City Cast Salt Lake

The state wants to put a 1,200-bed homeless campus somewhere in Salt Lake City, and City Cast has the scoop on one possible location. Executive producer Emily Means, producer Ivana Martinez, and community organizer Chandler Rosenberg discuss the site and its potential impacts. Plus, a psychedelic mushroom church, a new death club, and airport mice. Resources and references: State Eyes SLC's Westside For Homeless Campus [Hey Salt Lake] A psychedelic sacrament. A Provo police raid. What counts as a religion? [KUER] Inside the 24/7 fight at Utah’s 2 busiest airports to keep migrating birds out of airplane engines [Salt Lake Tribune] Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are 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:  Salt Lake City Arts Council Salt Lake City Government The Shop Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC. Workshopslc.com - use code CITYCAST for 20% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most commonly asked questions we get is, "How do you make friends here?" Our neighbors seem like the perfect place to start — if we could just work up the courage to say, "hi." Dr. Maria Blevins, associate professor of communications at Utah Valley University, joins executive producer Emily Means to share ways to cut through the awkwardness and be better neighbors.  Having a conflict with your neighbor? Learn how to disagree better.  Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now 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:  Salt Lake City Arts Council Salt Lake City Government The Shop Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where are Salt Lake’s hidden gems? Local explorer Darienne Debrule tells host Ali Vallarta about tucked away shops, restaurants and experiences you need to check out. Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now 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:  Salt Lake City Arts Council Salt Lake City Government The Shop Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Spencer Cox is taking cues from Elon Musk and rolling out Utah’s version of DOGE. Socio-pop anthropologist Cassie Bingham and executive producer Emily Means break down what government efficiency actually means. Plus, a lesbian burger joint, the Great Salt Lake hits national news (again), and a hot seat on the Salt Lake County council.  Resources and references: Gov. Cox, ‘so excited’ about DOGE, just announced a similar initiative for Utah [Salt Lake Tribune] The Great Salt Lake is drying. Has Utah lost the will to save it? [Salt Lake Tribune and New York Times]  Corporations Have Rights. Should the Great Salt Lake? Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are 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:  Salt Lake City Arts Council Salt Lake City Government The Shop Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC. Workshopslc.com - use code CITYCAST for 20% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Central Ninth neighborhood is popping off while downtown SLC fights off chains. Host Ali Vallarta asks Darin Mano, the chair of Salt Lake’s Community Reinvestment Agency, what the city is doing about it. We reference the episode “How to Keep Main Street Bars From Closing.” Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now 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:  Salt Lake City Arts Council Salt Lake City Government The Shop Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was a big week for Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, from making national headlines over new pride flags to releasing her proposed $512 million budget. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means break down the highlights and lowlights. Plus, touring the Walker Center, a great sauna place, and tusks up for the Utah Mammoth.    Resources and references: Book a tour for the Walker Center.  Check out the SLC Mayor’s budget breakdown. [Hey Salt Lake]   Download PDFs of SLC's new flag designs. Buy Project Rainbow’s “Not A Flag” merch. Attend Sweet Street’s 9-Line bike ride. Try the PLUNJ bathhouse.  Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are 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:  Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Salt Lake City Arts Council Salt Lake City Government Red Butte Garden Asher Adams Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC. Workshopslc.com - use code CITYCAST for 20% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s patio season! Deck enthusiast Diana Martinez joins host Ali Vallarta to count down the best bars, restaurants, and cafes for working remotely in the sun, happy hour, or a long brunch. Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now 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:  Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Salt Lake City Arts Council Salt Lake City Government Red Butte Garden Asher Adams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Utah’s flag and fluoride bans go into effect today, but host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means explore some sneaky workarounds. Plus, where to see baby bison, a local  savant, and Benson Boone in SLC.  Resources and references: As Utah’s fluoride ban begins, health officials urge Utahns to protect their teeth [Utah News Dispatch] Here are 5 ways Utahns can get fluoride after tap water ban takes effect [Salt Lake Tribune] Baby bison at Antelope Island [KUTV 2] Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are 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:  Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Salt Lake City Arts Council Salt Lake City Government Red Butte Garden Asher Adams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Utah's Medicaid program has been fully expanded for five years, with no work requirements since COVID hit. But now the state's Dept. of Health and Human Services wants to add them. Host Ali Vallarta asks Stephanie Burdick, a consumer representative on Utah's Medicaid advisory committee, what's on the table and how it could impact all of us. Resources and references: Dental care resources for Medicaid patients ProtectMedicaidUtah.org The next public hearing for Medicaid expansion work requirements is Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 4-6 pm. Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now 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:  Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Salt Lake City Arts Council Salt Lake City Government Red Butte Garden Asher Adams Cozy Earth - Use code COZYSALTLAKE for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC. Workshopslc.com - use code CITYCAST for 20% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you blink and miss the 3.9-magnitude earthquake last week? It’s a gentle reminder to get ready for "the big one” scientists expect to hit Salt Lake one of these days. Host Ali Vallarta chatted with Taylorsville prepper Emily Cottam about her tips for putting together a 72-hour kit and preparing for hard times. This episode first aired March 27, 2023. Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now 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:  Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Salt Lake City Arts Council Salt Lake City Government Red Butte Garden Asher Adams Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices