City Cast Madison

Mint Mark is moving! The cozy, beloved restaurant on Winnebago St. on Madison’s east side is closing May 4. They plan to re-open in a new, larger space in The Standard building on East Washington Ave. and First Street in mid-June. Bianca Martin catches up with co-owner and chef Sean Pharr for a sneak peek of what to expect at their new space. Spoiler alert: Patio! Brunch! More room! 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.

If you’re new around here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Madison community. May means the return of plants, the start of the gardening season in Madison and farmers’ markets popping up all over town. We’re ready to smell the lilacs in bloom, celebrate the mothers in our lives and see thousands of students graduate. For even more tips on how to make the most of May in Madison, check out our full list in Madison Minutes. 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.

Tana Elias has worked in almost every single branch of the Madison Public Library system. And after 30 years, she’s made it to the top. She’s set to take the helm as the new library director in just a few weeks. Among her goals? Get the other 58% of Madisonians a library card and help more kids learn to read. Bianca Martin catches up with Tana to learn about her big plans for the future. And did you miss this episode? Tana explains Five Things You Didn’t Know Your Library Card Could 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? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

It’s no secret that Americans are becoming less religious. Reverend Mark Elsdon, executive director of the Pres House Presbyterian campus ministry, predicts that the Madison area could lose a third of all churches in the area. Many congregations are shrinking and re-evaluating whether they need their large buildings anymore. Madison’s pressed for housing, and more churches are considering selling or moving to make way. Reverend Elsdon says this could mean a real loss of “third spaces” in Madison, free gathering places you can go outside of home and work. Bianca Martin catches up with the Reverend to talk about what this coming wave means for our city. Reverend Elsdon’s book is Gone for Good: Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition. 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 recap the mysterious hold-up of state money for drug treatment and prevention programs. Plus, we discuss the creative proposal to build new affordable housing on East Wash in exchange for student housing on campus. And part of State Street’s going pedestrian-only starting May 8th. That’s why the flamingoes are everywhere. 🦩 Mentioned on the show: 💊Opioid treatment money stalled by anonymous Wisconsin legislator [Cap Times] 🏗️Porchlight, developer partner to build student and homeless housing [Wisconsin State Journal] 🦩Hundreds help paint State Street; Pedestrian Mall Experiment to launch May 8 [City of 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? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

If you had to make a list of Madison’s essential restaurants, what would be on it? Which restaurants feel most iconic to the city? Which do you find yourself most recommending to visitors? Cap Times Food Editor Lindsay Christians joins Molly Stentz to wax poetic about Madison’s classics. And check out Kyle Nabilcy’s list in Eater Chicago. Do you agree? 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.

Kosa Spa in the Garver Feed Mill on Madison’s east side, offers meditation, massage, hot stone saunas, an aromatherapy steam room, nourishing meals and more. Owner Shilpa Sankaran says they’re the only Ayurvedic spa in the country. Bianca Martin talks to Shilpa about ways you can take care of yourself this spring in the Ayurvedic tradition. 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 have heard the phrase, “Not In My Backyard,” or NIMBY. It’s often used – negatively – to describe neighbors who don’t want development in their neighborhood, whether it’s a new apartment building or affordable housing. Meaning that many of us support changes in principle, until it potentially affects our own neighborhood. Some Madisonians are worried that Madison is growing and changing too fast, and their neighborhoods will become too crowded or full of traffic. But Will Ochowicz says that more Madisonians should say YIMBY, or “Yes In My Backyard” in order to help ease the city’s housing crisis. As in: Yes, we want more development. Yes, we want more housing to be built. He’s started a grassroots group called Madison is for People to rally for changes to Madison’s zoning laws. Dylan Brogan sat down with Will to learn what’s motivating him. Editor’s Note: After we recorded this interview, the Madison City Council voted to change its zoning code to allow for more housing density. You can now build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) on lots with small apartment buildings, and not just single-family homes. This can mean creating additional living space within an existing building – like a garage, attic, or basement – or building a separate structure on the same lot. ADUs are limited to 900 square feet and no more than two bedrooms. 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 City Attorney Michael Haas is no stranger to elections. He used to be the administrator for the Wisconsin Elections Commission, the state agency that administers Wisconsin’s election laws. And he’s sounding the alarm about two new Constitutional amendments that Wisconsin voters approved this April. He says the amendments were written so vaguely that it’s unclear how local clerks, who run our elections, should carry them out. This could lead to messy lawsuits, which could undermine public trust in the elections they were intended to bolster. Dylan Brogan speaks with Attorney Haas about the dilemma and what it means for the November Presidential election. 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 Molly Stentz recap the latest in the ongoing quest to build a grocery store on South Park street to replace the Pick ‘n Save. Should the city spend another million? Plus, more Madison Police officers will now wear body cameras. And Marshfield Clinic wants your ticks. Seriously. Mentioned on the show: 🥫Additional $1 million in city funds would move Park Street grocery forward, says owner Kristie Maurer [Isthmus] 🚓MPD body-worn camera pilot program gets underway [Channel 3000] 📸Madison Police Chief Wants Body Cams 🎧[City Cast Madison] 🪵Get your own tick kit: Call Marshfield Clinic Research Institute at 715-389-7796 Ext. 16462 or email [email protected]. The research study is called the Tick Inventory via Citizen Science (TICS). [Marshfield Clinic Research Institute] 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 ever been curious about the Jewish tradition of seders, ceremonial dinners held on the first nights of Passover? Maybe you’ve been invited to one and don’t know what to bring! Perhaps you’re away from home and looking for a celebration to join here in Madison? We’ve got you! Bianca Martin talks to Rabbi Laurie Zimmerman of Shaarei Shamayim about the most important food holiday in the Jewish tradition and what’s on her seder plate. Shaarei Shamayim’s community seder is Tuesday, April 23, 2024. If you’d like to attend, email Rabbi Laurie in advance to check if there’s space at: [email protected]. 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.

Poet, essayist, educator and playwright Charles Payne has a lot of feelings about the American public school system. His new play called When the Classroom Ain’t Enuf opens at Broom Street Theater this Friday, April 19th, and draws on his own experience as a math and science teacher. The play is a series of vignettes about the Black and Brown experience in American public schools, performed by a local cast of Madison community members. It’s set to original music and was influenced by Ntosake Shange’s 1976 play for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf. Bianca Martin catches up with Charles to learn more about the innovative production and ideas for diversifying local community theater. 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’ve all been watching the new Bus Rapid Transit stations getting built along East Washington Ave and Mineral Point Road in Madison. And we’ve been wondering: how are these new buses and routes gonna work? We asked what’s on YOUR mind about the biggest upgrade to Madison’s public transit system in decades. And then we put it to the man who knows. Dylan Brogan gets your questions answered by Mick Rusch, Madison Metro’s interim chief development officer. 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.

Jury duty. America’s founders loved it. Many Americans try to avoid it. But what’s it really like to serve on a jury? Do people actually get a jury “of their peers” here in Dane County? And if juries are so important, why do we have so few of them? Bianca Martin speaks with Dane County Judge Nicholas McNamara about what really goes on during jury duty. 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, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz recap President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel student loan debt for millions and loan interest for millions more. Plus, everyone wants toxic PFAS chemicals cleaned up, so why isn’t it happening? And it’s Terrace time! The iconic Memorial Union chairs will be outside beginning April 17. Mentioned on the show: President Joe Biden unveils student debt forgiveness plan in trip to Madison [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Evers vetoes a Republican-backed bill targeting PFAS chemicals [Associated Press] Summer by the lake at the Terrace kicks off with return of chairs [UW-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? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

he Dane County Farmers’ Market is back on the Capitol Square this Saturday, April 13. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin finds out what’s new at the market this season from DCFM manager Jamie Bugel. We also have some insider tips on how to navigate the crowds and how traffic’s changing around the Square. 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.

Madison’s building boom continues. Construction cranes dot the skyline. Huge new apartment buildings are in progress on many of Madison’s largest thoroughfares: East Washington Ave, West Johnson, Regent Street. But downtown, making way for the new means out with the old, and that means demolition of old buildings. Recent city debates over proposed development in the 100 block of State Street, the 400 block of State Street and the 100 block of Mifflin have pitted desires for housing against desires to preserve pieces of Madison history. It left us asking: what’s worth saving and how do we decide? Bianca Martin sits down with Madison historian Stu Levitan, longtime former chair of the Madison Landmarks Commission, to examine why we save what we 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? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

If you’ve driven down East Washington Avenue in the past year, you’ve probably seen the building under construction: a large wall of glass flanks the front of the building, nestled under the swooping curves of arched roofs. This is the new home of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras. Since the 1960s, WYSO has trained and inspired thousands of young musicians across Madison, and they did so from borrowed rooms across town. Now, they’ve got a state-of-the-art rehearsal facility to bring all their orchestras under one roof. Bianca Martin speaks with WYSO Director of Development and Communication Susan Gardels about what’s inside their fancy new digs. 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’s getting a new live music venue. Kevin Willmott II is soon opening the Gamma Ray Bar in the former Barley Pop Live and The Frequency music venue space on West Main Street. You may know long-time local musician and live event host Kevin from his storytelling on the Moth Story Slam, his band Don’t Mess With Cupid or from his time working at the High Noon Saloon. Host Bianca Martin sits down for an exclusive with Kevin to learn about his plans for Gamma Ray and his vision for how it might serve Madison local arts. 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 recap Tuesday’s election in Wisconsin, including the nearly 50,000 democratic voters who chose “uninstructed” and the 100,000 republican voters who picked anyone but Trump. And why did some Madisonians have to vote outside in the snow at Rennebohm Park and what is the city doing about it? We have answers! Plus, the UW system will now offer employees six weeks of family leave. Mentioned on the show: ✅Wisconsin Presidential Primary Election Results [AP] 🙅🏽‍♀️From 'uninstructed' Dems to non-Trump Republicans: Takeaways from Wisconsin's primary [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] 📣Trump rally today in Green Bay: Former president focuses on immigration in campaign speech [Green Bay Press Gazette] ❄️Madison had one outdoor voting location Tuesday. And it snowed. [Wisconsin State Journal] 🏢Do you have a polling place to offer? Contact the Madison City Clerk’s office. 🍼Universities of Wisconsin, UW-Madison to offer paid parental leave [Cap Times] 🇺🇸Among 41 countries, only U.S. lacks paid parental leave [Pew Research Center] 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.

Hạ Long Bay, the popular Vietnamese restaurant on Willy Street, is known for lines out the door and a takeout business so strong their phone is literally often off the hook. And now, the eastside neighborhood staple is under a new generation of family ownership. Jacqueline and Stephanie Le, nieces of founder Jean Tran, have been busy updating the restaurant, while keeping the family traditions and recipes alive. The sisters, who also own Little Palace on King Street, are temporarily closing Hạ Long Bay on Monday, April 8 for remodeling. Bianca Martin catches up with the new owners to learn what’s next. 🍜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.

Artist Marlon Hall would like to invite you to a dinner party. But he has one rule: you absolutely cannot talk about what you do for a living. He invites diverse groups of people to join together over a meal and connect as humans, in the spirit of community. He designs and creates physical doors made of native wood around which the dinner parties gather. He’s hosted dozens of these dinner parties across the country and is now inviting Madisonians to join him for a community-wide dinner party on May 5th. What’s it all about? Bianca Martin talks to Marlon about the Mosaic Dinner Party movement and his time as UW-Madison’s spring artist-in-residence. 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.

Richard Davis was widely regarded as one of the world’s best bass players. He recorded with Sarah Vaughan, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Miles Davis, just to name a few. And for much of his life, until he passed away last year at age 93, he lived, worked and played in Madison. Richard Davis taught bass at UW-Madison for nearly 40 years and created the Richard Davis Foundation for Young Bassists to inspire more people to learn the instrument. A new film chronicling his life and impact premieres at the Wisconsin Film Festival this week. It’s called String Theory: The Richard Davis Method. Bianca Martin catches up with director Michael Neelsen to 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? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

Spring has sprung and Madison is bursting with life! The City Cast Madison team is here to round up a few of our favorite things. Bianca Martin, Hayley Sperling and Molly Stentz share some of our picks for getting out and about in April. 🎸Get your Sh!tty Barn tickets for the summer on April 1st. 🗳️Don’t forget to vote April 2nd! 🐽Learn about the barons of our food system with Austin Frerick on April 2nd 📚Feed your mind with Ijeoma Oluo on April 2nd 🎵See Herbie Hancock here on April 3rd! 🎞️Check out the Wisconsin Film Festival from April 4 - 11th or listen to our sneak preview 🎧 🤖Discuss AI and journalism’s future with Julia Angwin on April 5th 🏍️See Angels of Dirt on April 7th 💅Dance your heart out at the Dyke Dive: Pink Pony Club on April 13th 🖼️Hunt for gems at the Collectibles Flea Market on April 14th 🪗Give polka a try at the Polka Party on April 18th 🫧 Treat yourself at Kosa Spa on April 19th 🧥Find treasures at the Midwest Vintage Flea on April 20th 🎶Pick up a few new albums at Record Store Day on April 20th or stop by the afterparty 📓Swap ‘zines at the Print and Resist Zine Fest on April 27th 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 recap the movement to vote “uninstructed” in next Tuesday’s presidential preference election, the Wisconsin Supreme Court case that said Amazon drivers are workers, and the jury decision to acquit the Wisconsin Department of Justice agent who shot at Quadren Wilson. Mentioned on the show: What the 'uninstructed' movement means for Wisconsin voters, Biden's chances [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Apply to be an election worker! [Madison City Clerk] Wisconsin Supreme Court lets ruling stand that declared Amazon drivers to be employees [AP] Wisconsin Supreme Court dismisses Amazon challenge to ruling that drivers are employees [WPR] State agent acquitted of recklessly firing gun during arrest of suspect in Madison [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.

Jacob Guyette is no stranger to Madison’s restaurant scene, having worked as a chef at Graze, L’Etoile and other fine dining spots. So what made him want to open his own classic Wisconsin tavern, and focus on some of the finest cheeses around? Bianca Martin finds out, with the owner of The Wedge, Schenk’s Corners’ newest bar. They’re in the old One Barrel Brewery space on Atwood. 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.

April 15, the deadline to file your income taxes, is fast approaching. Each year, more than 1,500 volunteers trained by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, offer their time to help others with their taxes. These tax preparers help file individual income tax returns (Form 1040) for: Low-to-moderate income individuals Individuals with disabilities Non-English speaking taxpayers Military personnel Senior individuals Individuals who qualify for the homestead credit or the earned income credit Bianca Martin speaks with Wisconsin Department of Revenue VITA-TCE Program Coordinator Juan Carlos Reyes to learn more. Looking for tax help or know someone who does? Call the Madison Public Library at 608‑266‑6350 to make an appointment. Schedule your appointment online to visit the Richard Dilley Tax Center at 2238 S. Park Street in Madison. IRS VITA Hotline: 800-906-9887 Enter your zip code on this IRS website to find tax prep help near you. You can also call the United Way at 211 to get more information. Interested in becoming a volunteer for next season? Contact Juan Carlos Reyes at 608-266-2486 or [email protected] 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.

Next Tuesday, April 2, is election day. Spring elections mean local races – school board, county board, judges and other non-partisan races. There are also two constitutional amendments. Plus, you’ll vote on nominees to become official presidential candidates on ballots later this year. The big news of this election is the turnover happening in county government. What will it all mean? Bianca Martin speaks with Cap Times Local Government Reporter Allison Garfield to break it all down. 🗳️ Check out the Cap Times Voter Guide. 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 of Madison believes that geothermal energy is a technology that will help meet its climate goals. So much so, that they are investing in a huge heating and cooling upgrade to their “Triangle” public housing development. But what is geothermal technology anyway? City Cast’s Dylan Brogan sat down with Jon Evans, the Building Design Project Manager for Triangle project, to get the basics on this innovative, climate friendly technology. Is geothermal expensive to put in? What’s the cost savings over traditional heating systems? What makes it climate friendly? Geothermal 101 is right here! Here's the CDA's Geothermal Presentation 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 the Friday News Roundup! Host Bianca Martin and newsletter editor Hayley Sperling recap what’s behind the public outcry at this Tuesday’s city staff meeting on the city’s draft West Area Plan for housing growth. Plus, we round up what’s on Wisconsin’s 2024 spring election ballot and how to vote early. Mentioned on the show: Angry residents shout down city staff at meeting on draft west-side Madison zoning plan [ISTHMUS] Opinion | City hall is taking aim at Madison homeowners’ neighborhoods [Cap Times] Letter | No neighborhood can be spared in housing effort [Cap Times] What’s on your ballot [My Vote Wisconsin] Dane County spring election candidates [Dane County] What will the “uninstructed” vote say about Wisconsin? [TONE 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? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

It’s the end of an era for Morris Ramen. After seven years, the downtown Madison restaurant best known for its heaping bowls of handmade noodles and broth has shut its doors. Bianca Martin catches up with co-owner Francesca Hong about why they closed. 🍜 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! Are you passionate about local journalism and local business in Madison? Do you have sales experience and would love to help connect the two? Become our next 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.

There’s a new peer support group for people who’ve served time in prison or jail and are now rebuilding their lives back in Madison society. It’s called Build Up and it’s run by Aaron Hicks and Frank Davis, through a partnership between The Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development and UW-Madison. Bianca Martin talks to Aaron about why life after prison can be harder than you might think — and how to break the cycle of incarceration. 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.

Parking tickets. We’ve all been there… rushing back to the meter just a few minutes too late or forgetting to move the car when the street sweepers come. And don’t get us started on Madison’s even-or-odd side snow-day shuffle. One man holds the power to take the sting out of those tickets... and he’s actually more reasonable than you might think. Madison Municipal Court Judge Dan Koval is on a mission to make Madison’s local court more accessible to the public. Bianca Martin talks to Judge Koval about what you can do about that ticket. Here’s how to start: Appeal your parking ticket online: https://parkingtickets.cityofmadison.com/ If you wanna request a court date to talk to Judge Koval, call (608) 266-4170. This episode originally aired on April 10, 2023. 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 Fire Department ambulances and community paramedics now carry a new drug to help people recover from opioid withdrawal. The drug is called buprenorphine and it helps relieve symptoms almost immediately, says Dr. Megan Gussick, the medical director for the Madison Fire Department. They’re one of a handful of departments in the state — and possibly the country — to carry this drug. And with opioid overdoses still at record levels, the idea is that people can begin treatment more easily this way than at methadone clinics, which are still sparse around the city, require transportation to get to, and can carry a stigma. It could be a game-changer for treating addiction. Molly Stentz sat down with Dr. Gussick to learn how it works. 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 recap the proposed huge new housing development for the 100 block of State Street near the Capitol, the federal money we’re hoping to get for our bus system, and places to check out the solar eclipse in April. (Yes, they will involve driving!) Mentioned on the show: 🏗️Developer shares concepts for $40 million remake of 100 block of State Street [Wisconsin State Journal] 🚍Madison's bus rapid transit project brings in more federal funding [Cap Times] 🌑April 8, 2024 Eclipse Path of Totality Map [NASA] 🕶️Eclipse-Watching Parties: 📍Indianapolis, Indiana: Butler University Holcomb Observatory 📍Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Memorial Stadium 📍Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois University Saluki Stadium 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 first time in the show’s history, Top Chef will feature an entire season based on Wisconsin food. The reality TV show brings working chefs from around the country to compete in a series of high-stakes competitions, and this season was filmed in Madison and Milwaukee. It launches next week on March 20. For Cap Times Food Editor Lindsay Christians, this is her Super Bowl. Bianca Martin talks to Lindsay about what a show like Top Chef can do for local restaurants, the Madisonians who appear on screen, and how this all came to be. 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.

Our early spring weather may be welcome news for those who hate the cold. But for our state’s freshwater walleye fish, it’s a threat. A new study out of UW-Madison shows that the earlier ice thaw on our lakes is hurting survival for walleye babies who are not adapting fast enough. Martha Barta, the lead author on the study, joins host Bianca Martin to share the results of her and her team’s research. 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.

Maybe you’ve heard of escape rooms, but have you heard of… rage rooms? Tucked away in Sauk City, about a half-hour from Madison, is the Disorderly Conduct Rage Room. It’s a space you can rent and smash things to your heart’s content. Break up with someone? Sure, you can get your feelings out with some old dishes. Bad day at work? Take it out on the stapler. Owner Amanda Chestnut saw a need to help more people process anger and other feelings in a safe and legal way. Bianca Martin sat down with her to learn how it all works. 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.

Several years and many lawsuits later, Wisconsin has new political maps in place. This November, many voters in the Madison area will see new names on our ballots. We might have new choices for state representative or state senator, because the districts we live in are different. The Madison area saw some of the biggest changes anywhere in the state. And this shake-up could tip the balance of power in Wisconsin. So what does it all mean? Why did Republican lawmakers agree to Governor Evers’ map? What changes might Gov. Evers’ map bring in November? Bianca Martin talks to the man who knows these maps very well. John Johnson is a Research Fellow in the Lubar Center for Public Policy Research and Civic Education at Marquette Law School. Here’s John’s analysis of proposed Legislative redistricting plans submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and his analysis of the partisan implications of Gov. Evers’ proposed maps. For further reading: What do Wisconsin’s new maps mean for the Legislature’s balance of power? [WPR] Here's how the new Wisconsin legislative maps will impact voters in Dane County and the Madison area [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] 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 recap the Vice President’s visit to Madison, negotiations between the Madison Metropolitan School District and Madison Teachers Inc, and the unveiling of a new mural remembering Tony Robinson. Mentioned on the show: 👷🏾 Vice President’s Visit Kamala Harris announces executive order on union apprenticeships in Wisconsin [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Harris touts apprenticeships and infrastructure in second Wisconsin visit this year [WisPolitics] ‘Born a Badger’: Secretary of Labor Julie Su’s Madison roots inspire federal worker advocacy [Badger Herald] 🚌 Madison School District proposes teacher wage freeze for 2024-25 school year [Wisconsin State Journal] 🎨 “Remembering the Life of Tony Terrell Robinson Jr.” Mural dedication Wednesday at McPike Park marks 9th anniversary of Tony Robinson’s death [Madison 365] 🎧 Why Tony Robinson's grandmother is still fighting [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? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

We’re calling it: Mermaid Kitchen is Madison’s best-kept secret for bagels. But why has it taken the city so long to get good bagels? Lisa Jacobson, owner of Mermaid Kitchen, joins host Bianca Martin to talk about this bagel resurgence, why bagels are her thing now, and what it actually takes to make a good bagel. You can order bagels via Mermaid Kitchen’s website. 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.

The Wisconsin Film Festival is April 4 through 11 at theaters across Madison. Bianca Martin catches up with Ben Reiser, Operations Director of the Wisconsin Film Festival to learn what’s changing in the wake of the AMC closing at Hilldale (RIP Sundance) and what surprises they’ve got in store. Wanna get the sneak peek of what’s at the festival? First Look at the Fest is tonight, March 6 at 7pm at Flix Brewhouse. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, March 9. 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.

UW-Madison data was a part of a massive cyberattack targeting higher education. Thousands of records, some including personal information like social security numbers and addresses, were stolen from a third party by Russian cybercriminals. The kicker? This happened in spring of 2023. But the public was never notified. Why? That’s what student journalist Liam Beran wanted to find out when he stumbled upon the news through an open records request. He joins host Bianca Martin to talk about what happened with this attack and whether changes need to be made to UW’s transparency policies. Check out Liam’s full article for The Daily Cardinal here. 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.

Leopold Elementary School in Madison. Leopold Residence Hall at UW-Madison. The Leopold Nature Center in Monona. Look around Madison and you can see any number of tributes to one of Wisconsin’s most influential residents, Aldo Leopold, author of A Sand County Almanac. Carrying that legacy forward today is The Aldo Leopold Foundation of Baraboo, started by his family in 1982. Their goal? To inspire an ethical relationship between people and nature. This week, they’re hosting a series of free online talks from influential thinkers, writers and doers in scientific and conservation circles, from novelist Diane Wilson to science journalist Ed Yong. Bianca Martin caught up with Buddy Huffaker, executive director of The Aldo Leopold Foundation, to learn what’s on tap this week. 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 Molly Stentz recap the weird-ass weather, the precarious state of affordable housing in Madison, and the deal for our new Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent. Plus, meet Phil Surkis, our new producer! Mentioned on the show: 🫠 What winter? Is Wisconsin's lost winter a harbinger of winters to come? [Wisconsin State Journal] Temperature swing in Madison sets new record [Badger Herald] 😱 Madison Housing Time may run out for tenants at two Madison apartment buildings [Cap Times] Madison affordable housing projects face possible closure [Cap Times] 2 biggest Madison homeless projects could close within months, leaving city scrambling [Wisconsin State Journal] What is Housing First? [National Alliance to End Homelessness] Heartland Alliance cuts 65 jobs, shuts affordable housing division [Chicago Sun Times] 🚌 Madison Schools See details of Madison schools superintendent Joe Gothard's contract [Wisconsin State Journal] Madison superintendent contract: $299,000, 87 sick days [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? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads.

It’s not every day that a strip club becomes a local grocery store. But that’s what happened on Madison’s east side, where the Visions Club once operated. It’s now been completely renovated and turned into Gooh Grocery, which offers a mix of food from around the world. Where else can you get fresh plantains, labneh cultured yogurt, millet, spicy peppers and halal meat all at the same place? Just for starters. Molly Stentz sat down with owners Samba Baldeh and Jerreh Kujabi to learn what’s good. 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.

Whether you’re taking full advantage of this unseasonably warm weather, finding everything green in your closet for St. Patrick’s Day, or looking for a few new ways to explore our fair city, Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling have you covered. Here’s what’s happening around Madison this month. Our picks: 🧥Wisconsin Vintage Fest 🧼The Soap Opera’s 52nd anniversary 🧋Sencha Tea’s Taylor Swift Pop-up 🎙️Several Questions with Nate Chappelle podcast taping ☘️St. Patrick’s Day Parade 🌝PINK FLOYD Dark Side of the Moon 50th Anniversary FULLDOME Program 🎧Madison’s Planetarium is a Hidden Gem podcast episode 🏆Vote for us as Madison’s Favorite Podcast 🫱🏽‍🫲🏻Do you love local businesses and local journalism? We’re hiring a sales 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.

It seems like you cannot find a single weekend in Madison without a drag brunch or bingo. Even drag meat raffles are starting to catch on! But Madison hasn’t always had this deluge of drag events. So where did this boom come from? And with all the options these days, how do you pick which event to go to? Host Bianca Martin chats with local drag queen legend, Cynthia Mooseknuckle, about how the Madison drag scene has evolved in the last decade and why these events are building support for the queer community. Find out where the Moose will be loose next! Follow Cynthia on Instagram for upcoming events. 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.

UW-Madison announced some ambitious goals for the planet: power the entire campus with renewable sources of electricity by 2030, send no new waste to the landfill by 2040, and become carbon neutral by 2048. For an institution with 420 buildings and another 9,500 acres of off-campus property, that’s no small feat. So how will they get there? Dylan Brogan talks to two people at UW-Madison who are making it happen: Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies Dean Paul Robbins and Associate Vice Chancellor for Facilities Planning & Management Cindy Torstveit. 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 recap the latest in our U.S. Senate race: incumbent Tammy Baldwin is being challenged by Eric Hovde… again! And what will become the fate of the 100 block of Mifflin Street downtown? Plus, we examine changes coming to UW admissions, after Governor Evers signs a new bill mandating direct admission for the top 10% of all Wisconsin high school students. Mentioned on the show: 🏇U.S. Senate Race Who is Eric Hovde? What to know about Republican candidate challenging Tammy Baldwin [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] Businessman Eric Hovde enters U.S. Senate race, setting up Wisconsin contest against Tammy Baldwin [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] 🏗️ Future of Mifflin Street Demolition proposed along Mifflin arcade for state historical center [WKOW] Downtown's next big change? Hovde Properties aims to raze buildings by Capitol Square [Wisconsin State Journal] Monday’s Plan Commission Meeting [City of Madison] 🦡UW Admissions Wisconsin's top high schoolers now guaranteed UW system admission [Cap Times] Direct Admissions Spreads, State by State [Inside Higher Ed] Direct Admit Wisconsin [UW] 🤝🏾We’re hiring! Could you be City Cast Madison’s Senior Sales Executive? 🏆Vote for us! Best of Madison nominations run now through February 29th. Best Local Podcast and Best News Website are under Arts and Entertainment. 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.