City Cast Madison

City Cast Madison’s new producer and new Madison resident Phil Surkis has been out on the town taking in your suggestions for how to experience Madison at its best. Today he’s back to report on his latest adventures — including his first fish fry! — along with host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling. It’s time for another installment of Must See Madison.And, if you have a suggestion for Phil, or the whole City Cast team, please let us know here! Mentioned in this episodeMadison’s Best Fish Fry [Madison Minutes]The fragmented visions of a beloved downtown Madison bar [Tone Madison]Mad-City Ski Team Arboretum DriveWanna 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 the sponsors of this July 9th episode here:Babbel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madison is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s top cities for bicyclists and pedestrians. In fact, Madison was recently named the 2nd safest city for pedestrians out of the largest 101 metropolitan areas across America. But none of that happened by accident, it’s taken years of planning and careful consideration to turn Madison’s streets into what we recognize today. And the city is already laying the groundwork for the future generation of infrastructure.City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin sat down with the city’s director of transportation Tom Lynch to get a look at what’s working and what needs improvement.Mentioned on the showMadison’s transportation initiatives [City of Madison]Vision Zero, Explained [Madison Minutes]Madison's most dangerous road: the uphill fight to make East Washington Avenue safer [WKOW]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. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 3rd episode here:BabbelLooking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madison can often be found at the top of many “best of” lists, but did you know our city has one of the best flags in the country? The North American Vexillological Association rated the designs of a whopping 312 flags and Madison’s got top marks.Host Bianca Martin sat down with Ted Kaye, the nation’s foremost authority on flag design and author of the NAVA booklet “‘Good’ Flag, ‘Bad’ Flag”, to chat about about what makes a well-designed flag, why Madison’s flag is so great (and Wisconsin’s isn’t…), and what makes a tattoo-worthy flag.Check out NAVA’s 2022 survey results to see which flags got an A grade, and which ones got an F. More on the history behind Madison’s flag.And here’s Roman Mars’ 2015 TED Talk about “why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you've never noticed.”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. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 5th episode here:BabbelLooking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with hosts from all 13 City Cast daily local podcast hubs to talk about what stories they’re watching in their hometowns that are likely to impact yours too. Listen in for how Bianca Martin's story stacks up against the rest.Don’t forget to VOTE FOR US for Madison Magazine’s Best of Madison 2024 awards! City Cast Madison is up for best local podcast and our newsletter Madison Minutes is up for best local news website. Vote here.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. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 3rd episode here: BabbelLooking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tenney Park, Olbrich Gardens, and food carts — oh my! The City Cast Madison team is back with another installment of Must See Madison, where we take on Madison’s must-see attractions and hidden gems. This week, producer Phil Surkis explored Madison’s natural beauty and indulged in some good eats. He caught up with host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling to debrief his latest discoveries. Do you have a suggestion for Phil and the team? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm.Mentioned in the showTenney Park [City of Madison]The Best Places to Cry in Madison [Madison Minutes]Gloria’s Mexican RestaurantOlbrich Botanical GardensRare corpse flower blooms at Olbrich Botanical Gardens [Cap Times]Common PastaWanna 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. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 2nd episode here:BabbelLooking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

School’s out, summer is in session, and if you have a kiddo, you might be wondering what to do. Host Bianca Martin caught up with Aaron Seligman, the writer and publisher behind the Macaroni KID Madison website, to get all the best restaurants, parks, and pools to bring your littles and bigs to this summer. Macaroni KID’s recommendations:2024 Fourth of July Events Around MadisonSummer outdoor fun - anytimeSeven Fun Activities to Try on a Rainy Day - and some local outingsMadison Area Summer Reading Programs & Library EventsParks & Playgrounds to Check Out!Mentioned on the show:A Decade of Wonder With Madison Children's Museum DirectorWanna 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

The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week, and what a week it’s been.Host Bianca Martin is joined by executive director of WayForward Resources Ellen Carlson to recap how Madison’s food pantries are struggling to find solutions to the growing issue of food insecurity. Additionally, executive producer Hayley Sperling and interim newsletter editor Ava Wojnowski join to help break down the two referendums the Madison Metropolitan School District put on the ballot this November. On top of that, a draft order leaked about a case the state Supreme Court has agreed to hear on abortion. Plus, two Madison “Ninja Warriors” run, climb, and jump for greatness.Mentioned on the show:WayForward ResourcesMany Dane County food pantries are spending more on food than ever before [WPR]$607M property tax hike for Madison public schools now up to voters [The Cap Times]Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear high-profile abortion rights case, draft order shows [Wisconsin Watch]Madison 'Twinjas' hit semifinals of 'American Ninja Warrior' [The Cap Times]Don’t forget to VOTE FOR US for Madison Magazine’s Best of Madison 2024 awards! City Cast Madison is up for best local podcast and our newsletter Madison Minutes is up for best local news website. Vote here.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. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 28th episode here:BabbelMadison 365Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re new around here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Madison community. There’s an abundance of activities to experience and enjoy in Madison this July, including festivals, art fairs, and fireworks. City Cast Madison’s Hayley Sperling, Ava Wojnowski, and Phil Surkis round up some of their favorite July highlights.For even more tips on how to make the most of July in Madison, check out our full list in Madison Minutes. Volunteer for AtwoodFest 2024 hereDon’t forget to VOTE FOR US for Madison Magazine’s Best of Madison 2024 awards! City Cast Madison is up for best local podcast and our newsletter Madison Minutes is up for best local news website. Vote here.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. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 27th episode here:BabbelMadison 365Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wild weather and extreme heat have been affecting us all here at City Cast Madison, so we wanted to learn more about the science behind why. Host Bianca Martin sits down with Steve Vavrus, state climatologist and director of the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, to chat about Wisconsin’s “Lost Winter”, being a drought-free state, and what it means to be a climate haven.Why Madison Has Been So Hot, Smoky and Dry [City Cast Madison]Meet Wisconsin’s new state climatologist, Steve Vavrus [UW News]Wisconsin Climate Summaries [Wisconsin State Climatology Office]Winter 2023–24 Climate Summary [Wisconsin State Climatology Office]Extreme Weather Index (EWI) [Wisconsin State Climatology Office]Wisconsin is finally drought-free after a year. Here's what that means for the state [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]Don’t forget to VOTE FOR US for Madison Magazine’s Best of Madison 2024 awards! City Cast Madison is up for best local podcast and our newsletter Madison Minutes is up for best local news website. Vote here. 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 the sponsors of this June 26th episode here:BabbelMadison 365 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve been asking you, our listeners, as well as the readers of Madison Minutes to suggest your favorite, most iconic Madison experiences. Why? Because City Cast producer Phil Surkis is very new to town. So with your help, we’ve been putting him through a sort of Madison immersion therapy and then talking about it on Tuesdays. We think it’s working!Phil received more than a few suggestions to go to the Memorial Union Terrace, including one from host Bianca Martin, who just emceed the Madison Jazz Festival on the terrace! Bianca and Phil sat down to talk about what is arguably Madison’s most iconic location.And, if you have a suggestion for Phil, or the whole City Cast team, please let us know here!Mentioned in this episode: The Lower Yahara River Trail Memorial Union Madison Jazz Festival 2024 The Brat Stand Der Rathskeller The Daily Scoop Babcock Ice Cream 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 the sponsors of this June 25th episode here:BabbelMadison 365Don’t forget to vote for us in Madison Magazine’s 2024 Best of Madison contest! City Cast Madison is up for best local podcast and Madison Minutes is up for best local news website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices