
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

Oct 29, 2024 • 26min
Think This Chappell Roan Inspired Haunted House Won't Scare You? Good Luck, Babe!
‘Tis the season for spooky, scary, campy, and vampy. If you’re looking for a fright with a side of delight, gather your ghouls and head to the Dudgeon Monroe neighborhood where a group of residents have dreamed up and built a haunted yard extravaganza. Last year’s event drew more than 500 people and this year’s Chappell Roan-themed haunting is sure scary good. To get the scoop on this year’s frights, host Bianca Martin caught up with organizers Jinger Schroeder and Emily Balsley.Looking for more scary fun? Check out the Spooky Spaces of Madison Instagram account.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. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 29th episode here:BetterHelp - get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCAST
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

Oct 28, 2024 • 23min
Where Are Madison’s Most Haunted Spots?
Madison has its fair share of poltergeists, lingering spirits, and maybe even a few lake monsters. You just need to know where to look. We’re revisiting a conversation Bianca Martin had last year with Lisa Van Buskirk and Mike Huberty from Madison Ghost Walks about the city’s scary side. 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. Learn more about the sponsor of this October 28th episode here:
BetterHelp - get 10% off at betterhelp.com/CITYCASTLooking 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

Oct 25, 2024 • 30min
Early Voting Begins, Obama’s Mega Rally, and Flamingos’ Playoff Run!
The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. Host Bianca Martin and newsletter editor Rob Thomas recap this Tuesday’s massive start to in-person absentee voting and the Democratic Party’s big “Get Out the Vote” rally, as well as a groundbreaking UW-Madison study on Alzheimer’s and dementia onset. Later in the episode, Rob Chappell, executive editor at Madison 365 and co-host of Forward Madison FC podcast Talkin' Flock, joins us team to talk about the soccer team’s historic playoff run.Mentioned on the show:U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin Makes Her Case to Wisconsin Voters [City Cast Madison]In-Person Absentee Voting Hours and Locations [City of Madison]Wisconsin Sees High Turnout in First Day of Absentee Voting [ 🔒 WSJ] Obama, Walz Rally Early Wisconsin Voters in Madison [WPR]Obama, Walz Hold Madison Rally on First Day of Early Voting in Wisconsin [Badger Herald]Common Election Misconceptions [City of Madison]UW-Madison Leads Nationwide Study Into Causes of Alzheimer’s, Dementia in Different Communities [Channel 3000]Talkin’ Flock PodcastTalkin’ Flock Substack NewsletterStreet Closures-UW Homecoming Parade [City of 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. 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

Oct 24, 2024 • 28min
Your Guide To Fall Baking in Madison
It’s Thursday, which means we’re talking food and drink. Cozy season is upon us, and for many of us, fall means getting into the kitchen and baking some of our favorite recipes. Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians talks with Bianca Martin about some of her favorite things to make, including apple cake and banana bread, and some tips and tricks for both experienced and newbie bakers. Plus, if you don’t want to bake yourself, we offer recommendations for top spots to buy seasonal baked goods.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 ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 23, 2024 • 25min
How Churches Might Help Fix Madison’s Housing Crunch
It’s no secret that Americans are becoming less religious. Rev. Mark Elsdon, temporary co-director and outgoing executive director of the Pres House Presbyterian campus ministry, predicts that the Madison area could lose a third of all churches in the area. Many congregations are shrinking and re-evaluating whether they need their large buildings anymore. Madison’s pressed for housing, and more churches are considering selling or moving to make way. Rev. Elsdon says this could mean a real loss of “third spaces” in Madison — free gathering places you can go outside of home and work. We’re revisiting our conversation from earlier this year with him to talk about what this coming wave means for our city.Rev. Elsdon’s book is Gone for Good? Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition.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

Oct 22, 2024 • 26min
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin Makes Her Case to Wisconsin Voters
Tammy Baldwin has represented Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate race since 2013. In her quest for a third term, she is locked in a close (and expensive) race with Republican businessman Eric Hovde. A Madison native, Baldwin talks with Bianca Martin about why she’s running for re-election, the key issues that distinguish her from her opponent, and why representing the state is “the honor of my life.”Mentioned on the show:MyVote WisconsinMadison In-Person Absentee Voting 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. 🎉 Become a City Cast Madison Member today!Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 21st episode here: Libro.fm - use code MADISON to get 3 audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 21, 2024 • 26min
MMSD Is Asking Voters For More Than Half a Billion Dollars. Here’s Why.
The Madison Metropolitan School District has a big ask of voters come November. A $607 million dollar ask to be more precise. But what exactly will all that money be used for and does the district truly need it? Executive producer Hayley Sperling caught up with Cap Times K-12 education reporter Kayla Huynh to get the scoop on two MMSD referendum questions voters will sound off on this November.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. 🎉 Become a City Cast Madison Member today!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

Oct 18, 2024 • 28min
Big Politicos Coming To Madison, the City’s Budget Question Lingers, and Goodbye Terrace Chairs
We’ve reached the end of the week, which means it’s time for a good old fashioned Friday news roundup! This week, City Cast Madison’s Bianca Martin, Hayley Sperling, and Rob Thomas are talking about the election. Former President Barack Obama and current VP nominee Tim Walz will be in town Oct. 22, which also happens to be the first day of in-person absentee voting in Madison. The team also digs further into what’s on the ballot, dives into the city’s budgetary questions, and get ready to say goodbye to the iconic Memorial Union Terrace chairs. Mentioned on the show:In-Person Absentee Voting Hours and Locations [City of Madison]Your Ballot Breakdown: State & Fed Legislative Races, Plus a Constitutional Amendment! [🎧 City Cast Madison]Melissa Agard’s Pitch for Dane County Executive [🎧 City Cast Madison]Dana Pellebon’s Pitch for Dane County Executive [🎧 City Cast Madison]Madison mayor's proposed budget cut shocks police oversight monitor [Cap Times]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. 🎉 Become a City Cast Madison Member today!Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 18th episode here:Wisconsin Science FestivalLibro.fm - use code MADISON to get 3 audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 17, 2024 • 35min
Why Madisonians Love This Big Purple Food Truck 🍔
It’s hard to miss the Cinn City Smash food truck. It’s big, purple, and covered in cartoon art that, if you look closely, shows some of Madison’s most iconic places. The truck has been in business for about a year, popping up at bars and festivals around town serving the unlikely combination of smash burgers and churros. And the people of Madison have been eating it up, literally. To get the scoop on what’s made Cinn City such a smashing success, host Bianca Martin caught up with the truck’s owners and long-time besties Rutger Schiesser and Maximus “Noodle” Perdomo.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. 🎉 Become a City Cast Madison Member today!Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. If you enjoyed today's interview with Madison Public School Foundation’s President, Melinda Heinritz, learn more here.Learn more about the sponsors of this October 17th episode here:Wisconsin Science FestivalLibro.fm - use code MADISON to get 3 audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 16, 2024 • 28min
Your Ballot Breakdown: State & Fed Legislative Races, Plus a Constitutional Amendment!
We’re less than 20 days away from the November election and it’s a packed ballot. Last week, we focused on the candidates running for Dane County Executive. This week, we invited Cap Times state government reporter Andrew Bahl on the podcast to zoom in on some of the state legislative races Madisonians will vote on as well as the proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot.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. 🎉 Become a City Cast Madison Member today!Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 16th episode here:Wisconsin Science FestivalLibro.fm - use code MADISON to get 3 audiobooks for the price of one with your first month of membership Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices