

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

Oct 6, 2023 • 32min
Who Can Afford Salt Lake, In-N-Out vs. the Vision, and a $7.9 Million Roof
Salt Lake Tribune data reporter Andy Larsen is exploring how Salt Lake County incomes stack up against available rental units — and, just in time for Halloween, it’s frightening! He and host Ali Vallarta discuss how it all relates to an inflammatory text from one Salt Lake City Council candidate. Plus, producer Ivana Martinez lends ears to Ali’s big feelings™ about South Salt Lake’s proposed In-N-Out and to share picks of the week.Get tickets to Las Espookys Hispanic Heritage Month drag show at Metro Music Hall.Do you want to be a founding member of City Cast Salt Lake? We’ve been publishing a daily podcast and newsletter for almost two years, bringing you useful interviews with mayoral candidates and deep dives into important subjects like how to save the Great Salt Lake and the best bars for unwinding. Consider joining to support our work, plus get an ad-free version of the podcast for as little as $8 per month. Learn more and sign up today 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.

Oct 5, 2023 • 20min
Why Utah Restaurants Aren’t Getting Michelin Stars
In 2018, the state of Utah was awarded three Michelin Stars. But the prestigious travel award is often associated with culinary excellence, and, on that front, Utah restaurants have not been awarded a single star! Host Ali Vallarta asks food writer and Gastronomic SLC founder Stuart Melling why we haven’t received the blessing, and what area restaurants should be on Michelin’s short list.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.

Oct 4, 2023 • 23min
One Unexpected Reason the Tim Ballard Scandal Matters
There are a lot of layers to the bombshell news surrounding Utahn Tim Ballard and his anti-human trafficking organization, Operation Underground Railroad. There’s the public rebuke by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; allegations of sexual misconduct against Ballard; a psychic providing intel for rescue missions; and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes’ connections to Ballard. But beneath all the juicy details, there’s a lesson about doing good in our communities. Cassie Bingham, assistant director of the Center for Social Impact at Utah Valley University, joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about hero worship and how we can all be more thoughtful about social causes.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.

Oct 3, 2023 • 25min
SLC School District Answers Our Questions About School Closures
The Salt Lake City School District is looking at closing a handful of elementary schools and changing boundaries for the remainder as it faces nearly a decade of declining enrollment. As Salt Lake reels over this decision making process, host Ali Vallarta asks SLC Schools Communications Director Yándary Chatwin some of our most burning questions. Like, whose opinion matters most in this process?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.

Oct 2, 2023 • 22min
The Big Idea to Drain Lake Powell
Lake Powell is a favorite summer destination for Salt Lakers, but the Colorado River water crisis is begging the question: Do we need to drain Lake Powell and decommission Glen Canyon Dam? Luke Runyon, co-director of The Water Desk at the University of Colorado, joins host Ali Vallarta to explain the proposal and make the case for why Salt Lakers should be invested in the fate of the Colorado River.Listen to Thirst Gap: Learning to live with less on the Colorado River.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.

Sep 29, 2023 • 31min
Bomb Threats, a Gondola Lawsuit? And an Obvious Senate Candidate
A Salt Lake City bookstore received bomb threats this week over an all-ages drag storytime event. Lead producer Emily Means joins host Ali Vallarta to talk about it — because we think more people should be. Plus, we break down a potentially interesting development in the Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola saga as well as what’s going on with the ski bus this winter.Listen to our conversation with Tara Lipsyncki about “the new normal” for drag shows.Attend the next Central Wasatch Commission meeting.Comment on the Utah Transit Authority’s long-range transit plan by Sept. 30.Need to talk to someone? Check out Westminster University’s community clinic.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.

Sep 28, 2023 • 17min
The Juicy History Behind City Creek Mall
Need to return something at City Creek? Don’t do it this weekend! Downtown will be crowded for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ General Conference. Architectural designer CJ Hellige tells host Ali Vallarta about the storied history of City Creek, and how Salt Lake City is still reckoning with its future over one sky bridge.This episode originally aired Dec. 12, 2023.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.

Sep 27, 2023 • 20min
Apples, Ghosts, and Salmon: Seasonal Alternatives to Leaf Peeping
If staring down colorful trees is not your idea of a good time, fear not! Autumn in Utah has so much more to offer than changing leaves. In the final installment of our Fall Getaway Guide, newsletter editor Terina Ria gives host Ali Vallarta tips for making the most of your weekends this season, whether you’re in the mood to pick apples, tour haunted sets, or chase salmon.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.

Sep 26, 2023 • 19min
The Best Places To See Fall Colors in Utah
It’s prime leaf-peepin’ time, people. Utah’s fall foliage is absolutely blushing right now, and you don’t want to miss the picture-perfect glory of our shortest season. In part two of our Fall Getaway Guide, producer Ivana Martinez joins host Ali Vallarta to share her top picks for enjoying the fall colors, plus tips for getting the perfect autumn photo.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.

Sep 25, 2023 • 23min
A Guide To Fall in the Shadow of Utah’s National Parks
Fall is a great time of year to head to Southern Utah and visit our “Mighty Five” national parks. But did you know you can experience the beauty and wonder of the parks without ever stepping foot inside one? In part one of our Fall Getaway Guide, host Ali Vallarta joins lead producer Emily Means to share her recommendations for taking in this season’s glory in the shadow of the national parks, without the fees, crowds, and chaos.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.