca Martin collects people wherever she goes, like an endless conga line. She peers into our city’s soul with a journalist’s skepticism and an optimist’s heart. Whether you’re an OG Madisonian or a newcomer, all neighbors are welcome here. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter, at madison.citycast.fm.
Episodes
October 27, 2026 • 38 mins
It’s one week until election day and races are (predictably) tight statewide. Dan Shafer, founder of the Recombobulation Area substack, joins executive producer Hayley Sperling and Capital Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians to talk toss-up tickets and the issues motivating voters. Where does marijuana legalization rank against data centers and affordability for Wisconsinites?
In-person absentee voting end...
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October 26, 2026 • 37 mins
With still months to go before the February primary, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has announced that she’s ending her bid for a third term. Executive producer Hayley Sperling digs into this news with contributor and former mayoral candidate Scott Resnick. Plus, owners of Dapper Cadaver BJ and Eileen Winslow join the conversation to talk about their most recent and terrifying creations that you’ve probably seen on t...
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How prepared is Madison to deal with the effects of climate change? In a recent report, Chicago was ranked as the most climate resilient city in the world — the only U.S. city to make it into the top 10. What’s Chicago doing right? City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran is joining David this week to talk about how the city is adapting to face climate risks, its work in renewable energy, and other projects in the works.
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October 23, 2026 • 34 mins
This week, by a vote of 14-6, the Madison City Council terminated the contract of Interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass. During the 12-hour meeting, the council heard from more than 100 community members who overwhelmingly opposed the termination. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin talks with creative producers Rob Thomas and Jade Iseri-Ramos about the vote and what comes next for the Office of the Independent ...
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October 22, 2026 • 25 mins
An Asian bistro on the Square, a hibachi and ramen spot on the east side, and a rooftop restaurant at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art are just some of the new additions to Madison’s always changing restaurant scene. Today, host Bianca Martin gets the scoop with Cap Times Food and Culture Editor Lindsay Christians on what else we can expect to see opening around town this year and who we’re saying goodbye to.
👋 ...
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October 21, 2026 • 37 mins
Our dear city of Madison just made National Geographic’s list of “The Best Places in the World to Travel to in 2027.” The list highlights the Dane County Farmers’ Market, the lakes, and our "bohemian" spirit. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin chats with Executive Producer Hayley Sperling and vintage clothing seller and owner of Good Style Shop Peter Benck about the spotlight. Plus, Pete tells the team abo...
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October 20, 2026 • 30 mins
Madison’s Overture Hall is home to a 30-ton pipe organ that’s so massive that it moves on giant tracks. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin talks with Madison Symphony Orchestra Principal Organist Greg Zelek about how he performs complex organ programs from memory while managing thousands of sound changes. Bianca also talks with City Cast Madison Creative Producer Jade Iseri-Ramos about what’s in store for the Ma...
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October 19, 2026 • 38 mins
Black infants in Wisconsin are nearly three times more likely than white babies to die before their first birthdays. Cap Times health and policy reporter Erin McGroarty is investigating this disparity and the lived experiences of Black Wisconsin mothers. Erin joins City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin to discuss how systemic racism, chronic stress, and epigenetics are driving preterm birth and low birth weight, which are the leadin...
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October 18, 2026 • 25 mins
How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Madison? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm drain” to help keep city streets free of floods and trash — and to possibly slow the drying and pollution of the Great Salt Lake. City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta says it’s worth a shot. This week, she joins David to discuss how quick, periodic cleaning of a neighborhood...
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October 16, 2026 • 29 mins
The Madison Common Council is set to vote on whether to terminate the interim independent police monitor on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Whether or not they have legal standing to do so is up for debate. Madison365 Executive Editor Rob Chappell joins City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin and Creative Producer Rob Thomas to break down the story. Then, Rob Thomas lays out two contentious items in Dane County Executive Melissa Agard’s propo...
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October 15, 2026 • 31 mins
Did you know the iconic 1976 film “Car Wash” has a Madison connection? The film’s director, Michael Schultz, studied at UW-Madison where he quickly changed his aspirations from being an astronaut to being a filmmaker. He chats with City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin about his long career as a trailblazing director, the lack of Black film representation during his early years, and the lasting relevance of his fil...
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October 14, 2026 • 36 mins
For the second year in a row, UW-Madison students who live on campus will be charged $100 to host one guest over Halloween weekend. The university says this will help pay for additional security and cleaning costs. But will it keep things tame during “Halloweekend?” City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin talks with contributor, writer, and comedian Emily Winter about Madison’s Halloween party history from State Stre...
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October 13, 2026 • 35 mins
The Wisconsin Book Festival Fall Celebration kicks off this Thursday. The yearly tradition brings more than 80 authors to Madison for book readings and author talks around town. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin talks with festival Director Jane Rotunda about the event line up. Writer Jeff Oloizia also joins the show to discuss the new season of his podcast “Writing Forward.” Plus the three settle the age-old debate:...
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Another Madison school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no-phone school day can work, and they’ve got the (mostly) positive feedback to show for it. City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson joins David to talk about how St. Paul Central High School is succeeding at enforcing a phone-free school environment, the surprising ways that some stu...
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October 9, 2026 • 39 mins
This week, a Madison Alder made a motion for the Common Council to consider terminating the city’s contract with Interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass. Executive Producer Hayley Sperling and Creative Producer Rob Thomas break down that news and dive into the turbulent history behind the office. Then Rob explains why more Madison students are rejecting Chromebooks this year. And Keegan Lynch joins the show to tal...
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October 8, 2026 • 38 mins
Today is Latina Equal Pay Day, which marks, on average, when in the year a working Latina woman has earned as much as a white, non-Hispanic man. Araceli Esparza, founder and executive director of Midwest Mujeres joins City Cast Madison executive producer Hayley Sperling and creative producer Jade Iseri-Ramos to discuss the necessity to discuss wages and the Midwest Mujeres’ upcoming storytelling event. Plus Hayley and Jade ta...
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October 7, 2026 • 38 mins
More than 7,000 disabled Wisconsinites are waiting for help navigating the state’s employment development program due to funding cuts. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin talks with Cap Times Opinion Editor Natalie Eilbert about the program meant to help people with disabilities access employment support, but that is now facing a waitlist of more than 7,600 people. They discuss how a $7 million state funding shortfall has im...
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October 6, 2026 • 43 mins
Why were a dozen Madison city council members in a Signal group chat? Madison 365’s Rob Chappell broke the story last week, and on today’s episode, he joins City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin and Executive Producer Hayley Sperling to break down the story. Plus Young Blood Beer Company is closing its Northstreet location at the end of the month, and the Brewers are one win away from the National League Championship Ser...
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October 5, 2026 • 37 mins
The Yahara Flyer is a new single-sheet monthly publication in Madison from the co-founder of the now-defunct news website Tone Madison. Scott Gordon joins City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin and Executive Producer Hayley Sperling to explain why he started the Flyer, and the challenges of the flyer format. They also discuss police body-worn cameras, which Scott wrote about in the first two issues of the Yahara Flyer.
🧢 Don’...
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When Madison looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate flood mitigation into public housing. Inspired by places like Rotterdam, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with other groups to give Queens a state-of-the-art, climate-resilient amenity — in this case, a basketball court. David talks wit...
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