City Cast Madison

It’s sauna season and there’s a new spot on the shores of Lake Wingra just in time. Executive Producer Hayley Sperling has all the details on Madison Saunas including the biggie: is clothing optional? Plus, UW-Madison Theatre and Drama Chair Dr. Erica Halverson is back on the pod to talk about Whoopensocker, her program connecting kids to the theatre, even as funding for the arts in Wisconsin ranks near the bottom of the country. Then, local comedian and writer Emily Winter walks us through her guide on throwing the best holiday office party for 20-120 people. Whoopensocker has two shows this weekend at The Center for Black Excellence and Culture, at which seasoned performers will create live sketches from stories written by kids. What do you love about Madison? Help us create our 1,000 things list to celebrate 1,000 episodes of City Cast Madison! 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison 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!

Wisconsin Democrats are set to take control of the governor’s office, state Assembly and the Senate for the first time in 16 years. So just how much did the state’s newly redrawn legislative maps have to do with this great political shift? Creative Producer Rob Thomas and Executive Producer Hayley Sperling  speak with Nick Ramos, the executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, about how these new maps changed the playing field and why the fight for fair maps may be just getting started. Plus, we’re sharing our unofficial rules for living your best Madison life, from exploring neighborhoods outside your usual bubble to embracing everything winter has to offer. 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison 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 November 9th episode: Goodman Community Center Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra Sauced Market

It’s fall in Madison, but just this week, cities across the country experienced record-high heat. In Somerville, MA, the city government is realizing that rising temperatures deserve their attention and intervention year round — and they’re running a fun, generous program to help. David is joined by Elyse Belarge from the Somerville Mayor's Office of Sustainability and Environment to talk about the city’s pilot to de-pave and re-vegetate residential lots. Elyse shares the jaw-dropping impact of asphalt-free zones, as well as the joy of taking sledgehammers to driveways in your neighborhood. Mentioned on the show: Cooling East Somerville program and application for residents: https://voice.somervillema.gov/cooling-east-somerville   The Barr Foundation, which funds Somerville’s work as part of a cohort: https://www.barrfoundation.org/climate/initiative/community-heat-resilience/  Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter

UW-Madison is investigating reports of non-consensual drugging at an off-campus fraternity. Officials are asking for any additional victims to come forward. City Cast Madison Executive Producer Hayley Sperling breaks down this story with Creative Producers Rob Thomas and Jade Iseri-Ramos. Meanwhile, the UW continues its search for the next chancellor with finalist presentations next week, a coyote encounter resulted in a person being bitten, and there is good and sad news on Madison’s restaurant scene.  Plus for our Neighbors-only segment, what’s going on over at the Henry Vilas Zoo?! 🐻‍❄️ Editor's note: Since the time of this show's recording, UW-Madison has released the names of the the three finalists for chancellor. They are Rashid Bashir and John Coleman, both of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Radenka Maric from University of Connecticut. Mentioned on the show: MPD seeking victims of possible drugging at fraternity [City of Madison] Finalists for UW-Madison chancellor to visit campus next week [Wisconsin State Journal] Madison coyotes are becoming a more familiar sight. Why? [Cap Times] 'We did what we set out to do'; Delta Beer Lab closes after nearly eight years [WKOW] Madison’s is closing Nov. 15 [Madison’s] Café Carlotta plans January opening on Capitol Square [Wisconsin State Journal] Thai Nimman Opening [Hilldale]  Upcoming Downtown Restaurant Has Ho-Chunk Pride and a Star Chef [🎧 City Cast Madison] 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison 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 November 6th episode: Enjoy Illinois Goodman Community Center Midwest Vintage Flea

Food is everyday, but brunch is an event. Lucky for us, Madison is full of delicious breakfast menus and brunch cocktails to enjoy. Today, executive producer Hayley Sperling welcomes Cap Times food and culture editor Lindsay Christians to rank the best places to have the first meal of the day. 🥕 Join us every Thursday as we explore Madison's food culture, from the brewers and bakers to the chefs and cheesemakers.This episode previously aired February 19, 2026  👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison 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 November 5th episode: Enjoy Illinois Goodman Community Center Midwest Vintage Flea

Wisconsin voters have sounded off and officially elected a Democratic majority to the Legislature, including the state’s first Black governor ever in David Crowley. Meanwhile, incumbent assembly members in Madison held onto their seats, and voters rejected and approved constitutional amendments. City Cast Madison executive producer Hayley Sperling and creative producer Jade Iseri-Ramos break down the results of the Wisconsin 2026 midterms.  👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison 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 November 4th episode: Enjoy Illinois Goodman Community Center Midwest Vintage Flea

It's Election Day! Contributors Emily Winter and Scott Resnick are joining executive producer Hayley Sperling to recap the candidates and amendments on the ballot, what you need to know about voting today, and when we're expecting the results to come in. Check out our Instagram profile for explainers on the state-wide offices and constitutional amendments.  Plus, updates on September's hazing incident, and a look at the big picture of hazing at UW-Madison. And finally, where to dispose of your old pumpkins, from curbside collection to food scrap drop-off sites. Want to learn about the origins of Jack-O’-Lanterns? Here's more about that Irish myth. 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! 📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison 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 November 3rd episode: Enjoy Illinois Goodman Community Center Midwest Vintage Flea

A little over a week ago, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced that she wouldn’t be seeking a third term after all. On today’s episode, executive producer Hayley Sperling talks with the mayor about this decision, why she didn’t make an appearance at the Willy Street vigil and encampment, concerns about police accountability, and more. Plus, some of the highlights of her tenure, and what she thinks Madison needs in its next mayor.👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison 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. If you enjoyed today's interview with the CEO/President of Galena Country Tourism, Terry Mattson, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this November 2nd episode: Enjoy Illinois Goodman Community Center Midwest Vintage Flea

When you think of Waymo, you might not yet think of Madison. But you should definitely be thinking of Austin, Texas. State law governing autonomous vehicles (AVs) supersedes city authority and prevents local governments from regulating AVs, creating areas that have become increasingly attractive to AV companies. City Cast Austin host Miles Bloxson joins Your City Could Better to talk about if this loose regulation is good for Texas, particularly its dense capital city, whether local benefit is a priority for manufacturers at all, and how cities can learn from Austin if a similar influx hits their streets.  Mentioned on the show: City Cast Austin’s episode on AVs regulation: https://austin.citycast.fm/podcasts/are-texas-schools-using-ai-to-ban-books-plus-driverless-cars-in-austin-and-new-michelin-stars  Waymo blocking emergency response to Austin shooting: https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2026/03/02/waymo-vehicle-blocks-ems-austin-mass-shooting  The city of Austin’s public dashboard tracking incidents involving AVs: https://austin.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/dbd59d9b20634de1afad32a8267b739b# Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

For lots of seasonal recommendations on the best things to do, places to shop, and ways to give back, don’t miss the City Cast Madison team’s November guide. Executive producer Hayley Sperling, creative producer Jade Iseri-Ramos, and local comedian Emily Winter dig into where you can volunteer on Thanksgiving or donate your gently used clothes, Madison’s robust holiday market scene, the best bakeries in town, and so much more.🎭 This month’s guide is sponsored by Forward Theater. Their pick this month is to go see “Gaslight,” which runs until Nov. 22. Check out our Instagram for a chance to win two tickets to this Wisconsin premiere play. For even more tips on how to make the most of November in Madison, check out our newsletter.👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram!  🏠 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 October 30th episode: Madison Opera Midwest Vintage Flea Remembrance Festival Wisconsin Union Theater Forward Theater Co.