Not wanting to miss any Awards Season fun, the City Cast Austin team is out with our very first “Best Of” episode — but you won’t find these categories anywhere else. Tune in to hear host Nikki DaVaughn, producer Elissa Castles and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec debate on Austin’s best places to find hotties, scream or cry in public after a breakup, and — this is a tough one — our best outdoor space. And, spoiler alert: We need your help with that last one. Weigh in once you finish listening! 

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As the climate has changed, Austin’s allergy seasons have morphed into more of a year-round suffer fest, do-si-do-ing smoothly from cedar or juniper, to grass, then ragweed, and oak. And right now, we’re in the thick of cedar season, which is absolutely loving this weather. Host Nikki DaVaughn, a victim of allergies herself, is joined today by Dr. Neha Reshamwala, doctor and founder of Frontier Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, to talk about why cedar is thriving this year, if it’s actually getting worse from year to year, and how to treat cedar fever. 

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Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis is changing the department’s policy after a 5-year-old girl and her Honduran mother ended up in federal custody and then deported upon calling 9-1-1 for help. The incident has thrown into question exactly how local police interact with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which local city council members are insistent on keeping at a minimum. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Emiliano Tahui Gómez, Latino Communities reporter for the Austin American-Statesman, to get into the details of the recent case, the new policy, and what might come next. 

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After Renee Macklin Good was shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minnesota last week, protests erupted across the nation, including right here in Austin. Local protesters have flooded not only the Texas Capitol and Austin City Hall but also out in the suburbs, in Cedar Park, Round Rock, and Pflugerville. On this week's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Leslie Rangel, deputy managing editor at The Barbed Wire, to break down the ongoing demonstrations and what they signal about the growing resistance to federal immigration enforcement. Later, they dig into the sad passing of the Hole in the Wall founder, new ordering rules at Alamo Drafthouse, and why a group of incarcerated women were determined to raise money for a stray cat. 

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Kendra Scott rose to fame right here in Austin, building what is now a billion-dollar jewelry company. But there's more to her story than business success. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Texas Monthly contributor Dina Gachman, who recently wrote about Scott, to talk about her power and influence in Austin, why the city was fertile ground for growing her brand, and why giving back has always been a core part of the Kendra Scott business.

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Is your New Year's resolution to make new friends? Don’t worry Austinites, City Cast Austin has got you covered. Host Nikki DaVaughn gets the lowdown on how to make friends as an adult with Erinn Knight, co-founder of Where Y’all At Though; and Elle Beecher, who founded The Board Walks. With the loneliness epidemic still popping up in the news, it is more important than ever to build connection and community. So don’t miss their tips on avoiding “energetic B.O.,” and rebuilding the social skills the pandemic atrophied.

This episode originally aired August 20, 2025.

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At the end of every year, major dictionaries crown an official “Word of the Year.” This year’s picks included “slop,” “rage-bait,” and “parasocial.” So naturally, the team started wondering, what would Austin’s word be? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producers Elissa Castles and Eva Ruth Moravec to peer into their crystal balls and decide which word will best define Austin in the year ahead. Do you have thoughts on what the word should be? Let us know, text us or leave a voicemail. 

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About 10 people and 200 homes were lost in the July flooding on Sandy Creek, many of which were in Travis County. After millions of dollars spent and earmarked for recovery efforts, and nearly six months have gone by, how are the flood survivors faring? KXAN’s Grace Reader joins host Nikki DaVaughn to talk about her recent reporting on Travis County’s 9-1-1 call logs from the July 5 emergency, and what the calls revealed about how calls for help were answered and addressed. Plus, they discuss what’s different about flood victims in Travis County compared to Kerr County, where more than 100 people were killed and one Camp Mystic camper remains missing. And, catch up on KXAN’s investigation into warning systems along the Guadalupe River here. 

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NAMI Central Texas

Visit Brenham Texas

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Austin city staff has settled on a recommendation for redesigning Sixth Street, and there’s one thing missing in this bicycle-friendly town: Bike lanes. In today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and contributor Eric Webb to talk about the new plan. And, in a new lawsuit filed in federal court in Austin, the Texas American Federation of Teachers is challenging the state over investigations tied to social media posts in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death. Plus, of course, we’ve got options for your weekend plans — which should include supporting local musicians and venues at Free Week — and just so you know, the weather should be delightful. 

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Zach Theater

The SAFE Alliance

New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway

Moontower Comedy Festival

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On January 8, 1969, two University of Texas students were brutally murdered and the city of Austin barely noticed. Amid the nation’s first modern mass shooting, political violence littering the end of the decade, and the escalating Vietnam War, this shocking crime slipped through the cracks. But why was such a violent act erased from public memory? Host Nikki DeVaughn sits down with Texas Monthly contributor Stephen Harrigan to investigate the forgotten murder, explore why it remained hidden for decades, and uncover the story Austin never knew it had.

This episode originally aired on April 21, 2025

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