City Cast Madison

Believe it or not, the Aug. 13 primary election is right around the corner. We’ve already covered the ins and outs of how to vote in this election and today we’re digging into who and what you’ll be voting for come Election Day. Host Bianca Martin spoke with Cap Times state government reporter Andrew Bahl to get the details on the candidates and referendums on the ballot.  Mentioned on the show Ca...

The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Newsletter editor Ava Wojnowski recaps recent flooding, host Bianca Martin has an update on a downtown development (bye bye Essen Haus!), and executive producer Hayley Sperling falls down a rabbit hole investigating whether an upcoming taco and margarita festival is legit or not.  Mentioned on the show: ‘Death by a thousand cuts’: Rains...

Who doesn’t love a little outside time? Ideally, paired with a beverage and good friends. Cap Times photographer Ruthie Hauge has been cataloging local outdoor gathering spaces in what started as a pandemic passion project but has grown into the ultimate list of Madison-area patios.  Host Bianca Martin caught up with Ruthie to get the scoop on the latest and greatest patios in our city and beyond....

With decades of experience under her belt, there’s no question that Sylvie Rosenthal is a master of her craft. But in the world of woodworking, which has been dominated by stereotypical big, burly men, Rosenthal — a queer woman — knows what it’s like to be underestimated at every turn. Host Bianca Martin spoke with Rosenthal about the discrimination she’s faced and how she’s leveraged her past tra...

The City Cast Madison crew is back with another edition of Must See Madison, and this time, we’re ballin’ on a budget. Host Bianca Martin rounds up some of Madison’s best free activities with executive producer Hayley Sperling and newsletter editor Ava Wojnowski. Join us as we venture around town highlighting Madison’s must sees. Where should we go next? Send us your suggestions for a future show!...

Election season is officially upon us! First up is the fall partisan primary on Aug. 13. To get the details on election day, absentee voting, our (infamous) ballot drop boxes, and everything in between, host Bianca Martin spoke with deputy clerk Jim Verbick of the City of Madison City Clerk’s Office.  Mentioned on the show MyVote Wisconsin Madison in-person absentee voting locations [City of Madis...

All eyes have been fixed on Milwaukee this week as the Republican National Convention has taken over Wisconsin’s biggest city. Host Bianca Martin caught up with Wisconsin Public Radio political reporter Anya van Wagtendonk to get an inside look at the convention and what folks in Madison should be watching. Meanwhile in Madison, executive producer Hayley Sperling joins Bianca to talk about the cit...

When thinking about Madison’s food scene, the first items that come to mind usually involve a whole lot of meat and dairy. But one of the city’s newest restaurants is challenging that perspective. Mad Rabbit Cafe opened earlier this year in the former home of La Kitchenette on Willy Street serving an all-vegan menu. City Cast Madison host Biana Martin caught up with restaurant owner Nate Anger to...

Kiki Schueler has been hosting intimate concerts in the basement of her far east side home since 2005. This week, Kiki’s House of Righteous Music will host its 400th show! (And yes, there will be cake.) Host Bianca Martin caught up with Kiki herself to get the inside scoop on how Kiki’s House of Righteous Music came to be and how you can get a ticket to the next show. Mentioned in this episode Kik...

Once called "Madison's Ellis Island," the Greenbush neighborhood used to be home to large populations of Italian, Jewish, and Black residents. But an urban revival plan in the mid-20th century decimated the neighborhood and displaced its communities. Now, the area is witnessing a revival. Spots like Leopold’s, Fabiola’s, and the Greenbush Bar are new staples of Madison’s Greenbush neighborhood, so...

For the first time in state history, Wisconsin has enacted a law that allows law enforcement agencies to charge public records requesters for the cost of redacting video or audio material, like body camera footage. The legislation has rattled local reporters, public officials, and police transparency advocates for its retaliatory nature and overall vague language.  Executive producer Hayley Sperli...

The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin, Hayley Sperling, and Ava Wojnowski recap major court cases, allegations of discrimination against UW-Madison, and a look ahead at your potential weekend plans. Mentioned on the show: Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway Celebrates Wisconsin Supreme Court Ruling Reinstating Ballot Drop Boxes [City of Madison] Ballot dr...

Luna’s Groceries first opened on the southwest side of Madison in 2019. It quickly became a local staple with its healthy and diverse food options and strengthened community bonds through its annual block party. Now, Luna’s is expanding with a second location set to open later this year on South Park Street. Host Bianca Martin caught up with Luna’s owner Mariam Nunez to see what’s in store for the...

As a professional home maintenance technician with more than a decade of experience, Mercury Stardust can fix just about anything. And as an activist with millions of followers across her social media channels, she’s taught countless people how to live life with more compassion. Known online as the Trans Handy Ma’am, Mercury has built a massive community through her DIY home repair videos and has...

City Cast Madison’s new producer and new Madison resident Phil Surkis has been out on the town taking in your suggestions for how to experience Madison at its best. Today he’s back to report on his latest adventures — including his first fish fry! — along with host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling. It’s time for another installment of Must See Madison. And, if you have a sugges...

Madison is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top cities for bicyclists and pedestrians. In fact, Madison was recently named the 2nd safest city for pedestrians out of the largest 101 metropolitan areas across America. But none of that happened by accident, it’s taken years of planning and careful consideration to turn Madison’s streets into what we recognize today. And the city is already...

Madison can often be found at the top of many “best of” lists, but did you know our city has one of the best flags in the country? The North American Vexillological Association rated the designs of a whopping 312 flags and Madison’s got top marks. Host Bianca Martin sat down with Ted Kaye, the nation’s foremost authority on flag design and author of the NAVA booklet “‘Good’ Flag, ‘Bad’ Flag”, to c...

City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with hosts from all 13 City Cast daily local podcast hubs to talk about what stories they’re watching in their hometowns that are likely to impact yours too. Listen in for how Bianca Martin's story stacks up against the rest. Don’t forget to VOTE FOR US for Madison Magazine’s Best of Madison 2024 awards! City Cast Madison is up for best local podcast and our new...

Tenney Park, Olbrich Gardens, and food carts — oh my! The City Cast Madison team is back with another installment of Must See Madison, where we take on Madison’s must-see attractions and hidden gems. This week, producer Phil Surkis explored Madison’s natural beauty and indulged in some good eats. He caught up with host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling to debrief his latest disc...

School’s out, summer is in session, and if you have a kiddo, you might be wondering what to do. Host Bianca Martin caught up with Aaron Seligman, the writer and publisher behind the Macaroni KID Madison website, to get all the best restaurants, parks, and pools to bring your littles and bigs to this summer.  Macaroni KID’s recommendations: 2024 Fourth of July Events Around Madison Summer outdoor f...

The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week, and what a week it’s been. Host Bianca Martin is joined by executive director of WayForward Resources Ellen Carlson to recap how Madison’s food pantries are struggling to find solutions to the growing issue of food insecurity. Additionally, executive producer Hayley Sperling and interim newsletter editor Ava Wojnowski join to hel...

If you’re new around here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Madison community.  There’s an abundance of activities to experience and enjoy in Madison this July, including festivals, art fairs, and fireworks. City Cast Madison’s Hayley Sperling, Ava Wojnowski, and Phil Surkis round up some of their favorite July highlight...

Wild weather and extreme heat have been affecting us all here at City Cast Madison, so we wanted to learn more about the science behind why. Host Bianca Martin sits down with Steve Vavrus, state climatologist and director of the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, to chat about Wisconsin’s “Lost Winter”, being a drought-free state, and what it means to be a climate haven. Why Madison Has Been So H...

We’ve been asking you, our listeners, as well as the readers of Madison Minutes to suggest your favorite, most iconic Madison experiences. Why? Because City Cast producer Phil Surkis is very new to town. So with your help, we’ve been putting him through a sort of Madison immersion therapy and then talking about it on Tuesdays. We think it’s working! Phil received more than a few suggestions to go...

Summertime in Madison is always such a treat, so City Cast Madison wants to maximize our time outdoors by enjoying live music at this year’s Concerts on the Square series on the Capitol Square. This free weekly summer concert series, which kicks off this Wednesday, is organized by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and has been a staple Madison tradition since 1983. Host Bianca Martin sits down with...