

City Cast Salt Lake
City Cast
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

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

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

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

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

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

Dec 12, 2023 • 18min
When Will Lawmakers Address Air Quality on SLC’s West Side?
Salt Lakers just know: The worst air is on the west side of the valley. But our chewy air quality has consequences beyond the ick we get looking at our murky horizon. Salt Lake Tribune west side reporter Alixel Cabrera and KUER politics reporter Saige Miller join host Ali Vallarta to break down the impacts to residents and possible solutions by local and state leaders.Browse the Reaching for Air series and graphics. 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

Dec 11, 2023 • 21min
Why Utah Has a Road Rage Problem
It’s that time of year when everyone is on the road, trying to make it home for the holidays or racing up the mountain to ski. And this year, we’ve seen a lot of headlines specifically about road rage leading to crashes and, in too many instances, death. So, what are state leaders doing about unsafe drivers? Salt Lake Tribune innovation reporter Sofia Jeremias joins host Ali Vallarta to break down why we’re so bad at driving and what solutions are on the table. Sweet Streets SLC’s traffic violence map.Read Sofia’s Jeremias reporting on road rage. 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

Dec 8, 2023 • 31min
Cox’s Big Budget, Final Election Results, and a Real Housewives Performance
Gov. Spencer Cox rolled out his budget proposal for the 2025 fiscal year. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means dig around to see if there’s anything good in there. Plus, we’ve got the final election results for Salt Lake County municipal races, a local budget update, and our picks of the week.Learn more about Salt Lake County’s newly approved budget. 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:
Harmons Grocery
McGillis School
Mattress Warehouse

Dec 7, 2023 • 23min
Could a Spicy Resignation Letter Lead to a Better Planning Commission?
Two SLC Planning Commission members have left the board recently, and one’s farewell was accompanied by a pointed letter offering suggestions to improve the commission’s processes. Which should matter to any Salt Laker, because the group is tasked with many of our city’s land-use decisions — from affordable housing to building heights. Former commissioner Andra Ghent joins host Ali Vallarta to share her thoughts on how she believes the group could be more effective.Apply to join the planning commission.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
McGillis School
Mattress Warehouse

Dec 6, 2023 • 28min
Your Guide to December in Salt Lake
Welcome to December, Salt Lake! From outdoor activities that don’t involve skiing to local Christmas markets and movie magic, host Ali Vallarta and Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria have created a guide to the month in our charming, snow-capped city. Plus, tips for maintaining holiday sanity and managing family in town.Here are some of the events and places discussed:International Peace GardensPanaderia FloresMicrospikesSalt Lake Film Society’s holiday movie lineupLove Actually at the Utah SymphonyThe Elves at Gardner VillageChristmas Street in Sugar HouseConsider 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.This episode features a sponsored interview with Sheridan Mordue, owner of Hip & Humble, about gift ideas for the hardest folks on your list to shop for.Learn more about the other sponsors of this episode:
Harmons Grocery
McGillis School
Mattress Warehouse