City Cast Austin

What's up with all these robots in Austin? From Tesla's self-driving robotaxi rollout to a full-on cowboy robot roaming the streets, the city seems to be sprinting into the future, and we've got some thoughts. Host Nikki DaVaughn and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec are popping in for a special midweek news roundup to talk robot takeovers, the stars of Yelp's Top 100 Food Trucks list (spoiler: Austin dominated), and what we're doing this July 4th.  Learn more about the sponsors of this July 2nd episode: Jones Dairy Farm Visit Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

The heat dome is here, and we hope your AC is working. Luckily for you, there are a bazillion things to do indoors this July, and we’ve got you covered right here. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Stephanie Brown, an account executive at Giant Noise, to share their best tips and recommendations for what to eat in Austin this month, what to do right here in town (pop-up pirate bar, anyone?), and our favorite day-trips, for Austinites who need a break. And, as we promised, here are some links to previous episodes and Hey Austin coverage we mentioned in the episode: Where to celebrate the Fourth of July in Austin; how to have the best staycation in Austin ever; and our favorite summer snacks. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 1st episode: Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. Jones Dairy Farm Visit Port Aransas For even more tips on how to make the most of July in Austin, check out Hey Austin’s take on what to do this month.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Just as soon as Texas lawmakers wrapped up the regular session, Gov. Greg Abbott surprised some by vetoing a highly contentious bill banning nearly all consumable hemp products and calling lawmakers back to hash it, and other bills, out once more. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, a Democrat representing Austin, to find out what we can expect from the special session that starts July 21. Plus, Eckhardt shares Austin’s biggest legislative wins and losses from the regular session. A quick note: We asked other lawmakers representing Austin at the Texas Capitol for interviews, but only Eckhardt was available. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 30th episode: Jones Dairy Farm Visit Port Aransas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Austin, we have a water problem. A new report from Austin Water showed the city lost 9.3 billion gallons of water last year due to leaky pipes. This news comes as we continue another month of drought and as Texas' water supply dwindles. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn chats with Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to discuss it all. Plus, Governor Greg Abbott's latest special session, SXSW’s new plans for 2026, and what Kelsey is doing in Houston this weekend.  Learn more about the sponsors of this June 27th episode: LBJ Presidential Library Jones Dairy Farm Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Snack season is officially here, and no one's doing it better than Central Texas brands. From tangy frozen treats and juicy fruits to fizzy drinks and crave-worthy chips, Austin-based food start-ups are dominating the grocery aisles— and not just H-E-B's! Host Nikki DaVaughn, sits down with local snack expert Emily Hill to break down the newest treats hitting the shelves and why it's worth spending a little extra to support small, local brands. Warning: this episode might make you snacky so proceed with caution! Learn more about the sponsors of this June 26th episode: LBJ Presidential Library Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

With summertime in Austin comes insects and bugs of all shapes and sizes, all of which do NOT appeal to host Nikki DaVaughn. But if anyone can change her mind, it's Entomologist Wizzie Brown with Texas A&M's ArgiLife Extension Service, who loves cockroaches so much she got a tattoo of one. Brown exposes Austin's bug life, breaking down the good, the bad, the ugly, and the summer stunners in our local insect world.  Learn more about the sponsors of this June 25th episode: LBJ Presidential Library Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

In order to shore up a $33 million budget deficit without making deep programmatic cuts, Austin taxpayers may soon be asked to vote to increase taxes, Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes tells City Cast Austin. In an interview at Austin City Hall with Executive Producer Eva Ruth Moravec, Fuentes talked about the tough discussions she’s expecting to have during this year’s unprecedented budget season, along with how Austin fared at the Texas Capitol this year, and how Austin police have changed since the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. Plus, Fuentes’ favorite hidden gems in District 2, and what she does to relax.  Learn more about the sponsors of this June 24th episode: Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. LBJ Presidential Library Zach Theatre Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Whether you love it or, like host Nikki DaVaughn, hate it, AI is here in Austin to stay. From the tech giants like Meta, Google, X, and Microsoft to new startups that open up shop every single day, we’re home to hundreds of companies and thousands of techies working on the next era of artificial intelligence. But how does it impact Austinites? Who’s paying attention and providing oversight into how this new technology is used? And what’s next? Local tech writer Omar Gallaga joins City Cast Austin to fill us in on it all.  Learn more about the sponsors of this June 23rd episode: Visit Port Aransas LBJ Presidential Library Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

City Cast hosts are on the pulse of what’s happening in our communities. So Nikki DaVaughn and all 12 other hosts sat down with City Cast CEO David Plotz to talk about creative local problem solving that might work in your hometown too and to commiserate about stressors affecting most of our cities, from unaffordable housing to bike lanes. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 20th episode: Tecovas Visit Port Aransas Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Zach Theatre

Once a month, Austinites gather at The Living Room: Storytime for Grownups to share their stories in front of a live audience. Local writer, director, actor, and former professor Amparo Garcia-Crow created this space for creativity and connection 15 years ago, and she's still the host. Garcia-Crow joins executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about the story of Austin, her take on the local arts scene, and what it's like creating alongside her family — including her son, musician Shakey Graves. Learn more about the sponsor of this June 18th episode: Tecovas Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE