
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

Dec 27, 2023 • 24min
The Best Salt Lake Spots for a Holiday Cry
The holidays can be fraught, from family stress or loneliness to overwhelming joy and nostalgia. Sometimes the tears well up, and you can’t control it! So, where are the best places in Salt Lake to comfortably cry in public? With help from City Cast listeners and Hey Salt Lake readers, newsletter editor Terina Ria and producer Ivana Martinez join host Ali Vallarta to compile a list and map of the best local spots to find comfort or solace from strangers. This episode originally aired on Aug. 24, 2023.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:
The Shop Workspace
Mattress Warehouse
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Dec 26, 2023 • 13min
A Hater’s Guide to Salt Lake
We all love our city, but nobody’s perfect! Host Ali Vallarta asks Kendall Rodriguez, the Queen of SLC, for the best Salt Lake spots to take your enemies. Buckle in, haters.This episode originally aired on Feb. 6, 2023.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:
The Shop Workspace
Mattress Warehouse
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 22, 2023 • 26min
SLC’s Micro Shelter Opens, 2024 Construction Plans, and Last-Minute Gifts
The state’s first-ever sanctioned homeless camp has opened, offering 25 heated pods in downtown Salt Lake City. Executive producer Emily Means and host Ali Vallarta discuss its met and unmet needs. Plus, what to expect in the way of construction in 2024, and our picks of the week.Volunteer for “Code Blue” with the Second and Second Coalition.Become a founding City Cast member yourself or gift a membership.Visit Atelier at 337 Pierpont Ave. for last minute gifts.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:
Broadway at the Eccles Presents: HAMILTON
Second Summit Cider
Cotopaxi
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Dec 21, 2023 • 25min
Dating Advice for Salt Lake’s Cozy Season
“Cuffing season” — a term of endearment for locking down a cold-weather fling — is in full swing. Does that inspire panic? Producer Ivana Martinez joins host Ali Vallarta to share cozy date ideas, advice for winter dating, and a few do’s and don’ts.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:
Broadway at the Eccles Presents: HAMILTON
Second Summit Cider
Cotopaxi
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 20, 2023 • 25min
We Drank at Every Bar in Salt Lake. Here’s What We Learned.
New Year’s resolutions are tough to keep, especially ambitious ones. But at the start of 2023, host Ali Vallarta made it her mission to get a drink at every bar in Salt Lake County — all 216 of them — before the year’s end. We’re proud to announce: She did it. Ali shares her takeaways with executive producer Emily Means and looks ahead to her next great challenge.Details for the end of journey celebration, Thursday, Dec. 21 from 7-9 p.m. at The Green Room. Ali’s report from all the ‘Bout Times in 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:
Broadway at the Eccles Presents: HAMILTON
Second Summit Cider
Cotopaxi
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 19, 2023 • 24min
Booze News We Can Use in 2024
How will Utah make buying and serving alcohol easier in 2024? Fox 13 reporter Ben Winslow tells host Ali Vallarta how lawmakers and the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services — our state alcohol regulator — could change how we raise a glass next year.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:
Broadway at the Eccles Presents: HAMILTON
Second Summit Cider
Cotopaxi
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 18, 2023 • 28min
Who Is On Salt Lake’s Naughty and Nice Lists?
TikTok’s own Queen of SLC, Kendall Rodriguez, joins host Ali Vallarta to count down who was good and who is getting coal this year in Salt Lake City. From newsmakers to benevolent visionaries, we ask Santa to #takenote.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:
Broadway at the Eccles Presents: HAMILTON
Harmons Grocery
Cotopaxi
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Dec 15, 2023 • 30min
Gondola v. Drinking Water, Our ‘Haphazard’ AG, and $50 for $600
Salt Lake City and Sandy are suing the Utah Department of Transportation over the gondola. Plus, it’s not even 2024 yet, and it’s already election season again. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means chat about this week’s stories and share their picks of the week.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.Listen to our 2023 Local Gift Guide.Drop blanket donations for Salt Lake’s temporary shelter community at 2333 W. North Temple.Buy the Queen of SLC’s City Card.Learn about Switchpoint’s approach to homelessness.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:
Cotopaxi
Harmons Grocery
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Dec 14, 2023 • 24min
With Empty Apartments, Are We Really in a Housing Crisis?
Utah’s housing crisis is one of the central topics we’ve explored on this show; what we’ve heard for years is there just isn’t enough housing supply to meet demand. So, imagine our surprise at recent reporting that points to an oversupply of Salt Lake apartments, sitting empty in our city. On City Cast Salt Lake’s second anniversary, Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson joins host Ali Vallarta to answer the question: Are we in a housing crisis or not?Related listening: It’s officially cheaper to rent than buy. Why?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:
Harmons Grocery
Cotopaxi
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 13, 2023 • 31min
Local Gift Ideas, From Thrifty to Spendy
‘Tis the season for gift giving! If you’re seeking inspiration, Deseret News columnist Meg Walter joins host Ali Vallarta to assemble a thoughtful, hyper-local gift guide — from $0 to $200 an item. Plus, how do you know if you need to buy someone a holiday gift?Gift ideas mentioned:Under $20 Solstice Chocolate Beehive Cheese Salt Lake Coloring Book ChildcareUnder $50 Maileg Mice Candy Lab Toys Cactus & Tropicals Venus Flytrap Pantry Products Refillable CandlesAllTrails+Small Air PurifierUnder $100 Park City Curling Lessons Kura Door PedicureGCI Outdoor Kickback Rocking Camp ChairNormal Ice Cream Delivered Nationally For Next Year Springville Art Museum Under $100 ShowSLC Art AdoptionUnder $200 Pebble Ice Maker Sundance Film Festival TicketsThe Stockist My Little Belleville Jumpsuit Doggy DaycareSmall Business AdConsider 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:
Harmons Grocery
Cotopaxi
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices