City Cast Austin

New Year, New Austin? City officials estimate there are roughly $25 billion worth of construction improvements currently underway in Austin, projects that will dramatically change the way people move around this growing town. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Kelsey Thompson, a transportation reporter at KXAN, to discuss the big projects that will impact our area’s planes, trains, and automobiles. Plus, just how much patience will Austinites need to have in this next decade of transformation? This episode originally aired September 19, 2024.Learn more about the sponsor of this December 30th episode:TecovasWant 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 sick of explaining to your family why you're still single, start blaming Austin. Despite our city skewing young, with a median age of 34, and with great weather most of the year and an endless list of things to do, it’s a dating dead zone. But why? Host Nikki DaVaughn peeled back the layers of dating suckiness with Rose McMackin, a writer who penned a story for Austin Monthly Magazine, “Why Is Austin Dating So Cursed?”  This episode originally aired September 12, 2024.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 

Dead bodies keep on popping up in Lady Bird Lake. Another one was just found on Friday, and while the police say there is no evidence of foul play, that might not convince your conspiracy theorist uncle or crime junkie best friend. Not sure how to tell them the truth about the supposed “Rainey Street Ripper?” City Cast Austin has got you covered. Host Nikki DaVaughn and Zo Qadri, an Austin city council member whose district includes Rainey Street, dig into how the Rainey Street Ripper rumor got started, what’s actually causing people to die in Lady Bird Lake, and how Qadri is addressing some major safety concerns in Downtown Austin. This episode originally aired on July 31, 2024, but the sentiments still hold true. 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 last Friday News Roundup of 2024, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to break down Austin City Council’s final meeting of 2024, during which members gave a pretty big gift to Preservation Austin by designating a building on East 12th Street as a landmark. Plus, we talk about how the Vox Media layoffs are affecting our pals at Eater Austin, and how we’re spending New Year’s Eve in Austin.Learn more about the sponsor of this December 20th episode: TecovasWant 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

The holidays are a perfect time to catch up on some flicks you may have missed this year — so producer Rishi Bajekal is joined by Austin Chronicle editor and film critic Kimberley Jones to talk about the best movies of the year. Plus, hear Kimberley’s favorite theaters in town, and what she’s got her eyes on for 2025. Learn more about the sponsor of this December 19th episode: TecovasWant 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

There are about half as many air traffic controllers as there should be at the Austin Bergstrom International Airport, and that — combined with shortstaffing at TSA and lots of construction underway — is causing some major nightmares, especially during the holidays. KUT’s transportation reporter, Nathan Bernier, joins host Nikki DaVaughn in explaining how things got so bad, and what’s being done to turn this plane around. Plus, they’ll discuss the “Journey With AUS,” and how the 60-plus projects underway will affect you. Learn more about the sponsor of this December 18th episode: TecovasWant 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

When Austinite Guy Benson went to the very first Trail of Lights as a kid, he never imagined he’d be sitting on the coveted throne 60 years later. The duo that play Santa and Mrs. Claus — Benson and his wife Deborah Parsons — join newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to talk about what they bring to Austin’s holiday season, and the gifts on Austinites’ lists this year. Learn more about the sponsor of this December 17th episode: TecovasWant 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

Want to get tipsy with Frosty or lit like a menorah this holiday season? Tune in for a breakdown of Austin’s best holiday pop-up bars, plus the drinks you have to try making at home as the temps cool down. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Sushmita Malakar, an Austin mixologist and blogger, to talk about festive libations and more.Learn more about the sponsor of this December 16th episode: TecovasWant 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

Grace Reader, KXAN’s city hall reporter, dives into the crucial runoff elections in Travis County, spotlighting candidates for the Austin Independent School District and City Council. She emphasizes the importance of local elections and how voter participation shapes community policies. The conversation also explores Austin's sudden winter chill and preparation efforts for the homeless amid freezing temperatures. Finally, the hosts share some exciting weekend event picks, including festive activities to celebrate the holiday spirit.

The Blue Genie Art Bazaar started off as a party where art was sold — and remains one today, with more than 200 artists, 24 years later. Cofounder Dana Younger joins host Nikki DaVaughn to talk about what makes the perfect gift, and how to buy art for friends, along with what you can expect out of this year’s Blue Genie. 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 HERELearn more about the sponsor of this December 12th episode: Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa