City Cast Boise

Happy Halloween, Boise! Lead producer Frankie Barnhill takes the wheel today to grill host Emma Arnold about Boise Halloween memories. We talk Harrison Blvd. vs. Warm Springs candy hauls, haunted houses, corn mazes, and why Emma got arrested at the Crazy Horse in 1994.  Looking for some adult Halloween fun tonight? Emma recommends the Macabre Mass burlesque show at Neurolux tonight, hosted by the...

Happy Friday! Emma’s chatting about the stories of the week with KTVB’s Brian Holmes and City Cast Boise’s very own Blake Hunter. We cover the news about white nationalist leader Kyle Chapman’s plea deal, early and absentee voting so far, and the one year anniversary of Zachary Snow’s killing by Boise Police. Plus, we get into what’s pissing us off — and what’s making us happy — about Boise this w...

8008IES, UDAHO and DZNUTZ? Carolyn Komatsoulis from the Idaho Press is in the passenger seat to talk about all the weird, crude and admittedly funny vanity plates people try to slip by the DMV, and how long-suffering Idaho DMV employees use a variety of tools — including Urban dictionary and mirrors — to crack down on Idaho’s raunchiest submissions.   What would your personalized vanity plat say?...

Power struggles, note-passing, special sessions, oh my! Today on the podcast, host Emma Arnold gets the scoop on the two important — but confusing — questions at the bottom of your ballot this election. Why does the Idaho Legislature want to have the option to work more and what the hell is going on with that advisory question? Idaho Capital Sun reporter Clark Corbin is here to break it down for u...

One thing about Boise: we love our local craft beer. But with more than 20 breweries and counting in the Treasure Valley, the options can be kind of overwhelming. What’s the best place to grab a pint and watch a game? How about the most delicious meal and IPA combo? And where can you get snobby and enjoy the subtleties of your next barrel-aged stout? Today, lead producer Frankie Barnhill is gettin...

Host Emma Arnold talks with local supernatural enthusiast Julie Hahn about Boise’s haunted history. Late-night phenomena at Boise State’s Communications Building, creepy elevators at the Idanha, and the documented disturbances of the Old Idaho Penitentiary. Boise’s full of ghosts! Or at least great ghost stories.  And a quick note: this episode does include some violent imagery and a mention of su...

Host Emma Arnold sits down with Boise State Public Radio Morning Edition host George Prentice and our own Frankie Barnhill for this week’s news chatter. We talk about George’s recent interview with City Councilperson Lisa Sanchez about gatekeeping at City Hall, and the anti-drag legislation that’s being floated ahead of the midterms. Plus, learn what Emma might be for Halloween! Go deeper with thi...

In Boise we give everything a standing ovation, which feels great for performers, but what does it do for the quality of our art? In this episode, host Emma Arnold chats with Jodi Eichelberger (Story Story Night, Alley Rep, BCT) about the pros and cons of Boise’s generous crowds. And, Jodi shares his favorite Story Story Night standing O and (maybe?) changes Emma’s mind about wanting to sit things...

Everyone’s talking about the possible merger between Albertsons and Kroger, which would be a big deal for Boise. But today, City Cast Boise Lead Producer Frankie Barnhill is here to gush about her favorite local grocery chain: WinCo! This place is a gem, even if it’s not as polished as other stores. Contributor Jimmy Dawson joins to share tips for incorporating the WinCo experience into your shopp...

When you think of the American Dream — the house with the picket fence and a yard — you’re probably imagining a nice but modest 2-bedroom starter home that's affordable for a young family. But today on the show, Idaho Statesman reporter Paul Schwedelson joins Frankie Barnhill to talk about why you’re not seeing enough of these kinds of homes on your Zillow search. We also talk about how the recent...

Fall in Boise means one thing to lots of people: Bronco Football is back on the blue turf. But for University of Idaho grads in our city, all this blue and orange swagger can get annoying. So today on the show, two fans will hash it out behind the mic with host Frankie Barnhill. Adam Bridges is a sophomore at Boise State and helps edit The Arbiter student newspaper, and Zach Kellogg is a recent U...

Home prices continue to fall but rent’s still so damn high, the North End stands up to anti-LGBTQIA+ hate, and October weather is…still kind of hot? It’s our first-ever weekly chatter episode, and we’re rounding up the stories that stuck with us this week! Host Frankie Barnhill chats with our Hey Boise newsletter writer Blake Hunter and producer Jennifer Jerrett.  And remember: today is the last d...

