

City Cast Madison
City Cast
Join us every weekday morning for can’t-miss conversations about what’s happening in Madison, with a dose of local news to keep you up to speed. Host Bianca Martin collects people wherever she goes, like an endless conga line. On City Cast Madison, she peers into our city’s soul with a journalist’s skepticism and an optimist’s heart.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 25, 2025 • 35min
Evers Is Out, Humane Society Needs Help, and AI Makes the Front Page
It’s Friday, so the City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week! Host Bianca Martin, executive producer Hayley Sperling, and newsletter editor Rob Thomas chat about the Dane County Humane Society hurting for resources, an AI blunder that made it to the front page of the Wisconsin State Journal, and activities around town including Disability Pride Festival and AtwoodFest. Plus, Gov. Tony Evers announced he won’t seek a third term in office. Ready to dive in?
Mentioned on the show:
Madison’s Best Accessible Parks, Restaurants, and Public Spaces [City Cast Madison]Madison’s new sprayground opens at Rennebohm Park [City of Madison]
The Gentlemen 60th Anniversary [The Bur Oak]
👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
✉️ Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 25th episode:
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Madison Magnet
Capital City Theatre
Overlook
American Players Theatre
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 24, 2025 • 29min
Ten Months After Fire, The Victory Cafe Is Back
The Victory cafe has been a staple of the east side SASY neighborhood for years. But 10 months ago, a fire broke out and put the shop’s future in jeopardy. After months of reconstruction, building updates, and community support, The Victory is back and busier than ever. In celebration of the shop’s re-opening, we caught up with owner Patrick Downey to learn more about cult-followed cafe.
🧀 Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers.
👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
✉️ Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 24th episode:
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Madison Magnet
Capital City Theatre
Overlook
American Players Theatre
Merchant by Rule No. One Hospitality Group
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 23, 2025 • 32min
What Happens When Overdoses Spike in Dane County
Recently, Public Health Madison & Dane County issued an overdose spike alert after five confirmed overdose response calls were made within a single 24-hour period. Currently the cause of the spike is unknown. So what’s going on? To learn more, we talk to public health supervisor Julia Olsen.
You can find resources mentioned on the show here. Plus, Where to get free Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and syringes.
👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 23rd episode:
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Madison Magnet
Capital City Theatre
Overlook
American Players Theatre
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 22, 2025 • 37min
Is American Players Theatre Worth the Drive (and the Hike)?
The American Players Theatre in Spring Green has kicked off its season and we’ve got the full theater lineup for you! For Must See Madison, host Bianca Martin talks with Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians to dig into this season’s plays: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Fallen Angels,” “Picnic,” “Death of Chuck Brown,” “Anna in the Tropics,” “Tribes,” and “The Winter’s Tale.” They also talk about accessibility at the theater, tips for attending, what to do if it rains, local food and hotel options, and everything in between.
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 22nd episode:
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Madison Magnet
Capital City Theatre
Overlook
American Players Theatre
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 21, 2025 • 41min
How Wisconsin’s New Budget Will Impact You
Earlier this month, Gov. Tony Evers signed a new biannual budget that in part brings relief to tax filers, conditional raises to UW employees, and increased funding to special education. Host Bianca Martin speaks with Cap Times state government and disinformation reporter Erin McGroarty to understand how the new budget will impact Madison residents.
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members-only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
If you enjoyed today's interview with Northwestern Mutual's Managing Partner, Sandy Botcher, learn more here.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 21st episode:
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Madison Magnet
Capital City Theatre
Overlook
American Players Theatre
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 18, 2025 • 37min
Restaurant Week is Coming! So is Coldplay! Plus, Public Market is Delayed (Again)
It’s Friday, and the City Cast team Madison is here to round up the news of the week. Host Bianca Martin chats with newsletter editor Rob Thomas and executive producer Hayley Sperling about changes at Goodman Pool, construction delays for the Madison Public Market, and tasty deals for Restaurant Week. Plus, Coldplay is coming to town this weekend, bringing street closures and $600 resale tickets.
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 18th episode:
Madison Opera
Goodman Community Center
Wisco Home Goods
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 17, 2025 • 28min
It's Easy To Compost in Madison, We Promise
We talk a lot about farm to table on the podcast, but today we’re flipping the script and talking about table to farm. From household scraps to restaurant kitchen waste, Elliott Gilfillan knows a thing or two about turning discarded food into garden gold. Gilfillan, founder of Brainplate Grows, chats with host Bianca Martin about the positive impact composting can have on our planet and community.
More local composting programs:
Dane County Waste and Renewables
Green Box
Curbside Composter
Earth Stew
Local Farmers Markets
Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers.Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 17th episode:
Madison Opera
Goodman Community Center
Merchant by Rule No. One Hospitality Group
Wisco Home Goods
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 16, 2025 • 27min
How a UW Team Found America’s Oldest Dinosaur
Did you know the UW Geology Museum is home to fossils from the oldest known dinosaur in the northern hemisphere? The two bone fragments belong to a creature called Ahvaytum bahndooiveche that lived 230 million years ago and were discovered in Wyoming in 2013 by a UW-Madison team led by Dr. Dave Lovelace. Host Bianca Martin chats with Lovelace about Ahvaytum, other Northern Hemisphere dinosaurs, and the collaboration with the Northern Arapaho Tipo and Eastern Shoshone Tipo Tribal Historic Preservation Offices.
The UW Geology Museum at 1215 W. Dayton St. is free and open to the public.
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 16th episode:
Madison Opera
Goodman Community Center
Wisco Home Goods
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 15, 2025 • 31min
Why Are There So Many Mosquitos in Madison This Summer?
Every conversation Madisonians have this summer seems to eventually turn to mosquitos. Are they really that bad this year? TL:DR – they are! To find out why, City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin talked to Lyric Bartholomay, co-director of the Midwest Center of Excellence for Vector-Borne Disease. They dig into this season’s swarms, long-term trends with mosquitos, the threat of disease, and safety precautions you can take.
Find the Repellent that is Right for you [EPA]
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 15th episode:
Madison Opera
Goodman Community Center
Wisco Home Goods Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 14, 2025 • 34min
Do You Live in A House With A Racial Covenant?
If you rent or own a house in the Madison area, your home may have a discriminatory racial covenant in its deed. Dane County officials have identified around 4,000 properties with deeds that have outdated language prohibiting people from certain races and ethnic backgrounds from buying or freely occupying the property. To better understand this issue, host Bianca Martin talks to producer Jade Iseri-Ramos about her recent experience amending her own home’s deed and denouncing its racial covenant. Then Bianca speaks to the executive director of the Dane County Historical Society, Rick Bernstein, about the history of this racist housing practice and to Dane County Executive Melissa Agard about how residents can take action.
Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 14th episode:
Madison Opera
Goodman Community Center
Wisco Home Goods
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices