City Cast Madison

The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. Podcast host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling break down the complicated legal case brought against Trump allies’ fake elector scheme. Plus: why will it cost more to use Madison’s parking garages during special events, and a father in Baraboo charged with disorderly conduct after he charged the school’s Black superintendent. Mentioned on the show: Vote for us for ‘Best of’ Madison! [Madison Magazine] Key Trump allies charged in Wisconsin over fake elector scheme [The Cap Times] Trump and 18 allies charged in Georgia election meddling as former president faces 4th criminal case [A.P.] Wisconsin fake elector settlement offers new details on the strategy by Trump lawyers [A.P.] Madison to nearly double special event parking in big-venue garages [The Cap Times] Superintendent Files Restraining Order Against Dad Who Stormed Stage at Graduation [Time Magazine] Southside Elementary staff say principals have created a toxic school [The Cap Times] Southside Elementary families demand principals be fired in complaint [The Cap Times] 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a cookbook out that showcases the ingredients and flavors of Madison. And we’re gonna stop ya right there, it is WAY more than brats and cheese curds. It features recipes from the farmers, chefs and shoppers who frequent the Dane County Farmers’ Market, one of the oldest and largest in the country. With recipes for curtido to panzanella to ratatouille, and gorgeous photos of the food and the people behind them, it’s a celebration of all who call Madison home. We speak to author Terese Allen about what’s inside The Dane County Farmers’ Market Cookbook: Local Foods, Global Flavors. Terese Allen has several upcoming events including one on Sunday, June 9 at 2:00 p.m. at the Warner Park Community Center called “Madison’s Iconic Food Cultures.” And in nearby Baraboo, Allen will be doing a book signing and recipe samples on June 30 at 10 a.m at Bekah Kate’s shop during Baraboo’s monthly Sunday Market. This episode originally aired on June 29, 2023. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madison is getting a new music venue, but unlike other spaces in the city — the priority isn’t the audience but instead the musicians. Muso is the brainchild of Hoot’n Annie String Band members Prentice Berge and Cindy Murphy, who wanted to create a space for musicians to rehearse and just enjoy playing in Madison. Host Bianca Martin got a sneak peek of the space, and got into the rhythm and reason behind this new acoustic only spot. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have a special place where you like to take out-of-towners? How do you show them how utterly cool, unique and amazing our big little city is? A stroll at Picnic Point? A bloody mary at Mickey’s? We asked the readers of Madison Minutes for their favorite Madtown things to do, places to go, food to eat, and more. The response has been fantastic! This special episode finds the City Cast Madison team, including host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling, chatting with City Cast Madison producer (and new resident), Phil Surkis, about his past few weekends, which were curated by your suggestions. Not only that, but he has the nerve to rate his experiences! Mentioned in this episode: Picnic Point Monona Bakery & Eatery Vaquero Mexican Grill Mishqui Cocina Peruana Lake Monona Bike Loop 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madison is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s best cities for biking, and this week we’re celebrating our cycling community. Madison Bike Week kicked off June 1 and is jam packed with family festivities, fun rides, and the best beverages and bites. Host Bianca Martin spoke with Eleanor Conrad and Harald Kliems, the president and former president of Madison Bikes, about the more than 70 events happening this week and how Madison became such a hot spot for cycling. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Could there be a more perfect month than June? Perhaps. But frankly, June in Madison is an amazing concoction of festivals, gorgeous weather, Pride, and in general, just letting your freak flag fly, as they say! For even more tips on how to make the most of June in Madison, check out our full list in Madison Minutes. City Cast Madison’s Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling roundup some of their favorite June highlights. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve entered summer food festival season! From brats to strawberries to gluten-free fare — we’ve got it all. Host Bianca Martin sits down with Cap Times food editor Lindsay Christians who’s been covering the upcoming Madison-area food festivals. Plus, we get a preview of new and soon-to-come local restaurants. 