City Cast Salt Lake

Brace yourself: The Utah Legislature is back in town. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break down what they accomplished. Also in town: a new almost-czar of the Great Salt Lake. Plus, the Living Traditions festival hits SLC this weekend, and Emily makes the case for moving the 9th and 9th whale to a different street. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on...

You’re hosting a summer party, and your grand vision includes a stunningly crafted cheese board that gets every guest talking. But you don’t know a brie from a blue — so where do you start? Adri Pachelli, director of education and senior manager at Caputo’s Market & Deli, joins host Ali Vallarta to make the case that cheese is for peasants and explain why it tastes best with bubbles. Subscribe to...

Do you really know what’s in your lease? We don’t blame you if you only skimmed it — there’s a lot of legalese muddying just what it is you agreed to as a renter. Today, we revisit a conversation between host Ali Vallarta and Marcus Degen, an attorney with the tenant advocacy organization People’s Legal Aid. Marcus helps us break down what exactly is in Utah’s boilerplate rental agreements.  This...

School is almost out for the summer, but Salt Lake City School District leadership still has a lot of homework to do. It’s been a tumultuous few years for the district, from leaked texts illustrating their contention to forcing out its first Black superintendent. KUTV 2 education reporter Chris Jones joins host Ali Vallarta to explain why it could be a cruel summer for new and returning school boa...

Finding love in Small Lake City is hard. But romance writer Christina Hobbs, half of the bestselling duo Christina Lauren, argues Utah is full of places to discover love. Christina joins host Ali Vallarta to share her favorite date night spots in Salt Lake and convince us to believe in love stories. Find Christina Lauren’s new book here: The True Love Experiment  Subscribe to our daily morning new...

Campaign signs for Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Rocky Anderson appear to be dominating big streets throughout town. But do signs equal votes in this election? Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the stories of the week, including adding two years to the Great Salt Lake’s lifespan. Plus, Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria gives last-minute gift ideas for Moth...

The Kilby Block Party hits the Utah State Fairpark this weekend — in a big way. Andrea Racine, head of artist relations at S&S and the voice of our theme music, says they’re expecting 25,000 people at the festival each day. She joins host Ali Vallarta to lay down some ground rules for how to be a good concert goer. Listen to our full theme song by Mitokandrea. Get details on the Living Traditions...

This weekend is a gardening showdown in Salt Lake, with Wasatch Community Gardens and Red Butte Gardens hosting their annual Spring plant sales on the same day. No green thumb? No problem! Experimental gardener Madison Boerner has tips for renters, basement dwellers, and plant killers on how we can all grow something beautiful — even in the sidewalk cracks. Subscribe to our daily morning newslette...

PornHub has turned off the tap in Utah after a new law took effect requiring adult content sites to verify a user’s age. Now, State Sen. Todd Weiler (R-Woods Cross) is getting a lot of angry messages about his bill. Host Ali Vallarta asks him if this is the war he planned to wage — and if it’s still worth the fight? Just a note this episode makes mention of sexual violence. U.S. Teen Girls Experie...

What are the essential rules for surviving Salt Lake? From how to not overthink what you’re wearing to drink order protocol –– don’t order a double! –– host Ali Vallarta is joined by producer Ivana Martinez, to lay down our unofficial rules for how to thrive in Small Lake City.  Learn trail etiquette at Trails Are Common Ground. City Cast Salt Lake explores every bar in Salt Lake County. Listen to...

Mayor Erin Mendenhall is asking the Salt Lake City Council to approve her $445 million budget proposal. How do we make this process more interesting? Plus, the City unveiled new plans for 2100 S. between Dee’s and Chick-fil-A. And, DJ Oscar’s Exchange Place block party returns! Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to pick it all apart in our Friday news roundup. Check out the city’s b...

It’s not every day we see our neighbors’ houses fall off a cliff. But Utah made national news recently when a viral video showed two Draper homes sliding down a hillside and into a ravine. Salt Lake Tribune columnist Robert Gehrke joins host Ali Vallarta to try to explain who’s at fault and whether this could happen again. Listen to Why Aren’t These Vacant SLC Buildings Housing? Subscribe to our d...

Salt Lakers love our urban forest. Over the past few years, the City has added thousands of trees to our landscape, largely due to an initiative by Mayor Erin Mendenhall. But who’s watering all these trees? Lead producer Emily Means puts on her reporter hat and joins host Ali Vallarta to dig into the challenges and opportunities of the city’s tree-planting efforts. Check out the Tree Equity Score...

