

City Cast Las Vegas
City Cast
City Cast Las Vegas is a daily podcast and newsletter created by and for locals (and locals-at-heart) that’ll challenge the easy narratives about our city … and, okay, maybe confirm a few of them, too. Las Vegas is a city of reinvention, bursting at the seams as it welcomes newcomers into its various incarnations as a service-worker union town, a military town, a college town, and, most recently, a sports town.There’s a four-mile street testifying to our entrepreneurial genius, not far from pockets of staggering inequality. Great wealth runs through our city, but how much of that actually stays in Vegas? We’re independent in spirit, but also ruled by orange traffic cones. Our 2.5 million residents anchor an ever-changing city of 42 million visitors.Join us every morning for the messy, delightful, complicated conversations that Las Vegans are having: You’ll hear us ask hard questions about where we’ll get our water when Lake Mead runs out, and how we’ll keep housing affordable. We’ll argue over our favorite Chinatown bars, and share insider tips on the best tacos in town. City Cast Las Vegas will show you how loving a city means celebrating it and also holding it accountable, while having some fun along the way—because Las Vegans know how to have a good time.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 22, 2024 • 23min
How To Have the Best Dam Day in Boulder City
Just half an hour from downtown Las Vegas, on the way to Hoover Dam, Boulder City feels like a world apart: It’s a charming, tiny town with a walkable historic district, antique shops galore, and Southern Nevada’s only A&W restaurant. (The town’s second traffic light, installed in 1998, was the source of great debate.) But there’s a lot more going on here than meets the eye. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Jill Lagan, a third-generation Boulder City resident and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, to talk about what makes life here unique, and how visitors can make the most of their trip to Boulder City. Plus: You’ll hear about a thriller of a bike trail named after a murderous doctor, a new age cult, and BC’s most famous Bighorn sheep.Learn more about the sponsors of this July 22nd episode here:Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCASTIncogni - Use code CityCast for 55% off the annual plan.Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Jul 19, 2024 • 34min
Lone Mountain Temple Gets Green Light, Bipartisan Tax Agreement, and Iconic Statues Find a Home
After an eventful week in Las Vegas, we are back for our weekly news roundup. A proposed temple for the Church of Latter-day Saints was approved by the Las Vegas City Council on Wednesday despite loud opposition from neighbors in the northwest area. Also, Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen throw their support behind a bipartisan bill aimed at getting rid of taxes on tipped wages. Lastly, an iconic Siegfried and Roy statue from the Mirage finds a new home! Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by journalist Jacob Solis to break down the headlines.Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas.Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Jul 18, 2024 • 25min
Our Favorite Asian Desserts in Las Vegas
The Asian food scene in Las Vegas gives any other American city a run for its money — but when it comes to the vast world of Asian desserts, where to begin? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with tea sommelier Yukino Aoshima and City Cast executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson to talk about their favorite spots in town to get mochi, red bean shaved ice, tofu pudding, sweet sesame soup, and more.Treats mentioned in the episode:
Milk tea custard bun at 85 Degrees
Milk tea ice cream at Scoop LV
Yukimi Daifuku mochi ice cream is sometimes available at Asian groceries like Nakata Market, Japan Creek, or International Marketplace
Injeolmi at Koreana Rice Cake House (inside Greenland Supermarket)
Bingsu at Sul & Beans
Kakigori at the Fall Festival on Oct. 12th, 2024
Fruit sando and strawberry shortcake at Pullman Bread
Red bean buns and almond cookies at Crown Bakery
Japanese soufflé cheesecake and strawberry shortcake at Suzuya Patisserie
Ube swirled babka and pandan tres leches at Milkfish Bakeshop (pop-up)
“Fish” waffles at SomiSomi
Khanom Krok at Lamoon
Tofu pudding and dessert soups at Sweet Honey
Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Jul 17, 2024 • 18min
Are Palm Trees Bad for Vegas?
Despite palm trees showing up in iconic logos (farewell, Mirage) and lining Las Vegas Boulevard, those spindly trees aren’t native to the Mojave Desert. In recent years, you might’ve heard grumbles that they’re water-guzzlers providing no real shade. You might’ve even seen the video of a palm tree bursting into flames during our most recent heat wave. But master arborist Lisa Ortega, founder of Nevada Plants, thinks that we might want to give palms another shot. Today, we bring back a conversation co-host Dayvid Figler had with Lisa about when and how palm trees actually make sense in Las Vegas.Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas.Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Jul 16, 2024 • 19min
The Most Outrageous Things These Newsmakers Said
With another quarter of the year down, it’s time to revisit the most outrageous things public figures have said in and about Nevada in the news — we’re bringing back another round of “They Said What?” and it’s even wilder than before. Executive producer Sonja Cho Swanson quizzes co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman (reigning “They Said What?” champ) on quotes that include:
“I swear, I just talked to God. I would give you all my money, stick my D in a blender, and swear off P for the rest of my life in exchange for this, bro.”
“Ya boy meant it when I said I was going to do anything and everything to help [REDACTED] and save the Cheddar Bay Biscuits … ordered the whole menu.”
“I don't care about you. I just want your vote.”
Play along and let us know how you did!Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas, here.

