City Cast Portland

It’s farmers market season! And did you know that in the Portland area alone, we have nearly 40 farmers markets happening every week? Today we’re talking with Molly Notarianni, the real-life sister of our lead producer John Notarianni and the former executive director of Oregon's Farmers Market Fund. She’s been in the farm-to-market business for nearly 20 years, and she’s here to answer all of our...

About a month ago, a banner went up in downtown Portland, Maine, that read, “We were here first, Oregon. You’re not even a port.” Of course, both those statements are completely wrong. But why all the hate? Today, we’re talking with comedian Mo Awale, a Portland, Mainer, about our respective cities, their differences, and their many similarities. Seattle loves Portland, Maine. Who would you like t...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about Mayor Ted Wheeler’s proposed daytime camping crackdown on city property, West Linn’s new Gen Z mayor, and the voting out of conservative members from suburban school boards. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week’s Friday news roundup is Willamette Week’s “Dive” podcast host and "Potlander" column author Brianna Wheeler and our very own audio produc...

The Pacific Northwest has a long and complicated history with nuclear power. We have two decommissioned power plants, not to mention all the radioactive waste they left behind. Worrying about melting nuclear reactors or contaminated groundwater feels so 1950s. But here we are in 2023, with NuScale Power, a Portland-area company promising a brighter future and cleaner source of energy in the form o...

A Portland area company is leading the way for a new generation of nuclear power plants. Earlier this year, the U.S. government approved NuScale Power’s design for a small modular nuclear reactor. But what does that mean, exactly? How could it change the world’s energy future? And are they safe? Today on City Cast Portland, lead producer John Notarianni talks with Reuters energy and environment co...

The city and state are looking at offering rebates for people who purchase bikes with pedal-assisted electric motors. They can help you get across town without breaking a sweat and, hopefully, reduce your car dependence. Will Portland embrace the possible new influx of e-bikes zipping through our bike lanes? Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking with Bike Portland editor Jonathan Maus about t...

It’s Oregon Wine Month! Our state has over 700 wineries and nearly a dozen of them are located in Portland. Today on the show, our host Claudia Meza is talking with Eater Portland editor Brooke Jackson-Glidden about why Oregon wine is considered among the best in the world and our favorite places to sip. Local Wine Bars: DAME OK Omens Bar Diane Bar Norman Les Caves 45th Parallel Local Wineries: Bo...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about the return of the traffic enforcement division, our unexpected spring heatwave, and the ever-rising tax burden of living in Portland. Joining host Claudia Meza is City Cast’s director of newsletters, Bryan Vance, and our very own lead producer, John Notarianni.  Stories discussed this week: Portlanders prepare: Record heat possible later this week [...

All those springtime flowers — not to mention the food you’re eating — are all thanks to the work of bees. We’re not just talking about honeybees, either: Oregon has 600 species of bees. Today on the show, lead producer John Notarianni talks with Rich Hatfield, a senior conservation biologist with the Xerces Society who’s studied native bees for 25 years. We’ll talk about why they’re so important,...

Ballots are due on May 16 in Multnomah County, but no judgment if you’re like, wait: what am I voting for? This is an off-cycle election, but there are still a few big issues on the ballot – and at least one that’s turned into a real head-scratcher. Today on the show, lead producer John Notarianni talks with Willamette Week’s Sophie Peel to break down the big-ish races. To be counted, voted ballot...

The 35-story, $600 million Ritz-Carlton Portland is preparing to open this summer. It will be home to some of the most expensive real estate this city has ever seen. So how do we feel about this new slice of Portland ultra-luxury? We’ll break it down with Portland Business Journal real estate reporter Jonathan Bach and Suzette Smith, culture editor of the Portland Mercury. Who would you like to he...

A lot of the news headlines on the rapid growth of artificial intelligence have prophesized a doomsday scenario where computers take over and humanity goes extinct. But if you ask Portlander Les Knight, he thinks that might not be such a bad idea – at least the extinction part. He’s the leader of what he calls the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement, a decades-long effort to convince humans to sto...

Today we’re talking about the dramatic, sudden fall of Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, plus the no-show shenanigans that stopped work at the state Legislature this week. Joining lead producer John Notarianni for our weekly news roundtable is the reporter who broke the news of the Fagan scandal, Willamette Week’s Sophie Peel, as well as our very own audio producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Stories di...

