City Cast Madison

Madison’s northside is buzzing. And one new lounge is breathing fire into the normal January doldrums. Lola’s Hi/Lo Lounge on Sherman Avenue features comfort food from around the world. It’s a tavern, a jazz cafe and cocktail lounge all in one. Their motto? “A hi-fi love letter to the low brow.“ Bianca Martin speaks with Lola’s co-owners Matt Gerding and Evan Dannells. And if those names sound familiar, it’s because they’re some of the folks behind the Majestic Theatre and Cadre Restaurant. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Could psychedelics help veterans suffering from PTSD? UW scientists want to know. UW-Madison’s Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Psychoactive Substances wants to explore the medicinal uses of psychedelics like psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and MDMA (ecstasy) for those dealing with trauma. They’re seeking state approval to create a pilot program to study it. Bianca Martin speaks with the center’s director Paul Hutson as well as psychologist and neuroscientist Christopher Nicholas about the new frontiers in mental health treatment. More about the research: MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD [Nature Medicine] Current psychedelic trials at UW-Madison [UW-Madison] About the proposed medicinal psilocybin legislation [Sen. Diane Hesselbein] Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Welcome to 2024! And if your new year’s resolution is to get out more, the Madison team has got you covered. Host Bianca Martin and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Hayley Sperling round up the events in the area they’re most excited about in January. Escape the cold: The Bolz conservatory The Wisconsin Drag Awards 2024 - Jan. 14 You can reach Bianca Lynn Breeze Productions at [email protected]. Flix Brewhouse Madison’s Space Month Move to the music: Wisconsin Bluegrass Fest with Horseshoes & Hand Grenades - Jan. 13 Wisconsin Punk Fest - Jan. 5 Wisconsin Metal Fest - Jan. 6 Food for the soul: Beer and Cheese fest - Jan. 20 Winter Restaurant Week - Jan. 21-26 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

As we head into the new year, we’re wrapping up our series of some of our favorite shows from 2023 with an absolute gem. If you’ve hopped on a bus in Madison in the past twenty years, you’ve heard his voice. Next stop… Pinckney at Mifflin. Next stop… It’s his voice that announces every stop on every Madison Metro bus. He’s always there, guiding us around the city. But you’ve never heard his name… until now. Meet Ward Paxton, the voice of Madison Metro. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. Want some more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. We’re also on Twitter and Instagram!

As we head into the new year, we wanted to celebrate the vibrant cheese scene in the Madison area, and not many have done it better than Landmark Creamery of Paoli. They make some of the best cheeses in the world. You don’t have to take our word for it - that’s according to judges at the American Cheese Society, the Good Food Awards, and the World Championship Cheese Contest. They make various tasty handmade sheep-milk cheeses. And they are even making artisan butter down the street at Seven Acre Dairy in Paoli. So in August, we talked to Landmark Creamery co-owner Anna Thomas Bates to tell us how what makes the cheese so special. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

As the year comes to a close, we’re revisiting some of our favorite shows from 2023. Ones that helped us feel more connected to our community and reminded us of the wealth of resources we have available right in our backyard sometimes. Like the Madison Public Library! Did you know your little orange card can do a lot more than just check out books? It can help you grow a garden or get across town. You can digitize those old family photos or make cheap photocopies. Tana Elias, the library’s digital services and marketing manager, lets us in on a few things you probably didn’t know your little card can do. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

For this final week of the year we’re taking a trip down memory lane and revisiting some of our best shows from 2023. Back in August, we sat down with Wisconsin Broadcast Hall of Famer Lindsay Wood Davis and the founder of 98.7 FM WVMO The Voice of Monona radio station. It has been dubbed "The Coolest Little Station In the Nation" and in 2022 won the Best Radio Station in the state. Host Bianca Martin is joined by Lindsay Wood Davis and 13-year-old radio host Beatrix Pauli, host of Bea’s Buzz. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

With the year coming to a close, what are your hopes and dreams for the city of Madison in 2024?Maybe it’s more late night food options? Less traffic? More bike lanes? Here at City Cast Madison, we definitely have some thoughts on the matter. Host Bianca Martin is joined by Madison Minutes newsletter editor Hayley Sperling to reflect on the year and chat through some of their 2024 resolutions for Madison. Mentioned on the show: You can listen to our resolutions episode from 2023. And check your voter registration status. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Nothing says holidays like family and food, and Ahan, a local Laotian spot, has both. We sat down with the restaurant’s co-owner and chef, James Beard Semifinalist Jamie Brown-Soukaseume, to ask about her expansion to Williamson’s Street, which of her mother’s recipes made it to the menu, and even the secret ingredient behind the Laotian cuisine. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Calling all bird watchers! Get ready because some of the local birds you see around Madison are about to get new names. The rebrand is part of a larger shift from the American Ornithological Society which is planning to rename 70-80 English-named birds in North America to address past wrongs and make the names more scientifically accurate. We get the bird word with Dexter Patterson, the WiscoBirder and co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin, on why birds’ names matters, the controversy around this plan, and even get some suggestions for new names for some local birds. If you’d like to learn more about the airport’s negotiation with the military over PFAS chemicals, listen to Monday’s episode with Dane County Supervisor Yogesh Chawla: Who Pays for Cleaning Up Toxic PFAS Chemicals at Madison’s Airport? Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

The UW System Board of Regents flip-flopped on a major state deal that would require the UW to cut down on diversity-related positions in exchange for around $800 million for staff raises and building projects. Three regents changed their tune on the controversial proposal just days after voting no on the exact same offer. So what changed? Kelly Meyerhofer higher education reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel joins host Bianca Martin to share the story. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

A proposed contract between Dane County Regional Airport and the Air National Guard would exempt the military from liability for toxic PFAS chemical pollution at the airport. This has Dane County supervisor Yogesh Chawla’s eyebrows going up. He and his colleagues at the Dane County Board of Supervisors want changes to the contract to ensure the safety of Dane County’s drinking water. Bianca Martin speaks with Chawla about what those are and why he’s losing sleep over PFAS. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling discuss the potential for new Amtrak train routes across Wisconsin, including service from Madison to Milwaukee. Also, it’s been a week of surprising votes from the UW Board of Regents, as they nix an deal with the legislature over diversity programs and funding for the state university system... and then abruptly reverse course. Mentioned on the show: UW Regents approve deal on funding, engineering building with controversial re-vote [Wisconsin State Journal] ‘A huge win’: Madison Amtrak plan gets big lift with federal money [Cap Times] Derailed podcast [Wisconsin Public Radio] Bull elk spotted throughout Wisconsin killed by semi in Illinois [WKOW] Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

It’s absolutely the season to curl up in a cozy coffee shop with a hot cup of joe. And Madison is rife with options. But which ones go above and beyond when it comes to quality coffee and top notch atmosphere? Bianca Martin speaks with Ashley Rodriguez, writer of the Boss Barista newsletter. Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

You can already hear the twinkling of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, can’t you? The Nutcracker opens at the Overture Center this Friday, December 15th and runs through Christmas Eve. Bianca Martin speaks with the new Madison Ballet Artistic Director, Ja’ Malik, about what’s in store. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Music credit: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies by Kevin MacLeod http://incompetech.com Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/dance-of-the-sugar-plu... Music promoted by Audio Library • Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy – Kevin…

Waxxy Poodle is believed to be the first vinyl record pressing plant in Wisconsin in nearly a hundred years. And it was born out of a serious need. Owner Dave Eck, who’s spent his career mastering audio, saw that the handful of pressing plants in the U.S. couldn’t keep up with the demand of the vinyl resurgence boom. So he took matters into his own hands. Eck and his wife Jennifer Jurgensen now own and operate their very own plant, serving artists in Madison and beyond. Bianca Martin speaks with Eck about the current state of the vinyl industry and new innovations in an old business. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

