City Cast DC
City Cast
City Cast is the daily, local audio companion you knew DC needed. Washingtonians are gritty, proud, and resilient — necessary qualities for a community facing issues that range from an affordability crisis to the fight for statehood to the movement for racial justice… and useful qualities for a region full of whip-smart people, dynamic culture, and constant change. 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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Sep 6, 2022 • 20min
The Science to Making Friends in D.C.
Did you know there’s a science to making friends? Psychologist and D.C. local Marisa G. Franco has been researching friendship, and she shares some tips with us. Let’s be real: we could all use some advice on how to build friendships in this transient city of ours.Dr. Franco’s book “Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make--and Keep--Friends" comes out today. Get it now for more friendship advice.Read more about the Takoma Park sidewalk mural story, if you want to get involved. And leave us a voicemail at 2026422654 with your opinions on the best and worst fast casual restaurants in D.C.!For more local loves and gripes, sign up for our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter at @citycast_dc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 2, 2022 • 24min
Carjackings, NIMBYism, and Judging Your Neighbors
The shooting of Commanders’ running back Brian Robinson Jr. was a huge talking point all week long, especially in light of the most recent carjacking stats. Hint: they’re high. Plus, we chat about Marc Elrich’s hold on Montgomery County, and this DC Neighborhood Tik Tok you know you need to watch.Also! Sign up for our morning newsletter here, and follow us on Twitter 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 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 1, 2022 • 18min
Matt Yglesias’ Wild Plan To Fix D.C. Housing
D.C. has a housing problem. But how can we fix it? ANC slush funds? Parking for life? Matt Yglesias, the author of the Substack Slow Boring, joins City Cast CEO David Plotz to tell us his bold plan to shake it up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 31, 2022 • 15min
PG County vs. Pit Bulls
Drizzy the pit bull is sweet, playful, and loves children, he isn't allowed to live in PG County. We talked to his dad Dan Reed about why an antiquated pit bull ban is still on the books there, even though it’s not being enforced, and what’s being done to change it. Want to help overturn the ban? Look into volunteering with PB Proud. Grab tickets to the DC Jazz Festival here.And for more D.C. news, sign up for our morning newsletter, follow us at @citycast_dc, and check out our Instagram.We’d also love to feature you on the show! Share your DC-related thoughts, hopes, and frustrations with us in a voicemail by calling 2026422654 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 30, 2022 • 16min
Union Station's $10 Billion Facelift
Union Station is about to undergo a massive renovation. WAMU’s Jordan Pascale walks us through what the transit hub will look like inside and out, and how it's going to transform the neighborhood around it.Check out our morning newsletter for even more news. Find us on Twitter (@citycast_dc). And voice your opinion on the show! Leave us a voicemail by calling 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 29, 2022 • 20min
Who Belongs On D.C.’s Mount Rushmore?
There are so many iconic Washingtonians. If you had to whittle it down to just four — your Mount Rushmore — who would be on it? Briana Thomas, the author of "Black Broadway in Washington, D.C.," joined us to discuss who makes D.C.’s list. Spoiler alert: it gets heated.Want some more DC news? Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. We’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 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 25, 2022 • 14min
New School Year, New Vaccination Problems
It’s a new school year, and there’s a new problem facing D.C. Schools. A staggering amount of kids aren’t vaccinated. And we’re not just talking about COVID, we mean routine ones like MMR and polio. DCist’s Colleen Grablick walks us through why this happened and how schools are responding.D.C. Health has a map of locations broken down by ward for where to get your child vaccinated. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletterWe’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 2026422654 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2022 • 12min
This Secluded Park Is One of D.C.'s Best Kept Secrets
What happens when neighbors band together and transform a section of asphalt in their own backyard? Bridget Todd meets up with Tyrone Goodwyn, who explains the history of Crispus Attucks Park in Northeast D.C. and how it became Bloomingdale’s secret urban oasis.Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletterWe’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 2026422654 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 18, 2022 • 18min
How D.C.’s Unhoused Communities Handle the Heat
Street Sense vendor Chris Cole was unhoused for a chunk of the pandemic, and she says it’s the summers, not the winters, that are the hardest to handle. In this episode, she told us how she survived two summers living outside, and what she thinks of the government’s heat plan.Call 311 if you need help or information on heat exposure and resources to deal with it. Here are some ways you can help D.C.’s unhoused communities. And be sure to check out Street Sense’s comprehensive reporting on this issue. As promised, we’ve also got info on how to get your own trash super can, for all your rat control needs. And for more D.C. news, check out our morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter at @citycast_dc, and you can leave us a voicemail by calling 2026422654. Call us!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 16, 2022 • 17min
The Best D.C. Day Trips (By Car or Metro)
Sure, D.C. is blistering and sauna-like right now. But you don’t have to go far for a blissful, affordable vacation. Travel writer Tim Ebner’s got so many suggestions, your head will spin.That said, if you’re staying in the city, check out our Summer Bucket List, and sign up for our morning newsletter to find out how you can win some summer swag.If you’ve got any questions for us, or gripes, thoughts, hopes, and frustrations about D.C., leave us a voicemail by calling 2026422654. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
