
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

Sep 15, 2023 • 30min
Why Utahns Love Romney, Sanctioned Camp Coordinates, and Fair Food
Sen. Mitt Romney announced in a video Wednesday that he will not seek reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2024. Host Ali Vallarta and lead producer Emily Means have big feelings about this decision and ask what the senator’s political legacy will be. Plus, Salt Lake City announces the site of a new sanctioned homeless encampment, and we share our picks of the week.Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter for a Utah State Fair food ranking. 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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 14, 2023 • 20min
Should You Share Your Special Outdoor Spot?
You’ve found it: your special outdoor spot. But if you let people in on the secret, do you run the risk of drawing too much traffic to paradise? And if you don’t share those spaces, what kind of legacy are you enabling? Western Desk founder Madeline McGill joins host Ali Vallarta to examine gatekeeping of our natural lands and who writes the rules for navigating them.Where to watch the kokanee salmon run.This episode originally aired April 17, 2023.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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 13, 2023 • 21min
Why Is Utah Kicking Thousands of People off Medicaid?
It’s a lot of work to get life-saving Medicaid coverage in Utah. Right now, the state is reviewing the eligibility of every single recipient — and advocates and legislators alike are alarmed by how many people are losing coverage. Consumer advocate Stephanie Burdick joins lead producer Emily Means to break down what’s happening and what she believes the state could do to keep Utahns covered. Is your Medicaid eligibility up for renewal? Check out these resources to help you navigate the process:211 resource networkTake Care UtahHoly Cross MinistriesSubscribe 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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 12, 2023 • 22min
Food Truck Parks and Other Changes Coming to 300 W.
A new era is dawning for 300 W. in Salt Lake City’s Ballpark neighborhood. Road construction is over, and the city’s first ever food truck park is on its way. Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson joins lead producer Emily Means to give us the details on the new park and look ahead to what’s next for 300 W.Is Salt Lake City the next Austin?Take the Ballpark NEXT community visioning survey through September.Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can 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

Sep 11, 2023 • 15min
Why Is It Taking So Long To Get a Doctor’s Appointment?
If you’ve tried making an appointment with a health care provider recently, you’ve probably experienced an extremely long wait time to be seen. You’re not the only one. Salt Lake Tribune innovations reporter Sofia Jeremias joins producer Ivana Martinez to break down why Utahns are waiting several months to see a doctor. 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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 8, 2023 • 27min
Great Salt Lake Lawsuit, Election Results, and Dogs in Grocery Stores
Big news this week with a primary election, a lawsuit to protect the Great Salt Lake, and households with dogs outnumbering households with kids in Salt Lake City. Producer Ivana Martinez joins lead producer Emily Means to break it all down and share their picks of the week.Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC.Learn about the drama surrounding Celeste Maloy at the Republican GOP convention. Catch up on the CD2 primary election rundown with KSL Radio reporter Lindsay Aerts. 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

Sep 7, 2023 • 23min
How To Romanticize Life in Salt Lake
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of your to-do list. Today, we invite you to slow down and romanticize your Salt Lake life with us. Producer Ivana Martinez and Hey Salt Lake newsletter editor Terina Ria join lead producer Emily Means to share the little Salt Lake City things that bring them joy. 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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 6, 2023 • 17min
The Best Indie Bookstores in Utah
Cozy season incoming! The leaves and temperature are hinting at the arrival of fall in Salt Lake, and we can’t wait to curl up with the new book we got from an independent book shop. Looking to branch out from big-box stores? Provo-based author Whitney McGruder is on a quest to visit every locally owned bookstore in Utah and shares her top picks with producer Ivana Martinez.Whitney’s favorite bookstores:
The Legendarium in Salt Lake City
Poppy Books and Gifts in Spanish Fork
Find Whitney’s books here.Try the Fellowship of Indie Utah Bookstores challenge, and get your map stamped when you visit any of the bookshops listed. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can 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

Sep 5, 2023 • 26min
Why the Congressional District 2 Primary Matters
Primary Election Day is here! Some Salt Lake County residents have municipal races on their ballots. But the big-ticket item — for Republican voters in Congressional District 2 — is the GOP primary to replace outgoing Rep. Chris Stewart. KSL Radio reporter Lindsay Aerts joins lead producer Emily Means to break down the differences between the three candidates and explain the significance of this race.How and where to vote on Primary Election Day in Salt Lake County.Catch up on the hot election goss about the Republican candidates from the CD2 race.The Salt Lake Tribune has a handy breakdown of which cities in Salt Lake County have municipal primaries.Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLC. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sep 1, 2023 • 28min
Sanctioned Camping by Winter? Food Co-Ops, and the Library Is Unionizing
Salt Lake City has named an ambitious timeline for opening a new sanctioned campground: this winter. But where will it go? Building Salt Lake editor Taylor Anderson joins lead producer Emily Means to round up the week’s news, including the far-off opening of a new cooperative food market. Plus, Taylor and Emily share their picks of the week.Listen to our conversations with the three mayoral candidates:
Mayor Erin Mendenhall on homelessness
Rocky Anderson on homelessness
Michael Valentine on homelessness
Our interview with Andrew Johnston, Salt Lake City homeless policy director, on a homeless state of emergency and sanctioned camping.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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices