
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

Feb 9, 2024 • 34min
Firefighters Take a Stand, Fugitive Dust, and Blood-Type Keychains
It’s the “glass-halfway” point of the Legislature’s general session, and host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means sum up the labor and environmental bills they’re watching. Plus, they highlight our neighbors in Millcreek and a cute reason to donate blood with their picks of the week.Bills mentioned:
HB 285 Labor Union Amendments
HB 368 Apprenticeship on Public Works Requirements
SB 172 Protection Areas Revisions
HB 202 Student Athlete Amendments
HB 11 Water Efficient Landscaping Requirements
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 find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @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:Treefort Music Fest: March 20-24 in downtown Boise, ID Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 8, 2024 • 20min
Cringe Dating Tales From Small Lake City
Raise your hand if you’ve been the victim of a truly awkward date. As Valentine’s Day approaches, we stand in solidarity with our Salt Lake neighbors who have survived family reunions, monster hunters, and people who look nothing like their dating app profile. Doug Fabrizio, host of KUER’s RadioWest, joins host Ali Vallarta to relive the cringe of your most memorably strange dates.This episode originally aired Feb. 14, 2023.Sick of dating apps? University of Utah gender researcher Lisa Diamond shares her tips for making a connection.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:Treefort Music Fest: March 20-24 in downtown Boise, ID Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 7, 2024 • 28min
Violent Crime Stats, Avenues Don’t-plexes, and Local Half Orders
Salt Lake City released new crime data and a corresponding dashboard. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means break down the trends. Plus, some Avenues residents are up in arms about density, and Ali and Emily share some shoutouts.This episode mentions rape and other violent crimes. Take care while listening.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 find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @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:Treefort Music Fest: March 20-24 in downtown Boise, ID Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 6, 2024 • 21min
Downtown’s New Rep Predicts a Renaissance
Grand plans for Salt Lake City’s downtown could bring big changes, from the skyline to the way we access city streets. What does the neighborhood’s new representative make of it all? District 4 Council Member Eva López Chávez joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about housing, safety, and what she believes is downtown’s biggest opportunity.“Engage with Eva” to talk about District 4 on Feb. 22. 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:Treefort Music Fest: March 20-24 in downtown Boise, ID Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 5, 2024 • 31min
Your Guide to February in Salt Lake
February is one of the shortest months of the year, but we’re making the most of it! Host Ali Vallarta and producer Ivana Martinez make the ultimate local’s guide to celebrate your Valentines and Galentines, plus what to do on Leap Day, and more to try in February.Here are some of the events and places discussed:Take a Heels Class with Caroline Kane Rent a free pasta making kit from the SLCo LibraryLocal Galentine’s Cake-making partySips Under the Sea at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium “Swan Lake” at Ballet West“Don Juan” at Utah Symphony“Love & Basketball” at the Salt Lake Film SocietyValentine’s Day Portraits at The Leonardo Book a walking tour with Rachel’s SLC HistoryRent an e-bike from Salt Lake E-bikesVisit Lovebound Library, “bring a bestie and get 10% off your purchase” Utah Jazz v. Los Angeles LakersKUAA 99.9 Valentine’s Day Party at Sayonara, 21+Cumbia Night at Drift Lounge Disney on Ice: Encanto and FrozenPre-order a Mardi Gras King Cake by Feb. 9 at Gourmandise or Vosen’sVisit Crystal Hot Springs in Honeyville, UTStay in this house on Bear Lake for President’s Day WeekendConsider 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:
Treefort Music Fest: March 20-24 in downtown Boise, ID Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 2, 2024 • 33min
Trainwreck Train Plan, Armed Teachers, and Pineapple Express Incoming
Starter homes, sticking it to the feds, snowplow headlights; time for a breakdown of the bills host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means are watching this week. Plus, remember the passenger rail proposal to Boise? We’ve got some gossip on what happened to it as well as our picks of the week.Bills mentioned:HB 306 Residential Housing AmendmentsSB 57 Utah Constitutional Sovereignty ActHB 292 Snowplow AmendmentsHB 119 School Employee Firearm Possession AmendmentsOther references:Gov. Cox’s mixed messaging on DEI.How Utah’s new transgender bathroom ban will be enforced. What’s Missing Middle Housing?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 find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @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:
Women’s Work Utah: Attend Neighborhood Caucus Night on Tuesday, March 5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 1, 2024 • 25min
SLC Council Duo on Setting the Westside Agenda
Salt Lake City’s east-west divide often makes headlines, from disparities in air quality to getting stuck behind trains to displacement due to gentrification. But what does the Westside really need? District 1 Council Member Victoria Petro and District 2 Council Member Ale Puy join host Ali Vallarta in their new leadership roles to talk about how they’ll advocate for Westside residents.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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 31, 2024 • 31min
Downtown Skijoring, New Health Clinic, and Who Owns City Cast?
It’s been a year since NBA All-Star Weekend descended upon Salt Lake City. What impact did it have? Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means look at the numbers and muse on a vision for activating downtown around big sporting events. And have you ever wondered what the heck is City Cast? Gather ‘round for our origin story, plus some local shoutouts.The Salt Lake Winter Roundup is Saturday, Feb. 10 in front of Abravanel Hall.Check out the new UFA Legacy Health Clinic. Do you have friends in Nashville, Austin, Madison or Houston? City Cast is hiring!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 find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @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:
Women’s Work Utah: Attend Neighborhood Caucus Night on Tuesday, March 5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 30, 2024 • 25min
SLC Food Trends To Expect in 2024
What will 2024 bring to Utah’s food scene? Gastronomic SLC founder Stuart Melling and host Ali Vallarta preview a new year of bars, local and chain food trends, and James Beard Awards. Plus, the spiciest soups for your head cold.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:
Women’s Work Utah: Attend Neighborhood Caucus Night on Tuesday, March 5 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 29, 2024 • 24min
SLC’s Biggest Opportunity, According to the Mayor
On Jan. 30, newly re-elected Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall will give her annual State of the City address. The mayor is expected to lay a vision for our city in her second term. She joins host Ali Vallarta to talk through some of the city’s biggest projects — both the challenges and the opportunities.Watch the State of the City address Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.Learn more about the Perpetual Housing Fund.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:Women’s Work Utah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices