City Cast Pittsburgh

Tereneh Idia has been a voice for local Black women through her art and writing, but she is taking a break from the city. In her last column for the Pittsburgh City Paper, she decided to answer a question she's been posed before: “What would I tell a Black woman about moving to Pittsburgh?" Idia opens up to us about the challenges of being a Black woman in our city and where she's headed next. Our...

The Pittsburgh Glass Center may be the hottest recurring character on reality shows this year. The local institution has been renowned in the glass art community for years, but the average Pittsburgher might not have realized what a gem we had in our city. That changed with shows like Netflix’s “Blown Away” and the Disney+ Christmas Special “Best in Snow,” which feature glass artists from the cent...

Getting a tattoo requires trust and vulnerability, and some tattoo artists have taken advantage of that. The #TattooMeToo movement started several years ago, when women and queer folks began speaking up about the sexual abuse they’ve faced in tattoo shops.  Around that time, local tattoo artist Susie Humphrey opened Sanctuary in Lawrenceville with the goal of providing a safe space for people to g...

Let’s face it, the holiday season can be stressful. Whether you’re visiting family or spending it alone, we’ve got tips on how to find peace this winter from former Pittsburgh ballerina Eva Trapp, who left the competitive dance world to found the new Sneha Yoga and Wellness Collective in Lawrenceville. Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Insta...

In the 1960s, sick or injured people would get taken to the hospital in the backseat of a cop car or hearse — if they were picked up at all. It wasn’t until a trailblazing group of Black men from the Hill District started saving lives in their own community that the country began to develop a system for emergency medicine. Known as the Freedom House Ambulance Service, this team of Pittsburghers be...

Have you ever gotten a tattoo that you regret? It's the risk that comes with permanently inking your skin, and local tattoo artist Jess Scutella wants to help cover up harmful imagery. They join us to talk about designing beautiful coverup tattoos, free of charge, for people who've had a change of heart and want to erase symbols of hate or violence on their body. You can find Jess on Instagram and...

It’s the Friday news roundup! The team's getting you prepped for Light Up Night this weekend, sharing some fun funicular history as we wait for the Monongahela Incline to reopen, teasing a cool new walking tour on Downtown’s Fourth Avenue, and tackling how to have a holiday with less food waste. As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journalism.  Our own Francesca Dabecco on how to...

We just had our first snow day in Pittsburgh! While some local ski bums might be ready to hit the slopes, both Seven Springs and Hidden Valley are set to open later than in previous years. Why? You can probably guess: climate change. Vail Resorts, which bought both hills, announced that they wouldn’t open Seven Springs until after Thanksgiving and Hidden Valley until December 23rd. Charles Donnell...

Dietary restrictions and food allergies can be a real damper on all of the delicious holiday dishes, but they don’t have to be. Pittsburgh food blogger Liz Fetchin is with us to dish on all of the allergy-friendly recipes in her new e-cookbook, An Octofree Thanksgiving. With a grocery list, timeline, and alternatives to comforting classics, Fetchin will have you ready to serve everyone at your tab...

Pittsburgh’s immigration court closed six months ago, forcing people to either travel across the state to make their case in Philadelphia or attend their hearings virtually, which can be a challenge for immigrants without a computer or stable internet connection. Laura Perkins from the Latino advocacy group Casa San Jose joins us to discuss where things stand six months since the closure and how h...

From sandwiches to salads, Pittsburgh has a long history of putting fries on just about everything. City Cast Pittsburgh host Morgan Moody speaks with Sarah Grey, a development editor for O'Reilly Media, about the city’s obsession with fries. You can read her fantastic article about Pittsburgh’s unique culinary tastes and history here.  Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re a...

It’s the Friday news roundup! A blue wave swept through Pennsylvania on Election Day. Democrats won both the races for governor and U.S. Senate, and they even seem poised to take back control of the State House. City Cast Pittsburgh host Morgan Moody and City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri speak with Spotlight PA’s Capitol Reporter Stephen Caruso about what the blue wave means for the future of poli...

Funeral director Sarah McAlee is a soup-lebrity on the North Side. She goes by brothmonger, and you’ll have to sign up for her newsletter if you want to where to snag her hearty creations. Hear about her journey from the morbid kid to comfort-maker-in-chief, plus all her best-kept, soup-making secrets.  Our newsletter is fresh daily at 6 a.m. Sign up here. We’re also on Twitter @citycastpgh & Inst...

