

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

Apr 9, 2025 • 23min
Canadians Are Avoiding Vegas. Are We in Trouble?
Well, we've really done it now — even the famously nice Canadians are avoiding travel to the U.S. And for Las Vegas in particular, that's a big problem, because our number one source of international visitors is (you guessed it) Canada. About 1.4 million of them visited Vegas in 2023. But, as the Nevada Independent recently reported, that number is starting to plummet. Today, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Graham MacLennan, a lawyer, podcaster, and Canadian who loves Las Vegas. Graham explains why he just canceled his upcoming trip to Las Vegas, what the vibes are like up north, and what it'll take to bring the Canucks back to town.Learn more about the sponsors of this April 9th episode:The Neon MuseumWant 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.

Apr 8, 2025 • 23min
Why Protecting Insects Could Speed Up Home Construction
Nevada is one of America’s most diverse states for insect life but many of these species are at risk of extinction with no statewide protections. And as the City of North Las Vegas begins planning for a new development on 7,000 acres of land received from the Bureau of Land Management, how should we ensure the safety of endemic species? Could these protections actually streamline development? Co-host Sarah Lohman sits down with Amy Alonzo from The Nevada Independent. Alonzo explains a proposal in the legislature to radically reclassify insects so they can be protected as imperiled wildlife — and why this bill has had trouble passing before.Want to comment on a bill being heard in the legislature? Find out more here.Learn more about the sponsors of this April 8th episode:The Neon MuseumWant 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.

Apr 7, 2025 • 24min
Should Cyclists Get to Ignore Stop Signs?
Clark County had 11 cyclist deaths on our roads last year — bike safety advocates say our road design and driving culture are partly to blame. They're backing a counterintuitive bill this legislative session: AB 168 would allow cyclists to disregard stop signs and keep pedaling through intersections. Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Ky Plaskon, secretary at the Nevada Bicycle Coalition, and David Swallow, Deputy CEO at the Regional Transportation Commission, about why AB 168 is needed, the stats that back it up, and how else Las Vegas could make the roads safer for everyone.Learn more about the sponsors of this April 7th episode:The Neon MuseumWant 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.

Apr 4, 2025 • 34min
What Fueled the Wetlands Wildfire? Plus, An Old Abortion Law Is Back, and Tigers Seized in Pahrump
Thirty-four of the Wetlands Park's 210 acres burned this week in a wildfire that took on surprising proportions — so what does it mean when a fire is "human caused," and what common plant could be at the root of the problem? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler talk with Battle Born Progress press secretary Jacob Solis about the wildfire, explore how a decades-old abortion law was brought back to life, and rate the news about the unlicensed seven tigers seized on Wednesday: How "Pahrump" is this news on a scale of 0 to 10?Learn more about the sponsors of this April 4th episode:The Neon MuseumWant 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.

Apr 3, 2025 • 25min
Vegan Food Everyone Will Love in Las Vegas
Not all Las Vegans are vegan, but we've actually got a surprisingly robust vegan food scene — and it's good enough that omnivores and plant-eaters alike can appreciate our diverse vegan food scene. Co-host Sarah Lohman talks with Jackie Sobon, food stylist and blogger at Vegan Yack Attack, who gives us the lay of the land and shares her favorite vegan restaurants in Las Vegas that are actually delicious. Bonus: she's also got a list of non-vegan restaurants with great vegan options for mixed-diet groups!Learn more about the sponsors of this April 3rd episode:The Neon MuseumWant 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.

Apr 2, 2025 • 24min
The USDA Cut a Million Pounds of Local Food Aid. What Happens Now?
The new administration's sweeping spending cuts have reached the USDA, which cut two pandemic-era relief programs in Nevada last week. Southern Nevada's only food bank, Three Square, won't receive about 1 million pounds of food that it had been expecting this spring, and Home Feeds Nevada won't be able to pay local farmers and ranchers to supply food pantries, either. So what happens now? Co-host Dayvid Figler sits down with Three Square CEO Beth Martino, who explains why food insecurity is worse than it's been since the pandemic, and why she remains hopeful that hungry Las Vegans will still get fed.Check out Three Square's Food Finder map to find your local food pantry.Learn more about the sponsors of this April 2nd episode:The Neon MuseumWant 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.

Apr 1, 2025 • 31min
Your Guide to April 2025 in Las Vegas
As the wind blows us into April, we have your guide to make the most out of this month in Las Vegas. From a magical exhibit at Springs Preserve to the hottest tickets to get your hands on. Co-hosts Dayvid Figler and Sarah Lohman are joined by poet and artist Vogue Robinson to share their best tips, can’t miss events, and tastiest food recs for April. 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.For even more tips on how to make the most of April in Las Vegas, check out Hey Las Vegas’s take on what to do this month.Learn more about the sponsors of this April 1st episode: The Neon MuseumWant 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.

Mar 31, 2025 • 25min
How Powerful Are Lobbyists in Nevada?
Tabitha Mueller, Capitol Bureau Chief at the Nevada Independent, shares her insights on the bustling world of lobbyists in Nevada's legislature. With over 1,000 lobbyists registered, she explains their essential role in aiding lawmakers. Topics include the ethical dilemmas of lobbying, the transition of former lawmakers into lobbying roles, and the dual nature of lobbyists as advocates and legal advisors. Mueller emphasizes the need for greater transparency and accountability in the lobbying landscape, particularly given the complexities of healthcare and gaming legislation.

Mar 28, 2025 • 32min
Uber Avoids Collision with Lawyers, Homeless Center Opposition, and 3 Years of City Cast Las Vegas
Today on our weekly news roundup, Uber and Nevada trial lawyers settle a dispute in the legislature with a big compromise, the $200 million residential homeless center, The Campus of Hope, draws opposition from neighbors, and we discuss our favorite moments after 3 years of the City Cast Las Vegas podcast and Hey Las Vegas newsletter! Writer and City Cast Las Vegas alum Scott Dickensheets joins Nevada Current deputy editor April Corbin Girnus and co-host Dayvid Figler to break down this week’s hottest headlines.Learn more about the sponsors of this March 28th episode:Tedx Las VegasWant 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.

Mar 27, 2025 • 21min
The Best Halal Food in Las Vegas
On March 29th, Muslims across Southern Nevada will celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of Ramadan and a month of fasting. To mark the occasion, families will host big dinners and order food from the many delicious halal restaurants around the Valley. So today, co-host Dayvid Figler talks with producer Layla Muhammad about her favorite halal restaurants in Las Vegas and what to order there.Learn more about the sponsors of this March 27th episode:Tedx Las VegasWant 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.