For the past decade, Wisconsin teachers and most other public employees have only been able to bargain with their employers over inflationary raises. That’s due to Act 10, a controversial Wisconsin law passed back in 2011, which curtailed their rights. The law has been challenged numerous times over the years, but now several unions have filed a new lawsuit seeking to toss the law as unconstitutional. Bianca Martin asks Peggy Wirtz-Olsen, president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, what happens now. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. Host Bianca Martin and Madison Minutes newsletter editor Hayley Sperling discuss the latest in the Wisconsin fake electors case, after the electors settle in court and admit that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Plus, Madison raises some of its off-street parking rates and a cadre of inflatable Santa Clauses pop up on Monroe Street lawns. Mentioned on the show: Wisconsin false electors admit their actions were used in effort to 'improperly overturn' the 2020 election [WPR] City of Madison parking rate increases [City of Madison] Why giant inflatable Santas have overtaken Monroe St [Madison Minutes] Winter parking guide [City Cast Madison] How to contest a Madison parking ticket [City Cast Madison] Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

'Tis the season to be baking and cooking so maybe it’s time to crack open that cookbook you’ve been neglecting all year. If you’re looking for culinary inspiration or the perfect gift for a home chef in your life, Cap Times food editor Lindsay Christians is here with a bounty of cookbook recommendations, local and beyond. Christians joins host Bianca Martin and executive producer Molly Stentz to round up the best cookbooks for the season. 👩🏾‍🍳 Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Cookbooks mentioned in the episode: Local favorites — “Dane County Farmers Market Cookbook” by Terese Allen — “Wisconsin Field to Fork” by Lori Fredrich — “Osteria Papavero Cookbook” by Francesco Mangano and Lindsay Christians A Midwestern perspective — “Company” by Amy Thielen — “Pulp” by Abra Berens — “Home is Where the Eggs Are" by Molly Yeh “My new year’s resolution is to cook more” — “Small Victories” by Julia Turshen — “The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook” by Deb Perelman — “Dinner” by Melissa Clark — “Milk Street Tuesday Nights” by Christopher Kimball — “The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook” by Ina Garten Let’s bake! — “Sweet Enough” by Alison Roman — “Dessert Person” by Claire Saffitz — “Baking with Dorie” by Dorie Greenspan Wanna talk vegetarian? — “Super Natural” by Heidi Swanson — “East” by Meera Sodha — “Fast Fresh & Green” by Susie Middleton — “Love Soup” by Anna Thomas The ones Lindsay is MOST excited about right now — “Start Here” by Sohla El-Waylly — “Signature Cocktails” by Amanda Schuster — “More is More” by Molly Baz — “Cured” by Paula Forbes and Steve McHugh Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

If you’ve been to a Wisconsin bar, you’ve likely seen a pull-tab machine. Pop in a buck and out comes a rectangle cardboard card that may get you a cash prize of up to $250. Tea Krulos got the bizarre backstory of this unofficial — yet legal — lottery. He joins City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin to explain how Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps (as they're officially known) became a thing. For more on Wisconsin Souvenir Milkcaps, read Krulos' article "The Unlikely Story Behind Pull-Tabs in Wisconsin" published by Milwaukee Magazine. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Mama Digdown’s Brass Band is perhaps the longest gigging band in Madison. For 30 years, the eight-piece brass band has been bringing the sound of New Orleans to Wisconsin. Ahead of their 30th birthday celebration, saxophone player Christopher 'Roc' Ohly and sousaphone player Erik Jacobson sit down with City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin to talk jazz, how the music scene has changed over the decades, and share stories from 30 years of traveling with the band. More details about the 30th birthday celebration shows at the Burr Oak: https://mamadigdown.com/ Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Have you noticed the ketamine clinics popping up around the city? While ketamine has been used as an anesthetic in the medical field for decades, its use as a treatment for depression, PTSD, and chronic pain has been gaining popularity in recent years. So what exactly is a trip like to one of Madison’s clinics? Host Bianca Martin is joined by Brian Czapko, co-founder of Forward Ketamine, to chat about how ketamine therapy works and what the future of this industry and treatment could look like. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz discuss where the UW System might be headed, after the president mentioned cutting back liberal arts programs on some campuses in an email. Plus, state lawmakers are calling for libraries to contact parents about the books kids borrow, and an elk visits McFarland in search of… love? Mentioned on the show: 🎓 Exclusive: Facing budget shortfalls, UW System president privately suggested chancellors ‘shift away’ from liberal arts programs at low-income campuses [Daily Cardinal] 💬 Rothman’s response to the above Daily Cardinal article [X, formerly Twitter] 📚 GOP bills would make librarians tell parents everything kids check out [Cap Times] 🦌 Looking for love, lost elk causes a stir in southern Wisconsin [Wisconsin State Journal] 🍻 And… does Mickey’s Tavern count as a dive bar or not? Let us know your dive bar hot takes (and be sure to listen to our episode on dive bars if you missed it on Thursday!) Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to Madison Minutes. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

In light of the news about the historic Silver Dollar Tavern closing soon, the City Cast Madison team is rounding up the best dive bars in Madison. Executive producer Molly Stentz, producer Dylan Brogan, and newsletter editor Hayley Sperling talk about what exactly makes a dive bar a dive bar, the future of dive bars in Madison, and of course, dish on their favorite spots. 🍺 Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Dive bars (and other spots) mentioned in this episode: Silver Dollar Tavern The Plaza Tavern Woody & Anne’s The Caribou Tavern Le Tigre Lounge Slices Bar & Grill Wando’s Dive Inn Jade Monkey Chiefs Tavern Buck’s Pizza North of the Bayou Landmark Bar and Grill The Paradise Lounge Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for Madison Minutes. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Madison is BUSY this December. From holiday markets to The Nutcracker, the City Cast Madison team has you covered with events you can’t miss this month. Our picks: 🎁 Find local gifts New Glarus Christkindli Market - December 1 - 3 Eastside Winter Market - December 9 - 10 🍸 Relax downtown Miracle on King Street - Through December 30 The Nutcracker at The Madison Ballet - December 15 - 24 🧠 Feed your head “Shaping Minds, Unveiling Truths” with Dr. Jason Stanley - December 14th 🌲 Get outdoors! Winter Recreation at Devil’s Lake State Park Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Kwik Trip recently confirmed it experienced a cybersecurity incident that impacted its internal communication, production facilities, and customer loyalty program. And it’s not the only business in town that’s been hit in the last couple months. So what can businesses do to guard against ransomware and other types of cybersecurity breaches? And how do these attacks affect customers? Producer Dylan Brogan chats with Dave Schroeder, director of research at the Wisconsin Security Research Consortium, about the recent uptick in local attacks. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, maybe you’re looking for festive things to do with the kiddos in your life? Local dad Aaron Seligman with his website, Macaroni KID Madison, has you covered. From the best ice skating in town to giving the gift of experiences, host Bianca Martin rounds up the options with Aaron. Aaron’s full experience gift guide here for MacaroniKID! A list of local nonprofits and causes you could support for Giving Tuesday. More info on the Re-Entry Service Fair on Nov. 28. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

