City Cast Austin

It’s Election Day! And since the City Cast Austin team all voted early, we decided to hold an election of our own. Host Nikki DaVaughn leads the team down a very Austin ballot, and is joined by producer Rishi Bajekal, Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec. The team pitch candidates for who should be the chef for Austin ISD, the Austin musician who wr...

This week we’ll be sharing results from our local elections and discussing what they mean for Austin. But we can’t help but wonder… what’s going on with our City Cast colleagues in swing states? As America white-knuckles its way into one of the closest presidential elections in modern history, City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with the hosts of our shows in swing state cities: Madison, Philly, P...

On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Stephanie Bergara of the Waterloo Greenway and Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to chat about the local news stories on our mind: Why political candidates want to be on Joe Rogan’s podcast, a potential third false fall, and how to celebrate Día de los Muertos.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our...

Looking for a spooky treat for your ears this Halloween? Today, Jeanine Plumer of Austin Ghost Tours joins our guest host, Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, for a virtual tour of Austin’s most haunted haunts. Plus, you’ll never guess what natural element Jeanine says makes Austin more haunted than other cities.  We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, f...

Life in Austin these days is busy, with a contested mayoral race, the continuation of festival season, tons of tasty things to eat and drink, and hopefully some cooler weather with which to enjoy the outdoors even more. So, listen to this episode to get all the best tips on what to eat, what to do, and how to keep your spirits up through the elections and holiday season. Plus, if you’re looking fo...

Although Texas ranks 47th in the country for breweries per capita, Austin is lucky to have an abundance of excellent, diverse beers brewed right here in town. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Ruvani de Silva, an award-winning beverage and food writer, to share her favorite seasonal stouts, a list of iconic Austin-made beer, and what makes Austin’s brewing scene unique.  We’d like to thank Tecovas,...

Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Saturday Night Live cast member, Devon Walker, to talk about what it’s like to be on SNL, the characters he likes playing the most, what he misses about Central Texas — and it’s not just his family. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up...

On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to dish on a few stories that caught our eyes this week: Trouble at the SIMS Foundation, a dramatic hearing at the Texas Capitol, and what’s happening with early voting. Plus, stick around after the roundup for our Don’t Go Gently tip for this weeken...

Austinites waste a TON of food — and at the same time, many in town face food insecurity regularly. Central Austin leaders have committed to addressing this imbalance and overall food insecurity — but what will that actually look like on the ground? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined today by Angela Baucom, the Food and Climate Program Coordinator for the City of Austin, to break down the Austin-Travis...

It’s cuffing season, dear Austinites, and we’re sorry, but some of y’all could really use some help in the relationship department. Have no fear! Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Blaine Anderson, an Austin-based dating coach for men, who honestly has tips for all of us. Spoiler alert: It can be difficult, whether you’re gay or straight, but City Cast Austin is here for you. Plus, stay tuned after...

How did Matthew Odam pick the 40 bars that “capture the spirit of Texas’ capital city,” for his recent Austin American-Statesman guide? Well, it wasn’t exactly the way that you might think. Odam joins host Nikki DaVaughn to explain his criteria and choices.  We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor.  Want some more Austin news?...

In our final “Mayoral Mondays” episode, host Nikki DaVaughn interviews Austin mayoral candidate, current Mayor Kirk Watson. Watson was first mayor of Austin from 1997 to 2001, and was then elected to serve in the Texas Senate from 2007 to 2020. He was again elected as mayor in 2023 to serve a two-year term. Plus, this isn’t the first time we’ve interviewed Watson — we interviewed him back in the s...

This week’s Friday News Roundup is not one to miss, with City Cast Austin’s recap of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, a chat about the plan to convert Congress Avenue into a pedestrian plaza, and the reminder you didn’t ask for but need: Monday is the first day of early voting. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by MOVE Texas’ executive director, Claudia Yoli Ferla, and our executive producer, Ev...

Texas is a battleground in the race for the state’s senate seat — held by Sen. Ted Cruz for more than a decade through scandals, bad press, and a seemingly growing number of haters. But his last challenger lost by only 219,000 votes, and millions of new Texans could cast ballots this year. How will challenger Colin Allred, a Democratic congressman, fare against Cruz? Following a debate between the...

Half of the seats on the Austin City Council are up for election this year, and let’s be honest, these are the races where local voters have the most impact and are also impacted the most. To break down everything Austin voters need to know about the races for council districts 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10, executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Liz Pagano of the Austin Monitor. And for more on th...

In our fourth episode featuring interviews with mayoral candidates, host Nikki DaVaughn interviews Kathie Tovo, who’s no stranger to Austin City Hall. After years serving on neighborhood associations and the Austin Neighborhood Council, Tovo was elected to the Austin City Council and served from 2011 to 2023. She is also a lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture.  Yo...

For today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producer Rishi Bajekal and Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to discuss a few stories from this week’s headlines. On the agenda: A super-cool art show taking place this weekend featuring creations by Austin’s unhoused and at-risk population, the rise in school threats and how they impact students and teachers, and the clo...

If you’re new here, it’s time you’ve tried two-stepping. And if you’re not, then it’s time to dust off those boots and join Austin’s thriving two-stepping scene. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by the perfect guide, Keighley Voorheis, who documents the dancing scene on her social media. We’re talking about the local dance floor circuit, two-stepping field trips, and what makes Austin’s two-stepping...

Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Natalia Contreras, a reporter with Votebeat, to break down the myths, lies, and truths about the process of registering to vote and casting a ballot in Texas. This summer, while one group urged its members to challenge the voter registration of thousands of Austinites, state leadership announced that voters were culled from the rolls. But that was regular voter rol...

The Broadway in Austin season is kicking off now with MJ the Musical, the first of 10 shows — the most to ever come to town. The shows travel in a fleet of trucks, and cast and crew stay in town, bringing micro-booms to the local economy, while also hiring locals, including students at the University of Texas at Austin. But is theater really for everyone? Host Nikki DaVaughn’s guest today, Bob Bur...

In our third “Mayoral Mondays” episode, host Nikki DaVaughn interviews Austin mayoral candidate Carmen Llanes Pulido. She’s a native Austinite, and a community organizer who grew up in the activist movement alongside her father, and joins City Cast Austin to tell Austinites why she deserves their vote for mayor. We’ve already interviewed candidates Jeffery Bowen and Doug Greco, and we’ll publish i...

For today’s Friday News Roundup, Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec join host Nikki DaVaughn to discuss the news that caught our eye this week. On the agenda: An Austin business that struck grain-free chip gold, a crisis in one of Austin’s iconic downtown districts, and the passport that you need to get your hands on — and it’s not the one you’re t...

Who should you see at Austin City Limits Music Festival this year? Which weekend is better? And what are the most crucial items to pack in your tiny bag? With the festival upon us, Deborah Sengupta Stith and Mars Salazar of the Austin American-Statesman join host Nikki DaVaughn to share all their wisdom and help you plan your schedule.  We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western we...

Festivals are big business in Austin, bringing in millions of dollars in taxes, fees, and donations. But what happens with all those funds? It turns out, Austin does its best to keep them circulating to support live musicians, historic businesses, and more in town. In today’s episode, Sylnovia Holt-Rabb, Director of the City of Austin’s Economic Development Department, joins host Nikki DaVaughn to...

The humidity has officially gone down and it’s starting to feel like fall, and Nikki’s got the perfect recipe for a boozy hot chocolate to carry you through the month’s events. And October is packed. In this episode, you’ll hear our best tips for an amazing October in Austin, plus lots of activity recommendations that you’ll only find on City Cast Austin. We’re sharing all the sights, sounds, and...