City Cast Madison

Election Day is April 1. In case you missed it, every single Madison City Council seat is up for grabs. But what does the City Council do anyways? And how can you stay engaged with the people making the decisions that impact your daily life? We caught up with outgoing District 2 Ald. Juliana Bennett to get the scoop. Want to know about the statewide elections on your ballot? Check out our conversa...

In case you somehow missed it, the spring election is right around the corner! Early voting starts March 18. There’s plenty to be excited about, from the hotly contested state Supreme Court race to the proposed constitutional amendment on voter ID. To get a better understanding of the statewide choices all Wisconsinites will see on their ballots, we spoke with Cap Times state government reporter A...

Another Friday means it’s time for another Friday news roundup! This week, the team dives into the drama unfolding at Kavanaugh's Esquire Club as well as how federal job cuts are impacting Wisconsin. Plus, the Madison community remembers Tony Robinson Jr. 10 years after his death.  Mentioned on the show: GoFundMe for Esquire Club Staff Federal Funding Cuts Could Be “Disastrous” for UW [🎧 City Cas...

Spring is on its way, which means farmers' markets, CSA boxes, and fresh local produce will be here soon. One local non-profit is gearing up for a busy growing season with new leadership at the helm. State Representative Francesca Hong is stepping into the role of board president for Rooted, which offers opportunities for urban farming and distributes produce to underserved local communities.  Hos...

When it comes to cities getting what they want from the Wisconsin state Legislature, it’s all about who you know. To help get the right people paying attention to its needs, the City of Madison recently hired The Welch Group, a high-profile, conservative-led lobbying firm. To get his take on whether or not this is a good move for the city, we spoke with former Madison mayor Dave Cieslewicz. Wanna...

Across Wisconsin and across the nation, local TV news teams are shrinking. Earlier this year, Allen Media Group — which owns Madison’s WKOW — announced it would scrap local meteorologists and turn weather forecasts over to The Weather Channel in Atlanta. The media giant later reversed its decision but had many people wondering: is the future of local TV news at risk? We caught up with media expert...

National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants partially fund hundreds of research projects at UW-Madison each year. NIH covers about 55% of the indirect costs of research funding on campus, but last month they announced a new standard indirect rate of 15% across all NIH grants. What does this mean for researchers at the university?  Host Bianca Martin sat down with the Director of the Wisconsin Insti...

We’re saying goodbye to February with a Friday news roundup! This week, the team is talking about transportation in its many forms. Executive producer Hayley Sperling is on the Metro beat, giving details on an east side bus crash and the latest on contract negotiations between Metro workers and the city. Meanwhile, newsletter editor Rob Thomas digs into why the Dane County Regional Airport had a n...

March is almost here, which means spring is just around the corner and Madisonians are itching to emerge from their winter hibernation and dive into everything the city has to offer. In our monthly guide, the City Cast Madison team has recommendations on what to do, see, and eat in March. Host Bianca Martin has the scoop on film fest activities, newsletter editor Rob Thomas may have found his new...

You’ve most likely noticed Dan Yoder’s handy work when driving through Madison. His company, Sign Art Studio, is responsible for the city’s most iconic signs: the huge new Orpheum marquee on State Street, the classic restored Badger Liquor sign a block away, the elegant, retro cool-looking Harvey House sign, and hundreds more. Bianca Martin sat down with Yoder to find out just how one becomes a “s...

There’s no question about it, Madison is in a housing crisis. But how did we get here and what do we do about it? The city has a plan, and it’s an ambitious and contentious one at that. To get insight on the plan and how we can expect Madison’s neighborhoods to change as our city grows, host Bianca Martin spoke with none other than the mayor herself, Satya Rhodes-Conway.  Wanna talk to us about an...

The state’s legislative session is in full swing, and so far, some of the ideas being brought to the floor by Republicans mirror the agenda President Donald Trump has been pushing in Washington, D.C. To get the scoop on what’s been proposed and how likely any of these initiatives are to be passed into law, host Bianca Martin speaks with Wisconsin Watch statehouse reporter Jack Kelly and statehouse...