10 local food festivals celebrate spirits, pasta, mustard, and more [Cap Times] Open now or soon: 18 new restaurants (and more) around Madison [Cap Times] 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Understanding Madison’s city budget can feel like a real head scratcher. How can the city have a surplus this year, but be talking about a deficit for next year? If the city has had a budget deficit for the past 14 years, why is this the year the Common Council is considering a referendum to increase property taxes? And most of all, how can a city that is undergoing such an economic boom be struggling to balance the books? Host Bianca Martin took all those questions and more to the man behind the city’s money, Madison’s Finance Director Dave Schmiedicke. You can listen to City Cast Madison’s conversation from last week with Madison Common Council President Yannette Figueroa Cole about the budget. Make your voice heard at one of the City Budget Engagement Events. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Madison Children's Museum 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though the Biden Administration ended the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration last May, many Madisonians still don’t feel safe at public gatherings. Whether it’s due to concerns around long COVID or complications from existing health conditions, many of Madison's events and spaces aren’t accessible to them. Host Bianca Martin spoke with Tara Verma, the founder of an organization trying to change that. Clean Air 608 lends out HEPA air purifiers and CO2 monitors to Madison event organizers free of charge in hopes of creating safer events and keeping Madison COVID-conscious. You can find Clean Air 608’s Instagram 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! 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling recap the impacts of Tuesday’s intense storm and the city’s cleanup efforts. The Madison Common Council moved to save three buildings on the 400 block of State Street from demolition. Plus, a St. Paul to Chicago passenger rail, Wisconsin’s second, is in service! Mentioned on the show: Over 5,000 remain without power in Madison's largest outage in decades [Wisconsin State Journal] Madison schools closed Wednesday after powerful storms knock out power, close roads in region [Wisconsin State Journal] The City’s Description of the Damage Done By The Storm [Instagram] Madison City Council spares 3 State Street buildings from hail mary demolition try [Wisconsin State Journal] What’s Worth Saving in Madison? [City Cast Madison] New Amtrak Borealis train launches Tuesday- with 8 stops in Wisconsin [WMTV] 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring in Madison is a great time to find delicious food right in your backyard. And foraging for delectable local morsels means hunting much more than mushrooms. There’s ramps, watercress, dozens of edible weeds… all around you. But how do you know where to look? And what’s edible… and tasty? Dylan Brogan sits down with Andy Gricevich, owner of What Got Gathered, for some local foraging pro tips. You can find Andy at the Westside Community Market, Monona Farmers Market and the Madison Eastside Farmers Market. Check out his website for details on the wild food walks. This episode originally aired May 4, 2023. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025 might be a rough year for Madison. The city says it is facing a projected $27 million budget shortfall and has to make hard decisions. Between a referendum to raise property taxes and cutting city services, the potential solutions elicit strong opinions, and the city’s been trying to hear them all. Host Bianca Martin spoke with the President of the Common Council, Yannette Figueroa Cole, about what Madisonians say are the most critical services for them and how the council is approaching this moment. You can find more information about future budget events on the council’s website. We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast Madison swag. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re in the peak period for spring bird migration. And Madison is a prime spot to experience the majesty of homecoming of our winged friends. Host Bianca Martin asks local bird nerd and co-founder of the BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin Dexter Patterson aka “The Wisco Birder” about the season so far, birding tips for our local patch, and what to expect from his new podcast The Bird Joy Podcast. :bird: BIPOC Birding Club of Wisconsin Event at Badger Ammunition Plant City Cast Annual Audience Survey 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Just over two weeks ago, Mt. Horeb experienced an unsettling tragedy. On May 1, an eighth grader with a pellet gun attempted to break into Mt. Horeb Middle School, and he was then shot and killed by police. Host Bianca Martin sat down with the reporter who broke the story, executive editor of Madison 365 Rob Chappell, to ask about how the community is faring in the wake of the shooting and what lessons community members are taking from the tragedy. Mentioned in the episode: Law enforcement, mental health experts say Mount Horeb school shooting was difficult situation with few easy answers (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The City Cast team is here to round up the news of the week. Bianca Martin and Hayley Sperling recap the Wisconsin Supreme court case about the ballot box ban, the groundbreaking of a forever chemical treatment facility, and how to prepare for the wildfire smoke coming down from Canada. Plus, we introduce Madison’s very own Lil’ Sebastian. Mentioned on the show: Wisconsin supreme court appears poised to overturn ballot drop box ban [The Guardian] City of Madison Breaks Ground on PFAS Treatment Facility at Municipal Well 15 [City of Madison] PFAS, Explained. [City Cast Madison] PFAS battle between Tony Evers, Wisconsin Senate leads to lawsuit [The Cap Times] Well 15 - PFAS Treatment Project [City of Madison] Much of Wisconsin under alert as Canadian wildfire smoke chokes upper Midwest again [Wisconsin State Journal] The Night Mares new mascot [Twitter/X] 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s officially festival season in Madison! But, out of all the festivals happening this year, only one will transport you to Norway in 30 minutes. It’s the annual Syttende Mai Festival, which has celebrated Norwegian Heritage in Stoughton for over 70 years! So, come for the cream puffs and Lefse, but stay for the Viking Games Strongman Competition. City Cast Madison's Hayley Sperling caught up with Callie LaPoint, Syttende Mai Festival event manager, to get the lowdown on the best Norwegian treats to pick up and how the King and Queen of the festival secure their crowns. The Syttende Mai Festival is May 17 through 19. Their website has more information on all their events and a handy page showing where to get what food. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Illinois, Michigan, and recently Minnesota have all legalized recreational cannabis. Efforts to do so in Wisconsin have gone nowhere in the state Legislature. Even so, Madison is seeing an increasing number of stores selling CBD, Delta-8 THC, and other legal cannabinoids — some of which produce the same euphoric high as the recreational weed that’s illegal in our state. We spoke with Alan Robinson, cannabis activist and co-founder of Herbal Aspects, to help us understand this confusing state of affairs. Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abortion has proven to be a leading issue in the 2024 elections. It’s easy to find people fiercely debating the need for anti-abortion or abortion-rights outcomes for their communities. But does Wisconsin have any bipartisan solutions on abortion? A national nonpartisan initiative called Citizen Solutions organized an experiment with 14 Wisconsinites – six from Madison — who hold widely different viewpoints on abortion to discuss and develop state policy solutions that they could all back. Ali Muldrow is the executive director of Women’s Medical Fund Wisconsin and Bria Halama is a mental health counselor. Host Bianca Martin sat down with the two — who hold opposing views — to learn about their experience and to get their recommendations for the state. Do you want to weigh in on the five co created policy solutions? Citizen Solutions is seeking comments through May 31 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! 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know the Madison Children Museum is often cited as one of the best of its kind in the country? For over 10 years, the museum’s director Deb Gilpin has helped inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity for children and adults alike. Host Bianca Martin sat down with Gilpin to reflect on her more than decade of service and what’s next for this cherished institution. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hey there! We are excited to share the trailer for a new special limited series from our friends and colleagues at City Cast Denver. If you’re a fan of what we do at City Cast, you’ll want to check it out: You’ve probably heard a story about Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. Like, how she got kicked out of a production of “Beetlejuice” for vaping and groping her date. Or, that time she heckled President Biden during his State of the Union address. Throughout it all, she keeps winning elections and amassing followers, so it’s hard not to watch her meteoric rise and wonder: What does it mean for the future of American Politics? Host Bree Davies and Executive Producer Paul Karolyi have been covering Boebert’s wildest moments on City Cast Denver for years. And with only a month until her make-or-break primary on June 25, they’re talking to former friends and rivals, supporters and detractors, real people throughout Colorado who have been affected by her work in Congress, and hopefully Lauren herself. It’s a new limited series from City Cast, because no matter how you feel about her, you have to admit, it feels like Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose. Subscribe to Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose wherever you get your podcasts. Our first episode drops on May 15. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices