
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

Jul 31, 2024 • 28min
Your Guide to August in Salt Lake
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. August ushers in the dog days of summer, with hot temps that have us dreaming of fall. Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and producer Ivana Martinez bring you a guide to what to expect and how to make the most of this month, from creative ways to keep cool to delicious food to enjoy. Plus, get a $5 ticket to 801 Day on Thursday, Aug. 1 from 7-9 p.m. at Second Summit Cider in Millcreek.For even more tips on how to make the most of August 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, Salt Lake Community CollegeIncogni. 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

Jul 30, 2024 • 33min
Strong Beer on Tap? DA’s Boiling Pot, and Trailhead Menaces
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill is in Republican legislators’ crosshairs after a controversial tweet. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means ask if a new law is being repurposed to punish him. Plus, bartenders’ 2034 Olympic dreams, exercises in trailhead patience, and Park City’s best mountain biker.Resources and references:
Utah GOP leaders call for Salt Lake DA’s resignation after controversial post on Trump [Utah News Dispatch]
First Olympic Scandal? Fairpark Tree Accident, and Béisbol en Salt Lake [City Cast Salt Lake]
How should visitors to the 2034 Winter Olympics get a drink? Bar and brewery owners have a wishlist. [Salt Lake Tribune]
Get a $5 ticket to 801 Day on Thursday, Aug. 1 from 7-9 p.m. at Second Summit Cider in Millcreek.Consider becoming a founding 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 our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.At the end of the episode, we have a short conversation with Joyce Wambuyi, a Salt Lake Community College student. Learn more about SLCC’s PACE Scholarship Program.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:
Incogni - Use code CityCast for 55% off the annual plan.
Embodied Patience
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Jul 29, 2024 • 26min
Toxic Dust vs. the Great Salt Lake Czar
Great Salt Lake Commissioner Brian Steed has been leading the response to Utah’s biggest environmental crisis for more than a year. Is he OK? Host Ali Vallarta asks the commissioner about the best and worst ideas to save the lake, what he’s doing about the toxic dust, and how he juggles competing interests.For more context, listen to “Utah Made a Plan to Save the Great Salt Lake!” and “Corporations Have Rights. Should the Great Salt Lake?”Get a $5 ticket to 801 Day on Thursday, August 1 from 7-9 p.m. at Second Summit Cider in Millcreek.Consider becoming a founding 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 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 Community College
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Jul 26, 2024 • 33min
First Olympic Scandal? Fairpark Tree Accident, and Béisbol en Salt Lake
Salt Lake City is officially hosting the 2034 Winter Olympics, but there’s one big catch. Executive producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to dig into the unsavory details of the Olympic deal. Plus, SLC killed 200 trees, Mexican baseball is here, and come celebrate 801 Day with the City Cast gang. Resources and references:
IOC awards 2034 Winter Games to Utah and pushes state officials to help end FBI investigation [Associated Press]
Salt Lake City accidentally poisoned hundreds of trees along North Temple [Building Salt Lake]
Get tickets to Béisbol en Salt Lake.
Get a $5 ticket to 801 Day on Thursday, August 1 from 7-9 p.m. at Second Summit Cider in Millcreek.
Consider becoming a founding 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 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:
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Embodied Patience
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Jul 25, 2024 • 27min
Salt Lake’s Best and Worst Tourist Traps
Every city has its share of tourist traps, but does Salt Lake have any worth visiting? From Temple Square to Park City Main Street, Kendall Rodriguez, TikTok’s Queen of SLC, and host Ali Vallarta separate the must-sees from the avoid-at-all-costs. Plus, what’s in it for locals?Get a $5 ticket to 801 Day on Thursday, August 1 from 7-9 p.m. at Second Summit Cider in Millcreek.Consider becoming a founding 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 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:
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Jul 24, 2024 • 28min
Are Utahns More Pie and Beer Than Pioneer?
Sure, Pioneer Day is our state’s BIG holiday. But is Utah becoming more Pie and Beer Day? KUER politics reporters and State Street co-hosts Saige Miller and Sean Higgins join host Ali Vallarta to debunk some of the biggest Utah stereotypes and dig into how we’re pushing back against them. This episode originally aired Oct. 25, 2023.Get a $5 ticket to 801 Day on Thursday, August 1 from 7-9 p.m. at Second Summit Cider in Millcreek.Consider becoming a founding 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 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:
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Jul 23, 2024 • 35min
Cox's New Groove, Proper Brewing Moving, and Good Grass
Mitt Romney for president? Maybe in out-of-touch Democrats’ wildest dreams. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means localize the big political news from the weekend: Utah Republicans respond to Biden backing out and Gov. Spencer Cox endorses Trump. Plus, Proper Brewing’s for-sale sign, Salt Lake Tribune reporters unionize, and Utah drops a new lawn.Resources and references:
‘Feels like cheating’: Utah Republicans upset Joe Biden isn’t also leaving the White House [Salt Lake Tribune]
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox flip-flops on support for Donald Trump [Salt Lake Tribune]
Aaron Sorkin: How I Would Script This Moment for Biden and the Democrats [New York Times]
Proper Burger and Brewing puts its Main Street buildings up for sale [Building Salt Lake]
Get a $5 ticket to 801 Day at Second Summit Cider (21+).Consider becoming a founding 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 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:
Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
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Embodied Patience
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Jul 22, 2024 • 27min
Sweet and Awkward Salt Lake Proposals
Sometimes lovers need a little help planning the perfect proposal — and we’re here to serve. Executive producer Emily Means and Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria join host Ali Vallarta to brainstorm engagements for every kind of Salt Laker, from where to get down on one knee to how to pop the question. Plus, a surprise ending that will make you believe in love. Liked this episode? Try “Salt Lake’s Most Awkward Dates” next.Get a $5 ticket to 801 Day at Second Summit Cider (21+).Consider becoming a founding 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 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:
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Jul 19, 2024 • 35min
Climbing Gym Smackdown, Training Table’s Tease, and a Silver Queen’s Estate Sale
The Front is beefing with USA Climbing, and the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency is being nosy about it. Executive producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break down whether the drama outweighs the community benefits. Plus, the Training Table’s big tease, a crazy estate sale, and our next 9 Line-esque project.Get a $5 ticket to 801 Day at Second Summit Cider (21+).Resources and references:
RDA board approves development agreement with USA Climbing – without seeing its business plan [Building Salt Lake]
The case of the missing Training Table [Deseret News]
The Silver Queen’s estate sale
Consider becoming a founding 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 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:
Base Camp Treats - Use promo code CITYCAST20 for 20% off your online purchase.
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Embodied Patience
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Jul 18, 2024 • 23min
What’s Utah’s Next Trend Export?
Utahns get mocked mercilessly for our taste — from dirty sodas to our unusual baby names — but they almost always become a national trend. What gives? Deseret News features writer Meg Walter joins host Ali Vallarta to explain why our cultural identity is misunderstood and explore Utah’s next trend export.Get a $5 ticket to 801 Day at Second Summit Cider (21+).Resources and references:
How Stanley Drinkware Built an Empire in Utah [City Cast Salt Lake]
Do Utah Neighms Get Too Much Grief? [City Cast Salt Lake]
Consider becoming a founding 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 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:
Base Camp Treats - Use promo code CITYCAST20 for 20% off your online purchase
The Shop
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices