City Cast Austin

Austin has almost 7,000 unhoused residents, including about 1,200 in shelters, a population that has swelled in the past few years. Meanwhile, a ban on camping that the city lifted and then voters reinstated has forced Austin to reckon with how it addresses homelessness and what happens when people illegally camp in the city. After a state ban reinforced the city’s, and the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the limitations, the city was flush with federal cash, $95 million of which was dedicated to homelessness. Now, as a so-called fiscal cliff approaches, Austin must decide where to prioritize, where to partner, and where to let resources die. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by David Gray, Austin’s Homeless Strategy Officer, to discuss it all. 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

There are so many different kinds of musicians in Austin, but some should also be considered poets for the talented prose they weave into songs. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined today by one of Austin’s talented vocalists and songwriters, Julie Bouchard, who gets her inspiration for songs from an unexpected source. They discuss how vocalists and songwriters can make it in Austin, what drew Julie to town to begin with, and impart advice on the next generation of Austin musicians. And stay tuned for our special weekly segment, A Mile in Their Boots, featuring a bonus interview with Ricky Brennes, the executive director in charge of Bevo, the University of Texas’ mascot. This is the third of five episodes we'll be doing about the music community in Austin, brought to you by our exclusive launch sponsor, Tecovas. Tecovas knows more than handmade boots and fine Western wear — they’ve got an ear for great music, too. From legends of the past to rising stars on the scene, they love supporting musicians and music fans right here in Austin. So if you’re headed for a good time on the stage or in the crowd, go in good boots from Tecovas. You can hear Julie Bouchard play live at our Austin in Stereo showcase, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Tecovas store on South Congress.  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

The worst of summer is finally behind us, and at last, it’s cool enough to spend more than 10 minutes outside at any given time. We’ve decided that September is the month to explore what Austin has to offer, and we’ve got just the guide to help you do that. It’s also National Hispanic Heritage Month, and there are tons of ways to celebrate that, here, too. We’re talking about Viva Mexico, Centroamericanto Fest, where to find chiles en nogale, HAAM Day, Austin Museum day, Austin Restaurant Week, the Sazon Latin Food Festival, and more. For even more tips on how to make the most of September in Austin, check out Hey Austin’s take on what to do this month. City Cast Austin’s guide to September is made possible by our awesome exclusive launch sponsor, Tecovas, who makes our favorite Western wear in town. 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

TGIF! It’s the Friday News Roundup, and host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about this week’s news. On the agenda: How to celebrate Labor Day weekend, what Austin and Travis County are doing to address the area’s food insecurity and food deserts, and unpacking what really happened when a drag brunch received a bomb threat in June. Plus, it’s University of Texas football season time, and we’ve got some thoughts on where you should watch the first home game. And make sure you stick around after the roundup for our Don’t Go Gently tip for this weekend. 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

Labor Day is approaching, and even though it feels like a sauna outside, tradition tells us it’s time to grill. Today, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by the Cairo-born and Texas-trained pitmaster extraordinaire at KG BBQ, Kareem El-Ghayesh, to get all the tips to make your holiday meal a success. Plus, El-Ghayesh tells about the first bite of Texas barbecue in an understated Austin establishment in 2012 changed his life forever. 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

Being a professional musician in Austin is NOT what it used to be — today’s musicians have to juggle multiple gigs, often teach, and have to really work to carve out time to be creative. Today, host Nikki DaVaughn talks to Alex Marrero, a local musician and icon in the Latin fusion music scene, about how he does it all, from performing to teaching to voice artistry and radio show host. Plus, can rising musicians find the same success these days that Marrero has found? And stay tuned for our special weekly segment, A Mile in Their Boots, featuring a bonus interview with Shaun Branigan, a performer at Esther’s Follies. This is the second of five episodes we'll be doing about the music community in Austin, brought to you by our exclusive launch sponsor, Tecovas. Tecovas knows more than handmade boots and fine Western wear — they’ve got an ear for great music, too. From legends of the past to rising stars on the scene, they love supporting musicians and music fans right here in Austin. So if you’re headed for a good time on the stage or in the crowd, go in good boots from Tecovas. You can hear Alex Marrero play live at our Austin in Stereo showcase, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Tecovas store on South Congress.  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

July in Austin was weird; surprisingly rainy, somewhat cool, even. But the summer slog continues, as our guest, CBS Austin Meteorologist Avery Tomasco, warns. In today’s episode, Tomasco joins host Nikki DaVaughn in recapping our lake-filling but not drought-busting July rainfall and this year’s hurricane season. Plus, Tomasco shares his feelings about the Farmer’s Almanac, “Twisters,” and Austin’s own Glen Powell. 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 National Dog Day, and a perfect excuse to talk about everyone’s favorite Austinites: Dogs! It can be a ruff life for canines, but in Central Texas, we sure do love our pooches. To celebrate them, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Luis Sanchez, the spokesman for Austin Pets Alive!, and executive producer and dog-lover Eva Ruth Moravec. We’re sharing our best tips for dog parents, including where to find and request low-cost resources for pets, the many off-leash dog spots in ATX, and how you can foster a pet for a few hours, a few days, or longer. 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 the Friday News Roundup! Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and Executive Producer Eva Ruth Moravec to discuss the latest news that caught City Cast Austin’s eye this week. On our agenda: Austin’s inescapable hairdryer-like heat, why Austin City Limits music festival organizers moved Chappell Roan’s set (or so we think), and the eviction of a longtime East Side business and what it meant to the neighborhood. Plus, we talk about a new state policy blocking transgender Texans from changing the sex on their driver’s licenses. And make sure you stick around after the roundup for our Don’t Go Gently tip for this weekend. 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 

Austin City Council has adopted the budget for next fiscal year — and it’s a measly $5.9 billion. To fund it, the average homeowner is expected to see an increase in fees and taxes of $30 a month. And what will it be paying for? There are employee raises, police department increases, and new line items for addressing homelessness, increased money for maintenance at parks, and the Austin Animal Center, and more. In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn follows up on an earlier episode previewing the budget debate and is joined again by 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