
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

Aug 4, 2023 • 27min
Wine in Grocery Stores, Best Bathrooms, and Manifesting Your Wants
A Utah man has filed a ballot initiative to allow grocery stores to sell wine and spirits, as well as lower the 88% markup on alcohol sales. Does it have any chance of passing? Plus, what makes a bathroom extraordinary? Lead producer Emily Means and host Ali Vallarta roundup the top stories and share their picks of the week. Vote for America’s Best Restroom before Aug. 11.Vote for City Cast Salt Lake in the Media category for Best of Utah.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

Aug 3, 2023 • 24min
How ‘The Sandlot’ Captures Salt Lake’s Charm
It’s been 30 years since Salt Lake City’s big debut as fake Los Angeles in the classic friendship movie “The Sandlot.” Never seen it? Seen it 100 times? Born-and-bred Salt Lakers lead producer Emily Means and newsletter editor Terina Ria join host Ali Vallarta to talk about whether this movie holds up and who its real heroes and villains are.Get tickets to watch the Sandlot at the sandlot with the original cast, this Saturday, Aug. 4.See plans for the Tower Theater remodel at 9th and 9th. Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and the formerly known 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

Aug 2, 2023 • 17min
Living on the Streets in the Salt Lake Heat
This July was the earth’s hottest month ever recorded, and Salt Lake broke a few temperature records of its own. What does high heat mean for our unsheltered neighbors? Lead producer Emily Means talks with Ron, who has been unhoused in Salt Lake for years. Plus, host Ali Vallarta connects with Wendy Garvin, executive director of Unsheltered Utah, about how we can help keep Salt Lakers cool.Find a Cool Zone in Salt Lake County.This episode originally aired July 25, 2022.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

Aug 1, 2023 • 17min
Happy Inaugural 801 Day, Perfect Salt Lake!
Happy 801 Day Salt Lake City! With a recent proclamation from SLC Mayor Erin Mendenhall, 8/01 is officially a holiday celebrating our city’s original area code. But what makes the 801 so great in the first place? And why do we choose to stay even when we feel embattled? Alleyways Amplified founder and creative optimist Vishwa Srinivasan finds light in the literal dark corners of our city, and tells host Ali Vallarta why Salt Lake can be perfect. Get $5 tickets to City Cast Salt Lake’s 801 Day cider launch!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

Jul 31, 2023 • 22min
Just How Bad Is Utah’s Childcare Crisis?
Utah’s childcare gap is approximately 99,000 kids, which leaves a lot of working parents (mothers) holding the bag. So, while we wait for legislative action, how are local businesses stepping up to keep parents at work? Utah Business editor Mekenna Malan joins host Ali Vallarta to analyze the options.Read about Utah’s OB-GYN shortage in Utah Business.And if you haven’t already, grab your $5 ticket to City Cast Salt Lake’s 8/01 Day celebration. See you tomorrow!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

Jul 28, 2023 • 27min
‘Fire and Focus’ on Homelessness, Wedding Betting, and 801 Day
The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board dropped some hot commentary on how Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall is responding to homelessness. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to break it down. Plus, is Utah the best place to get married? Get your $5 ticket to City Cast Salt Lake’s 8/01 Day celebration!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

Jul 27, 2023 • 27min
Can We Convince Denver That SLC Is Its Rival?
We picked a fight with City Cast Denver and we’re finally hashing it out. Can “mile high” Denver really eschew us when our mountains are closer? And if we are better, then why did we get more Crumbl Cookies and not a Union Station? Host Ali Vallarta is joined by lead producer Emily Means plus a couple of special guests — City Cast Denver’s host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi — to determine once and for all whether we’re really rival cities or just regional siblings who like to argue. Speaking of who’s the best: Get your $5 ticket to our 8/01 Day celebration!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

Jul 26, 2023 • 25min
Sugar House, Meet Your New City Councilmember
Sugar House has fresh representation on the Salt Lake City Council. Sarah Young is District 7’s new councilmember, appointed after former Councilmember Amy Fowler vacated the seat. Councilmember Young joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about how she’s thinking about her new constituents’ concerns, like transportation and affordable housing.Get your $5 ticket to City Cast Salt Lake’s 8/01 Day celebration!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

Jul 25, 2023 • 27min
How Right Were We? Our 2023 Predictions So Far
At the end of last year, host Ali Vallarta and lead producer Emily Means threw down eight predictions for Salt Lake City in 2023. Today, we’re checking in to see how their educated guesses are faring in the realms of politics, food and drink, the Great Salt Lake, and sports. Are they clairvoyants? Or should they go back to the crystal ball for another look?Get your $5 ticket to City Cast Salt Lake’s 8/01 Day celebration!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

Jul 24, 2023 • 17min
How the Last Hogi Yogi/Teriyaki Stix on Earth Holds Up
Lifelong Salt Lakers know the way of the Hogi Yogi/Teriyaki Stix. But today we are all getting on board, because Deseret News features writer Meg Walter has visited maybe the last one on planet earth — and she has some notes from her experience to share with host Ali Vallarta. Plus, why did this restaurant chain disappear in the first place?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