City Cast Austin

Austinites waste a TON of food — and at the same time, many in town face food insecurity regularly. Central Austin leaders have committed to addressing this imbalance and overall food insecurity — but what will that actually look like on the ground? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined today by Angela Baucom, the Food and Climate Program Coordinator for the City of Austin, to break down the Austin-Travis County Food Plan. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

It’s cuffing season, dear Austinites, and we’re sorry, but some of y’all could really use some help in the relationship department. Have no fear! Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Blaine Anderson, an Austin-based dating coach for men, who honestly has tips for all of us. Spoiler alert: It can be difficult, whether you’re gay or straight, but City Cast Austin is here for you.Plus, stay tuned after Blaine’s interview for a special segment: A mile in their boots, where we feature the unsung heroes of Austin. Today, we’ll hear from Acia Gray, Artistic Director of Tapestry, which has brought multi-form dance performance and education to Austin since 1989.We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor.Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

How did Matthew Odam pick the 40 bars that “capture the spirit of Texas’ capital city,” for his recent Austin American-Statesman guide? Well, it wasn’t exactly the way that you might think. Odam joins host Nikki DaVaughn to explain his criteria and choices. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

In our final “Mayoral Mondays” episode, host Nikki DaVaughn interviews Austin mayoral candidate, current Mayor Kirk Watson. Watson was first mayor of Austin from 1997 to 2001, and was then elected to serve in the Texas Senate from 2007 to 2020. He was again elected as mayor in 2023 to serve a two-year term. Plus, this isn’t the first time we’ve interviewed Watson — we interviewed him back in the summer for our very first episode, all about where Austin has been, and where it’s headed.  You can find our previous Mayoral Monday episodes here: Jeffery Bowen, Doug Greco, Carmen Llanes Pulido, and Kathie Tovo. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Claudia Yoli Ferla, the Executive Director of MOVE Texas, champions youth civic engagement, while Eva Ruth Moravec, the Executive Producer, brings a keen eye for local stories. They reminisce about the vibrant atmosphere and personal moments from the Austin City Limits Music Festival. The duo also discusses the ambitious plan to turn Congress Avenue into a pedestrian plaza, emphasizing community involvement. As early voting approaches, they stress its vital role in empowering young voices and keeping civic engagement alive in Texas.

Ryan Chandler, a politics reporter for KXAN, offers sharp insights into the fierce Texas Senate race between incumbent Ted Cruz and challenger Colin Allred. They dissect the recent debate, highlighting Cruz's established brand amidst shifting voter dynamics and Allred's struggle to appeal to a diverse electorate. Delving into contentious issues like transgender rights and abortion, they explore how these topics influence voter perceptions. Chandler also emphasizes the importance of early voting, urging Texans to engage in the electoral process as the race heats up.

Half of the seats on the Austin City Council are up for election this year, and let’s be honest, these are the races where local voters have the most impact and are also impacted the most. To break down everything Austin voters need to know about the races for council districts 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10, executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Liz Pagano of the Austin Monitor. And for more on these important races, check out the Monitor’s reporting, and the League of Women Voters Austin Area’s voters guide. Plus, stay tuned after Liz’s interview for a special segment: A mile in their boots, where we feature the unsung heroes of Austin. Today, we’ll hear from Lauren Hartnett, who is a huge part of the magic of Cherrywood’s Halloween parade and festivities. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

In our fourth episode featuring interviews with mayoral candidates, host Nikki DaVaughn interviews Kathie Tovo, who’s no stranger to Austin City Hall. After years serving on neighborhood associations and the Austin Neighborhood Council, Tovo was elected to the Austin City Council and served from 2011 to 2023. She is also a lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Architecture. You can find our previous Mayoral Monday episodes here: Jeffery Bowen, Doug Greco, and Carmen Llanes Pulido. Our final interview will be out soon. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

For today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producer Rishi Bajekal and Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to discuss a few stories from this week’s headlines. On the agenda: A super-cool art show taking place this weekend featuring creations by Austin’s unhoused and at-risk population, the rise in school threats and how they impact students and teachers, and the closing of Outer Heaven Disco Club, which stirs up some interesting feelings for the team. Plus, stick around after the roundup for our Don’t Go Gently tip for this weekend. And, for tips on who to see, check out our recent ACL Festival preview episode. We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

If you’re new here, it’s time you’ve tried two-stepping. And if you’re not, then it’s time to dust off those boots and join Austin’s thriving two-stepping scene. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by the perfect guide, Keighley Voorheis, who documents the dancing scene on her social media. We’re talking about the local dance floor circuit, two-stepping field trips, and what makes Austin’s two-stepping style unique.  We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE