City Cast Madison

The moment Madison has been waiting for is finally here. Hạ Long Bay is back open on Willy Street! Officially, it’s a soft opening, which means the restaurant is open for limited dine-in and takeout service and offering a preview of its new bar menu. The iconic east side restaurant is now under the ownership of Jacqueline and Stephanie Le, nieces of founder Jean Tran. Over the past year, the duo has been busy updating the restaurant while keeping the family’s traditions and recipes alive. In honor of their soft opening, we’re revisiting our conversation with the new owners about what folks can expect from this new evolution of Hạ Long Bay. This show originally aired April 4, 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 May 15th episode: Northwestern Mutual Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Greyley Wellness

Picture this. You’re standing at a 1950s garden party and everyone around you is dressed perfectly on theme — polo shirts, khaki pants, and pearls galore. Then you turn your head and are transported to the ultimate Northwoods cabin, decked out with taxidermied animals, flannels, and vintage fireplaces. Confused? Welcome to The Bounty. The South Park Street shop and makerspace creates "environmental narratives” that tell stories. But what’s the story behind The Bounty itself? We sat down with owner J Henley to find out.  🐟 Want to attend The Bounty’s annual fish boil and rain gutter regatta? Get the details here.  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 May 14th episode: Northwestern Mutual Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Greyley Wellness

Dust off that bunad and get ready to eat some lefse because Stoughton's annual Syttende Mai celebration is right around the corner! Festivals may be a dime a dozen in the summer, but this is the only one that will transport you to Norway without having to get on a plane. To get the scoop on what to expect from this year’s fest, we caught up with Sarah Ebert, president of Stoughton Chamber of Commerce. 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 May 13th episode: Northwestern Mutual Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Greyley Wellness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and  more than ever, people are looking to take control of their mental well-being and find support through therapy and wellness. But sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Thankfully you don’t have to go it alone. Today, we talk with Myra Renne, founder and executive director of Anesis Therapy, about mental health resources in Madison and steps you can take right now to give yourself a little more love.  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 May 12th episode: Northwestern Mutual Greater Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Prolonlife.com/city - Use this link for 15% off Greyley Wellness

Happy Friday, Madison! We’ve made it through another busy week and the City Cast Madison team is here to dig into the top stories. Host Bianca Martin talks about the impending layoffs at Wisconsin Public Radio amid federal budget cuts. Executive producer Hayley Sperling asks why people keep driving into buildings on Willy Street and beyond (!!!). And Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas has a mixed bag of restaurant news. Plus, it’s falcon time! Mentioned on the show: WORT-FM could see programming, staff changes without funding from Corporation for Public Broadcasting [News 3] Miko Poke on Monroe Street to become Baja-inspired HWY 1 [Cap Times] Touch of Ukraine closing, new restaurant set to open in its place [Wisconsin State Journal] Meet Madison’s Favorite Falcons [Madison Minutes] 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.  🏠 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 May 9th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Northwestern Mutual Greater Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau

Level 5 Donuts has taken the isthmus by storm. After getting started selling their vegan sweets at festivals and coffee shops around town, Level 5 is now leveling up its business with a brick-and-mortar store. We sat down with Caitlin Rockey, the co-owner and head baker at Level 5 to learn more about how their Atwood store came to be and what it’s like to lead a donut cult. 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 May 8th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Northwestern Mutual Greater Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau EatStreet - Get 10% off with code MOM2025 this Mother's Day weekend.

Ready for a getaway? In this special bonus episode, sponsored by the Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau, City Cast Madison’s Hayley Sperling talks with Krystal Westfahl, CEO and president of the Greater Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau. From water sports and cold plunges to stargazing and silent sports, Krystal shares all the reasons Minocqua is the perfect place to recharge. Plus, a look at the area's rich Native American heritage and the warm, welcoming community that makes it feel like home. Want to plan a trip to Minocqua? Check out ⁠THIS LINK⁠ to learn more

The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness announced last month they’re continuing the work of the Madison Forward Fund — Wisconsin’s first guaranteed income program.The program gave $500 to a small group of Madison parents each month for a year for them to spend however they pleased. We chat with Dr. Michelle Robinson, chief programs and partnerships officer for the foundation, about the impact of guaranteed income and the current state of Forward Fund 2.0. 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.  🏠 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 May 7th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Northwestern Mutual Greater Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau

In April, voters in District 15 voted to reelect Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford. The only catch? She had suspended her campaign. Ultimately Martinez-Rutherford decided to accept the win, and was recently sworn into her second term. After accepting the will of the people, she mentioned the struggle to find affordable housing in the district she represents as a reason she halted her campaign. We sat down with Alder Martinez-Rutherford to talk about her decision and how we can all better support each other.    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.  🏠 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 May 6th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Northwestern Mutual Greater Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau Cozy Earth - Use code COZYMADISON for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more.

It’s rare for lawmakers in our statehouse to agree on just about anything these days. But recently, a group of Democrats and Republicans have come together to support a historically hot-button issue — nuclear energy. Momentum is building for Wisconsin to start investing more heavily in nuclear power. So what’s next? We spoke with Cap Times state government reporter Andrew Bahl to find out. 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.  🏠 Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.  If you enjoyed today's interview with Northwestern Mutual's Managing Partner, Sandy Botcher, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 5th episode: Aura Frames - Get $35-off plus free shipping on the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Northwestern Mutual Greater Minocqua Area Visitors Bureau