Anthony Doerr is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist. But he’s also one of us, Boise! And we are so excited to be talking with one of our all-time favorite authors today. He weighs in on our libraries, shouts out other local writers (looking at you, Alan Heathcock and Kerri Webster), and talks about what it’s like to call Boise home. If you haven’t read Anthony Doerr’s latest novel in which Idaho fe...

We’re not afraid to admit it—Boise’s shopping scene needs a serious revamp. Our closets are hurting! Local thrift stores are filling up with fast fashion items and the best pieces are often being re-sold online. And when it comes to local stores, they don’t always have what we’re looking for.  Today on the podcast, host Frankie Barnhill rants with local fashion-obsessives Kymm Cornelison and Evely...

Election Day is exactly one month away, on November 8. And there’s a lot at stake in this election: voters will choose our next governor and attorney general among other statewide spots, and local legislative and county seats are also up for grabs.  But there’s also some confusion about voting this year — so today — we’re setting the record straight with Boise State Public Radio reporter James Daw...

We’re getting real with Boise’s political TikTok star @socialistlyawkward. Lindsay is the creator of snarky videos that call out Idaho Republicans and break down Boise politics for users to stay informed. Through this video-sharing platform, she’s gained 115,000 followers, with 6 million likes and counting.  But it turns out that for a long time, Lindsay held the same political beliefs as the peop...

Public school teachers in the Treasure Valley are going through it right now. Take the wild growth in schools of the last few years and overlay that with the turmoil of COVID and the messy stew of books bans, politics and bond failures — there’s a lot on their plates. How are they doing? And who is supporting them?  Host Frankie Barnhill is doing a vibe check with Nic Darlinton. He’s an English te...

Calling all ghouls and pumpkin spice latte lovers! October is finally at our doorstep. After the hellishly hot summer and early fall we’ve had, we’re beyond ready for real fall to kick in. Today on the podcast, October’s #1 fan Frankie Barnhill chats with Marissa Lovell with the From Boise newsletter. They have delicious seasonal food and drink picks, plus the best way to get haunted this Hallowee...

We have a lot of options for where to get our news in town, but diversity in local journalism is an issue. In particular, there aren’t enough Latinos in the Boise news scene. But former Idaho journalist and co-founder of Voces Internship of Idaho Nicole Foy is working to change that.  Today on the show, she talks with Frankie Barnhill about why representation in our newsrooms matters and how this...

Are bike bars the most obnoxious or entertaining Boise experience? We’re sure you’ve seen those loud spectacles cruising downtown, usually playing top hits while people dress up in their favorite party theme and whoop it up, pedaling from bar to bar!  Even though bike bars may look a little different than they did a year ago, with no open containers or late night rides, Pedals and Pints driver Cam...

Boise’s music scene has evolved a lot in a decade. When Treefort Music Fest started in 2012, it was this very homegrown thing from a newly formed company called Duck Club, with mostly local music fans checking out mostly local and regional bands. Today, Treefort is still homegrown — but it has matured a lot while helping to put our music scene on the map. Every March, the festival brings thousands...

We may call ourselves The City of Trees, but let’s face it, we live in a desert! Isn’t it time to start landscaping like it? Today, producer Jennifer Jerrett is talking with Anni Jack, the Adult Education Coordinator at the Idaho Botanical Garden, about why we should be thinking about low-water landscapes. But this conversation isn’t just about plants. It’s about who we are. And Anni says somethin...

18-year-old Boise High senior Shiva Rajbhandari loves to ski and runs track and cross country. And as of last week’s Boise school board election, he’s going to have a new project for his free time — helping to shape the future of our public schools. That’s right: a current student is about to be on the school board — a first for our city.  Journalist Heath Druzin chats with host Frankie Barnhill a...

Boise has a long history of punk music, from DIY basement house shows to unforgettable sets at Neurolux. And the genre is alive and well in 2022 — thanks in part to The French Tips. Angela Heileson, Rachel Couch and Ivy Merrell formed the band a few years ago and released their latest album “All the Rage” this spring. But the album almost never saw the light of day; it was delayed for a long time...

We’re two weeks into our state’s abortion ban. But you know what? We’re tired of hearing soundbites from politicians. We want to hear from the people this actually affects: young folks. So today, host Frankie Barnhill is having a heart to heart with Julissa Melendez, a Gen Z abortion-rights activist. In a time of very bad news for reproductive rights in Boise, she made us feel hopeful. You’ll see....