

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

Aug 26, 2024 • 20min
Why Madison Is Investing in Electric Vehicles
When Mahanth Joishy became Madison’s Fleet Service Superintendent, the city had zero electric vehicles in its fleet. Now it has nearly a 100 and counting. Joishy is helping Madison reach its goal of running city operations on 100% renewable energy and with net zero carbon emissions, all by 2030. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin finds out how. 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.Learn more about the sponsors of this August 26th episode here:Garth's Brew Bar

Aug 23, 2024 • 24min
City Council Says ‘Yes’ to Referendum, BRT Is On the Way, and Meet the Wisconsin Water Explorer
City Council made its decision and now it's up to voters to decide how Madison solves its operating budget problems. A $22 million property tax referendum will go on the November ballot. What happens next? Host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling talk about how the city got here and what the future — potentially — holds. Also, mark your calendars because Bus Rapid Transit is officially launching in September! Tune in to this Friday news roundup and get up to speed on the stories you need to know this week.Mentioned on the show:Alder Sabrina Madison of District 17 to Host a Town Hall to Engage with Area Residents about the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park [City of Madison]Why We Need to Talk about the Imagination Center [City Cast Madison]Goodman Pool faces uncertain future in Madison budget debate [Cap Times]Bus Rapid Transit to Launch on September 22 [Metro Transit]Your Bus Rapid Transit Questions, Answered [City Cast Madison]Wisconsin Water Explorer [WDNR]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 August 23rd episode here:Madison365StartingBlock

Aug 22, 2024 • 26min
A Beginner’s Guide To Fermentation
Is your garden overflowing? As we start the transition from summer to fall you might find yourself wondering what exactly you can do with your garden and farmers’ market hauls. To help answer this seasonal conundrum, host Bianca Martin spoke with certified nutrition coach Crystal Ann Hanson to get tips on canning, fermenting, and freezing so you can enjoy your summer bounty all year long.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 the sponsors of this August 22nd episode here:Madison365StartingBlock

Aug 21, 2024 • 27min
This Midwestern Gem Will Headline Orton Park Festival
The popular Minneapolis singer, rapper, and poet Dessa will headline this year’s Orton Park Festival this Sunday, Aug. 25. Host Bianca Martin sits down with the musician ahead of her performance to ask about her roots in the Midwest, her past experiences performing in Madison, and her latest projects. Mentioned in the showWho Am I Without My Voice [New York Times] Dessa’s Minnesota primer [Instagram]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.Learn more about the sponsors of this August 21st episode here:Madison365StartingBlock

Aug 20, 2024 • 24min
Where To Read, Write, and Think in Madison
Madison is a city full of creatives and bustling with ideas. But sometimes it can be hard to find spaces that truly let words flow and bring ideas to life. To get some input on where to find Madison’s best places for reading, writing, and thinking, host Bianca Martin caught up with Diya Dwahal, a Middleton high schooler and the winner of Madison Public Library’s 2023 We Read youth writing contest. Executive producer Hayley Sperling also chimes in with her recommendations and writing process.Mentioned on the show:Madison Public Library locationsWisconsin Historical Society Library and ArchivesAnthology MadisonUW-Madison Biocore PrairieWanna 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 August 20th episode here:Madison365StartingBlock

Aug 19, 2024 • 27min
What To Expect from the YWCA’s 2024 Racial Justice Summit
From providing affordable housing for women and families in need to helping folks land jobs in tech, the YWCA Madison truly does it all. The organization is hosting its annual nationally-recognized Racial Justice Summit in September and registration closes Aug. 26. To get the inside scoop on what to expect from this three-day community coalition building gathering, host Bianca Martin spoke with the new YWCA Madison CEO Gery Paredes Vásquez. Mentioned on the showReal Talk About Race In Madison From Departing YWCA CEO [City Cast Madison]Register for the YWCA Racial Justice Summit 2024 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.Learn more about the sponsors of this August 19th episode here:Madison365StartingBlock

Aug 16, 2024 • 27min
Primary Results, Weekend Festivals, and Plant Possibilities
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling recap the August primary results and Wisconsin’s killer voter turnout numbers. Plus, this weekend is packed full of festivals including the Ju-Ju Annual Block Party, Eken Park Festival, OutReach Magic Pride Festival, and the Madison Black Restaurant Week Taste Jamboree. Also, do you have a thing for plants? The Wisconsin DNR is looking for volunteers to help monitor rare species. So listen up because we’ve got the stories that you can’t miss this week in Madison.Mentioned on the show:Who’s Running for Dane County Executive [City Cast Madison]Your Primary Ballot Explained [City Cast Madison]OutReach Magic Pride FestivalEken Park FestivalMadison Black Restaurant Week [Madison365]Ju-Ju Annual Block Party [Madison365]DNR seeking volunteers for Rare Plant Monitoring Program [WDNR]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 August 16th episode here:Society of St. Vincent de Paul - St. Vinny's Thrift Stores

Aug 15, 2024 • 22min
Urban Farming’s Growth in Madison
Madison may be a growing urban city, but farming is still a way of life for many locals. You don’t have to go far in this town to find a neighbor tending chickens, planting a produce garden, or even building a greenhouse. To get the scoop on what it takes to successfully grow at home, host Bianca Martin caught up with urban farmer and owner of Voss Organics, Mark Voss.Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers.Mentioned on the showThe Legendary Chef Who Pioneered Madison’s Local Food Scene [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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.Learn more about the sponsors of this August 15th episode here:Society of St. Vincent de Paul - St. Vinny's Thrift Stores

Aug 14, 2024 • 20min
Celebrating 25 Years of Dane Dances
Get up, get down, get together. That’s the motto behind Dane Dances, the annual summertime party that happens every Friday in August on the Monona Terrace rooftop. This year’s season is extra special because Dane Dances is celebrating 25 years of music, dance, and community. Host Bianca Martin caught up with the president of the organization Al Cooper to get the scoop on this year’s lineup and what to expect from this season.Mentioned on the showThe Most Sampled Drummer Lived in Madison. Why Don’t You Know His Name? [City Cast Madison]Volunteer with Dane DancesWanna 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.Learn more about the sponsors of this August 14th episode here:Society of St. Vincent de Paul - St. Vinny's Thrift Stores

Aug 13, 2024 • 23min
How Madison Decides What’s Worth Saving
In this week’s installment of Must See Madison, we take a step back and look at the city’s past while preparing for the future. Madison’s building boom continues. Construction cranes dot the skyline. Huge new apartment buildings are in progress on many of Madison’s largest thoroughfares. But downtown, making way for the new means out with the old, and that means demolition of old buildings. It left us asking: what’s worth saving and how do we decide? Host Bianca Martin sits down with Madison historian Stu Levitan, longtime former chair of the Madison Landmarks Commission, to examine why we save what we do.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 August 13th episode here:Society of St. Vincent de Paul - St. Vinny's Thrift Stores