
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

Nov 8, 2023 • 23min
Are Dog Parks... Bad?!
Dog parks are plentiful in Madison and generally popular. A lot of us have small yards and our doggoes want space to run. But some dog trainers say dog parks actually aren’t all that great. Some dogs get overwhelmed and just don’t vibe with others, leading them to lash out or shut down. Producer Molly Stentz caught up with Allison Stoffel of Copper Ridge Dog Training in Madison to learn why and what you can do about it. 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

Nov 7, 2023 • 22min
Madison Doc Says Use Delta-8 Cannabis With Caution
It’s not hard to find a store selling Delta-8 products in Madison. We recently spoke to Alan Robinson of Herbal Aspect, who argues that this cannabis product is safe and legal. But Dr. Ana Pearson says there’s reason for caution. She says that the lack of regulation means it’s buyer beware. Production processes can be uneven, so dosing information can be unreliable. There’s the possibility of ingesting heavy metals as a byproduct of the manufacturing process. She also stresses moderation is key. Start with low doses and avoid using every single day. Don’t use if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and keep your edibles and vapes out of kids’ reach. She spoke to producer Molly Stentz about things you should know about Delta-8. Dr. Pearson spoke with us on her own behalf, and not officially on behalf of UW-Madison. Listen to our podcast episode about Delta-8:Madison’s Guide to Legal Weed [City Cast Madison]Read more the health concerns about Delta-8:Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol: a scoping review and commentary [Addiction]Delta-8-THC craze concerns chemists [Chemical & Engineering News]5 Things to Know about Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol – Delta-8 THC [FDA]Read more about the legality of Delta-8:Delta-8 THC Issue Brief [Wisconsin Legislative Council]Also mentioned on the show: Tyson Chicken Nugget Recall infoUW $32 Million Workforce ProposalWanna 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

Nov 6, 2023 • 23min
How Republicans Plan to Win Dane County Votes
You may not think of deep-blue Dane County, home to liberal Madison, as important to Republicans. But Dane County is one of the top three sources of Republican votes in statewide elections. Republicans hope to shore up their chances of winning Wisconsin in next year’s Presidential election by making inroads in Democratic areas.Dylan Brogan sits down with the new 23 year-old leader of the Republican Party of Dane County, Brandon Maly, to learn 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! 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

Nov 3, 2023 • 22min
Bus Bugs, AI-Generated Campaign Ads, and YOUR Takes on Madison’s Best Buildings
City Cast Madison’s Dylan Brogan and Hayley Sperling round up the news this week. Madison Metro officials say they’ve treated and quarantined two buses after findings bed bugs on board. A bipartisan bill would require disclosure of AI-generated content in campaign ads. And listeners give us their picks for their favorite Madison buildings. Read more:Metro Transit confirms reports of bed bugs on buses but says it's a limited problem [Wisconsin State Journal]AI-generated campaign ads would receive a content label in Wisconsin under bipartisan proposal [WPR]Madison Buildings: the Good, the Weird, and the Ugly [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? Sign up for 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

Nov 2, 2023 • 23min
How to Forage in Madison, Even in the Fall
Sam Thayer says you can eat local all year round in Wisconsin, despite our frosty weather. He’s best known for writing guide books on edible native plants in Wisconsin, like The Forager’s Harvest. He’s speaking about local nuts, roots, fruits and more at the Madison Herb Fair at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison this Saturday, November 4th. Molly Stentz sits down with him to learn what’s cookin’.🐿️ 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? Sign up for 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

Nov 1, 2023 • 23min
Madison Buildings: the Good, the Weird, and the Ugly
Madison’s going through a building boom. The city’s growing up, literally. So we’re taking a moment to reflect on the architecture all around us in the Capital City. City Cast Madison’s Dylan Brogan, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz are up to the challenge. Here are our picks for Madison’s best buildings, plus the quirkiest and downright ugliest, too.Read more: The Kastenmeier Courthouse is Madison’s blocky blue Modernist marvel [Tone Madison]Is the Humanities building ‘riot proof?’ [The Daily Cardinal]Towards an appreciation of Brutalism: Or, the Humanities Building is very good [Tone Madison]Have thoughts? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We might read or play your comment on the show. We’re also on Instagram, if you want to tag us there.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 31, 2023 • 17min
Should An Algorithm Decide UW Student Success?
UW Madison has started tracking students who rank at the bottom of their classes. Starting this year, a select number of undergraduates have their academic progress tracked by administrators. They’re flagged if they rank in the bottom fourth of their class for two or more classes. They’re also flagged if they have assignments more than five days late. The idea is to find the students who need extra help and get it to them, while there’s still time for them to turn it around. But some faculty worry that matters are being taken out of their hands. Some students are concerned that taking away responsibility for their own success could be counterproductive. Cormac LaLiberté, college news editor for The Daily Cardinal, looked into the program. Mentioned on the show:“UW-Madison students enrolled in data monitoring experiment without ability to opt out” [The Daily Cardinal]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 30, 2023 • 20min
Madison's First Permanent Men's Shelter
Madison and Dane County are investing in a new way to offer emergency shelter for people facing homelessness. A new, purpose-built men’s shelter on Madison’s east side is in the works and expected to open in 2025. Madison’s Community Development Director Jim O’Keefe tells host Dylan Brogan how the new shelter represents a fundamental shift, years in the making, in how local government supports residents in need of shelter. He also outlines the ongoing challenges Madison faces as it continues to make housing affordable in our community. 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 27, 2023 • 21min
New Election Center, Madison Halloween Costumes and Gov. Evers on the Gabfest
The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Dylan Brogan, Molly Stentz and Hayley Sperling discuss the plan to turn the old Ale Asylum brewery into a new elections center. Plus, we’ve got a few ideas for Madison-themed Halloween costumes. And Slate’s Political Gabfest was in town to for a live podcast taping with Governor Evers. Mentioned on the show:Dane County wants Ale Asylum building for new elections center [Wisconsin State Journal]How to Have a Madison Halloween [Madison Minutes]Political Gabfest [Slate]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? Sign up for 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 26, 2023 • 22min
Why Wisconsin Loves Supper Clubs
Supper clubs are a Wisconsin staple. Whether it’s the overflowing relish tray at Tornado Steakhouse or the American cheese-laden hash browns at Toby’s, supper clubs have always brought cozy vibes and enormous portions to the Madison culinary scene. But what makes a place a true supper club? And who gets to claim the title of best supper club in Madison? Molly Stentz speaks with Cap Times food editor Lindsay Christians about the best of this distinctively Wisconsin dining tradition.🍽️ Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers.Read more: 11 Supper Clubs to Try [The 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? Sign up for 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