It’s time for another Friday news roundup! This week, host Bianca Martin is joined by executive producer Hayley Sperling and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos. The team digs into results from this week’s primary election, key takeaways from Gov. Tony Evers’ budget address, progress at the Center for Black Excellence and Culture, and complaints from some of Madison’s Black senior citizens. Mentioned on the...

Wisconsin is currently weathering one of the worst flu seasons in the past decade. In Dane County, hospitals are full of children and adults dealing with respiratory illnesses. So how do we keep ourselves healthy and help our bodies recover from sickness? We spoke with Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians to get her suggestions on what to cook and what ingredients to keep on hand w...

Winter is here — do you know where to park? Alternate side parking is in effect through March 15, meaning you have to park your car on the correct side of the road each day to avoid getting a ticket. If you live on the isthmus this applies whenever there’s significant snowfall and the city declares a snow emergency. Confused? Former producer Dylan Brogan spoke with Madison Streets Superintendent C...

Less than a month into his second term as president, Donald Trump has signed more than 60 executive orders into law. Some of those orders are already being challenged in court, including one that would cut off federal funding for hospitals that provide gender-affirming care for patients under 19 years old. The order has left some Wisconsin families — and health care providers — with a lot of quest...

The City Cast Madison team is here to wrap up the week with another Friday news roundup. This week, we’re getting you prepped for next Tuesday’s primary election. We’re also got some food news: the east side Ohio Tavern is getting new owners and Madison-born food delivery startup EatStreet has filed for bankruptcy. Plus, why did the county’s pick for a new Human Services director withdraw her acce...

Happy Thursday! Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and we’re rounding out our Love Week with some tips and tricks for making a gourmet meal at home. Break out your cookware, because Chef Patrick O'Halloran from The Deliciouser is here to teach you how to impress your date in the kitchen. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on I...

Happy humpday, Madison! On this third day of Love Week, we’re gettin’ a little freaky. Have you ever wanted to explore your kinky side? As it turns out, Madison has a thriving community of people who like to explore their more unconventional interests together. To get the scoop on Madison’s kink scene, we talked to Lili Luxe, a local consent advocate and longtime host of many of Madison’s kinkiest...

Welcome to day two of City Cast Madison’s Love Week! Today, we’re turning inward and talking about the importance of self love. In times of turbulence, how can we give ourselves and those around us more grace? Khenchen Konchog Gylatsen Rinpoche is a Buddhist monk who founded the Drikung Kagyu Dharma Circle of Madison, which has met weekly at the Wil-Mar Center since 1992. He gives tips on how to q...

In honor of Valentine’s Day, this whole week on City Cast Madison, we’re talking about love! To kick things off, our team took our microphones to the streets to get your takes on Madison’s dating scene in 2025. And boy, did y’all deliver. Host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling share their stories and insights too. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-31...

This week on the Friday news roundup, we’re talking about workplace misconduct, political protests, and one of Madison’s favorite pastimes — naming our city’s heavy machinery. Wisconsin State Journal reporter Lucas Robinson joins the conversation to talk about his reporting on an investigation into the job performance of the Dane County Regional Airport’s retiring director. Host Bianca Martin has...

Where can you find a lineup of world-class chefs creating specially crafted menus tailored specifically for the season? Why, Paoli of course. Through April, Seven Acre Dairy Company is hosting the Frost to Flower dinner series, which brings culinary legends from across the nation to Wisconsin for a unique dining experience. To find out more, we caught up with the owner of Seven Acre Dairy, Nic Min...

It’s no secret that Madison loves its sports teams. From the UW Badgers to the ‘Mingos and the Nightmares, the fans always fill the seats. Now, there’s a new team to cheer for — LOVB Madison professional volleyball. The team’s inaugural season just kicked off and to get the scoop on what they’re all about, we caught up with Head Coach Matt Fuerbringer and founding team member Lauren Carlini. Wanna...

Awards season is upon us, and while blockbuster films and Oscar contenders have been getting headlines everywhere, in Madison, we’re doing things a little differently. All throughout the month of February, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting a weekly film screening showcasing movies you won’t find anywhere else. To get the scoop on the lineup and learn more about Madison’s film scene...