

City Cast Salt Lake
City Cast
City Cast Salt Lake is SLC’s daily news podcast. Join host Ali Vallarta and a bevy of smart and entertaining locals for conversations about the issues that matter most. City Cast Salt Lake will celebrate the city’s triumphs, explore its history, (try to) solve its mysteries, and it’ll help you feel more connected to the Wasatch Front – whether you’ve lived here for six months or six generations. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at saltlake.citycast.fm.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 23, 2022 • 15min
The Elephant in the Room
It’s a uniquely Utah phenomenon: Democrats switching their voter affiliation in order to participate in Republican primary elections. Ali talks with lawyer and Strangerville podcast host Eli McCann about why making the switch is growing in popularity.Subscribe to our daily newsletter here.

Feb 22, 2022 • 15min
Salt Lake’s Secret Garden
Salt Lake art critic, curator, and lawyer Scotti Hill joins to discuss the bizarre beauty of Gilgal Sculpture Garden. Looking for more of Salt Lake's lesser known gems? Subscribe to our daily newsletter.

Feb 18, 2022 • 16min
Anti-trans Bills, Education Bills, and the Housing Market
We’re breaking down the stories we can’t let go of this week. Political Commentator Shireen Ghorbani and KUTV’s Education Reporter Chris Jones are here.There's a lot going on in the SLC. Sign up for our daily newsletter to stay on top of it.

Feb 17, 2022 • 17min
Should Salt Lake host the 2030 Olympics? (feat. City Cast Denver)
Bree Davies and Paul Karolyi of City Cast Denver join Ali to discuss whether or not the Olympics are a good idea for Salt Lake and why they were rejected by Denver.Subscribe to our daily morning newsletter here.

Feb 16, 2022 • 16min
Hindsight is 2002 (Olympics)
We’re talking about Salt Lake’s favorite brag: the 2002 Winter Olympics. It’s amazing how much about our city today is the result of the Olympics being held here. It’s also amazing how well our collective memory of ’02 includes more of the grand and less of the scandal.At the time, Salt Lake was able to rehash the absurdity of each year through the annual tradition of Saturday’s Voyeur: a satirical play that gave Utahns the space to laugh and bemoan our political circus. And as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, it’s important to remember that it was perhaps our greatest political circus to date. Nancy Borgenicht and Allen Nevins, the former writers and show-runners of Saturday’s Voyeur, join Ali to take us on a satirical, musical journey of the Olympics we’ve already had.Go for the Gold. Sign up for our daily newsletter.

Feb 15, 2022 • 11min
A Little Less Sunshine at the Capitol
Something strange is brewing at the capitol. A resolution was passed last week that would limit press access to legislators. I called up Bryan Schott for the scoop, as one does.And don’t worry, at the end of the show, we’re gonna let a little light in with a poem from Katherine Indermaur, editor of the Sugar House Review,Start your day with a ray of sunshine. Sign up for our daily newsletter!

Feb 14, 2022 • 12min
Salt Lake’s Own Magical Mystery Tour
Mysticism and magic are integral pieces of Salt Lake’s history – though often overlooked. Ali and RJ Walker, SLC poet and host of Mancy, discuss Salt Lake’s unique relationship with magic.Our daily newsletters are magical. Sign up here, if you haven't already.

Feb 11, 2022 • 16min
The Perfect Salt Lake Date
From the symphony, to dive bars, to walks in the park, SLC is a city for love. The City Cast Salt Lake team share our perfect Salt Lake date nights + read your love letters.Do you love Salt Lake? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

Feb 10, 2022 • 11min
Insecure Vote Utah
Rebecca Chavez-Houck and Shireen Ghorbani join Ali to make sense of the Secure Vote Utah ballot initiative – a frightening new cause that would erase vote-by-mail in Utah.Want to stay a vocal local? Sign up for our daily newsletter.

Feb 9, 2022 • 16min
The Gerda That Remains
At age 61, U of U professor Gerda Saunders was diagnosed with early-onset dementia, and she has spent the last decade documenting her battle with the essence of memory. The latest installment in Gerda’s story is a documentary filmed over 6-years, “The Gerda That Remains.” Ali talks to Gerda and filmmaker Kelsie Moore about the film and Gerda’s legacy.Subscribe to the newsletter here.


