City Cast Madison
Join us 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. On City Cast Madison, she peers into our city’s soul with a journalist’s skepticism and an optimist’s heart.
Episodes
June 7, 2024 • 26 mins
The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. Podcast host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling break down the complicated legal case brought against Trump allies’ fake elector scheme.
Plus: why will it cost more to use Madison’s parking garages during special events, and a father in Baraboo charged with disorderly conduct after he charged the school’s Black superintendent.
Mentioned on the s...
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June 6, 2024 • 22 mins
There’s a cookbook out that showcases the ingredients and flavors of Madison. And we’re gonna stop ya right there, it is WAY more than brats and cheese curds. It features recipes from the farmers, chefs and shoppers who frequent the Dane County Farmers’ Market, one of the oldest and largest in the country. With recipes for curtido to panzanella to ratatouille, and gorgeous photos of the food and the people behind them, it’s a celeb...
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June 5, 2024 • 23 mins
Madison is getting a new music venue, but unlike other spaces in the city — the priority isn’t the audience but instead the musicians. Muso is the brainchild of Hoot’n Annie String Band members Prentice Berge and Cindy Murphy, who wanted to create a space for musicians to rehearse and just enjoy playing in Madison. Host Bianca Martin got a sneak peek of the space, and got into the rhythm and reason behind this new acoustic only spo...
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June 4, 2024 • 29 mins
Do you have a special place where you like to take out-of-towners? How do you show them how utterly cool, unique and amazing our big little city is? A stroll at Picnic Point? A bloody mary at Mickey’s?
We asked the readers of Madison Minutes for their favorite Madtown things to do, places to go, food to eat, and more. The response has been fantastic!
This special episode finds the City Cast Madison team, including host Bianca Mart...
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June 3, 2024 • 24 mins
Madison is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best cities for biking, and this week we’re celebrating our cycling community. Madison Bike Week kicked off June 1 and is jam packed with family festivities, fun rides, and the best beverages and bites. Host Bianca Martin spoke with Eleanor Conrad and Harald Kliems, the president and former president of Madison Bikes, about the more than 70 events happening this week and how Mad...
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May 31, 2024 • 25 mins
If you’re new around here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Madison community.
Could there be a more perfect month than June? Perhaps. But frankly, June in Madison is an amazing concoction of festivals, gorgeous weather, Pride, and in general, just letting your freak flag fly, as they say!
For even more tips on how to make the most of June in Madison, ch...
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May 30, 2024 • 23 mins
We’ve entered summer food festival season! From brats to strawberries to gluten-free fare — we’ve got it all. Host Bianca Martin sits down with Cap Times food editor Lindsay Christians who’s been covering the upcoming Madison-area food festivals. Plus, we get a preview of new and soon-to-come local restaurants.
10 local food festivals celebrate spirits, pasta, mustard, and more [Cap Times]
Open now or soon: 18 new restaurants (a...
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May 29, 2024 • 24 mins
Understanding Madison’s city budget can feel like a real head scratcher. How can the city have a surplus this year, but be talking about a deficit for next year? If the city has had a budget deficit for the past 14 years, why is this the year the Common Council is considering a referendum to increase property taxes? And most of all, how can a city that is undergoing such an economic boom be struggling to balance the books? Host Bia...
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May 28, 2024 • 21 mins
Though the Biden Administration ended the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration last May, many Madisonians still don’t feel safe at public gatherings. Whether it’s due to concerns around long COVID or complications from existing health conditions, many of Madison's events and spaces aren’t accessible to them. Host Bianca Martin spoke with Tara Verma, the founder of an organization trying to change that.
Clean Air 608 lends ...
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May 24, 2024 • 24 mins
The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling recap the impacts of Tuesday’s intense storm and the city’s cleanup efforts. The Madison Common Council moved to save three buildings on the 400 block of State Street from demolition. Plus, a St. Paul to Chicago passenger rail, Wisconsin’s second, is in service!
Mentioned on the show:
Over 5,000 remain without power in Madison's...
