City Cast Austin

As Austin keeps getting bigger, so does its comedy scene, and lately it feels like everyone's talking about it. From national media attention to local comics breaking out and making it big, Austin comedy really seems to be having a moment. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by local comedian Izzy Burger, who hosts Ladies Night at the Velveeta Room; and Dave Buckman of ColdTowne Theater to discuss what'...

After 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed by the U.S. Border Patrol during an anti-ICE protest in Minneapolis on Saturday, Austinites are feeling increasingly anxious about the possibility of heightened immigration activity here at home. On our inaugural Tuesday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producers Elissa Castles and Eva Ruth Moravec to discuss how Austinites are respon...

It’s a new year, and even in Texas, that means there are new laws that can catch the unaware in a crime. But how well do you know our existing statutes — like our oyster-related felonies or the ordinance that says it’s illegal to throw things off of Mount Bonnell? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Geoff Burkhart, Travis County Executive for Community Legal Services, to talk about new crimes for 202...

You've probably heard that Austin is bracing for a winter storm this weekend. But, with posts circulating online exaggerating the severity, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. Fear not! On this week's Friday News Round Up, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Austin's own Avery Tomasco, meteorologist at CBS News, to break down the truth on what we can expect and how to best prepare for the f...

Not wanting to miss any Awards Season fun, the City Cast Austin team is out with our very first “Best Of” episode — but you won’t find these categories anywhere else. Tune in to hear host Nikki DaVaughn, producer Elissa Castles and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec debate on Austin’s best places to find hotties, scream or cry in public after a breakup, and — this is a tough one — our best outdoo...

As the climate has changed, Austin’s allergy seasons have morphed into more of a year-round suffer fest, do-si-do-ing smoothly from cedar or juniper, to grass, then ragweed, and oak. And right now, we’re in the thick of cedar season, which is absolutely loving this weather. Host Nikki DaVaughn, a victim of allergies herself, is joined today by Dr. Neha Reshamwala, doctor and founder of Frontier Al...

Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis is changing the department’s policy after a 5-year-old girl and her Honduran mother ended up in federal custody and then deported upon calling 9-1-1 for help. The incident has thrown into question exactly how local police interact with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which local city council members are insistent on keeping at a minimum. Host Nikki DaVa...

After Renee Macklin Good was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minnesota last week, protests erupted across the nation, including right here in Austin. Local protesters have flooded not only the Texas Capitol and Austin City Hall but also out in the suburbs, in Cedar Park, Round Rock, and Pflugerville. On this week's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is...

Kendra Scott rose to fame right here in Austin, building what is now a billion-dollar jewelry company. But there's more to her story than business success. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Texas Monthly contributor Dina Gachman, who recently wrote about Scott, to talk about her power and influence in Austin, why the city was fertile ground for growing her brand, and why giving back has always been...

Is your New Year's resolution to make new friends? Don’t worry Austinites, City Cast Austin has got you covered. Host Nikki DaVaughn gets the lowdown on how to make friends as an adult with Erinn Knight, co-founder of Where Y’all At Though; and Elle Beecher, who founded The Board Walks. With the loneliness epidemic still popping up in the news, it is more important than ever to build connection an...

At the end of every year, major dictionaries crown an official “Word of the Year.” This year’s picks included “slop,” “rage-bait,” and “parasocial.” So naturally, the team started wondering, what would Austin’s word be? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producers Elissa Castles and Eva Ruth Moravec to peer into their crystal balls and decide which word will best define Austin in the year ahead. Do...

About 10 people and 200 homes were lost in the July flooding on Sandy Creek, many of which were in Travis County. After millions of dollars spent and earmarked for recovery efforts, and nearly six months have gone by, how are the flood survivors faring? KXAN’s Grace Reader joins host Nikki DaVaughn to talk about her recent reporting on Travis County’s 9-1-1 call logs from the July 5 emergency, and...

