

City Cast Salt Lake
City Cast
City Cast Salt Lake is SLC’s daily news podcast. Join host Ali Vallarta and a bevy of smart and entertaining locals for conversations about the issues that matter most. City Cast Salt Lake will celebrate the city’s triumphs, explore its history, (try to) solve its mysteries, and it’ll help you feel more connected to the Wasatch Front – whether you’ve lived here for six months or six generations. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at saltlake.citycast.fm.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 29, 2025 • 37min
Weird Crimes You Can Go to Jail For in Utah
Did you know there are over 50 pages of weird crimes you can go to jail for in Utah? Democratic Rep. Grant Amjad Miller, a public defender joins host Ali Vallarta to go through the oddities of the justice system and some of the most bizarre cases he’s seen.
Resources and references:
4 Ideas To Fund Instead of More Jails Beds [City Cast Salt Lake]
For the nerds: Utah’s 2025 Uniform Fine Schedule
Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.
Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Sugar House
Downtown Alliance
PLUNJ

Sep 26, 2025 • 40min
Save Great Salt Lake by 2034? Sugar House Construction Payoff, Leaf Peeping
Gov. Spencer Cox and Utah's wealthiest people announced a 2034 goal for saving the Great Salt Lake. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means ask City Cast Salt Lake contributor Chandler Rosenberg what's next. Plus, construction ends in Sugar House and local picks for your weekend.
Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.
Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
PLUNJ
Salt Lake Sewciety
Red Butte
Stewardship Utah
Walker Center
City Cast Neighbors - Now through Oct. 3 when you sign up you get this awesome tote that says Neighbors Make Salt Lake
Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC

Sep 25, 2025 • 27min
SLC Cocktails You Gotta Try This Weekend
For a liquor-averse state, Salt Lake City's cocktail scene is pretty spectacular, and Salt Lake Magazine's Farm-to-Glass Cocktail Contest is highlighting the best of the best. Host Ali Vallarta is judging the contest and tells executive producer Emily Means about the standout sips to try this weekend and lessons learned.
It's the last weekend of the contest! Check out Ali’s neighborhood bar crawls to try as many as possible.
Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.
Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
PLUNJ
Salt Lake Sewciety
Red Butte
Stewardship Utah
Walker Center

Sep 24, 2025 • 21min
Banish AIDS Patients to Antelope Island? A Legislator Proposed It.
Did you know: In the 1980s, a Utah legislator proposed banishing the state’s AIDS patients to Antelope Island? Really. Host Ali Vallarta asks Banished! organizer Kyle Treasure about reclaiming this dark history.
Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.
Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
PLUNJ
Salt Lake Sewciety
Red Butte
Stewardship Utah
Walker Center

Sep 23, 2025 • 32min
‘Fake’ Pizza Allegation, Redistricting Rodeo, Downtown Construction Timeline
The process of drawing Utah’s new congressional maps has begun! Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means jump into the timeline. Plus, the alleged “fake” Pie pizza, a construction date for downtown SLC’s new sports and entertainment district, and a health case for tattoos.
Resources and references:
Utah’s Congressional Maps Need To Be Redrawn. Now What? [City Cast Salt Lake]
Here’s the timeline for the massive overhaul of Abravanel Hall, UMOCA and the Salt Palace [Salt Lake Tribune]
Study Finds Melanoma Less Common in Individuals with Several Tattoos [Huntsman Cancer Institute]Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.
Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.
Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
PLUNJ
Salt Lake Sewciety
Red Butte
Stewardship Utah
Walker Center
Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC
Cozy Earth - use code COZYSALTLAKE for 40% off best-selling temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more
Spencer's Steaks and Chops

Sep 22, 2025 • 26min
Have an Idea for Your Neighborhood? SLC Has $$ for That.
Got an idea for making your neighborhood better? Salt Lake City has money for that! Host Ali Vallarta asks KRCL DJ and Glendale Neighborhood Council member Ebay Hamilton for tips on pitching a project to the city.
Resources and references:
SLC Capital Improvement Program grants
SLC Arts Council Project Support Grants
Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.
Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
PLUNJ
Salt Lake Sewciety
Red Butte
Stewardship Utah
Walker Center

Sep 19, 2025 • 40min
UVU After Charlie Kirk, SLC Liquor Crackdown, Baby Flamingos
Utah Valley University reopened this week after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means ask UVU staffer and City Cast contributor Cassie Bingham about the return to campus. Plus, Salt Lake City considers middle-of-the-night prohibition and local picks for your weekend.
Resources and references:
After Kirk’s Death, Students Return to Campus and Learn ‘How To Be Adults’ [New York Times]
Salt Lake City to consider new ordinance cracking down on after-hours booze [KSL]
The Gala artists’ space
Baby flamingos at the Aviary
Star Party at Snowpine Lodge
Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.
Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
Visit Walla Walla
Salt Lake City Corp
Red Butte
ICO
Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC

Sep 18, 2025 • 20min
Utah & Robert Redford: A Love Story
Beloved Utahn and Sundance Institute founder Robert Redford died Tuesday at his home in Provo Canyon. Host Ali Vallarta and Salt Lake Tribune deputy enterprise editor Sean P. Means discuss Redford's local legacy and share their favorite stories of the last great movie star.
Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.
Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
Visit Walla Walla
Salt Lake City Corp
Red Butte
ICO

Sep 17, 2025 • 25min
Best Local Hikes for Early Fall Foliage
If it feels like fall came early this year, that’s because it did! Cooler nights are making leaves blush on the Wasatch Front, and the race is on to peep fall colors. Ashley Brown, author of Urban Trails: Salt Lake City, tells host Ali Vallarta where to catch brilliant foliage on an easy walk or more challenging hike, whether you’re bringing your dog, the kids, or just need a scenic lunch-break lap.
This episode first aired Sept. 26, 2024.
Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt Lake Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at membership.citycast.fm.
Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
MOMU
Visit Walla Walla
Salt Lake City Corp
Red Butte
ICO

Sep 16, 2025 • 42min
Cox's 'Praying It Wouldn't Be One of Us' Speech, Parking Drama, Library Cafe
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox’s speech following the assassination of Charlie Kirk has captured the nation’s attention and has us raising our eyebrows. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means give their analysis and the latest update on the case. Plus, parking drama in Big Cottonwood Canyon and joyful shoutouts.
Resources and references:
Brighton planning meeting agenda and link
Trump Has a Warning for Spencer Cox [The Atlantic]
Less Than Half the Water for a Whole Peach [City Cast Salt Lake]
Become a member of City Cast Salt Lake today! It’s the best way to support our work and help make sure we are around for years to come. Get all the details and sign up at membership.citycast.fm.
Subscribe to Hey Salt Lake, our daily morning newsletter. You can also find us on Instagram @CityCastSLC.
Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (801) 203-0137
Looking to advertise on City Cast Salt Lake? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads.
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
Visit Walla Walla
Salt Lake City Corp
Red Butte
ICO
Live Crude - Get $10 off your first CRUDE purchase with promo code CITYCASTSLC
Cozy Earth - use code COZYSALTLAKE for 40% off best-selling temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more


