

City Cast Salt Lake
City Cast
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 3, 2025 • 40min
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
Live Crude - Get $25 off your facial by mentioning this ad.

Jan 2, 2025 • 32min
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.

Dec 30, 2024 • 24min
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

Dec 26, 2024 • 27min
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
Live Crude - Get $25 off your facial by mentioning this ad.

Dec 23, 2024 • 24min
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

Dec 20, 2024 • 35min
What’s ‘The Point’? Sundance Celebs, a Local Vinyl Legend
The Point development in southern Salt Lake County is finally seeing some action after Gov. Spencer Cox and legislators broke ground this week. Executive producer Emily Means and host Ali Vallarta discuss what’s in store for the state’s 600-acre project. Plus, possible celebrity sightings at Sundance, a volunteer opportunity, and honoring a legendary Salt Laker. Resources and references:
Utah’s old prison now gone, leaders break ground on ‘The Point,’ a huge state-run development [Utah News Dispatch]
Here are the 87 movies (and 57 shorts) set to screen at Sundance 2025 — and the stars they will feature [Salt Lake Tribune]
Randy Stinson, the face of record stores in Utah, dies at age 83 [Salt Lake Tribune]
Volunteer for the Point-In-Time Count
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:
Harmons
ICO
Sugar House Chamber
Embodied Patience
Live Crude - Get $25 off your facial by mentioning this ad.

Dec 19, 2024 • 25min
Did We Visit All 511 Parks in Salt Lake County?
Host Ali Vallarta made a resolution this year to visit every park in Salt Lake County. As we approach the end of 2024, we have to ask: Did she do it? Ali joins executive producer Emily Means to share insights from her quest, including picks for the best dog parks, date spots, and public bathrooms.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:
Harmons
Utah Arts Alliance
Sugar House Chamber

Dec 18, 2024 • 27min
How Utah Women Dominate Reality TV
The Washington Post called 2024 “the year of Mormon women,” and we could credit our local reality TV stars for that. KUER politics reporter Saige Miller joins host Ali Vallarta to analyze Salt Lake’s big year on the small screen, from reality unions to what the future brings. 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:
Harmons
Sugar House Chamber
The Utah Investigative Journalism project

Dec 17, 2024 • 28min
Salt Lake’s Biggest Viral Moments of 2024
What do Utah’s most viral moments say about us? Salt Lake Tribune reporter Anastasia Hufham joins host Ali Vallarta to break down some of the biggest and most memorable local stories to hit the zeitgeist in 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:
Harmons
ICO
Sugar House Chamber
Embodied Patience
Live Crude - Get $25 off your facial by mentioning this ad.

Dec 16, 2024 • 24min
SLC Restaurants Open During the Holidays
Tired of cooking for the holidays? Hey Salt Lake Newsletter editor Terina Ria joins host Ali Vallarta to drum up cheap and swanky recommendations for restaurants that are open on Christmas and New Years Day, as well as ideas to impress out of towners.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:
Harmons
ICO
Sugar House Chamber