Many Portlanders don’t know that one of the most influential chefs and food writers of the 20th century was born and raised in our city. They might know about the prestigious James Beard food awards, but not much about the man himself…like how this openly gay man living in an age of rampant homophobia started modern food culture as we know it. Today on City Cast Portland, we’re going to change all...

Now that we’re finally seeing a little bit of spring weather, it’s time to get outside and enjoy everything Oregon’s wilderness has to offer! But if you’re planning to pull out your hiking boots and hit the trails, there are a few extra things you should keep an eye on this spring: namely, there’s still a LOT of snow up in the mountains. Today on City Cast Portland, Norther Emily of Wild Solitude...

Oregon has seen a big increase in overdoses in recent years as street drugs laced with synthetic opioids like fentanyl have flooded our communities. But while we passed laws decriminalizing drug possession in Oregon a few years ago, having the tools to test the safety of those drugs comes with stiffer penalties under state law right now. Today on City Cast Portland, we’re looking at a new law the...

Today we're getting to know an iconic Portland character: the Portland Timbers’ suspender-wearing lumberjack mascot. For 12 seasons, that lumberjack was Timber Jim – the alter ego of Jim Serrill. He captured the hearts of fans and the club with his stunts: hanging from rafters, climbing 100 ft poles, and slicing logs. We’re talking with him about his time with the club and the deeply personal mean...

Today on our weekly news roundtable, we’re talking about the Portland Street Response being forced to take part in homeless sweeps, the upcoming task force to address car and retail theft, and the proposed zero-emissions delivery zone downtown. Joining host Claudia Meza today is Althea Billings, news director at KBOO radio and host of the weekly talk show “The Gap,” and our very own lead producer,...

It’s springtime! You should get outside and meet new people! But… how do you do that? What even is a date? Don’t stress, because we’re talking with Eden Dawn, co-author of “The Portland Book of Dates” and co-host of the “We Can’t Print This” podcast. She’s got some ideas for first date activities, romantic hangs with long-time partners, or maybe just a fun day with yourself. Who would you like to...

Today on City Cast Portland, all of your bridge-related questions will be answered; in celebration of the sun finally making its appearance this spring, we’re sharing a fan-favorite conversation we had earlier this year with Multnomah County Bridge Operator Tod Richards.  This episode previously aired on January 30, 2023.  Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Send us an email at portl...

Thanks to the work-from-home boom, more than a quarter of Portland's downtown offices are empty. And housing advocates and urban designers are wondering why we’re not turning them into livable spaces.  Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking with Sergio Palleroni, a professor of architecture at Portland State University and ​​co-founder of PSU's Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative. He’...

If you’ve been to a Timbers game, you’ve probably seen the Portland city flag waving from the stands. It’s been rated one of the best city flags in the country, but its design was once almost ruined by City Hall. Today we’re talking with Ted Kaye, author of the design bible “Good Flag, Bad Flag,” about our flag’s glow-up.  Links: The history of Portland’s flag on the podcast “99% Invisible” Who wo...

Today we’re talking about how to support BIPOC cannabis businesses, why REI is leaving the city, and how a Portland police officer lost his job — twice. It’s our weekly news roundup with host Claudia Meza, Willamette Week’s “Dive” podcast host and “Potlander” column author Brianna Wheeler, and our very own lead producer, John Notarianni. Stories discussed in today’s episode: https://www.wweek.com/...

Baristas from all over the country are in Portland for the U.S. Coffee Championships this week. But last year, Portland’s own Morgan Eckroth took home the most sought-after trophy: Best Barista in the Country. The first Portland barista to do so! We’re cheering them on by airing our chat with Morgan from earlier this year.  This conversation first aired on December 13th, 2022 Who would you like to...

So the Blazers didn’t make it to the playoffs again this year…again. And what started off as a very promising season has fizzled away into another disappointment for fans.  Today on City Cast Portland, host Claudia Meza is talking with sports photojournalist and the co-host of the Shooting Hoops podcast, Dia Miller. She’s breaking down what exactly went wrong and if this is the season that finally...