

City Cast Salt Lake
City Cast
City Cast Salt Lake is SLC’s daily news podcast. Join host Ali Vallarta and a bevy of smart and entertaining locals for conversations about the issues that matter most. City Cast Salt Lake will celebrate the city’s triumphs, explore its history, (try to) solve its mysteries, and it’ll help you feel more connected to the Wasatch Front – whether you’ve lived here for 6 months or 6 generations. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at saltlake.citycast.fm.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 27, 2025 • 25min
Utah’s Congressional Maps Need To Be Redrawn. Now What?
A judge has ruled the Utah Legislature must redraw the boundaries of its four congressional districts. Host Ali Vallarta asks former congressman Ben McAdams, a lawyer and the last Democrat to hold federal office in Utah, what comes next and who might run for new seats.
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.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137Looking 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
Salt Lake City Government
Downtown Alliance
Utah State Fair

Aug 26, 2025 • 37min
Dog Parks & Patios, Cutest Pets for Adoption, New Window Shopping
It’s your furry news roundup! Host Ali Vallarta and producer Ivana Martinez investigate Salt Lake’s best dog parks, dog-friendly patios, and four pups you should adopt tomorrow. Plus, a local block comes back to life and the year’s best symphony is Sept. 23.
Resources and references:
Follow Ali’s every park journey.
The full list of dog-friendly patios.
Adopt Cash, Ace Bailey, Magnus, and Platter.
Is Dog Pee Worse Than Deer Pee in the Watershed? [City Cast Salt Lake]
Get tickets to Celebración Sinfónica.
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.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
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
Salt Lake City Government
Downtown Alliance
Utah State Fair
Workshopslc.com - use code CITYCAST for 20% off.
Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC
Cozy Earth - use code COZYSALTLAKE for 40% off best-selling temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more

Aug 25, 2025 • 28min
Utah ‘Solved’ Homelessness in 2015. What Happened?
Homelessness in Utah is up 18% over the past year. But 10 years ago, our state made national news for solving chronic homelessness. Executive producer Emily Means asks Michelle Flynn, executive director of The Road Home, what changed and whether we ever actually earned that headline.
Dig into Utah's new homeless report with us.
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.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
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:
Stewardship Utah
Visit Walla Walla
Harmons
Utah State Fair

Aug 22, 2025 • 35min
Everybody Hates Live Nation, Utah Rankings for Women, Trisha Paytas Gets Local
Live Nation is tightening its grip on Salt Lake City. Is it a bellwether for the new Sports & Entertainment District downtown? Host Ali Vallarta, producer Ivana Martinez and CEO of Planned Parenthood Association of Utah Shireen Ghrobani dive into it. Plus, Utah ranks worst for women, a party to reduce food waste, and what Trisha Paytas and West Valley Arts have in common.
Vote for City Cast Salt Lake for best podcast in the Best of Utah!
Resources and references:
SEG to build new 6,000-seat venue in new Downtown entertainment district [Building Salt Lake]
We continue to be ranked as the worst state for women’s equality – 11 years running [Utah News Dispatch]
Check out West Valley City’s Hunchback of Notre Dame
WasteLess Solutions Second Chance Dance (promo code: citycast for $20 off)
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.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
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:
Stewardship Utah
Visit Walla Walla
Harmons
Utah State Fair

Aug 21, 2025 • 18min
Did Utahns Pioneer Supplement Culture?
Utah is the nation’s dietary supplement capital, with over 300 nutraceutical companies headquartered here, raking in over $16 billion. Host Ali Vallarta asks Danielle Masterson, editor of the NutraIngredients news site, how the heck that happened.
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:
Stewardship Utah
Visit Walla Walla
Harmons
Utah State Fair

Aug 20, 2025 • 33min
4 Ideas To Fund Instead of More Jails Beds
Local and state leaders want to expand the Salt Lake County Jail as a way to improve public safety and keep offenders off the streets. But is that the best use of our money? Executive producer Emily Means asks public defender and Democratic Rep. Grant Miller what's on his funding wishlist instead of more jail beds.
Check out the Salt Lake County jail dashboard.
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.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
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:
Stewardship Utah
Visit Walla Walla
Harmons
Utah State Fair

Aug 19, 2025 • 35min
Celeb Support for Main Street, New Bars, Shoe Repair Speakeasy
Salt Lakers have raised over $430,000 for workers affected by the Main Street fire. Host Ali Vallarta and newsletter editor Terina Ria cover all the Salt Lake food news that’s fit to print, from the plan to rebuild Main to a cute weekend speakeasy in a shoe repair store.
Resources and references:
SLC bar owner says firefighters cleared his building to reopen after grease fire — then the roof went up in flames [Salt Lake Tribune]
Speakeasy nights at Lucky Sole Shoe Repair
We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners, and we’d be grateful if you took it at citycast.fm/survey. It only takes seven minutes, and you’ll be doing us a big favo r. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card and City Cast Salt Lake swag.
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.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
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:
Stewardship Utah
Visit Walla Walla
Harmons
Utah State Fair
Workshopslc.com - use code CITYCAST for 20% off.
Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC
Cozy Earth - use code COZYSALTLAKE for 40% off best-selling temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more

Aug 18, 2025 • 29min
How Will Utah Transit Change Before the 2034 Olympics?
Could we get a train to Park City? Will fare-free transit ever happen? How do the 'burbs get bus stops? With the 2034 Olympics on the horizon, some big transit investments are coming down the track. Executive producer Emily Means asks Utah Transit Authority executive director Jay Fox what's on the horizon for the Salt Lake Valley's public transportation system.
We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners, and we’d be grateful if you took it at citycast.fm/survey. It only takes seven minutes, and you’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card and City Cast Salt Lake swag.
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.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
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:
Stewardship Utah
Visit Walla Walla
Harmons
Utah State Fair

Aug 15, 2025 • 41min
Homelessness Blame Game, LDS Chatbot, Tiny Art Show
Homelessness is up across the state, and local and state electeds are beefing over it. Executive producer Emily Means, producer Ivana Martinez, and City Cast Salt Lake contributor Cassie Bingham break down the data and discuss the showdown. Plus, an LDS chatbot for your existential questions, queer bachata, and a tiny art show.
Resources and references:
Donate to the Main Street fire employee assistance fund.
Vote for us in the Best of Utah
It’s no human bishop, but LDSBot is here to chat about faith [KUER]
Are Salt Lakers Using AI Responsibly? [City Cast Salt Lake]
We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners, and we’d be grateful if you took it at citycast.fm/survey. It only takes seven minutes, and you’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card and City Cast Salt Lake swag.
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.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
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
ICO
Canyon View Credit Union
Salt Lake City Arts Council
Venture Out
Workshopslc.com - use code CITYCAST for 20% off.
Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC

Aug 14, 2025 • 22min
LDS Dating Culture, According to an Insider
What's it like to date as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? A new dating show on YouTube pulls back the curtain. Executive producer Emily Means asks culture writer and Hivemind podcast host Meg Walter what "The Altar" and “Provo’s Most Eligible” get right about LDS dating culture.
We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners, and we’d be grateful if you took it at citycast.fm/survey. It only takes seven minutes, and you’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card and City Cast Salt Lake swag.
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.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
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
ICO
Canyon View Credit Union
Salt Lake City Arts Council
Venture Out