Spring has arrived in Salt Lake City, so it’s time to say “good morning” to our black bear neighbors. Oh, you didn’t know we have bears in Utah? Join the club. Wes and Jeff Larson of the Tooth and Claw podcast join host Ali Vallarta to share their tips for handling an encounter with a black bear and their personal stories about their research run-ins.  What to do if you meet a mountain lion. Subsc...

You may have heard there’s nothing to do on Sundays in Salt Lake, due to the cultural influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But that’s only kind of true! Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria joins host Ali Vallarta to open your mind to embracing slower Sundays, including brunch recommendations for every vibe. Plus, we have tips for buying liquor on a Sunday. Subscribe...

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall hosted an “Ask Me Anything” on homelessness this week. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about their takeaways. Plus, Salt Lake City Public Library staff file their intent to unionize. And with 80-degree temps on the horizon, Ali and Emily share what they’re manifesting this summer. Listen to our interviews with SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall...

There are few people in this world who feel a fiery passion for salads: Michelle Obama, rabbits and our very own Shireen Ghorbani. Shireen, a community health director for Intermountain Healthcare and greens enthusiast, joins host Ali Vallarta to make her defense about why salads are sexy meals and the best spots in Salt Lake to grab a bite — or a fistful. This episode originally aired on Dec. 6,...

In the summer of 2020, protestors took to the streets calling for an end to racism in policing. Salt Lake City responded by establishing the Racial Equity in Policing Commission. Almost three years later, host Ali Vallarta asks outgoing chair Nicole Salazar-Hall what the commission has accomplished — and how it squares with their initial goals. Apply for Salt Lake’s Racial Equity in Policing Commi...

Salt Lake City and Utah leaders — and frankly, most Utahns — are super hyped on the prospect of bringing another Olympics to our state. But not all SLC residents are convinced we need a do-over of the ‘02 games — including host Ali Vallarta. Catherine Raney-Norman, a four-time Olympian and chair of the Salt Lake City-Utah Committee for the Games, makes her case for bringing the Olympic dream back...

Salt Lake’s big transportation play is our grid system, but despite its simplicity, it can be tough to master. Sweet Streets board member Johnnae Nardone shares her best tips for reaching corners of our city in everything but a car. Plus, she makes the case for the bus over the minivan. Listen to What Makes the 999 So Magical? by City Cast Salt Lake.  Check out our tips for going car-less. Salt La...

The New York Times recently posed a big question: Are Crumbl cookies any good? Lead producer Emily Means and host Ali Vallarta dare to answer. Plus, they break down the week’s top stories, from mud rain to a pond’s purpose.  Watch out for road closures during the Salt Lake City Marathon. Please send Ali your best bike lock recommendations at saltlake@citycast.fm or by texting 801-203-0137. Subscri...

Happy holidaze! It’s been three years since Utah’s medical cannabis program launched. As City Weekly’s annual 420 issue hits the stands, news editor Benjamin Wood joins host Ali Vallarta to give an update on medical card distribution and a vibe check on the future of legal cannabis in Utah. Read City Weekly’s reporting on Utah’s medical cannabis program.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter....

It’s time for spring cleaning, and we know you’re headed to the thrift store with your donation pile in tow. Thrifting has become increasingly popular in the last couple of years, with more people hitting up the Goodwill bins or the local DI to find hidden treasures. Producer and thrifting enthusiast Ivana Martinez joins lead producer Emily Means to share her tips and tricks for shopping second ha...

A new law changing how Utah officials pick judges takes effect on May 3. It was one of those “blink and you’ll miss it” decisions made by the Republican supermajority Legislature this year. But the ripple effect could touch some of our most hot-button issues. Simón Cantarero, a professor of legal ethics at Brigham Young University, joins host Ali Vallarta to explain his concerns about the law’s po...

You’ve found it: your special outdoor spot. But if you let people in on the secret, do you run the risk of drawing too much traffic to paradise? And if you don’t share those spaces, what kind of legacy are you enabling? Western Desk founder Madeline McGill joins host Ali Vallarta to examine gatekeeping of our natural lands and who writes the rules for navigating them. Take the Trails Are Common Gr...