

City Cast Austin
City Cast
Join Nikki DaVaughn and the award-winning City Cast Austin team every weekday morning to catch up on what’s on Austinites’ minds, from the latest out of City Hall and the Texas Capitol to the buzz about the new bar on East Sixth. With a companion daily newsletter, Hey Austin, we’ll keep you up to speed on everything you need to know. It’s as essential in town as the MoPac express lane at 5 p.m. on a Friday. Learn more and subscribe to our morning newsletter at austin.citycast.fm*"Friendliest Local News Dispatches" - The Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin 2025
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 17, 2024 • 23min
Austin Budget Debates Begin
Austin’s brand-new city manager just kicked-off this year’s budget debates by presenting his first draft of this year’s budget. And while there are millions of dollars at play, the city’s somewhat limited in how it spends those dollars. Will the Austin Animal Shelter get the funding it needs to keep the doors open? And why are we so behind on park maintenance? Host Nikki DaVaughn digs into all of it with Amy Stansbury, editor in chief of the Austin Common. 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

Jul 16, 2024 • 26min
The Real Story Behind an Austin Gun Rights Activist’s Supreme Court Win
A recent opinion from the Supreme Court of the United States came down in favor of an Austin man who’s been fighting for years to protect your right to have a bump stock. Today, host Nikki DaVaughn sits down with Michael Cargill, who owns Central Texas Gun Works and sued the Trump Administration over its ban on bump stocks, to find out what the fight meant to him, and why he stuck it out for so long, largely on his own. If you or anyone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, you can always call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. There's help available 24 hours a day.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

Jul 15, 2024 • 18min
Why Biden’s Postponed Visit to Austin Matters
After President Joe Biden postponed his trip in the aftermath of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, host Nikki DaVaughn hopped on a phone call to find out how the change affects the political tide in Austin. Listen in as she digs into the implications of the canceled trip, the shooting, and Texans’ role in it all with Scott Braddock of the Quorum Report and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec. 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

Jul 12, 2024 • 24min
Austin City Council Is Back, Hurricane Beryl vs. Spectrum Internet, and Who’s Got the Best Fries?
Kelsey Bradshaw joins the hosts to discuss Hurricane Beryl aftermath, Austin City Council's return, and the debate over the best fries in town. Topics include political fallout in Houston, delayed disaster response, and developments for the council like budget deficits, police chief hiring, and homelessness

Jul 11, 2024 • 25min
Thanks for the Memories, Frank Erwin Center
Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by longtime Austinite JB Hager, whose voice graced Austin’s morning radio airwaves for more than 20 years, to talk about the iconic Frank Erwin Center. While the building affectionately known as “The Drum” has been mostly demolished, it still holds a special place for many Austinites as the site of arena-worthy memorable concerts, the Harlem Globetrotters, many performances on ice, University of Texas at Austin basketball, graduation ceremonies, and more. 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 @citycastaustinDo you have a Frank Erwin Center story? Share it with us via text or voicemail. Learn more about the sponsor of this July 11th episode: TecovasInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Jul 10, 2024 • 25min
Welcome to Austin, Eat This!
Join host Nikki DaVaughn and guest Jane Ko, the 'O.G.' food blogger in Austin, as they discuss the city's must-try eateries and top barbecue spots like La Barbecue and Terry Black's. Explore the evolution of the Austin restaurant scene from 2010 to 2012, the impact of tech companies, and supporting local eateries through fundraising campaigns. Dive into community support, fair wages, tipping practices, and the role of influencers in the restaurant industry.

Jul 9, 2024 • 24min
Things You Must Do in Austin This Summer
Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by local comedian Ivy Le to discuss the items that City Cast Austin audience members said they MUST do by the end of this summer. It’s our Summer Bucket List, y’all! We’re talking performances, movies, paddleboarding, and where to find Austin’s best snow cones. 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 @citycastaustinWhat’s on your Summer Bucket List? Let us know via text or voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Jul 8, 2024 • 28min
Can You Legally Buy Marijuana in Austin?
Jae Graham-Anciso, CEO of Mary Jae, discusses the legality of buying cannabis in Austin. They delve into hemp legislation, CBD for pain relief, challenges of medical marijuana access, and the inclusive environment of a shop in Austin offering plant-based medicine.

Jul 5, 2024 • 49min
Here's What the Entire Country Is Talking About
City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with hosts from all 13 City Cast daily local podcast hubs to talk about what stories they’re watching in their hometowns that are likely to impact yours too. Listen in for how Nikki DaVaughn’s story stacks up against the rest.We’d like to thank Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town, for being our exclusive launch sponsor. Want even more Austin news? Make sure you sign up for our daily Hey Austin newsletter. Follow us @citycastaustinYou can also text us or leave a voicemail. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE

Jul 3, 2024 • 25min
Who Should Be on Austin’s Mount Rushmore?
Follow us down a little hypothetical rabbit hole. Let’s say that an Austin sculptor is tasked with carving a local version of Mount Rushmore — we’ll call this Mount Waterloo, after the original name of our fair town. Who should be on it? Host Nikki DaVaughn, along with City Cast Austin producer Elissa Rozentuller and Hey Austin editor Kelsey Bradshaw, share which Austin icons they’d like to see permanently memorialized and then duke it out to decide on a final four. Or six. 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