City Cast Salt Lake

Haunted houses are an absolute blast for everyone — except for host Ali Vallarta. She’s scared of her own shadow! But she conquered her fears in one of Salt Lake’s best haunted houses, the Fear Factory, after a behind-the-scenes tour and pep talk with founder Rob Dunfield. Get tickets to Dreamscapes’ Halloween show here. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram...

If you’re a Salt Laker, you’ve probably seen herds of bikers making their way around town on a Thursday night. This bike ride is lovingly called the 999, because cyclists start on 9th and 9th and hit the pedal to the pavement for a night-long ride at 9 p.m. Host Ali Vallarta spoke to City Weekly News Editor Benjamin Wood, who’s also the man behind the @bikelakecity Twitter account, about what make...

If you follow the Bear River north from the Great Salt Lake up to Preston, Idaho, you will reach the site of the 1863 Bear River Massacre of Shoshone people. In 2018, the Shoshone Nation bought the land back, and it’s now a place of restorative healing — both ecological and historical. Darren Parry, former chairman of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, joins host Ali Vallarta to tell th...

Jazz nation! We’ve got new players and a new coach, but our favorite in-arena host, Nayo Campbell, is back for another season. When she isn’t courtside, Nayo is directing and producing videos highlighting the personal stories of Utah Jazz players. In this episode, we demand to know how she found out that Collin Sexton juggles, and what she thinks will make this season great. See you at the FREE Sa...

Girl, put those records on. Host Ali Vallarta talks with State Room Presents Marketing Director Kylie Fitch about where to find the best record store for all your vinyl dreams. Looking for the best selection? Perhaps just a place to thumb through the music of the past? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Record stores mentioned in the episode: Randy’s Records Diabolical Records Elevator Jazz Shop...

Sugar House residents aren’t thrilled about a Kum & Go Gas Station at the corner of Sugar House Park. Is it too late to stop this project? Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson is optimistic, but first we have to make zoning cool. Submit constructive comments about the Kum & Go Gas Station conditional use permit here. Browse the parks bond proposals you will vote on this November at slcparksbo...

Move over, state seal, Utah is getting a new flag. Fun! But the question is how can this piece of fabric better represent us? And dammit, does it have to be a beehive? Host Ali Vallarta talks with University of Utah design professor Elpitha Tsoutsounakis about what makes a good flag and why we should even have one. Purchase the ‘Skiing Dino’ flag shirt here, proceeds benefit the Rocky Mountain Inn...

Host Ali Vallarta and lead producer Emily Means round up this week’s news, including public transit cuts, polling on the GSL and everything you could possibly need to know about boxelder bugs. Call or text the City Cast hotline anytime at (801) 203-0137.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSaltLake and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on...

A mountain lion recently attacked a woman in Millcreek Canyon while she was out for a morning run on the popular Pipeline Trail. You’ve probably hiked there before, too! Host Ali Vallarta talks with Faith Heaton Jolley with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources about what to do if you’re ever face-to-face with a cougar. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram...

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single person in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a good chicken tender. And listener, we’ve got ‘em. Host Ali Vallarta talks with Salt Lake Tribune culture reporter Palak Jayswal about where to get the best chicken tendie in the valley.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSaltLake and...

If you know anything about Utah’s inland port, it’s probably that it’s hugely controversial. The port authority has navigated murky waters since the Legislature hastily approved it in 2018 — and the results of a recent audit paint a picture of questionable dealings and fiscal irresponsibility. Host Ali Vallarta talks with environmental activist Deeda Seed, a longtime opponent of the port, about wh...

Season three of the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City premieres on Wednesday! Ali Vallarta and Deseret News Features Editor Meg Walter share their predictions after a season three trailer filled with little dirty secrets and big dirty sodas. Read Meg Walter’s piece about the passing of legendary Salt Lake restaurateur Valter Nassi. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on...

Salt Lake City reached a $3 million settlement with the family of Linden Cameron, an autistic teenager who was shot and severely injured by city police in 2020. Host Ali Vallarta talks with Salt Lake Tribune criminal justice reporter Paighten Harkins about the historic settlement and what happens next. Call or text the City Cast hotline anytime at (801) 203-0137.  Subscribe to our daily morning ne...

Happy Hispanic/Latino Heritage month, mi gente. Producer Ivana Martinez and Ali Vallarta talk with Axios Salt Lake City’s Kim Bojórquez about assimilation in language and owning your Latinidad. Also, what's it like to be a Latina in the media right now.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSaltLake and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on...

It’s 1 a.m. — last call at your favorite bar in Salt Lake. Midnight has come and gone, and you’re hungry. But our beloved city’s late-night eating options are pretty limited. Producer Emily Means talks with host Ali Vallarta, a diehard night owl, about the best places to satisfy your cravings after midnight. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSalt...

Utah’s housing affordability woes are probably one of the definitive issues of our generation. Raise your hand if you’re a millennial who can buy a home right now? Didn’t think so. Deseret News reporter and assistant editor Katie McKellar has been keeping up with the ups and downs of Utah’s housing market. Host Ali Vallarta talks with Katie about the state of buying and renting right now. Subscrib...

Cuffing season is upon us, and in the wise words of Olivia Rodrigo: “It’s brutal out here.” It’s been 10 years since the launch of online dating apps, and people are over it. Today on the pod, Ali Vallarta talks to gender and sexuality researcher Lisa Diamond about how to combat dating app burnout.   Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSaltLake and...

Producer Ivana Martinez joins Ali to round up this week’s news. We talk about the lack of OB/GYNs in Utah, Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s big proposal to create more deeply affordable housing in SLC and the potential return of the Olympics in 2030. Call or text the City Cast hotline anytime at (801) 203-0137.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSaltLake...

If you’ve seen a movie that was filmed in Salt Lake, then you’ve probably seen prop master Scott Arneman’s work in action. From creating rivers of blood to finding human look-alike appendages, he’s seen it all. Host Ali Vallarta spends a morning with Scott to hear his best stories and learn how the local film industry has changed. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on...

Sure, I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream. But what about our vegan and lactose-intolerant friends? What do they get to scream for? Producer Emily Means talks with Jill Onofrietti of The Skoop Instagram account about the best vegan ice cream options in Salt Lake. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSaltLake and Twitter @CityCastSLC. L...

September is National Recovery Month. In Utah, 80% of adult drug overdoses are due to opioids. Today, a conversation between host Ali Vallarta and Dr. Jennifer Plumb, medical director of Utah Naloxone. Dr. Plumb explains exactly how to identify and reverse an opioid overdose by administering Naloxone. Check out these resources to learn more about reversing overdoses. This episode first aired on Ap...

We heard a rumor that some people in Boise think they invented fry sauce. Scoff! Ali Vallarta joins our friends Frankie Barnhill and Evelyn Avitia from City Cast Boise to debate the past, present, and future of Salt Lake’s favorite condiment. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSaltLake and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Sa...

Producer Ivana Martinez joins Emily Means to round up this week’s news. We’re talking about Salt Lake’s winter homeless shelter plans, the Senate race between Mike Lee and Evan McMullin, protests at a BYU pride event, and whether the proposed Utah flag designs are any good. Call or text the City Cast Salt Lake hotline any time at (801) 203-0137.  Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here. You...

When dance instructor Kim Luke moved to Salt Lake, she realized tap dancing just wasn’t really a thing here. So to revive this dying art form, she started a tap class for adults that’s become hugely popular — especially among older adults. They call themselves “The Salt Water Tappies … all the way from Shirley Temple Square.” Emily Means visited (and took!) the class. She talked with Kim about her...

We all love our big parks here in Salt Lake: Liberty, Pioneer and Sugar House Parks all have a lot to offer. But this show isn’t about them. Today, we’re highlighting those tiny pocket parks you might never know about if you don’t know where to look. They’re scattered throughout neighborhoods and cover about two acres or less. Emily Means talks with pocket park enthusiast Bryant Heath about his fa...