

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 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.

Jul 8, 2024 • 23min
What Vegas Needs To Know About A’s Owner John Fisher
As the weeks go by and the A’s move to Las Vegas looks more and more like a done deal, we’re starting to ask ourselves: Just who exactly have we invited into our community? Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with sports writer Dan Moore, who’s written extensively about the saga of the A’s relocation. Are any of A’s owner John Fisher’s claims fair? What was his track record in Oakland — and can Las Vegas expect better treatment from this heart-breaker?Learn more about the sponsors of this July 8th 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 5, 2024 • 24min
Where to Drink in Las Vegas Right Now
Look, when it’s pushing 115F, it’s only natural to keep our social activities confined to the nighttime hours — and lucky for us, Las Vegas has an incredible nightlife scene. So we’re bringing back an episode co-host Sarah Lohman and Neon News editor-in-chief Gemini Stevens recorded this spring about the hottest new bars in Las Vegas: It’s your guide for where to drink up and cool down this summer.Learn more about the sponsors of this July 5th 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 3, 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 Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman's story stacks up against the rest.Learn more about the sponsors of this July 3rd episode here: BabbelInterested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. 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 2, 2024 • 25min
The Sphere’s Wild First Year
The Sphere said hello for the first time last year with a dazzling Fourth of July fireworks display that cemented its place on the Las Vegas skyline. Since then, the headlines haven’t stopped, from an anti-abortion advocate climbing up the side to think pieces about its impact on the future of Las Vegas entertainment. Standing out on Las Vegas Blvd is a hard task, but the Sphere draws attention with quirky emojis and displays to match major events like Formula 1 and the Super Bowl. But have locals embraced such a bright change to the city? City Cast co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with producer Layla Muhammad and Hey Las Vegas editor Rob Kachelriess to recap the Sphere’s turbulent first year and look ahead to developments coming in year two.Want to know more about the Sphere? Listen to our look inside and guide to the best viewpoints.Learn more about the sponsors of this July 2nd 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 1, 2024 • 23min
How To Challenge What's Built in Your Neighborhood
After approval from the planning commission, the highly contested proposal for an LDS temple near Lone Mountain heads to the Las Vegas city council for a vote. Residents in the area warn that the 70,000-square-foot temple does not fit in their small neighborhood because of its height, light pollution, and potential for increased traffic. As these neighbors fight an uphill battle with developers and lobbyists, we wondered what is the most effective way to be heard about developments in your neighborhood. How and why should you tell the city if something doesn’t belong in your backyard? Planning commissioner Jeff Rogan joins co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler to share the best tips on how to be an active participant in your neighborhood’s development.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.

Jun 28, 2024 • 33min
F1 Ticket Controversy, Fake Electors Case Dismissed, and Life Is Beautiful Downsizes
Welcome to Friday, Las Vegas! The news this week is almost as hot as the asphalt. First, at least four county officials are the subject of an ethics probe for accepting free tickets to last year’s inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix — but is that fair? Also, the charges against six prominent Nevada Republicans for submitting fake elector documents in favor of Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election were dismissed in a Clark County courtroom. So what does this bode? And lastly, the Life is Beautiful festival “hits pause” this year as the company introduces a new format. Co-host Dayvid Figler is joined by writer Kim Foster and City Cast producer Layla Muhammad to break it all down.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.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 28th episode here: Babbel

Jun 27, 2024 • 24min
Your Guide to July in Las Vegas
If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Las Vegas community. Whether you are braving out the summer heat or already have plans to leave town, our monthly guide has all the tips you need to make the most out of your July in Las Vegas. From heat-resistant snacks for road trips to free community workshops, tune in for activity recommendations that are worth leaving your house for. Did you miss our June guide? Take a look back for more tips on how to beat the heat this summer (spoiler: ice cream deliveries).Learn more about the sponsors of this June 27th episode here: BabbelAnd we’re also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast Las Vegas.Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Reach us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. We’re on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram. 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.

Jun 26, 2024 • 23min
How UFC Went From Misfit to Legit in Vegas
Before the Golden Knights, Raiders, or Aces were even a gleam in our city’s eye, the Ultimate Fighting Championship was our original hometown sport — homegrown local Dana White took it from an unregulated “human cockfight” to a multi-billion dollar industry that was even recently considered for inclusion in the Olympics. So today, co-host Dayvid Figler brings on a UFC legend to give us the insider’s guide to how it all happened: Fighter, commentator, and podcast host Chael Sonnen talks about how the UFC evolved, the recent controversy over fighter pay, and why his epic 2010 fight against Anderson Silva (which will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame at T-Mobile Arena this weekend) kicked off a new “entertainment era” in MMA.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 26th 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.

Jun 25, 2024 • 23min
Will Casinos Ever Ban Smoking?
Last week, Caesars Entertainment shareholders voted down a proposal to study the effects of a possible smoking ban inside their properties. This comes after Bally’s and Boyd Gaming also rejected the same proposal from the American NonSmokers’ Rights Foundation. These casino operators all have properties in states where indoor smoking is banned, so why are they still holding on to indoor smoking in Las Vegas? Senior reporter Howard Stutz, who covers the gaming industry at the Nevada Independent, tells executive producer Sonja Cho Swanso why last week’s vote failed and if a smoking ban could ever be possible 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 here.Learn more about the sponsors of this June 25th episode here: Babbel