Austin city staff has settled on a recommendation for redesigning Sixth Street, and there’s one thing missing in this bicycle-friendly town: Bike lanes. In today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and contributor Eric Webb to talk about the new plan. And, in a new lawsuit filed in federal court in Austin, the Texas American Federation of Teach...

On January 8, 1969, two University of Texas students were brutally murdered and the city of Austin barely noticed. Amid the nation’s first modern mass shooting, political violence littering the end of the decade, and the escalating Vietnam War, this shocking crime slipped through the cracks. But why was such a violent act erased from public memory? Host Nikki DeVaughn sits down with Texas Monthly...

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump arrested and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, vowing to seize control of the country's rich oil industry. But the impacts of this international escapade can be felt right here at home in Austin. Host Nikki DaVaughn chats with Hearst columnist Chris Tomlinson to dig into the long-standing relationship between Texas and Venezuela, how these devel...

From fancy New Year’s Eve celebrations to setting intentions and resolutions, and participating in Dry January, traditions abound this time of year in Austin. So, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producers Elissa Castles and Eva Ruth Moravec to debate which annual celebrations of the passage of time we love, and which we hate. Plus, the City Cast Austin team shares a few 2026 resolutions for the C...

Nobody understands a city’s pulse quite like a City Cast host — and that makes them the best predictors for 2026’s biggest local stories. City Cast Austin host Nikki DaVaughn joins CEO David Plotz and the other 12 hosts from across the network to talk about the big changes coming to our cities, from political shifts to data centers. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our ⁠He...

Austin really does have it all: stage shows and live music, scenic hiking trails, and a food scene that never stops surprising. The variety the city has to offer is next level, and this month, the mix is especially on point. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and guest J. Summar to guide you through the plates, places, and performances worth checking out right now...

Austin's new million-dollar logo caused a lot of controversy this year and despite petitions to “stop” it, it is officially up and running on the city's social media accounts and website. The wavy A, in colors inspired by our “greenbelts, lakes, skyline sunsets, and bluebonnets,” replaces a seal that was designed as part of a contest back in 1916, as well as hundreds of department-specific logos....

With Texas being the home to several major U.S. cities, which one is actually the best? Our colleagues over at City Cast Houston, host Raheel Ramzanali and executive producer Laura Isensee, join City Cast Austin host Nikki DaVaughn and producer Elissa Castles to get to the bottom of it. Between entertainment, food, affordability, and outdoor space, does Austin have what it takes to win?  Want some...

Just call us “Oprah” — as we wrap up 2025, the City Cast Austin team had to share some of our favorite things of the year. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about the best things we ate this year — thanks to Casa Bianca, Allday Pizza, and Jupiter Supper Club — as well as our favorite drinks of the year (have you tried...

Crime has long been a concern in downtown Austin, especially on Sixth Street. That's why Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri, who represents the area, has supported rolling out new safety strategies aimed at restoring confidence and revitalizing the city's core. As the holiday season brings an influx of visitors, are those efforts making a difference? Host Nikki DaVaughn chats with Qadri to discus...

Texas' so-called Bathroom Bill is now in ⁠full effect⁠ and enforcement of this law remains murky. Still, this week Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a ⁠tip line⁠ to encourage residents to report suspected violations. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to discuss the ⁠bill's effects⁠ and how the city is ⁠fighting...

For decades, Austinites have been known to live on the healthier side of life — Whole Foods was founded here, our greenbelts go on forever, and people cycle year-round. But in recent years, the health movement has changed somewhat, and is now represented in large part on popular podcasts, in a growing number of parent-requested vaccination exemptions, and increasingly, by politicians. On today’s e...

With holiday events coming out the wazoo, the City Cast Austin team decided to share some of our best tips for surviving the holiday season. Host Nikki DaVaughn and producers Elissa Castles and Eva Ruth Moravec are talking practical tips — like how to get out of awkward conversations when your boundaries fail you  — along with tips for parties and potlucks (don’t forget to send us pics of your bri...