City Cast Madison

The James Beard Awards are often called the Oscars of food. They’re a prestigious national recognition for restaurants that offer high quality food. If you think you have to travel to the coasts to try some of the nation’s best restaurants, you would be wrong. Here in Madison, we’ve got award-winners in our backyard. Itaru Nagano and Andrew Kroeger, chefs and co-owners of Fairchild in Madison, have been named the best chefs in the midwest by the James Beard Foundation.Cap Times Food Editor Lindsay Christians joins us to talk about what this recognition means for our fair city.Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers.Also mentioned on the episode: 🎵 Free concert with Madison Symphony Orchestra and Mt. Zion Gospel Choir at Penn Park this Saturday🎸 Dirt Camp music festival in Sauk City on SaturdayWanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Twitter and 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 at citycast.fm/advertise.

We’re on a quest to help you make the most of your summer in Madison. Brandon Rounds is the mastermind behind Live on Queen, a free outdoor drag show and dance party happening this Friday, June 23, in downtown Madison. It’s the latest installment of the Live on King street series of free concerts that take place on the 100 block of King Street in front of the Majestic Theatre. Catch Brandon performing as Bianca Lynn Breeze, Madison’s hardest working drag queen.Dylan Brogan gets the dish on Madison’s drag scene and why, despite what you hear from haters, drag is perhaps the opposite of stripping.

The Madison school district initially offered teachers a 3.5 percent pay bump but is now committed to doubling it to the highest raise allowed by state law. Teachers are applauding the move and say investing in educators is long overdue. However, what this means for the district’s financial health is far from clear because of a looming budget deficit.Nichelle Nichols, president of the Madison school board, talks with Dylan Brogan about why the board is prioritizing teacher pay this year and the difficult decisions coming due in future budgets. We also get an update on the superintendent search and the district’s embattled spokesperson Full list of Make Music Madison performancesWanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Twitter and 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 at citycast.fm/advertise.

Bianca Martin and Dylan Brogan roundup the news this week with an update on Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ pledge to cut funding to the University of Wisconsin system over diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The governor is threatening to the entire state budget over the move. The Legislature is also primed to overhaul how taverns, distributors, and breweries are regulated. We also take a teeny peak at a new art installation at Hilldale. More info!  “Gov. Tony Evers says he would veto state budget if Republicans advance $32 million cut to UW System” from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Major overhaul for alcohol regulation in Wisconsin gets public hearing” from Wisconsin Public Radio.  “Midwest's first mouse-sized art installation squeaks into Hilldale” from Channel 3000.  Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Twitter and 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 at citycast.fm/advertise.

Summer is a great time to enjoy fresh herbs — whether in salads, drinks or just to freshen up your backyard, patio, or balcony. Jane Hawley Stevens, owner of Four Elements Organic Herbals, has been growing herbs for decades on her farm in the Baraboo hills. Her herbal products are sold locally and around the country. Lead producer Molly Stentz chats with Jane about this growing season and tips for how to grow your own herb garden. If you’d like to attend Four Elements’ open farm day on Saturday, June 17th, details are online and on Instagram. To learn more about that UW-Madison cheese tester gig, here’s the application. 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 Twitter and 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 at citycast.fm/advertise.

Happy Flag Day! The North American Vexillological Association studied 312 city flags and ranked Madison’s flag as one of the best in the nation. No wonder our city flag is increasing being flown all over town. Ted Kaye, the nation’s foremost authority on flag design and author of the NAVA booklet “‘Good’ Flag, ‘Bad’ Flag,” talks with host Bianca Martin about what makes a well-designed flag, why Madison’s flag is so strong but our state flag … not so much. Check out NAVA’s survey results to see which flags got an A grade, and which ones got an F. Here’s Roman Mars’ 2015 TED Talk about “why city flags may be the worst-designed thing you've never noticed.” And these apps will help you navigate the new Madison Metro bus network.  Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

City Cast Madison continues our series on summer entertainment with The Pursuit of Happiness Sessions at McPike Park. The first round of The Sessions kicks off Friday night, June 16 and runs through Sunday, June 18. The festival features performers from around the globe and dozens of local acts, too. Veteran Madison festival Bob Queen previews some of big acts coming to town with City Cast’s Dylan Brogan. Songs featured in this episode:  Memphis Rain by Aaron Lee Tasjan  Manisero by Xiomara Laugart June 11th by Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few Afterglow by Oshima Brothers  Event links:  Full lineup of The Sessions at McPike Park Vote for City Cast Madison for Best Local Podcast Juneteenth Opening Ceremony  Juneteenth in the Park  A conversation with saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin hosted by Bianca Martin  Juneteenth Celebration of Black Music hosted by Rob  Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Twitter and 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 at citycast.fm/advertise.

You’d think a record $7 billion surplus would ease the partisan tension between Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican lawmakers when crafting the next state budget. Nope! But Evers and the GOP-controlled Legislature have compromised on money for schools and local governments. However, funding for the University of Wisconsin system and who gets a tax cut might create another showdown between the governor and lawmakers. Dylan Brogan talks with WisPolitics Editor JR Ross about what deals have been hammered out with the state budget, what has yet to be worked out, and what this all means for 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 Twitter and 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 at citycast.fm/advertise.

Madison public school teachers and staff will get an 8% pay raise next year after tough negotiations with the school district. Meanwhile, the city has to figure out what to do about two failing housing developments that serve the formerly homeless. And while you might’ve heard about dirt at the Supreme Court lately, we’re here to talk about actual dirt on our Dane County courthouse. Dylan Brogan and Molly Stentz round up this week’s news in 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 Twitter and 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 at citycast.fm/advertise.

Don’t blink or you’ll miss them! Strawberry season lasts for about three weeks in Madison - and it’s here. We’re heading to one of the oldest strawberry u-pick farms in the Madison area… which opens next week. Dylan Brogan catches up Cory Secher, the second-generation owner and operator of Carandale Fruit Farm in Oregon, Wisconsin. For daily updates on strawberry picking, check the Carandale website or find them on Facebook.🍓 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 Twitter and 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 at citycast.fm/advertise.