

City Cast DC
City Cast
City Cast DC is the daily, local audio companion you knew DC needed.. Washingtonians are deeply passionate about our city, whose story is still being written, and City Cast DC is here to tell it.
Every weekday morning, our hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd will engage people from all over the eight wards in conversation about DC’s crises and its beauty, both literal and figurative. It’ll have the feel of eavesdropping on an energetic and informative coffee shop chat, except that with City Cast DC, consider this your official invitation to listen in. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at dc.citycast.fm.
Every weekday morning, our hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd will engage people from all over the eight wards in conversation about DC’s crises and its beauty, both literal and figurative. It’ll have the feel of eavesdropping on an energetic and informative coffee shop chat, except that with City Cast DC, consider this your official invitation to listen in. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at dc.citycast.fm.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 24, 2024 • 15min
DC's New Financial Plan for Crime, Downtown, and Housing
We’ve got a budget for 2025! And it’s very different from the one that we talked about with Mayor Bowser. The Washington Post’s Michael Brice-Saddler is here to tell us the differences between the two, and what the council’s priorities are.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 24th episode:Casey TreesLive NationSmithsonian Folklife FestivalInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Jun 21, 2024 • 24min
Bagel Shop Zoning Battle, Commanders Stadium Study, and Heat Wave
We’ve got a zoning battle in Georgetown over bagels, we’ve got a copy of the sports economic study, and we all have to find a way to survive the heat wave crushing the city. ANC member Topher Matthews and the Washington Post’s Michael Brice-Saddler are here to chat all about it.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 21st episode:PaintCarePaulson & Nace Eagle Bank Smithsonian Folklife FestivalInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREWe’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc (TRY TO CHANGE IT UP EVERY TIME)And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Jun 20, 2024 • 22min
The Problem with Giant's Latest Security Measure
Since May of this year, Giant has banned bags above a certain size to crack down on shoplifting. For shoppers like our host, Bridget, this means not only an inconvenience, but the company putting corporate responsibility onto their customers. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 20th episode:PaintCarePaulson & Nace Eagle Bank Smithsonian Folklife FestivalInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Jun 18, 2024 • 31min
Speed Cameras Are Actually Working. Plus, DC’s Budget, and Juneteenth
Are all those new speed cameras making an impact? Plus, we need to hash out D.C.’s new budget, and how to celebrate Juneteenth! To dig into all of this, we’re joined by Briana Thomas, author of Black Broadway in Washington, D.C.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 18th episode:PaintCarePaulson & Nace Eagle Bank Smithsonian Folklife FestivalWant some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. We’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dcAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Jun 17, 2024 • 22min
Why DC Kids Are Skipping School
Absentee rates at D.C. schools have gone absolutely off the charts. Everyone agrees it’s a problem, but there’s a lot of disagreement about how to fix it. Axios’ Cuneyt Dil has been covering kids playing hooky and grownups playing politics. If you enjoyed this interview with Alliance Française's Executive Director, Sara Dilligenti, learn more here.Learn more about the pther sponsors of this June 17th episode:PaintCarePaulson & NaceEagle BankSmithsonian Folklife FestivalWant some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Jun 14, 2024 • 22min
WaPo’s Pivot, Parks Quest Continues, and DC Chefs Sweep Awards
The Washington Post is making news, we’ve got James Beard award winners in our own backyard, and we get an update on the ultimate park's quest. Ann Limpert from Washingtonian and Jacob Fenston are here to get into all of it.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 14th episode:Casey TreesAlliance FrançaiseEagle BankWant some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREWe’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dc And we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Jun 13, 2024 • 21min
What’s the Point of Pocket Parks?
It’s D.C. Parks Week sponsored by Casey Trees, a week of coverage celebrating D.C.’s green spaces.D.C. was recently named the country’s best big city park system by the Trust for Public Land for the fourth time in a row! We are a park city, and not all of our parks are big. Greater Greater Washington’s Dan Reed and Kelly Collins Choi of Casey Trees sound off on what makes DC’s pocket parks so special. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 13th episode:Casey TreesAlliance FrançaiseEagle BankWant some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Jun 12, 2024 • 14min
How To Forage Your Next Meal in the DMV
It’s Parks Week sponsored by Casey Trees! A week of coverage celebrating DC’s green spaces.If you’re hearing more about foraging lately but don’t know where to start, you’re not alone. April Thompson, culinary chair of the Mycological Association of Washington D.C., explains what you need to know to safely and deliciously forage in the DMV.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 12th episode:Casey TreesAlliance FrançaiseEagle BankWant some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.

Jun 11, 2024 • 23min
Is Congress Caving on Weed? Plus, Tornadoes and Reality TV
It’s Parks Week sponsored by Casey Trees! A week of coverage celebrating DC’s green spaces. In today’s roundup, we dig into a potential change in D.C.’s weed legalization, recent extreme weather in the area, and why the District is having a great reality TV season.Contact 311 or visit trees.dc.gov for more information on tree maintenance.Check out are episodes on DC's weird weed culture and grey market here.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREWe’re also on Twitter! Follow us at @citycast_dcAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 11th episode:Casey TreesAlliance FrançaiseEagle Bank

Jun 10, 2024 • 23min
Could DC Lose Its Forests?
It’s Parks Week sponsored by Casey Trees! A week of coverage celebrating D.C.’s green spaces.A recent study says 9 of 11 forests in DC could face failure of regeneration. The National Park Service’s JP Schmit is here to explain what forest regeneration is and what we can do about it.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HEREAnd we’d love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 202-642-2654.