City Cast Austin

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...

Almost 34 years to the day after Robert Brashers brutally murdered four Austin teenagers, four men who’d been wrongfully accused — and in two cases, convicted — of the crimes are beginning the path to exoneration. Last week, Travis County District Attorney José Garza filed legal paperwork that starts the process to clear the names of Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen, Maurice Pierce, and Forest We...

Amid all of the best-of lists, none may be more important than this one. On today’s episode, executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Nicolai McCrary of The Infatuation to round up all things Austin food. McCrary shares the best bite he ate this year — spoiler alert, he loves chicken wings — plus, the best new restaurants of 2025, and some tips for folks who still might want to snag a rese...

After AISD school buses captured alarming footage of dangerous Waymo driving around Austin, the company announced this week that it will voluntarily recall its software to implement key programing updates. This news comes as Elon Musk doubles down on his plan to expand Tesla Robotaxis' presence in Austin, while also removing the in-car safety moderator by the end of the month. Executive producer E...

After a game of musical chairs, it’s finally clear exactly who is running for what in Texas’ March 2026 primaries. And especially among Austin-based candidates, there were some big moves. Executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Blaise Gainey of KUT News and The Texas Tribune’s Eleanor Klibanoff to talk about who’s in, who’s out, and what we’re watching as Texas ramps up for another round...

It’s been a big year for Austinites with lots of highs and lows, from the very public back-and-forth over Cheer Up Charlies to the city’s new $1.1 million logo and so much in between. In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producer Elissa Castles and newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to recap what they saw as hits and misses when it comes to Austin events, civics, and more.  Get more...