

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

Aug 25, 2023 • 28min
Primary vs. Caucus, an Olympic Relic Returns, and a Backstreet Boy’s Blanky
Enjoy the primary election while it lasts, because the Utah GOP is forcing Republican voters to go to caucus night for next year’s presidential election. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Andy Larsen joins host Ali Vallarta to break down the impacts of ditching primaries. Plus, Ali’s white whale — the Hoberman Arch — makes its triumphant return. And the new face of Utah-based Minky Couture is … a Backstreet Boy.The Salt Lake Tribune’s voter guide for municipal primary elections in Brighton, Bluffdale, Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Murray, Sandy, West Jordan and West Valley City.The full list of early voting locations, dates and hours in Salt Lake County.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.

Aug 24, 2023 • 25min
The Best Places To Cry in Public in Salt Lake
Sometimes the tears well up and you can’t control it! So, where are the best places in Salt Lake to comfortably cry in public? With help from City Cast listeners and Hey Salt Lake readers, newsletter editor Terina Ria and producer Ivana Martinez join host Ali Vallarta to compile a list and map of the best local spots to find comfort, or solace from strangers. 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.

Aug 23, 2023 • 20min
What’s in SLC’s 5-Year Housing Plan?
Salt Lake City has a brand new, 5-year housing plan: Housing SLC. Host Ali Vallarta asks Ruedigar Matthes, a policy manager for Salt Lake City’s Community and Neighborhoods Department, what the plan entails and how the city will execute on a bold vision amidst our statewide housing crisis.“Getting Paid to Pay Rent in SLC” by City Cast Salt Lake.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.

Aug 22, 2023 • 17min
Lessons in Gender Affirming Care From a Breast Reduction
The idea of gender affirming care has become increasingly politicized in Utah. But what does it actually mean? Al Fernandez recently underwent a breast reduction surgery that helped them feel more comfortable in their body. They join host Ali Vallarta to share tips for getting your insurance to cover this kind of procedure, and talk through the mythologies around gender affirming care.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.

Aug 21, 2023 • 24min
The Gondola Has UDOT’s Stamp of Approval. Now What?
The Utah Department of Transportation has officially greenlit the controversial proposal to build a 22-tower, 8-mile gondola up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Host Ali Vallarta asks Salt Lake Tribune enterprise reporter Julie Jag what this means for the next 10 years of recreating in the canyon — and whether it’s still a pipe dream.Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter. You can find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC and Twitter @CityCastSLCLooking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.

Aug 18, 2023 • 27min
SLC’s School Safety Measures, Sunscreen Drama, and Basketball Bars
Back to school season is raising difficult questions about back to school safety for legislators, educators, school board members, and students themselves. Plus, the sunscreen drama of TikTok has finally hit Utah. Salt Lake Tribune reporter Andy Larsen joins host Ali Vallarta to round up city news, and share picks of the week.Get tickets to this weekend’s Utah Beer Festival.Browse the Utah Jazz regular season schedule.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.

Aug 17, 2023 • 24min
The Best Nearby Hikes for Every Occasion
There’s lots of talk about how close the mountains are to Salt Lake City, but how many of us are really taking advantage of nearby trailheads? Prolific hiker Brandon Miller hiked 54 trails in 54 days, and he tells host Ali Vallarta the best local hikes for any occasion — from dog-afraid to dog-friendly, or with a 7-year-old in tow. Plus, we offer a few overnight hike suggestions, for the backpacking-curious.Here’s a list of the trails we mentioned in this episode:
Donut Falls Trail
Dog Lake
Lake Blanche Trail
Cecret Lake Trail
Lisa Falls Trail
Frary Peak Trail
Mt. Timpanogos
Lower Red Castle Lake
Avenue Twin Peaks
Mount Olympus Trail
Provide feedback on the DWR’s proposed changes to spearfishing.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.

Aug 16, 2023 • 21min
How New Laws Will Play Out in Classrooms This Fall
School starts next week for the Salt Lake City School District. Do you have back-to-school jitters? Host Ali Vallarta checks in with John Arthur, a 6th grade teacher at Meadowlark Elementary, about school closures, new leadership at the district, and how teachers are feeling as they open their classroom doors.Help local teachers buy supplies for their classrooms.Listen to our conversation with John Arthur about the school voucher program.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.

Aug 15, 2023 • 19min
Workers at Utah’s First Unionized Starbucks Want Out. Why?
Starbucks employees in Cottonwood Heights made headlines when they became the first in Utah to formally unionize with Starbucks Workers United. But now, just one year later, some of those same employees are working with the National Right to Work Foundation to decertify their union. Host Ali Vallarta asks KUER politics reporter Sean Higgins what the hell happened to turn the tide.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.

Aug 14, 2023 • 21min
We Drank at Every ’Bout Time in a Day. Which Is Best?
Host Ali Vallarta is on a quest to go to every bar in Salt Lake County, and she decided to knock out every ‘Bout Time Pub & Grub in the valley in one day (there are nine) with her BFF Shireen Ghorbani. What makes this franchise so special? And which ‘Bout Time is best? They discuss. Track Ali’s journey to visit every bar in Salt Lake County @everybarslc or via this spreadsheet.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.