Ahead of the election, all eyes were on the Keystone State thanks to competitive races for US Senate, governor, and more. So, what happened yesterday? From the gubernatorial race to local contests, the City Cast Pittsburgh team is breaking down which way the swing state swung. If you want to read up a bit more on our elections, WESA has been covering them in detail. Our newsletter is fresh daily a...

This time of year stinks in Pittsburgh, and not just because it’s election season. City Cast Pittsburgh producer Elizabeth Kauma is with Ana Hoffman, Director of Air Quality Engagement at CMU’s CREATE Lab, to talk about the other source of stench in our city: pollution. The CREATE Lab worked on an app that lets Pittsburghers report and track smells across the county. Here is the link to check whet...

Mid-term elections are tomorrow! While our statewide races are getting a lot of national attention, we wanted to help you make sense of some of the local contests and ballot questions that matter. The City Cast Pittsburgh team is breaking down everything you need to know ahead of November 8th. Here are a few great resources for getting up to speed on the election: Pittsburgh City Paper’s Election...

It’s the Friday news roundup! Election Day is around the corner, so our own Morgan Moody is breaking down some of the biggest statewide races with the help of City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri. Looking to move past the ridiculous campaign ads, cut through the misinformation, and get down to where the candidates actual stand on important issues? We’ve got you covered. As always, our Friday shows ar...

A new Pittsburgh-shot film is premiering this weekend! “Dear Zoe” follows Tess, a teenage girl played by “StrangerThings” star Sadie Sink, who grapples with the tragic death of her younger sister, Zoe. It’s based on the book by Pittsburgh author Philip Beard, who joins us to talk about what inspired the story and how it got to the big screen. Plus, our very own Morgan Moody talks about her experie...

While Philly sports teams are killing it on the other side of the state, Pittsburgh’s on the struggle bus. And we’re wondering: would things be different if we had a professional basketball team? So we’re revisiting our conversation with Steel City transplant Tyler Batiste about the ‘Burgh’s on-court legacy and whether — someday — we just might get a team of our own.  Tyler is the managing editor...

It’s officially raccoon hunting season in Pennsylvania. While these garbage-loving creatures make some of us uneasy, wildlife advocates want us to think twice before laying traps. Rebecca Reid, cofounder of Scrap the Trap, is here to talk about dealing with our furry frenemies more humanely. Here are Rebecca’s top tips for responsible wildlife management: Think preventatively. Just because you don...

George Romero’s 1968 movie “Night of The Living Dead” is a cult classic. The horror flick is considered the godfather of the flesh-eating zombie genre and it was filmed in Pittsburgh with local talent. Judith O’Dea, better known as Barbara in the movie, may have been turned into a ghoul in the end, but she’s joining us to talk about what it was like making the iconic film. Consider this your Hallo...

It’s the Friday news roundup! Prepping for Election Day is stressful but not to worry, the City Cast team is clearing up some candidate confusion and talking about important voting deadlines. Plus, we’re learning why Pittsburgh pigeonsshould be revered and discussing the the Pens’ 90s throwback jerseys.  As always, our Friday shows are powered by great local journalism.  Pigeons at Acrisure Stadiu...

Four years ago today, a gunman killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill. The city of Pittsburgh, and especially the Jewish community, is still grappling with grief from that tragic day. City Cast’s Mallory Falk grew up attending services there. She spoke with Maggie Feinstein, director of the 10.27 Healing Partnership, about how to process heavy emotions and honor the m...

After years of teaching abstinence as the “expected norm,” Pittsburgh Public Schools recently updated its sex ed curriculum to be more comprehensive and inclusive. But some of our listeners are still scarred by what they learned — or didn’t! — in schools throughout the region.  Mary Jo Podgurski, director of the Washington Health System Teen Outreach Program, is the sex ed teacher we wish we had....

Does it seem like election ads are getting worse and more unavoidable every election...and like candidates get away with stretching the truth or outright lying? Stephen Caruso, Capitol Reporter for Spotlight PA, is here to talk about the wild claims ads make, who they're intended for, and what the memeification of campaigns could mean for future elections. You can find all of Stephen's election co...