City Cast Madison

The election is over but we’re not done talking about it. In this Friday news roundup, the City Cast Madison team is once again rounding up the results of the spring election and its implications. We’re also celebrating Madison’s celebration of transgender visibility, and talking about Madison Public Market delays (yes, again). Plus, Madison is getting a bathhouse?! Let’s take the plunge. Mentioned on the show: Once common, now unusual: Conservative candidate publicly quashes shouts that the other side cheated [WSJ] Here’s what Susan Crawford’s state Supreme Court win means for Wisconsin [Wisconsin Watch] She dropped out of a Madison City Council race. Voters elected her anyway. [Cap Times] Provisional voting information [City of Madison] 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 and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this April 4th episode: UW-Madison Science Expeditions FOCUS Property Management: (920)-413-1471 (Available 24/7) EatStreet - Save 15% on your next order with code CITYCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know Madison has a secret when it comes to finding the best bagels? Mermaid Bagels has built up a loyal fanbase through the isthmus despite not having a physical storefront. Lisa Jacobson, owner of Mermaid Kitchen, joins host Bianca Martin to talk about how bagels became her thing and what it actually takes to make a good bagel. You can order bagels via Mermaid Kitchen’s website. This episode originally aired March 7, 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this April 3rd episode: UW-Madison Science Expeditions FOCUS Property Management: (920)-413-1471 (Available 24/7) EatStreet - Save 15% on your next order with code CITYCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The spring election is officially over. The results are in and the whole City Cast Madison team is here to round them up for you. Host Bianca Martin, executive producer Hayley Sperling, and newsletter editor Rob Thomas dig into the key takeaways from the April election. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this April 1st episode: UW-Madison Science Expeditions FOCUS Property Management: (920)-413-1471 (Available 24/7) EatStreet - Save 15% on your next order with code CITYCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy April, Madison! We’re not fooling you when we say there’s plenty going on this month in our city. We’re kicking off the month with an election, but that’s not all we’re excited about in April. The City Cast Madison team has handpicked some of the best things to do, see, and eat in Madison this month. From Earth Day celebrations to local theater recommendations, we’ve got you covered. Mentioned on the show Why Susan Crawford Wants To Be Wisconsin’s Next Supreme Court Justice [🎧City Cast Madison] Record Store Day 2025 Madison Print & Resist Zinefest 2025 STOP MAKING SENSE: A Film by Jonathan Demme and Talking Heads Why Madison Loves the Wisconsin Film Festival [🎧City Cast Madison] The Best Strip Mall Restaurants in Madison [🎧City Cast Madison] Korill Hut Cafe Domestique to open third location in former The Heights Kitchen space [Madison Magazine] 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this April 1st episode: UW-Madison Science Expeditions FOCUS Property Management: (920)-413-1471 (Available 24/7) EatStreet - Save 15% on your next order with code CITYCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday, April 1, Wisconsinites will vote in the most expensive state Supreme Court race in U.S. history. The election between Dane County Judge Susan Crawford and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel has drawn mega donors from across the country who have flooded the campaigns with cash. Will this record level spending make a difference? And how will it affect future elections? We sat down with Wisconsin Democracy Campaign’s Executive Director Nick Ramos to get some insight. *This interview was recorded on March 19th, 2025. Spending totals have increased in the last few days. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 31st episode: UW-Madison Science Expeditions FOCUS Property Management: (920)-413-1471 (Available 24/7) EatStreet - Save 15% on your next order with code CITYCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring election season is almost over. We’re just days away from voting on a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, a constitutional amendment, every Madison City Council seat, and more. But there’s more to the news than just the election. On this week’s Friday news roundup, Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas tells us who’s hot and who’s not in Badger athletics. Host Bianca Martin digs into the city’s State Street pedestrian mall experiment (will it continue?!). And of course, executive producer Hayley Sperling gives one more election news roundup and reminds you to vote. Mentioned on the show: Pingeton selected to lead Badger women's basketball program [UW Athletics] Everything You Need To Know About the Statewide 2025 Spring Election Races [🎧 City Cast Madison] Why Susan Crawford Wants To Be Wisconsin’s Next Supreme Court Justice [🎧 City Cast Madison] Meet The Candidates in Madison’s Only Contested School Board Race [🎧 City Cast Madison] Who's Running for Madison City Council [🎧 City Cast Madison] 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 and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 28th episode: UW-Madison Science Expeditions Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winter is over! Madisonians are coming out of hibernation and hungry for adventure.Sometimes those adventures carry late into the night. But after the sun sets and hunger kicks in, where can an adventurer get a bite to eat? In this episode, host Bianca Martin is joined by our Executive Producer, Hayley Sperling, and Emma Waldinger of Madison Magazine to go over our favorite late-night dining. From fanciful full meals to quick midnight bites, we’ve got you covered. Mentioned on the show: Second dinner: Our guide to late-night dining [Madison Magazine] 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 and newsletter ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Americans had never heard of the United States Agency for International Development, or USAID, until the Trump administration gutted its funding. While some of those cuts are being battled out in court, the real-life implications of the administration’s actions are already being felt around the world and right here in Madison. To get a better understanding of the impact of these cuts,, we sat down with Dr. Jatinder Cheema, a Madisonian who worked at USAID for nearly three decades. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 26th episode: Special Olympics Wisconsin UW-Madison Science Expeditions Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Wisconsin Film Festival brings eight days of cinematic wonders to screens across Madison starting next week. Tickets for the 100+ movies are on sale now. But with a lineup that spans genres, languages, and decades, it can be hard to know where to start. To get the scoop on what to watch at this year’s fest, we caught up with the fest’s Operations Director Ben Reiser. Plus, we hear festival diehard fans talk about their favorite memories and what makes the fest so special. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 25th episode: Special Olympics Wisconsin UW-Madison Science Expeditions Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been dubbed the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history and it’s happening right here in Wisconsin. Of course, we’re talking about the race for state Supreme Court Justice. Today, host Bianca Martin sits down with one of the candidates in the race, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford. The two get into the politics of this (allegedly) non-partisan race, why she thinks she’s the best fit for the job, and the money pouring in from billionaire donors on both sides of the political aisle. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 24th episode: Special Olympics Wisconsin UW-Madison Science Expeditions Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Friday! The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week and by news, of course we’re talking about elections. Host Bianca Martin has the latest on the Wisconsin Supreme Court race (Spoiler: it’s an expensive one!). And executive producer Hayley Sperling digs into some of the responses we got from our City Council candidate questionnaire. Plus, Madison Minutes newsletter editor Rob Thomas gives the details on a new vision for the Regent Street area. Mentioned on the show: Official In-Person Absentee Voting Hours and Locations [City of Madison] The Mayor's (Ambitious) Plan For Addressing Madison's Housing Crisis [ 🎧City Cast Madison] Meet The Candidates in Madison’s Only Contested School Board Race [ 🎧City Cast Madison] New Vision Could Transform Regent Street [Channel 3000] Spring 2025 Isthmus voter guide Cap Times City Council coverage 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 and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 21st episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Special Olympics Wisconsin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Few frills, no gimmicks, just good food. That’s what you’ll find at Madison’s many strip mall eateries. But which ones are the best? Truthfully, it depends on who you ask. These spots are special and deeply personal. To get the scoop on Madison’s best strip mall restaurants, we turned to the lovely readers of our Madison Minutes newsletter to get their takes. To dig deeper into these recommendations, we spoke with none other than Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians, who also just published an article on the subject. 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 and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 20th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madison is said to have more bikes than cars. And with 200 miles of bike trails in the area, there’s a lot for cyclists to explore. So as spring gets in gear, we turned to biking aficionado Grant Foster for his favorite Dane County trips. He’s got ideas for everyone from newbies to those ready to make a weekend out of it. Plus, he shares some tips for basic bike maintenance. Grant’s recommendations If you’ve got 30 minutes or less: Downtown Loop along State Street and Capitol (2 miles) Lake Mendota shorefront to Picnic Point (3 miles) Wingra Lake Loop through the UW Arboretum (6 miles) Lower Yahara River Trail (6 miles) If you’ve got an hour or two: Lake Monona Loop (12 miles) Cap City Loop: Lake Farm Park to Seminole Hwy, through the Arboretum and back to Lake Farm via Wingra and Cap City paths (16 miles) Day Trippin’ Badger State trail south to Paoli and back (17 miles round-trip) Bike Camping Military Ridge trail west to Blue Mounds State Park and back (46 miles round-trip) From Lake Farm Park south to Lake Kegonsa State Park and back (20 miles round-trip) From Lake Farm Park east to Sandhill Station State Campground and back (60 miles round-trip) This show originally aired July 25, 2023. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 19th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone knows the satirical news outlet The Onion. But did you know that The Onion’s roots are in Madison? The online behemoth was started in 1988 by a group of UW-Madison students and their friends simply as a way to earn some extra cash. But little did they know it would grow to be something so much bigger than they could have ever imagined. To get the details on the origins of The Onion and why it still strikes a nerve with folks, we sat down with Christine Wenc, author of “Funny Because It's True: How The Onion Created Modern American News Satire” and one of the original Onion staffers. Catch Christine in conversation with Steve Paulson, executive producer of To the Best of Our Knowledge, March 18 at the Art Lit Lab. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 18th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In-person absentee voting starts tomorrow and we are officially in full election mode. We’ve covered the statewide races and talked City Council, so today we’re digging into the only contested school board race on the ballot, between Bret Wagner and Martha Siravo. Host Bianca Martin chats with both candidates to get their thoughts on the issues facing Madison’s schools. Learn more about Bret’s campaign here, and Martha’s campaign 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 17th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a rough week for the City Clerk’s office. With investigations underway and its leader put on leave, City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin outlines the events that got us here. Speaking of investigations, executive producer Hayley Sperling gives the latest on a federal inquiry into alleged antisemitism at UW-Madison and other universities across the country. But it’s not all bad news this week — our snowplows have names! Plus, newsletter editor Rob Thomas has the details on all the St. Paddy’s Day fun happening this weekend in Madison. Sláinte! Mentioned on the show: Witzel-Behl placed on leave three weeks before spring election [Isthmus] UW-Madison update on Title VI complaint [UW-Madison] Federal Funding Cuts Could Be “Disastrous” for UW [ 🎧 City Cast Madison] Announcing the 2025 Plow Names! [City of Madison] 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 and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 14th episode: Doyenne Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brandy Old Fashioned? Check. Friday fish fry? Of course. Enduring nostalgia? Yes, please. These are just a few of the things that make Wisconsin supper clubs special. But supper clubs are so much more than strong drinks and indulgent food. They represent part of Wisconsin’s identity. To get the dish on what elevates a spot from simply being a restaurant to being a full supper club, we caught up with Madison Magazine Editor-in-Chief, Andrea Behling, who recently published the definitive Wisconsin supper club criteria list. 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 and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 13th episode: Doyenne Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The bagpipes will be back on the Capitol Square this weekend for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. With the official holiday mere days away, how are you celebrating? If you’re Fitchburg alder Gabriella Gerhardt, you’re adding to your world-record-setting four-leaf clover collection. Four-leaf clovers, technically a genetic mutation of the common three-leaf variety, are considered lucky due to their rarity. Gerhardt already holds the Guinness Book of World Record honors for “Most four-leaf clovers collected in one hour” and “Most four-leaf clovers collected in eight hours.” She’s got a whole room in her house devoted to them. We’re revisiting our conversation with her today to get her secrets on finding these treasures. This show originally aired March 14, 2023. 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 12th episode: Doyenne Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Election Day is April 1. In case you missed it, every single Madison City Council seat is up for grabs. But what does the City Council do anyways? And how can you stay engaged with the people making the decisions that impact your daily life? We caught up with outgoing District 2 Ald. Juliana Bennett to get the scoop. Want to know about the statewide elections on your ballot? Check out our conversation with Cap Times reporter Andrew Bahl. Find your alder here. And don’t forget to vote! You can find your polling place and more 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 11th episode: Doyenne Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In case you somehow missed it, the spring election is right around the corner! Early voting starts March 18. There’s plenty to be excited about, from the hotly contested state Supreme Court race to the proposed constitutional amendment on voter ID. To get a better understanding of the statewide choices all Wisconsinites will see on their ballots, we spoke with Cap Times state government reporter Andrew Bahl. Mentioned on the show Cap Times election coverage MyVote Wisconsin 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. Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this March 10th episode: Doyenne Group Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices