City Cast Austin

In this episode, host Nikki DaVaughn chats with Lloyd Maines, an influential musician and producer considered to be a part of Austin’s — and Texas’ — musical royalty. From his early days in Lubbock to his iconic performances on Austin City Limits, Lloyd shares his journey and insights into the vibrant Austin music scene. We touch on his unique path to becoming a top-tier musician without formal le...

Taking a month off of drinking alcohol, during January or in any other month, can do magic to your body, — and could reduce your chances of getting certain types of cancer. Plus, it could also impact safety on Austin’s roadways. In today’s episode, Austin Public Health’s Medical Director, Dr. Desmar Walkes, talks to host Nikki DaVaughn about the recent research from the U.S. Surgeon General, and t...

Back when we were younger, we’d play a game called “F/M/K,” where we’d decide who among three people we would, ahem, freak, marry, or kill. So for today’s episode, the City Cast Austin team decided to throw it back and play a version of the game with our local celebrities. Tune in to find out how we feel about Joe Rogan, Elon Musk, Sandra Bullock, Vince Young, Jesse Plemons, Elijah Wood, and so ma...

With snow (or at least very cold weather) on the forecast and the Los Angeles fires top of mind, host Nikki DaVaughn sits down with Sara Henry, interim chief administrative officer for Austin’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management division, to talk about emergency preparedness. She takes us behind the scenes to tell us how the city’s first responders get activated upon an emergency, and what...

There’s more news about Sixth Street reopening to weekend traffic, and we’re breaking it down today on the Friday News Roundup, along with other stories that caught our eye. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to also discuss local layoffs at the Alamo Drafthouse, next week’s winter weather, and our plans for the wee...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. may have only visited Austin once during his lifetime, but he left his imprint all over this city, from MLK Boulevard to the Dr. King statue at the UT campus and beyond. Host Nikki DaVaughn talks to East Austin historian Harrison Eppright about what the city was like in the time of MLK, and his legacy here in town. And a note: Listeners will hear the n-word in this episo...

It’s been a few months since Lisa Davis took over at the Austin Police Department, and she’s already made some big tweaks. But what else does she have planned for revamping APD’s approach to transparency and community policing? And how will she repair the tenuous relationship with Austin’s City Council and City Manager? Host Nikki DaVaughn asks her about it all, in an interview at APD headquarters...

Today, the 89th Texas Legislative session kicks off at the Capitol Building down on Congress Avenue, and y’all, it’s truly a marathon, not a sprint. So, executive director Eva Ruth Moravec sat down with City Cast Houston host Raheel Ramzanali and KUT’s politics reporter, Blaise Gainey, to share notes on the lawmakers and issues they’re keeping tabs on, their best tips for cutting through the noise...

Music is an enormous part of Austin’s culture, so doesn’t it seem obvious that Austin would help support the music industry and keep the culture alive? Nicole Kelpadlo, the interim director of the Red River Cultural District, says creating the district and building support has been challenging, but nothing’s stopping them now. Plus, hear where in the district you can grab a late-night bowl of home...

On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Kelsey Bradshaw, our Hey Austin newsletter editor, and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about these freezing temperatures we’ve been having, and how the city plans for inclement weather. Other news on the agenda: How you can help count Austin’s unhoused population, the latest on the plan to reopen Sixth Street to vehicular...

Austin’s food scene has been getting some major attention lately, but Nadia Chaudhury, former Eater Austin editor who’s now editing Eater Northeast, has been on the pulse of it for 10 years. In today’s episode, she shares her 2025 hopes and dreams for Austin restaurants and chefs, as she and host Nikki DaVaughn predict the next (and former) food trends, the celebrities that will blow up our dining...

Basketball star, Shark Tank alumnus, comedian, entrepreneur, and so much more, Fran Harris, is fully focused on one thing right now: Bringing a Women’s National Basketball Association team to town. The time is now, she argues, and the WNBA is looking to expand. But what would the team be called? And who might be their superfan? Tune into Harris’ interview with executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec t...

Austin’s crazy growth has slowed down, and in some cases even gone negative, with black and Hispanic Austinites, particularly with kids, moving to the suburbs. But there’s so much more to our city’s demographic changes, and who these newcomers are (spoiler alert: Not Californians!). City Demographer Lila Valencia joins host Nikki DaVaughn to dispel your assumptions about who’s been moving to town,...

Host Nikki DaVaughn checked in with Travis County Judge Andy Brown to find out how the county is spending the voter-approved tax increase for childcare, and when residents can access help. Plus, they discuss a decline in accidental opioid overdose deaths, the potential of a commuter train between San Antonio and Austin, why District Attorney Jose Garza needs his own security budget, and how the co...

For our first Friday News Roundup of 2025, we’re looking ahead instead to make some predictions that may be a little self-fulfilling. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to tell you who we’d like to interview this year, what we’d like to chat about as a team, and the stories we predict we’ll be coming back to cover over and ove...

You might think that things have slowed down now that the holidays are behind us, but even during this slower month, there are a bazillion things to do in Austin. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Austin Monthly editor Madeline Hollern and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about what to do this month (don’t miss Free Week!!), where you should eat, and what to drink, whether you’re partaki...

New Year, New Austin? City officials estimate there are roughly $25 billion worth of construction improvements currently underway in Austin, projects that will dramatically change the way people move around this growing town. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Kelsey Thompson, a transportation reporter at KXAN, to discuss the big projects that will impact our area’s planes, trains, and automobiles....

If you're sick of explaining to your family why you're still single, start blaming Austin. Despite our city skewing young, with a median age of 34, and with great weather most of the year and an endless list of things to do, it’s a dating dead zone. But why? Host Nikki DaVaughn peeled back the layers of dating suckiness with Rose McMackin, a writer who penned a story for Austin Monthly Magazine, “...

Dead bodies keep on popping up in Lady Bird Lake. Another one was just found on Friday, and while the police say there is no evidence of foul play, that might not convince your conspiracy theorist uncle or crime junkie best friend. Not sure how to tell them the truth about the supposed “Rainey Street Ripper?” City Cast Austin has got you covered. Host Nikki DaVaughn and Zo Qadri, an Austin city co...

In our last Friday News Roundup of 2024, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to break down Austin City Council’s final meeting of 2024, during which members gave a pretty big gift to Preservation Austin by designating a building on East 12th Street as a landmark. Plus, we talk about how the Vox Media layoffs are affe...

The holidays are a perfect time to catch up on some flicks you may have missed this year — so producer Rishi Bajekal is joined by Austin Chronicle editor and film critic Kimberley Jones to talk about the best movies of the year. Plus, hear Kimberley’s favorite theaters in town, and what she’s got her eyes on for 2025.  Learn more about the sponsor of this December 19th episode: Tecovas Want some m...

There are about half as many air traffic controllers as there should be at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport, and that — combined with shortstaffing at TSA and lots of construction underway — is causing some major nightmares, especially during the holidays. KUT’s transportation reporter, Nathan Bernier, joins host Nikki DaVaughn in explaining how things got so bad, and what’s being done t...

When Austinite Guy Benson went to the very first Trail of Lights as a kid, he never imagined he’d be sitting on the coveted throne 60 years later. The duo that play Santa and Mrs. Claus — Benson and his wife Deborah Parsons — join newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to talk about what they bring to Austin’s holiday season, and the gifts on Austinites’ lists this year.  Learn more about the sponsor o...

Want to get tipsy with Frosty or lit like a menorah this holiday season? Tune in for a breakdown of Austin’s best holiday pop-up bars, plus the drinks you have to try making at home as the temps cool down. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Sushmita Malakar, an Austin mixologist and blogger, to talk about festive libations and more. Learn more about the sponsor of this December 16th episode: Tecovas...

November has come and gone, but we’re still voting in Travis County — there’s a runoff election in three area races, so don’t shirk your civic duty! For this week’s Friday News Roundup, KXAN’s city hall reporter, Grace Reader, joins host Nikki DaVaughn and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec in breaking down the races on the ballot: An Austin Independent School District school board seat, Austin C...