Jul 15, 2024 • 22min
How Vegas Became the Wedding Capital of the World
The quickie Vegas wedding is basically a cultural trope at this point — and you can opt for almost any theme under the sun (we’re looking at you, Taco Bell wedding chapel). But how did Las Vegas become the marriage capital of the world? Why is it connected to syphilis blood tests and the “divorce trade war,” and which Vegas parks got their starts as divorce ranches? Co-host Sarah Lohman talks with writer Eric Duran-Valle, who recently wrote about tying (and untying) the knot for Desert Companion Magazine.Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Jul 12, 2024 • 32min
Biden and Harris Back in Vegas, How To Win Mirage Payout Money, and a Lawsuit Over… Heartbreak?
Kamala Harris was back in Las Vegas this week for a visit that many had anticipated would be an audition of sorts — would she sound, well, presidential? Today, co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler are joined by TheList.Vegas creator Andrew Kiraly to talk about the womp-womp careful neutrality of the event, but also how Harris might fare with Vegas voters. Next up, Dayvid explains why the Mirage’s $1.6 million “giveaway” isn’t exactly a giveaway — but also shares details from his visit and how you can get it on the action. And lastly, the team discusses the curious lawsuit an Arkansas man is bringing against a local dancer who, he claims, “hoodwinked” him into thinking they were exclusive and out of millions of dollars.Learn more about the sponsors of this July 12th episode here:BabbelGlobal Product SourcingWant to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Jul 11, 2024 • 21min
How Ethel M Chocolates Creates Magic in the Desert
With this latest heat wave, it’s hard to imagine a chocolate factory would ever choose Las Vegas as a home base. Yet, in 1981, Ethel M Chocolates did just that. They’ve been crafting premium sweets and testing new flavors at their Henderson factory for over four decades. For an inside look at how they work with the desert climate, we are bringing back a conversation co-host Sarah Lohman had with chief chocolatier Mark Mackey. Mark also shares who Ethel M really was and why Las Vegas was the perfect place for a chocolate factory.Learn more about the sponsors of this July 11th episode here:BabbelGlobal Product Sourcing Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Jul 10, 2024 • 21min
How Bad Is This Record-Breaking Heat, Really?
On Sunday, Las Vegas temperatures hit 120°F, breaking the all-time high-temperature record by 3 degrees. This comes in the middle of a historic heat wave across the entire West. But Las Vegas locals know how to deal with extreme heat — so is this pizza oven weather any different? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with producers Sonja Cho Swanson and Layla Muhammad, both longtime locals, to talk about all the ways the heat has surprised us (or not) this summer, and our best tips for dealing with the heat.Learn more about the sponsors of this July 10th episode here: BabbelWant to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.

Jul 9, 2024 • 23min
Will Animal Shows Ever Be the Same After the Mirage?
The Mirage Hotel and Casino closes its doors for good on July 17th — so what’s happening to all of the animals that helped create this tropical fantasy paradise? Where did the dolphins and Siegfried and Roy’s tigers end up? Today, co-host Sarah Lohman talks with University of Guelph history professor Susan Nance, who studies the history of animal entertainment on the Las Vegas Strip. She tells us how the Mirage kicked off an era of truly spectacular big animal shows — and why that era is coming to a close.Learn more about the sponsors of this July 9th episode here: BabbelWant to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719.For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here.