City Cast Austin

Just call us “Oprah” — as we wrap up 2025, the City Cast Austin team had to share some of our favorite things of the year. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about the best things we ate this year — thanks to Casa Bianca, Allday Pizza, and Jupiter Supper Club — as well as our favorite drinks of the year (have you tried Small Victory’s Hotel Nacional?). Plus, we reminisce on the best experiences we had in Austin this year, from blow-out rivalry games at Darrel K. Royal Memorial Stadium to early night dance parties, and Country Fried Dance. 

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Crime has long been a concern in downtown Austin, especially on Sixth Street. That's why Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri, who represents the area, has supported rolling out new safety strategies aimed at restoring confidence and revitalizing the city's core. As the holiday season brings an influx of visitors, are those efforts making a difference? Host Nikki DaVaughn chats with Qadri to discuss his safety initiatives, concerns surrounding Rainey Street, and why he thinks Austin is experiencing its best years yet.

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• Simply Eloped

Texas' so-called Bathroom Bill is now in ⁠full effect⁠ and enforcement of this law remains murky. Still, this week Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a ⁠tip line⁠ to encourage residents to report suspected violations. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to discuss the ⁠bill's effects⁠ and how the city is ⁠fighting back⁠. Plus, why is Texas collecting a list of names of people who have tried to change the ⁠gender marker on their ID⁠? And later in the episode, the team breaks down the latest developments around Texas State University's decision to ⁠cancel a Black History Month⁠ exhibit, reflects on the five-year anniversary of a ⁠mysterious disappearance⁠, and pays tribute to the ⁠businesses Austin lost⁠ this year. 

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And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠ 

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For decades, Austinites have been known to live on the healthier side of life — Whole Foods was founded here, our greenbelts go on forever, and people cycle year-round. But in recent years, the health movement has changed somewhat, and is now represented in large part on popular podcasts, in a growing number of parent-requested vaccination exemptions, and increasingly, by politicians. On today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Isabella Cueto, a reporter with STAT News who recently reported that Austin is the heart of the Make America Healthy Again movement; and Travis McCormick, the founder of Make Texas Healthy Again, to dig into what being healthy in Austin means today, and how the MAHA movement is taking hold.  

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With holiday events coming out the wazoo, the City Cast Austin team decided to share some of our best tips for surviving the holiday season. Host Nikki DaVaughn and producers Elissa Castles and Eva Ruth Moravec are talking practical tips — like how to get out of awkward conversations when your boundaries fail you  — along with tips for parties and potlucks (don’t forget to send us pics of your brie-ath!). Plus, some tips on patronage, too, like which local businesses will be open as the end of the year gets closer. 

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And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm 

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If you enjoyed this interview with Janessa White, the Director & General Manager of Simply Eloped, learn more here.

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Almost 34 years to the day after Robert Brashers brutally murdered four Austin teenagers, four men who’d been wrongfully accused — and in two cases, convicted — of the crimes are beginning the path to exoneration. Last week, Travis County District Attorney José Garza filed legal paperwork that starts the process to clear the names of Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen, Maurice Pierce, and Forest Welborn. In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec recap the emotional day in September, when Austin officials announced that DNA and ballistics evidence undeniably tied the late Brashers to the crimes and not the four formerly accused men. 

This episode originally aired on Sept. 30 

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Amid all of the best-of lists, none may be more important than this one. On today’s episode, executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Nicolai McCrary of The Infatuation to round up all things Austin food. McCrary shares the best bite he ate this year — spoiler alert, he loves chicken wings — plus, the best new restaurants of 2025, and some tips for folks who still might want to snag a reservation for New Year’s Eve. Also, McCrary predicts we’ll see more pickles (is that even possible?), Georgian food, and masa in the Austin food scene next year, and we remember the restaurants we’ve lost. 

Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm 

Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. 

And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm 

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After AISD school buses captured alarming footage of dangerous Waymo driving around Austin, the company announced this week that it will voluntarily recall its software to implement key programing updates. This news comes as Elon Musk doubles down on his plan to expand Tesla Robotaxis' presence in Austin, while also removing the in-car safety moderator by the end of the month. Executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by producer Elissa Castles and Andrea Grimes, co-founder of The Flytrap, to discuss why Austin is becoming the testing ground for the nation's autonomous vehicle race. Plus, the group discusses major Austin-Bergstrom updates, and which holiday pop-ups to check out around town. 

Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm 

Plus, if you join now, you could win a pair of tickets to the Paramount Theater for the Dec. 21 Rebecca Havemeyer and Stanley Roy show or for Bob Schneider's Great Big Spectacular New Years Eve Party! 

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After a game of musical chairs, it’s finally clear exactly who is running for what in Texas’ March 2026 primaries. And especially among Austin-based candidates, there were some big moves. Executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Blaise Gainey of KUT News and The Texas Tribune’s Eleanor Klibanoff to talk about who’s in, who’s out, and what we’re watching as Texas ramps up for another round of elections. Plus, even though the Supreme Court of the U.S. upheld the state’s GOP-friendly congressional district map, could it still change? 

Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm.  Plus, if you join now, you could win a pair of tickets to the Paramount Theater for the Dec. 21 Rebecca Havemeyer and Stanley Roy show or for Bob Schneider's Great Big Spectacular New Years Eve Party! 

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Follow us @citycastaustin

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It’s been a big year for Austinites with lots of highs and lows, from the very public back-and-forth over Cheer Up Charlies to the city’s new $1.1 million logo and so much in between. In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producer Elissa Castles and newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to recap what they saw as hits and misses when it comes to Austin events, civics, and more. 

Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Plus, if you join now, you could win a pair of tickets to the Paramount Theater for the Dec. 21 Rebecca Havemeyer and Stanley Roy show or for Bob Schneider's Great Big Spectacular New Years Eve Party! Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm 

Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter. 

Follow us @citycastaustin

You can also text us or leave a voicemail. 

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

Learn more about the sponsors of this December 10th episode: