City Cast Madison

What’s a seemingly small project in Madison that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a seamless electrical turbine, so that an existing utility can now have a dual purpose. David is joined by Nic Westendorf, Tualatin’s deputy public works director, to talk about the power of thinking local, using existing tools, and looking ahe...

This week, Madison Police Chief John Patterson gave his quarterly report to the Madison Common Council and announced a new quality assurance department. Madison 365 Executive editor Rob Chappell joins City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin and Creative Producer Rob Thomas with the details. Plus, Chappell explains where the city stands on body cameras with the newly announced private funding from the...

The restaurateur behind Sultan restaurant on Williamson Street has a new cookbook out. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin talks with Sultan Ahmed about “Zameen: Pakistani Roots, Wisconsin Soil,” which adapts his restaurant recipes for home cooks, emphasizes robust South Asian spice cookery, and centers seasonal Wisconsin sourcing while challenging colonial notions of “authenticity.”  Then,...

This week, the Cap Times is hosting its first Photojournalism Summit as part of its 10th annual Idea Fest. City Cast Host Bianca Martin is talking with the minds behind it, Cap Times photo director Ruthie Hauge and reporter Enjoyiana Nururdin. They dig into   the state of photojournalism and the importance of empowering Black journalists. You can still buy tickets. 👋 Wanna talk to us about a...

With six weeks left until the November 3rd election, it’s time to get in the know about the constitutional amendments you will be asked to vote on. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin tags City Cast Madison Creative Producer Jade Iseri-Ramos and  Starting Block Madison founder Scott Resnick to unpack what the amendments actually mean and who supports them. Plus, how worried should we be abou...

We might be months away from Thanksgiving, but Madison’s turkeys are gobbling all around town. They’re snacking on fallen acorns and unsuspecting bird feeders. Host Bianca Martin chats with UW-Madison Wildlife Ecology Professor David Drake about why turkeys thrive in Madison these days and why that wasn’t always the case.  This episode originally published on Nov. 21, 2023 👋 Wanna talk to us...

Would Madison be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and depression recorded near newly transformed, “greened” neighborhood lots. But how did they do it? David talks with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri and special guest Matt Rader, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, about how Philly prioritized r...

Attorneys for the City of Madison are threatening to have the Social Justice Center declared a public nuisance in court. They say police have been called to the Willy Street location more than 300 times since January 2025. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin talks with creative producers Rob Thomas and Jade Iseri-Ramos about the nuanced situation. The team also talks about a proposal to increase...

Have you ever wondered about the history of sausage in Wisconsin? Jesse Brookstein has. In his new book, Best of the Wurst: Weird and Wonderful Stories of Wisconsin Sausage, Brookstein explores the expansive love for Wisconsin sausages, from tailgate brats to Oscar Mayer wieners. On today’s show, host Bianca Martin talks with Brookstein about the meat of his book.  In the second half of the e...

The owners of Forward Football Club and Rally Madison are looking to make some big changes to Breese Stevens Field. Big Top Events also operates the city-owned venue which just celebrated its 100th birthday. Their proposed changes would make the venue more appealing to touring musicians and a future women’s professional soccer team.  Host Bianca Martin talks with Rob Chappell, executive edito...

This October marks the 25th year of the YWCA Madison Racial Justice Summit. Ahead of the two-day conference, City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin talks with Libby Tucci, YWCA’s Learning and Movement Building Director, about making space for hard conversations and centering grief, joy and rest while dismantling systemic racism. Then, Bianca talks with keynote speaker Kazu Haga, trainer and practiti...

Wisconsin is set to receive at least $219 million from Meta as part of a multi-state settlement over allegations the social media company harmed kids. On today’s episode, host Bianca Martin interviews Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, who says at least half of the funds will go to support youth mental health and that Meta must also put in place safety features for minors on their apps. Kaul al...

It may not feel like it right now, but extreme heat is coming for Madison, and Las Vegas might have the answers you need. An already sizzling city, Vegas has continued to experience record-breaking heat in recent years, essentially forcing it to lead the charge in protecting residents from increasingly rising temperatures. City Cast Las Vegas host Jesse Merrick talks with David about the bold move...

The controversy over an AI-driven sculpture coming to the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art continues: in an open letter with hundreds of signatures, artist Noah Peterson urges MMoCA to reconsider its display of  “Diffuse Control.” We heard from MMoCA director Paul Baker Prindle earlier this week, and today Peterson joins the show to explain his perspective and motivation for writing the let...

IRONMAN Wisconsin⁠ is coming to Madison this weekend. Expect closed streets and super fit Madison visitors! For those of us who aren’t triathletes, the feat might seem impossible. But maybe with the right mindset, we could all become IRONMAN finishers? Host Bianca Martin talks with Larry Shapiro, former UW-Madison philosophy professor, IRONMAN Wisconsin finisher, and author of Zen and the Art of R...

A new United Nations report says global warming has hit the point of no return and is set to consistently exceed the 1.5°C benchmark set with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. On today’s episode, City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin talks with Wisconsin State Climatologist Steve Vavrus about 2026’s wild weather, upcoming El Niño impacts, and the likelihood of future severe storms. On the positive...

An upcoming art installation at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art has sparked some controversy due to its use of AI. On today’s podcast episode, MMoCA Director Paul Baker Prindle joins host Bianca Martin to discuss the nature of the piece and the role of contemporary art museums in the present moment. Then, Bianca talks with Chazen Art Museum Chief Curator Katherine Alcauskas about newly-open...

Do you know what kind of surveillance technology is being used in Madison? In Nashville, the city government has blocked numerous measures to install and use it. From license plate readers to drone cameras, the technology is routinely rejected by the Metro Council and mayor, and locals are somewhat split on if that’s for the better. City Cast Nashville host Rachel Iacovone joins “Your City Could B...

This week, the Madison Finance Committee voted unanimously to deny additional funding for the Office of the Independent Police Monitor. The office sought $28,500 to pay for additional staffing and operational costs. At the same meeting, the committee approved giving $100,000 to the Williamson Street Business Stabilization Program. Meanwhile, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is facing communi...

Madison’s first Halal Restaurant Week starts Friday, and eight local restaurants are adapting their menus to be more inclusive of Muslim diners. Executive producer Hayley Sperling breaks down the offerings with host Bianca Martin and local comedian Emily Winter.  Plus, Wisconsin is projected to have a budget surplus of about three billion dollars. The team imagines what they would do with tho...

Genes are just one factor in your odds for developing Alzheimer’s disease. A study from the Center for Health Disparities Research at UW–Madison explores the environmental and societal factors behind the disease. It’s a mission that is supported by a $30.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. CHDR director Dr. Amy Kind joins host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperlin...

September is here! This month will be full of bountiful harvests, neighborhood festivals, and “Is it fall yet?” vibes. Host Bianca Martin, executive producer Hayley Sperling, and newsletter editor Rob Thomas share their picks for things to do and eat this month. Plus, they talk about how to get ready for fall.  ⚓ This month’s guide is sponsored by Forward Theater. Their pick this month is to...

The news has been nonstop for Madison recently. Today, Madison City Council President Sabrina Madison talks to host Bianca Martin about the biggest stories in the city right now — from new updates on the fatal police shooting of Corey Ruiz to the opening of the new men’s shelter and the upcoming budget process. Plus, Madison’s first new library in more than two decades is opening Sept. 25! 👋 Wann...

The Madison airport definitely has a lot going for it, but what it doesn’t have is its own electrical grid, like Pittsburgh’s does. For the past few years, Pittsburgh International Airport has been generating on-site electricity, more than it needs even at peak operation, to fortify itself against the kind of power outages that hit airports (unsettlingly often) across the world. City Cast Pittsbur...

The whole world is mourning country star and philanthropist Dolly Parton, who passed away earlier this week. , Although she’s gone, kids in Dane and Sauk Counties will still get their free book each month from “Aunt Dolly” thanks to a partnership between Madison Reading Project and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Early literacy coordinator Sarah Burke joins the podcast to talk about Dolly’s...