City Cast Madison

Pride Month may be coming to an end, but we’re sending it out with a bang and a twirl, and plenty of glitter. That’s right, girls, we’re talking about drag! Madison has become a hotbed for popular drag performers, and their acts are about so much more than feather boas and bingo. It’s a community, and in some cases, a chosen family. To learn more about drag culture and the family dynasties that rule in Madison, we caught up with local drag icons Bianca Lynn Breeze and her drag daughter Victoria Lynn.  ‼️ Plus, it’s the LAST DAY to vote for us in Best of Madison! Cast your votes for City Cast Madison in the best podcast and local news website categories.  Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!  You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.

It’s that time of the week again — time for the Friday news roundup! This week the City Cast Madison crew is here to give you the (soggy) details on this week’s flooding, explain some highs and lows happening around education funding, and give you the scoop on the latest decisions from the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Plus, don’t get stuck in Morgan Wallen traffic this weekend.  Mentioned on the show: Get Your Home in Tip Top Shape This Spring [ 🎧City Cast Madison] Are You Prepared for Severe Weather in Madison? [🎧City Cast Madison] MMSD Budget information Message from UW leadership on budget reductions [UW-Madison] Federal Funding Cuts Could Be “Disastrous” for UW [🎧City Cast Madison] It’s Crunch Time For the Wisconsin Supreme Court [🎧City Cast Madison] Beach & Lake Water Quality [PHMDC] Street Closures and Parking Restrictions for Morgan Wallen Concerts at Camp Randall Stadium [City of Madison] 🏆The clock is ticking! Time is officially running out to vote for City Cast Madison in the 2025 Best of Madison poll. So what are you waiting for? Vote for us in the best local podcast and best local news website categories. Polls close June 30.  Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!  Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.  Learn more about the sponsors of this June 27th episode: Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. Merchant

Now that it's food truck season in Madison, keep an eye out for that big, purple truck that took the city by storm last year! This purveyor of smash burgers and churros, Cinn City Smash, is just starting its third year making the rounds at local bars and festivals. So, we're bringing back a conversation host Bianca Martin had with the truck's owners — and long-time friends — Rutger Schiesser and Maximus “Noodle” Perdomo, about how they got started, their secret to success, and why you should give their food a try. This show originally aired October 17, 2024. 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 madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram! Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.  Learn more about the sponsors of this June 26th episode: Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. Merchant

Water bottle? Check. Sunscreen? Check. Hiking shoes and thick socks?? Check and check. Summer is the best time to get outside and explore Madison’s hiking trails. From the Lakeshore Nature Preserve to the UW-Madison Arboretum, there’s no shortage of places to explore around the isthmus. To get the scoop on the best trails for every ability and occasion, we turned to local author and the new Madison Public Library naturalist-in-residence, Andrea Debbink.  Check out Andrea’s guide to Madison’s trails here and learn more about her residency events here. 🏆 It’s the last week to vote for City Cast Madison in the 2025 Best of Madison awards! So what are you waiting for? Cast your vote for us in the best podcast and local news website categories.  Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!  You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 25th episode: Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. Merchant

What do Motown, Mozart, and “Dark Side of the Moon” all have in common? The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra will be paying tribute to all of them in their annual six-week free outdoor concert series. Concerts on the Square is a Madison summer favorite that will attract thousands to the capitol each Wednesday through the end of July. Will you be one of them? To learn more, executive producer Hayley Sperling chats with WCO Music Director Andrew Sewell about what is in store this year, and what you should know before you go. 🏅Help us win Best of Madison! Vote for City Cast Madison in Madison Magazine’s annual competition here. We’re in the running for best local podcast and news website. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!  You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.  Learn more about the sponsors of this June 24th episode: Merchant Wisco Home Goods

As it stands, abortion access in Wisconsin is extremely limited. Of the 72 counties in the state, only three have abortion providers. That limited access hinges on the next few weeks. Any day now, the Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to rule on the validity of an 1849 law which some interpret as an abortion ban. Meanwhile, national lawmakers are working on a budget reconciliation bill – One Big Beautiful Bill Act – which in part includes defunding Planned Parenthood.  To understand what is at stake, host Bianca Martin spoke with Planned Parenthood Wisconsin’s CEO Tanya Atkinson and manager of Planned Parenthood - Madison South Health Center Tenisha Garner.  Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!  You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 23rd episode: Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. Merchant Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

City Cast hosts are on the pulse of what's happening in our communities. So Bianca Martin and all 12 other hosts sat down with City Cast CEO David Plotz to talk about creative local problem solving that might work in your hometown too and to commiserate about stressors affecting most of our cities, from unaffordable housing to bike lanes. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 20th episode: Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. Wisco Home Goods Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Merchant by Rule No. One Hospitality Group

An estimated 15,000 people flooded the streets of Madison in the “No Kings” protest last  weekend, pushing back against the Trump administration. But as tensions between law enforcement and demonstrators continue to escalate across the country, it’s more important than ever to know your rights — and how to stay safe while making your voice heard. City Cast Madison executive producer Hayley Sperling talked with Ryan Cox, Legal Director for the ACLU of Wisconsin, about the DOs and DON’Ts of protesting. From knowing what to bring to understanding your legal protections, we’ve got you covered. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!  You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 18th episode: Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. Wisco Home Goods Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

Have you ever looked at the tag on your shirt and stopped to wonder who grew your clothes? In a world where roughly 30% of the microplastics in our oceans come from synthetic clothing material, it’s more critical than ever to build a connection to the fibers we wear every day. As the founder of the Midwest Linen Revival, Leslie Schroeder is leading a movement in Madison to make the fashion industry more sustainable. The Midwest Linen Revival is hosting a three-day event series called “Field To Frock” to build awareness for a local, sustainable fashion ecosystem.  🏅Help us win Best of Madison! Vote for City Cast Madison in Madison Magazine’s annual competition here. We’re in the running for best local podcast and news website. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!  You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 17th episode: Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. Wisco Home Goods Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

Wisconsin is failing to protect Black women and girls from violence and murder, according to state Rep. Shelia Stubbs. And she has the numbers to back that claim up. In 2020, Black women in Wisconsin were 20 times more likely to be murdered than white women, according to a study from Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. So what’s going wrong and how do we fix it? We spoke with Stubbs, who is pushing for legislation on the issue, to get to the root of the matter.  Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!  You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter.  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 16th episode: Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C. Wisco Home Goods Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST