
City Cast Salt Lake
City Cast Salt Lake is Salt Lake City’s daily news podcast. Host Ali Vallarta and a bevy of smart and entertaining locals will bring you conversations about the issues that matter most to SLC. Some days City Cast will make you proud; other days it’ll make you angry. It will celebrate Salt Lake’s triumphs, (try to) solve its mysteries, and explore its history. City Cast will help you feel more connected to the Wasatch Front – whether you’ve lived here for 6 months or 6 generations.
Latest episodes

Jan 10, 2025 • 37min
Skiers Sue Vail, Immigration Crackdown, New SLC Trash Day
The Park City ski patrol strike is finally over, so what’s in their contract? Executive producer Emily Means and host Ali Vallarta discuss the union’s wins and Vail’s losses. Plus, a slew of immigration bills just dropped, hut-to-hut hiking, and an important public notice. Resources and references:
Skiers file class action lawsuit against Vail Resorts over Park City strike [KPCW]
New SLC garbage collection schedule starts Feb. 3, 2025
The Western Uinta Hut System
This year we’re giving $1,500 worth of gift cards to one lucky winner for the chance to enjoy some of the best SLC eats in every month of 2025. Follow the steps on this Instagram post to enter to win a year’s worth of City Cast Salt Lake’s favorite restaurants.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
The Shop
Central Wasatch Symposium
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Elizabeth Academy
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Jan 9, 2025 • 22min
You’ve Heard of Utah Militias. What Other Extremist Groups Are Here?
We may think of extremism as a national issue (think Jan. 6 insurrection), but new reporting from ProPublica shows how right-wing militias are operating in Utah. Chase Thomas, senior policy advisor at Better Utah Institute, joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about a new tool that tracks these groups and the next steps for addressing it.Resources and references:
The Militia and the Mole [ProPublica]
Extremism Watch Utah [Better Utah Institute]
This year we’re giving $1,500 worth of gift cards to one lucky winner for the chance to enjoy some of the best SLC eats in every month of 2025. Follow the steps on this Instagram post to enter to win a year’s worth of City Cast Salt Lake’s favorite restaurants.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
The Shop
Central Wasatch Symposium
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Elizabeth Academy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 8, 2025 • 37min
What To Expect Around Homelessness in 2025
Homelessness is at a record high across the country, and Utah leaders have eyes on how Salt Lake City is handling the issue. Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, discuss local headlines and set expectations for homeless-related bills this upcoming legislation session.Resources and references:
After prolonged delays, long-promised SLC tiny-home village for homeless Utahns finally gets its first residents [Salt Lake Tribune]
State leaders slam SLC police in letter to Mendenhall, ask city to submit plan to ‘restore public safety’ [Salt Lake Tribune]
Utah lawmaker proposes 'Homeless Bill of Rights' [FOX 13]
Operation Jordan River? Sounds Familiar. [City Cast Salt Lake]
This year we’re giving $1,500 worth of gift cards to one lucky winner for the chance to enjoy some of the best SLC eats in every month of 2025. Follow the steps on this Instagram post to enter to win a year’s worth of City Cast Salt Lake’s favorite restaurants.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
The Shop
Central Wasatch Symposium
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Elizabeth Academy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 7, 2025 • 23min
The Best Coffee in Salt Lake City
Where’s the best coffee in Salt Lake City? Rose Park resident Andy Moray visited every coffee shop in town last year — more than 70 of them. Today, he joins host Ali Vallarta to share his favorites and lessons learned from his quest. Check out Andy’s spreadsheet to discover new coffee shops.This year we’re giving $1,500 worth of gift cards to one lucky winner for the chance to enjoy some of the best SLC eats in every month of 2025. Follow the steps on this Instagram post to enter to win a year’s worth of City Cast Salt Lake’s favorite restaurants.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
The Shop
Central Wasatch Symposium
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Elizabeth Academy
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 6, 2025 • 31min
How Utah Lawmakers Could Change Your Life in 2025
Senators and representatives from around Utah will convene at the Capitol from Jan. 21 to March 7 for the annual legislative session. What new laws or programs will come of it? Fox 13 politics reporter Ben Winslow sets expectations for host Ali Vallarta about everything from the Great Salt Lake to revenge on Sugar House Pub and the Utah Supreme Court.This year we’re giving $1,500 worth of gift cards to one lucky winner for the chance to enjoy some of the best SLC eats in every month of 2025. Follow the steps on this Instagram post to enter to win a year’s worth of City Cast Salt Lake’s favorite restaurants.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
The Shop
Central Wasatch Symposium
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Elizabeth Academy
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 3, 2025 • 42min
Ski Patrol Strike, What’s ‘Out’ in 2025, Big Job Opportunity
Why did hundreds of Park City ski patrollers go on strike? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means talk about their demands and the impacts. Plus, local “ins and outs” for 2025, ancient bones, and become the next South Salt Lake city council member.Resources and references:
Park City ski patrol ‘disappointed’ in Vail counter offer as strike continues [KPCW]
Apply for the open seat on the South Salt Lake City Council.
Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
The Shop
Dr. Alexis Chiropractic - enjoy your first visit for just $60 (normally $210!)
Central Wasatch Symposium
Embodied Patience
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Jan 2, 2025 • 33min
Your Guide to January 2025 in Salt Lake
New year, new rendezvous! This is your guide to January in Salt Lake City. Host Ali Vallarta, Hey Salt Lake editor Terina Ria, and producer Ivana Martinez assemble a lineup of restaurants to try, local spectacles, and ideas for getting outside (without a thousand-dollar ski pass). And if you are headed to the movies this month, don’t miss our episode on the fate of the Sundance Film Festival.If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Salt Lake community. For even more tips on how to make the most of January in Salt Lake, check out Hey Salt Lake’s take on what to do this month. City Cast Salt Lake is made possible by our awesome sponsors, The Shop, Dr. Alexis Chiropractor, and Central Wasatch Symposium.. We’re also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast Salt Lake.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Check out our options.Reach us at saltlake@citycast.fm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 30, 2024 • 25min
Best and Worst Places To Take Out-of-Towners This Week
Which of Salt Lake City’s tourist attractions are worth bringing your family to this holiday season? From Temple Square to Park City Main Street, TikTok’s Queen of SLC Kendall Rodriguez and host Ali Vallarta separate the must-sees from the avoid-at-all-costs. Plus, what’s in it for locals?This episode originally aired on July 25, 2024.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
The Shop
Dr. Alexis Chiropractor - enjoy your first visit for just $60 (normally $210!)
Central Wasatch Symposium
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 26, 2024 • 28min
Tan France’s Hottest Salt Lake Takes
There’s nothing more fabulously Salt Lake than a Tan France sighting. The Queer Eye star has called Utah home for almost two decades — so we decided to test him on his local credentials. Tan joins host Ali Vallarta to dish on the best and worst our town has to offer and the most Salt Lake thing about him.This episode originally aired on June 10, 2024.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
The Shop
ICO
Embodied Patience
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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 23, 2024 • 25min
Why Are Utahns Obsessed With Disney?
There are several things Utahns are known for, but should we be adding “Disney adults” to the list? Jodi Eichler-Levine, religion and culture professor at Lehigh University, joins host Ali Vallarta to analyze why Utahns relate so strongly to the Walt Disney experience and how it became its own sort of religion.This episode originally aired on Aug. 6, 2024.Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we’re around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
The Shop
ICO
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices