City Cast Boise

With fewer international visitors to the U.S. this year, the summer is actually shaping up to be a surprisingly good time to fly. So, to help you plan your next trip on a budget, we’re re-running a conversation that our executive producer Frankie Barnhill had with Scott Keyes from GOING. He’s got the inside scoop on scoring cheap flights out of Boise. Want some more Boise insider info? Head over t...

Boise likes to think it’s the belle of the Treasure Valley ball, but is the crown starting to slip? Today on the show, the City Cast Boise team is having a friendly but passionate debate about which city is truly the best in our metro. We’re talking commute times, parks, free parking, nightlife, and politics. Maybe — just maybe — Meridian and Caldwell are starting to outshine the City of Trees?  W...

Boise’s West End is filled with vacant lots, but not for long. The College of Western Idaho is teaming up with a private developer to bring its long-stalled Boise campus to life, sidestepping a major hurdle: voter approval. It’s a bold move, so host Lindsay Van Allen is joined by Idaho Statesman growth and development reporter Nick Rosenberger to break down what kind of ripple effect this developm...

Lindsay Van Allen and all 12 other City Cast podcast hosts (from Austin, Chicago, DC, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Madison, Nashville, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland, and Salt Lake City) compete head-to-head in a high-stakes showdown to answer the question that’s been burning up our company-wide Slack for weeks: which city is the best for a summer weekend trip? From naked bike rides to ‘the country’s...

Idaho’s strict abortion bans have made national headlines, and now a citizen-led initiative is fighting back. Idahoans United for Women & Families Executive Director Melanie Folwell joins host Lindsay Van Allen to explain what the campaign is doing to bring reproductive rights to the ballot, why the Idaho Supreme Court just sided with them, and how they’re trying to make up lost time in gathering...

There is something magical about July in Boise: the days are long, ⁠the river is cool⁠, and the sunsets are cinematic! Host Lindsay Van Allen, ⁠Hey Boise newsletter⁠ editor Blake Hunter, and friend of the show Rachel Spacek are here to help you make the most of the month. From ⁠Botanical Garden summer concerts⁠, to breezy picnic hangouts, and the ⁠tastiest ways to beat the heat⁠, their ideas are s...

Tucked between the river and the foothills, ⁠Barber Valley feels like Boise's backyard⁠ — where new high-density growth meets beloved trailhead living. Executive producer Frankie Barnhill turns the mic on host Lindsay Van Allen to see what all the hype is about and dig into what makes this area one of the city's most quietly compelling neighborhoods. Want some more Boise news? Head over to our ⁠He...

It's been a news-packed week, so host Lindsay Van Allen and producer Frankie Barnhill are here to break down the biggest local stories. They dive into the controversial ‘Hetero Awesome Fest’ that raised more eyebrows than funds, thanks to a podcaster’s racist remarks. And a Utah senator seems set on pushing through a deeply unpopular public land sale proposal, while Idaho’s congressional delegatio...

We’ve all heard the rumors that Hidden Springs is allegedly a hotspot for swingers, so we're separating fact from fantasy. Candice Cook and Erik Zink with the ⁠Impulsive Duo⁠ join host Lindsay Van Allen to pull back the curtain on everything you’ve wondered about non-monogamy in the Treasure Valley. She asks the couple how they navigate jealousy, misconceptions, and what the upside-down pineapple...

Last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision on trans rights has left many LGBTQ Idahoans wondering what the future holds, by exposing big questions about who gets to make deeply personal health care decisions. Jenna Damron from the ACLU of Idaho is breaking down what the decision means for trans kids in our state and what rights still exist after this ruling.   Looking for more info? Jenna recommends...

A proposal in Congress could force the sale of millions of acres of Idaho’s public lands, including parts of the Boise Foothills and some of the state’s most iconic peaks. That section of President Trump’s tax and spending cut bill is being framed as an affordable housing fix, but it’s not a guarantee that any of these acres would be used for housing—let alone affordable housing. Host Lindsay Van...

When a protester engaged with a drag queen named Cookie Pusss at Canyon County Pride earlier this month, it seemed at first like any other video of a protester heckling a queer person. Instead, the queen asked a question that was so disarming, it completely flipped the script and even went viral on social media. JD Hawley, aka Cookie Puss, is joining host Lindsay Van Allen to unpack what led up to...

City Cast hosts are on the pulse of what’s happening in our communities. So Lindsay Van Allen and all 12 other hosts sat down with City Cast CEO David Plotz to talk about creative local problem solving that might work in your hometown too and to commiserate about stressors affecting most of our cities, from unaffordable housing to bike lanes. Learn more about the sponsor of this June 20th episode:...

The Table Rock cross is a familiar part of our skyline. But its origins are tangled in an era of fear and secrecy, when city leaders targeted and arrested gay men — just for existing. So to help us mark Pride Month, we’re re-sharing a conversation our Hey Boise newsletter editor Blake Hunter had with producer Frankie Barnhill — to peel back the curtain on this long forgotten scandal.  Want some mo...

Driving in Boise feels like a constant whiplash between “after you” and “get out of my way!” So, what is behind all of this traffic chaos? Host Lindsay Van Allen is joined by comedian and podcaster Matthew Melton and our Hey Boise newsletter editor Blake Hunter to call out their most rage-inducing traffic gripes. From drivers being dangerously polite, to tailgaters on the connector, and Boiseans i...

In a surprising development, the Idaho Democratic Party out-fundraised their Republican counterpart by a wide margin in 2024. Idaho Statesman reporter Sarah Cutler is sharing her reporting on fundraising gains in the party, and why rural districts are a new focus for them. Plus, how one Boise lawmaker with a legacy name is trying to reinvent the image of an Idaho Democrat. Want some more local pol...

It’s Friday the 13th! So host Lindsay Van Allen is checking in with political scientist Charlie Hunt about President Trump’s fresh endorsement of Gov. Little, even though Little hasn’t announced whether he’s running in 2026. And the Idaho State Police gets cozy with ICE, just as pro-immigrant protests are popping off around the country. Meanwhile, another housing report ranked Boise as one of the...

There's a restaurant in Caldwell where excellence simmers low and slow over an open fire. AMANO has redefined what is possible in the small town and is getting national attention for it, with James Beard Foundation nominations for four consecutive years. Host Lindsay Van Allen is joined by owners Salvador and Becca Alamilla to dive into what makes a meal there so magical, and how the restaurant's...

This year’s college graduates are stepping into a tough job market, with recession rumors, AI-filtered interviews, and plenty of listings but few callbacks. So how are graduates feeling right now? Boise State University graduate Giselle Vega joins host Lindsay Van Allen to explain how she is navigating her job hunt, and why she’s looking for work in other states. Want some more Boise news? Head ov...

There’s an art to navigating the Boise Farmers Market, and we’re letting you in on the secrets. From pre-order hacks, to things you need to grab before they sell out, to reasons to get in a long line — market executive director Amber Beierle is sharing her insider tips with host Lindsay Van Allen. Plus, we’re chatting about what this beloved weekly ritual reveals about our city’s changing identity...

When a teacher’s sign was deemed too political by the West Ada School District, Renaissance High School student Jeremiah Brenot decided he couldn’t remain silent — even if it meant risking his diploma. Today, he joins host Lindsay Van Allen to explain what pushed him to go off-script at graduation, why he challenged the administration, and what he hopes other students took away from his bold stanc...

We’re back with another edition of our Friday news roundup. Executive producer Frankie Barnhill joins host Lindsay Van Allen to discuss how federal budget cuts are already affecting our outdoor recreation options, with forest ranger stations closing just as summer begins to heat up. Then, they untangle Boise Pride rumors by setting the record straight on what’s actually canceled and what folks can...

Canyon County Pride is back, and it’s bigger and bolder than in 2024. But after a year where LGBTQ rights have been under fire, this year’s event is more than just a party. Executive Director Tom Wheeler joins host Lindsay Van Allen to give us a look inside how this year’s festival is growing and evolving. They talk about safety, acceptance, and what it means to celebrate queer joy in a conservati...

Wolves were wiped out in Idaho nearly a century ago, then controversially reintroduced in the 1990s. Now, they are thriving — but the battle over the animal’s future is fiercer than ever. So host Lindsay Van Allen is digging into the political and cultural divides around wolves with the hosts of a new podcast called “Howl”. Reporters Heath Druzin and Clark Corbin are helping us understand what it...

Forget fiscal constraint and local control: Idaho’s new wave of conservative lawmakers are pushing conspiracies and government overreach. Consultant Gregory Graf joins host Lindsay Van Allen to explain his viral, blistering critique of the state’s far-right political machine. Because if banning vaccines, bullying librarians, and punishing dissent is the new conservative playbook — what exactly are...