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May 23, 2024 • 23 mins
Spring in Madison is a great time to find delicious food right in your backyard. And foraging for delectable local morsels means hunting much more than mushrooms. There’s ramps, watercress, dozens of edible weeds… all around you.
But how do you know where to look? And what’s edible… and tasty?
Dylan Brogan sits down with Andy Gricevich, owner of What Got Gathered, for some local foraging pro tips.
You can find Andy at the Westsi...
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May 22, 2024 • 26 mins
2025 might be a rough year for Madison. The city says it is facing a projected $27 million budget shortfall and has to make hard decisions. Between a referendum to raise property taxes and cutting city services, the potential solutions elicit strong opinions, and the city’s been trying to hear them all. Host Bianca Martin spoke with the President of the Common Council, Yannette Figueroa Cole, about what Madisonians say are the most...
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May 21, 2024 • 27 mins
We’re in the peak period for spring bird migration. And Madison is a prime spot to experience the majesty of homecoming of our winged friends. Host Bianca Martin asks
local bird nerd and co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin Dexter Patterson aka “The Wisco Birder” about the season so far, birding tips for our local patch, and what to expect from his new podcast The Bird Joy Podcast.
:bird: BIPOC Birding Club of Wiscon...
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May 20, 2024 • 28 mins
Just over two weeks ago, Mt. Horeb experienced an unsettling tragedy. On May 1, an eighth grader with a pellet gun attempted to break into Mt. Horeb Middle School, and he was then shot and killed by police.
Host Bianca Martin sat down with the reporter who broke the story, executive editor of Madison 365 Rob Chappell, to ask about how the community is faring in the wake of the shooting and what lessons community members are taking...
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May 17, 2024 • 26 mins
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling recap the Wisconsin Supreme court case about the ballot box ban, the groundbreaking of a forever chemical treatment facility, and how to prepare for the wildfire smoke coming down from Canada. Plus, we introduce Madison’s very own Lil’ Sebastian.
Mentioned on the show:
Wisconsin supreme court appears poised to overturn ballot drop box ban...
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May 16, 2024 • 19 mins
It’s officially festival season in Madison! But, out of all the festivals happening this year, only one will transport you to Norway in 30 minutes. It’s the annual Syttende Mai Festival, which has celebrated Norwegian Heritage in Stoughton for over 70 years! So, come for the cream puffs and Lefse, but stay for the Viking Games Strongman Competition.
City Cast Madison's Hayley Sperling caught up with Callie LaPoint, Syttende Mai Fes...
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May 15, 2024 • 19 mins
Illinois, Michigan, and recently Minnesota have all legalized recreational cannabis. Efforts to do so in Wisconsin have gone nowhere in the state Legislature. Even so, Madison is seeing an increasing number of stores selling CBD, Delta-8 THC, and other legal cannabinoids — some of which produce the same euphoric high as the recreational weed that’s illegal in our state.
We spoke with Alan Robinson, cannabis activist and co-founder...
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May 14, 2024 • 27 mins
Abortion has proven to be a leading issue in the 2024 elections. It’s easy to find people fiercely debating the need for anti-abortion or abortion-rights outcomes for their communities. But does Wisconsin have any bipartisan solutions on abortion?
A national nonpartisan initiative called Citizen Solutions organized an experiment with 14 Wisconsinites – six from Madison — who hold widely different viewpoints on abortion to disc...
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May 13, 2024 • 23 mins
Did you know the Madison Children Museum is often cited as one of the best of its kind in the country? For over 10 years, the museum’s director Deb Gilpin has helped inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity for children and adults alike. Host Bianca Martin sat down with Gilpin to reflect on her more than decade of service and what’s next for this cherished institution.
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-...
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May 11, 2024 • 2 mins
Hey there! We are excited to share the trailer for a new special limited series from our friends and colleagues at City Cast Denver. If you’re a fan of what we do at City Cast, you’ll want to check it out:
You’ve probably heard a story about Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. Like, how she got kicked out of a production of “Beetlejuice” for vaping and groping her date. Or, that time she heckled President Biden during his State of the U...
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