We’re in a brave new world of college sports. One of the biggest revolutions in college sports came when the NCAA allowed college student athletes to get paid. Where previously some athletes might have received scholarships to play, now they can also get branding deals worth millions. Some UW students have reportedly signed contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. But how does it all work? What does it mean for the students, the teams and the university? How is it changing UW sports? Here to answer these questions and more is Jim Polzin, sports columnist at the Wisconsin State Journal. Producer Dylan Brogan caught up with him in November. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Madison is a good place to be a wild turkey. But while there’s no shortage of turkeys strutting the streets of Madison these days, this wasn’t always the case. Wild turkeys were nearly hunted to extinction in Wisconsin in the late 19th century. In the 1970s, a concerted effort by conservationists brought them back. Bianca Martin asks UW-Madison Wildlife Ecology Professor David Drake why turkeys are thriving in Madison today. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Facing threats from election deniers, potential Russian operatives and flooding, Dane County officials are looking to beef up local election safeguards. They’re buying the former Ale Asylum brewery by the airport and retrofitting it to house the county’s election infrastructure. Producer Dylan Brogan sat down with Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell to learn what keeps him up at night. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz talk about why Starbucks went on strike this week, the fight between wedding barns and the state’s liquor lobby, and the push to expand the UW-Madison Engineering School. Mentioned on the show: 🚩 Madison Starbucks workers plan to walk out for company’s Red Cup Day [Isthmus] ☕ Looking for local coffee? Try these Madison Minutes picks. [Madison Minutes] 💍 Wisconsin Legislature passes liquor law overhauls opposed by private wedding venues [AP] ⚙️ Wisconsin businesses need more engineers. GOP is holding up UW-Madison project that would help address shortage [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] 🎧 We’re Hiring! Help us produce this podcast. Learn more. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Thanksgiving means food. It’s typically the busiest holiday of the year for grocery stores. But if you aren’t cooking a big meal this holiday, or you need a little extra help, you have options. Several Madison restaurants are offering take-out meals and several are open on Thanksgiving. Cap Times Food Editor Lindsay Christians joins Bianca Martin with some ideas for you. 🦃 Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Read more: 13 Madison restaurants who will cook for you on Thanksgiving [Cap Times] Also mentioned on the show: 🧀 The Dane County Farmers Market moves indoors at the Monona Terrace this Saturday. 🎧 We’re Hiring! Help us produce this podcast. Learn more. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Wisconsin’s next official state symbol could be something you can’t even see without a microscope. Sure the microbe Lactococcus lactis may be tiny in size, but its contributions to our state’s dairy industry are huge. So say two UW-Madison graduate students campaigning for it to become Wisconsin’s state microbe. Producer Molly Stentz speaks with Natalia Rosario-Melendez and Austin Hall with the Catalysts for Science Policy group to learn why. 🔬 Also mentioned on the show: 📚 Madison Reading Project is collecting books for kids ahead of the holidays. 🍪 The Friends of Waunakee Public Library Holiday Market and Bake Sale is Saturday, Nov 18. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Winter’s coming. As of tomorrow, parking in Madison gets a little more complicated. Alternate side parking starts November 15th, meaning you have to park your car on the correct side of the road each day to avoid getting a ticket. If you live in the central city, this applies to you whenever there’s significant snowfall and the city declares a snow emergency. City officials say that while enforcement has been down the past few winters, that could change this year. Producer Dylan Brogan spoke with Madison Streets Superintendent Charlie Romines about what you need to know to help the streets get plowed and avoid a ticket. Get text alerts about snow emergencies and where to park. [City of Madison] Read all about Alternate Side Parking [City of Madison] Also mentioned on the show: Lake Monona and Starkweather Creek called ‘impaired waterways’ [WI DNR] City Council seeks modest final changes to mayor's proposed budget [Wisconsin State Journal] Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Dane County is Wisconsin’s largest local government outside of Milwaukee. Home to Madison, it’s one of the fastest growing parts of the state. The county has thousands of employees and a nearly billion dollar budget. It runs our local zoo, airport, jail, landfill, foster care system, and 911 emergency center, just to name a few things. It also manages our lakes, operates parks, issues marriage licenses and building permits, and maintains and plows roads. And Joe Parisi has run it for more than the past decade as County Executive. He’s retiring in May, so producer Dylan Brogan caught up with him to ask what’s next for the county. ✨ We're hiring! Come work with us. ✨ 🎧 City Cast Madison Producer 💵 City Cast Madison Senior Account Executive Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. Dylan Brogan and Molly Stentz recap the latest findings from the Marquette Law School Poll on how Wisconsin voters are feeling. Plus, local mayors agree: the Madison area needs more housing and fast. Some argue that we need to loosen zoning rules to encourage more development. What do YOU think? Mentioned on the show: Latest Marquette Poll [Marquette University] Milwaukee’s Proposed Zoning Changes [PlaceMakers and DPZ] Mayors say housing issues are hurting business recruitment in South Central Wisconsin [Wisconsin State Journal] Strictly Discs' original owners announce they're selling the store after 35 years [Wisconsin State Journal] We’re Hiring! Check out our jobs: 🎧 City Cast Madison Producer 💵 City Cast Madison Senior Account Executive Have thoughts? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

D.B. Pedersen has been a chef in the Madison area for years. He’s worked at L’Etoile, Weary Traveler, the former Taqueria Gila Monster, and the Taliesin School of Architecture, to name a few. His latest venture? A soup delivery business called Soups! I Did It Again. Along with partner Bazile Booth, they cook up high-quality soups from scratch, using fresh local ingredients. They do home delivery in Madison and sell at Festival Foods and Woodman’s. And now, they’ve opened a bakery in Spring Green called Sky Blue Pink. Dylan Brogan caught up with D.B. to learn more. 🥣 Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Also, we're hiring! Come work with us. 🎧 City Cast Madison Producer 💵 City Cast Madison Senior Account Executive Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Dog parks are plentiful in Madison and generally popular. A lot of us have small yards and our doggoes want space to run. But some dog trainers say dog parks actually aren’t all that great. Some dogs get overwhelmed and just don’t vibe with others, leading them to lash out or shut down. Producer Molly Stentz caught up with Allison Stoffel of Copper Ridge Dog Training in Madison to learn why and what you can do about it. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

It’s not hard to find a store selling Delta-8 products in Madison. We recently spoke to Alan Robinson of Herbal Aspect, who argues that this cannabis product is safe and legal. But Dr. Ana Pearson says there’s reason for caution. She says that the lack of regulation means it’s buyer beware. Production processes can be uneven, so dosing information can be unreliable. There’s the possibility of ingesting heavy metals as a byproduct of the manufacturing process. She also stresses moderation is key. Start with low doses and avoid using every single day. Don’t use if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding and keep your edibles and vapes out of kids’ reach. She spoke to producer Molly Stentz about things you should know about Delta-8. Dr. Pearson spoke with us on her own behalf, and not officially on behalf of UW-Madison. Listen to our podcast episode about Delta-8: Madison’s Guide to Legal Weed [City Cast Madison] Read more the health concerns about Delta-8: Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol: a scoping review and commentary [Addiction] Delta-8-THC craze concerns chemists [Chemical & Engineering News] 5 Things to Know about Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol – Delta-8 THC [FDA] Read more about the legality of Delta-8: Delta-8 THC Issue Brief [Wisconsin Legislative Council] Also mentioned on the show: Tyson Chicken Nugget Recall info UW $32 Million Workforce Proposal Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

You may not think of deep-blue Dane County, home to liberal Madison, as important to Republicans. But Dane County is one of the top three sources of Republican votes in statewide elections. Republicans hope to shore up their chances of winning Wisconsin in next year’s Presidential election by making inroads in Democratic areas. Dylan Brogan sits down with the new 23 year-old leader of the Republican Party of Dane County, Brandon Maly, to learn how. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

City Cast Madison’s Dylan Brogan and Hayley Sperling round up the news this week. Madison Metro officials say they’ve treated and quarantined two buses after findings bed bugs on board. A bipartisan bill would require disclosure of AI-generated content in campaign ads. And listeners give us their picks for their favorite Madison buildings. Read more: Metro Transit confirms reports of bed bugs on buses but says it's a limited problem [Wisconsin State Journal] AI-generated campaign ads would receive a content label in Wisconsin under bipartisan proposal [WPR] Madison Buildings: the Good, the Weird, and the Ugly [City Cast Madison] Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Sam Thayer says you can eat local all year round in Wisconsin, despite our frosty weather. He’s best known for writing guide books on edible native plants in Wisconsin, like The Forager’s Harvest. He’s speaking about local nuts, roots, fruits and more at the Madison Herb Fair at Olbrich Botanical Gardens in Madison this Saturday, November 4th. Molly Stentz sits down with him to learn what’s cookin’. 🐿️ Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Madison’s going through a building boom. The city’s growing up, literally. So we’re taking a moment to reflect on the architecture all around us in the Capital City. City Cast Madison’s Dylan Brogan, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz are up to the challenge. Here are our picks for Madison’s best buildings, plus the quirkiest and downright ugliest, too. Read more: The Kastenmeier Courthouse is Madison’s blocky blue Modernist marvel [Tone Madison] Is the Humanities building ‘riot proof?’ [The Daily Cardinal] Towards an appreciation of Brutalism: Or, the Humanities Building is very good [Tone Madison] Have thoughts? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We might read or play your comment on the show. We’re also on Instagram, if you want to tag us there. Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

UW Madison has started tracking students who rank at the bottom of their classes. Starting this year, a select number of undergraduates have their academic progress tracked by administrators. They’re flagged if they rank in the bottom fourth of their class for two or more classes. They’re also flagged if they have assignments more than five days late. The idea is to find the students who need extra help and get it to them, while there’s still time for them to turn it around. But some faculty worry that matters are being taken out of their hands. Some students are concerned that taking away responsibility for their own success could be counterproductive. Cormac LaLiberté, college news editor for The Daily Cardinal, looked into the program. Mentioned on the show: “UW-Madison students enrolled in data monitoring experiment without ability to opt out” [The Daily Cardinal] Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Madison and Dane County are investing in a new way to offer emergency shelter for people facing homelessness. A new, purpose-built men’s shelter on Madison’s east side is in the works and expected to open in 2025. Madison’s Community Development Director Jim O’Keefe tells host Dylan Brogan how the new shelter represents a fundamental shift, years in the making, in how local government supports residents in need of shelter. He also outlines the ongoing challenges Madison faces as it continues to make housing affordable in our community. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Dylan Brogan, Molly Stentz and Hayley Sperling discuss the plan to turn the old Ale Asylum brewery into a new elections center. Plus, we’ve got a few ideas for Madison-themed Halloween costumes. And Slate’s Political Gabfest was in town to for a live podcast taping with Governor Evers. Mentioned on the show: Dane County wants Ale Asylum building for new elections center [Wisconsin State Journal] How to Have a Madison Halloween [Madison Minutes] Political Gabfest [Slate] Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Supper clubs are a Wisconsin staple. Whether it’s the overflowing relish tray at Tornado Steakhouse or the American cheese-laden hash browns at Toby’s, supper clubs have always brought cozy vibes and enormous portions to the Madison culinary scene. But what makes a place a true supper club? And who gets to claim the title of best supper club in Madison? Molly Stentz speaks with Cap Times food editor Lindsay Christians about the best of this distinctively Wisconsin dining tradition. 🍽️ Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers. Read more: 11 Supper Clubs to Try [The Cap Times] Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Sign up for the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Congress ain’t working so well right now. The House of Representatives is without a speaker for the longest time in U.S. history. We’re weeks away from the government shutting down. All while the U.S. is playing a major role in the war in Gaza. And there’s still a war in Ukraine. Mark Pocan is the Madison area’s representative in Congress. Dylan Brogan caught up with him from his office in D.C. to learn what all these crises mean for us. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

The Madison area has seen strong economic growth this year. Construction cranes abound. Housing prices have soared. Unemployment is low. We’re the fastest growing part of the state. You might think we’d be sitting pretty when it comes to city services. But according to Madison Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke, things are tighter than you’d think. City expenses are going up faster than the city’s ability to raise money. The last of the federal COVID aid is helping plug some budget holes for 2024, but after that, the city’s got big decisions to make. A big property tax hike? A citywide sales tax? They’re all on the table. Dylan Brogan gets the details. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Madison has its fair share of poltergeists, lingering spirits, and maybe even a few lake monsters. You just need to know where to look. Bianca Martin learns more about Madison’s scary side with Lisa Van Buskirk and Mike Huberty from Madison Ghost Walks. Mentioned on the show: 🎃 Downtown Madison Family Halloween — Wednesday, Oct. 25 👻 Warner Park Community Recreation Center Family Fun Night — Friday, Oct. 27