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. On City Cast Madison, 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, Madison Minutes, at madison.citycast.fm.
Episodes
October 31, 2025 • 33 mins
This week, Madison is grappling with an array of serious stories in the news. Two staff members at Annie Greencrow Whitehorse Middle School are on leave as a result of sexual assault allegations. UW-Madison employees are facing layoffs. And FoodShare benefits are set to run out Saturday. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin talks with executive producer Hayley Sperling and newsletter editor Rob Thomas about how these heavy topics a...
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October 30, 2025 • 26 mins
Want to lean into your witchy side this spooky season? You’re in luck. In today’s show, host Bianca Martin chats with Ryan Huber, co-owner of the downtown craft cocktail bar Oz by Oz, which offers a "wicked" good time for Madison cocktail lovers. Celebrating its fourth birthday on Halloween, Oz by Oz has been celebrating all month with festivities, leading up to a birthday party on Oct. 31. Plus, we finally answer the question on e...
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October 29, 2025 • 22 mins
Have you ever been walking through an old Madison building and felt a chill up your spine? Lisa Van Buskirk and Mike Huberty from Madison Ghost Walks would tell you that you probably experienced a haunting. To get the scoop on Madison’s ghostly history, host Bianca Martin chats with Lisa and Mike about the most haunted spots in Madison.
This episode originally aired on October 23rd, 2023
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October 28, 2025 • 25 mins
Cannabis is illegal in Wisconsin, but you can buy hemp-derived THC drinks, edibles, vapes, and even prerolls at several stores all over Madison. That’s because these products fall through a legal loophole and are largely unregulated. Amidst rising health concerns, Madison City Council President and District 5 Alder Regina Vidaver has proposed a new ordinance that would set a minimum age of 21 for those allowed to buy these products...
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October 27, 2025 • 34 mins
The Madison Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 100th season with an exciting lineup of concerts to bid farewell to longtime maestro and music director John DeMain. Host Bianca Martin chats with John about the history of MSO and the evolution of the ensemble during his tenure. John also shares his process of selecting pieces and guest conductors for this special season, and highlights the importance of conducting from a place of ...
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If the federal government shutdown doesn’t end by the end of the month, up to 65,000 Dane County residents could go without their SNAP benefits. To understand what’s at stake, host Bianca Martin talks with Ellen Carlson, Wayforward Resources executive director. Plus, executive producer Hayley Sperling and newsletter Rob Thomas join Bianca to break down the top stories of the week, including a massive Cap Times investigation into te...
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October 23, 2025 • 30 mins
News that the downtown restaurant Heritage Tavern had filed for bankruptcy took much of Madison by surprise. After opening in 2013 to much fanfare, acclaimed chef and owner Dan Fox built a multi-faceted business that has become a beloved institution for many in town. But a lawsuit filed by a former server tells a different story — one of alleged wage theft and unfair labor practices. Host Bianca Martin digs into the details of the ...
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October 22, 2025 • 27 mins
It’s budget season for the city! Earlier this month, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway released her proposed $452 million operating budget for next year. But what’s in it? To get the details, host Bianca Martin sits down with Cap Times local government reporter Enjoyiana Nururdin. They discuss what’s new, what’s changing, and why the city’s budget matters to every Madisonian. From the Imagination Center and men’s shelter to air quality ini...
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October 21, 2025 • 34 mins
How much can you see, hear, eat and drink in Madison in 36 hours? If you’re The New York Times, it’s a lot. Recently, the national news outlet published a travel guide for our fair city and we have some thoughts. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin breaks it down with newsletter editor Rob Thomas and executive producer Hayley Sperling, dishing on what the Times got right — and what it missed — when it comes to Madison.
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October 20, 2025 • 36 mins
Dozens of authors and countless readers will flood Madison this week for the 24th annual Wisconsin Book Festival’s Fall Celebration. From Oct. 23-26, the Madison Public Library, in partnership with Madison Public Library Foundation, will present free author talks that celebrate books and spark genuine conversations. With more than 50 events on the schedule, there’s something for everyone. To get the details on the can’t-miss events...
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October 17, 2025 • 33 mins
The Dane County Regional Airport isn’t playing the controversial government shutdown video featuring Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Meanwhile, the City of Madison is planning two pedestrian plazas near the top of State Street, and the food scene says hello to Stella’s Bakery and goodbye to El Rancho Breakfast and Tacos. Plus, thousands of protesters are expected to march on Capitol Square this Saturday. Host Bianca Martin...
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October 16, 2025 • 32 mins
Samantha Kincaid and Jon Nodler are no strangers to good food and great service. The two married chefs got their start in the Madison restaurant scene back in the 2010s and went on to earn critical acclaim in Philadelphia for their restaurant Cadence. Now, the two are back in Wisconsin and have opened an ambitious new project in New Glarus. Canter Inn is a bar and restaurant (and soon to be bed and breakfast) that pays homage to th...
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October 15, 2025 • 23 mins
This Saturday, thousands are expected to rally at the Wisconsin State Capitol in an organized protest against President Donald Trump and his policies. In light of the upcoming demonstration, City Cast Madison executive producer Hayley Sperling talks with Ryan Cox, legal director for the ACLU of Wisconsin, about how to stay safe while exercising your First Amendment rights.
This show originally aired on June 18th, 2025
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October 14, 2025 • 24 mins
One of Wisconsin’s fastest growing groups is the Latino community. From 2010 to 2020, the state’s Latino population grew by 33%. And each member of this community has their own unique story and needs, but often, folks end up lumped together when talked about in the media. Host Bianca Martin talks with Centro Hispano executive director Karen Menéndez Coller about the range of needs within the community and the work Centro does daily...
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October 10, 2025 • 36 mins
It’s been a big week in the Madison news scene: the city’s independent police monitor has resigned, some students and faculty are worried about proposed changes to curriculums by system administrators, and construction is set to begin on John Nolen Drive. Host Bianca Martin chats with executive producer Hayley Sperling and newsletter editor Rob Thomas about this week’s top stories. Plus, today is your last chance to snag the exclus...
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October 9, 2025 • 31 mins
Last month, the owner of Mishqui Peruvian Bistro announced that she would be permanently closing the flagship location on Monona Drive. The decision comes after the opening of a second location in Middleton in 2024 and a third downtown on King Street earlier this year. Host Bianca Martin talks with owner Cynthia Garcia about Mishqui’s extensive menu, the growing pains of running a new restaurant, and what’s in store for the future....
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October 8, 2025 • 27 mins
What are textile arts? They are all around us, including sewing, weaving, embroidery, dyeing and even paper making. In recent years, making art from fibers and fabrics has been taken more seriously, including in Madison where the relatively new Textile Arts Center of Madison is thriving. Host Bianca Martin talks with the center’s co-founder, Elizabeth Tucker, about how the art form is booming in Madison and what the center has to o...
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October 7, 2025 • 28 mins
Happy Homecoming, Badgers! UW-Madison will face off against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 117th Homecoming Game in UW history Oct. 11 at Camp Randall in a battle for the Heartland Trophy. But before the Badgers kick off, the fans party. And each neighborhood does things a little differently. To get the scoop on how and where Madisonians tailgate, executive producer Hayley Sperling and host Bianca Martin chat with local DJ Nick Nice, who...
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October 6, 2025 • 32 mins
Look up in the sky! No, it’s not an F-35, it’s fall bird migration season! This time of the year, countless birds grace our skies as they fly south for the winter. So what should you be on the lookout for? And how can we help these migratory birds make it to their destinations safely? To answer these questions and more, host Bianca Martin chats with the Wisco Birder himself, co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, Dexter...
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October 3, 2025 • 40 mins
How will the federal government shutdown be felt in Madison? Well, it’s too early to know for sure, but the City Cast Madison team discusses how local officials are bracing for the impact. Host Bianca Martin is joined this week by executive producer Hayley Sperling and newsletter editor Rob Thomas. They also break down the latest in the race for governor and its impact on local races, and how Middleton’s beloved Chinese-American re...
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