
City Cast Madison
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.
Latest episodes

Feb 13, 2025 • 23min
No Reservation? You Can Be the Chef This Valentine’s Day
Happy Thursday! Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, and we’re rounding out our Love Week with some tips and tricks for making a gourmet meal at home. Break out your cookware, because Chef Patrick O'Halloran from The Deliciouser is here to teach you how to impress your date in the kitchen.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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 13th episode here:Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 12, 2025 • 31min
Step into the World of Madison’s Kink Scene
Happy humpday, Madison! On this third day of Love Week, we’re gettin’ a little freaky. Have you ever wanted to explore your kinky side? As it turns out, Madison has a thriving community of people who like to explore their more unconventional interests together. To get the scoop on Madison’s kink scene, we talked to Lili Luxe, a local consent advocate and longtime host of many of Madison’s kinkiest events.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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 12th episode here:Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 11, 2025 • 29min
A Madison Buddhist Monk's Guide To Self-love & Compassion
Welcome to day two of City Cast Madison’s Love Week! Today, we’re turning inward and talking about the importance of self love. In times of turbulence, how can we give ourselves and those around us more grace? Khenchen Konchog Gylatsen Rinpoche is a Buddhist monk who founded the Drikung Kagyu Dharma Circle of Madison, which has met weekly at the Wil-Mar Center since 1992. He gives tips on how to quiet your ego and bring mindfulness into your routines.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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 11th episode here:Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 10, 2025 • 27min
Is Madison Really a Top City For Singles?
In honor of Valentine’s Day, this whole week on City Cast Madison, we’re talking about love! To kick things off, our team took our microphones to the streets to get your takes on Madison’s dating scene in 2025. And boy, did y’all deliver. Host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling share their stories and insights too.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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this February 10th episode here:Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization (PLATO) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 7, 2025 • 33min
Airport Investigation, Fraud at Goodman, Madisonians Protest, and Name the Plows
This week on the Friday news roundup, we’re talking about workplace misconduct, political protests, and one of Madison’s favorite pastimes — naming our city’s heavy machinery. Wisconsin State Journal reporter Lucas Robinson joins the conversation to talk about his reporting on an investigation into the job performance of the Dane County Regional Airport’s retiring director. Host Bianca Martin has an update on the fraud investigation happening at Goodman Community Center; and executive producer Hayley Sperling gives context to this week’s political protest at the Capitol. Plus, it’s time to vote for your favorite snow plow names!Mentioned on the show:Protesters in cities across the US rally against Trump’s policies, Project 2025 and Elon Musk [AP]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. 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

Feb 6, 2025 • 30min
New Dinner Series Brings Legendary Chefs To Paoli
Where can you find a lineup of world-class chefs creating specially crafted menus tailored specifically for the season? Why, Paoli of course. Through April, Seven Acre Dairy Company is hosting the Frost to Flower dinner series, which brings culinary legends from across the nation to Wisconsin for a unique dining experience. To find out more, we caught up with the owner of Seven Acre Dairy, Nic Mink, and one of the chefs featured this month, Chicago chef and champion of the Food Network’s “Chopped” Brian Jupiter.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. 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

Feb 5, 2025 • 22min
Madison Has Mad LOVB For Its New Pro Volleyball Team
It’s no secret that Madison loves its sports teams. From the UW Badgers to the ‘Mingos and the Nightmares, the fans always fill the seats. Now, there’s a new team to cheer for — LOVB Madison professional volleyball. The team’s inaugural season just kicked off and to get the scoop on what they’re all about, we caught up with Head Coach Matt Fuerbringer and founding team member Lauren Carlini.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. 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

Feb 4, 2025 • 30min
Where To Find Unique (and Affordable) Films This Month in Madison
Awards season is upon us, and while blockbuster films and Oscar contenders have been getting headlines everywhere, in Madison, we’re doing things a little differently. All throughout the month of February, the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting a weekly film screening showcasing movies you won’t find anywhere else. To get the scoop on the lineup and learn more about Madison’s film scene, host Bianca Martin speaks with Jim Kreul, public programs coordinator for Arts + Literature Laboratory and programmer for MMoCA Cinema. Plus, Madison Minutes newsletter editor and film aficionado Rob Thomas joins the chat.Mentioned on the showMills Folly Microcinema — 62nd Ann Arbor Film Festival Tour 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. 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

13 snips
Feb 3, 2025 • 29min
Why Are So Many Teachers On Emergency Licenses in Madison?
Michael Jones, president of Madison Teachers, Inc., dives into the significant issue of teacher shortages in Madison. He discusses the growing trend of hiring educators on temporary emergency licenses, allowing individuals with bachelor’s degrees to step into classrooms. Jones highlights the potential decline in educational standards and the strain on current teachers. He also explores the diversity this approach could bring, while addressing concerns about retention and the need for systemic reforms to support these educators better.

Jan 31, 2025 • 33min
Trump Ripple Effects in Madison, Next Chapter For Labor Temple, and CARES Grows
It’s time to close the books on January and round up another week of news. This week, City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin explains how a federal funding freeze could cause adverse ripple effects throughout Madison. Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas has the latest on the Madison Labor Temple’s search for a buyer. And executive producer Hayley Sperling talks about the expansion of the CARES team to Sun Prairie. Plus, did you see the flying space trash?Mentioned on the show:Why Madison’s Crisis Response Team Is Working [City Cast Madison 🎧]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. Got a minute? Take the City Cast Audience survey here.Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this January 31st episode here:
Monona Eastside Business Alliance
Clean Lakes Alliance
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices