City Cast Austin

Thanksgiving kicks off a holiday season that, for many of us, comes with a hefty side dish of anxiety. Should you talk about politics? What should you do if you’re cornered in a conversation and can’t escape? And is it OK to just sit some of the festivities out? Host Nikki DaVaughn sits down with Julie Burke of Violet Crown Therapy to share some tips for holiday survival for all Austinites, free of charge. 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 the Friday News Roundup, and the City Cast Austin team is back, sharing the headlines that are on our minds. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to discuss the Bible-steeped curriculum for elementary school students that the State Board of Education is poised to adopt; the rising costs of the caps over Interstate 35, and what’s going on in Austin this weekend. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinDo you have thoughts on the new SBOE curriculum? Send us an email. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE Learn more about the sponsor of this November 22nd episode: Tecovas

Lisa Davis has been at the helm of Austin Police Department for about two months, and has already made some big changes — particularly when it comes to transparency. But what other changes does she have up her uniform sleeve? How can Austinites learn more about her 100-day plan? And after moving from Cincinnati, what is Chief Davis loving about Austin? Host Nikki DaVaughn asks her about it all, in an interview at APD headquarters. 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 Learn more about the sponsor of this November 21st episode: Tecovas

Why should we care that a tire company decided to honor 45 Austin (and Lockhart) restaurants in the new Michelin Guide of Texas? Host Nikki DaVaughn wasn’t so sure she did — until she heard all about it from Eater Austin’s editor, Nadia Chaudhury. Which seven restaurants received one of the coveted Michelin Stars? What exactly does Bib Gourmand mean, anyway? And how is all of this recognition going to affect the local dining scene? They get into all of it. 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 Learn more about the sponsor of this November 20th episode: Tecovas

We’ve talked before about just how much Austinites throw away, but did you know that the city, as a whole, has a goal to get to zero waste by 2040? With holidays around the corner, there’s no time like the present to make a plan to reduce your household waste through the parties, feasts, and onslaught of packages. Austin Resource Recovery’s Paul Bestgen joins host Nikki DaVaughn to discuss it all, along with news on how the city is handling bulk trash pick-up starting next year.  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 Learn more about the sponsor of this November 19th episode: Tecovas

Maryam Ahmed, a sophomore at The University of Texas at Austin, wasn’t planning on spending her time at college covering protests. Still, she’s owned the beat, reporting for The Daily Texan on the dozens of students who were arrested protesting the war in Israel and Gaza, and the fallout in court challenges and by university administration. Ahmed joins host Nikki DaVaughn to discuss how the goings-on at the 40 Acres have affected UT’s historic protest culture.Learn more about the sponsor of this November 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

On today’s Friday News Roundup, the City Cast Austin team discusses several headlines that caught our eye: What the Texas Democratic Party chairman said that led to him stepping down, Austin City Council finally wrote a check to the Red River Cultural District, and — no joke — The Onion has purchased local conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars. Plus, host Nikki DaVaughn, Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec share what they’re getting into this weekend. And, stick around after the roundup for our Don’t Go Gently tip for this weekend, sponsored by Tecovas. 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

The presidential election was touted as “high stakes,” but voter turnout in Texas, and Austin, was relatively low. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Blaise Gainey, KUT’s Texas Capitol reporter, to discuss how Donald Trump’s next presidential term could affect life and people in Austin, and what the election data says about Texas voters. Plus, how big of a boost did Trump get from celebrity Austinites Joe Rogan and Elon Musk, who has now been tapped to lead the Department of Government Efficiency? 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

Can you critique a city that you truly love? Author Alex Hannaford, who moved to Austin after falling in love with it — and then left after growing dismayed 20 years later — says actually, it’s necessary. Hannaford doesn’t hold back in “Lost in Austin,” which takes a close look at the tug-of-war between the economic booms that have made Austin businesses thrive and the downturns that allow creatives to stay in town and in business. Hannaford joins executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec, who isn’t defensive about Austin at all.  Plus, stay tuned after Alex’s interview for a special segment: A mile in their boots, where we feature the unsung heroes of Austin. Today, we’ll hear from Hannah Gabel, literary director for the Texas Book Festival, which takes place downtown this weekend. 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

Texas executes more people than any other state, but recently, state lawmakers were able to halt one at the last minute, saving Robert Roberson’s life, at least for now. Michelle Lyons, a former public information officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice who witnessed hundreds of executions and wrote a memoir about it, joins host Nikki DaVaughn to break down Roberson’s case, what life has been like for him on death row these past 20 years, and what might happen next. And just a note: As you might have already guessed, this interview touches on some difficult topics, so please listen with care. 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