City Cast Austin

By City Cast

Join Nikki DaVaughn and the award-winning City Cast Austin team every weekday morning to catch up on what’s on Austinites’ minds, from the latest out of City Hall and the Texas Capitol to the buzz abo... more

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FAQs about City Cast Austin:

How many episodes does City Cast Austin have?

The podcast currently has 413 episodes available.

City Cast Austin episodes:

June 17, 2025Is Half Step the Only Cool Spot Left on Rainey Street?
Rainey Street has had a multitude of lives — from working-class Chicano neighborhood frequently overlooked and underserved; to Craftsman-style homes transformed into bars and restaurants bustling with bodies, especially for Sunday brunch; to unforgettable SXSW experiences; and now the high rise-lined wind tunnel where the sun never shines with one extremely worthwhile and Austin-ey cocktail bar. So what even is Rainey Street today? Is it still cool? Could it ever be again? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, and Nikki’s friend, local musician Doug Leveton, to discuss.
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 17th episode:
Tecovas

Cozy Earth - use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more.

Visit Port Aransas

Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

Zach Theatre
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
...more
38min
June 16, 2025What Texas Legislators Did to Abortion Access This Session
Every session of the Texas Legislature, Republicans file bills that affect Texans’ access to reproductive health, in particular, limiting abortions. In a state that has outlawed most abortions already (even though most Texans support at least some access to abortion), lawmakers found some room for improvement at the local level and banned city and county programs like Austin’s fund for abortion travel for residents. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Lucie Arvallo, the executive director of Jane’s Due Process, to talk about which abortion-related bills passed and which ones failed at the Texas Legislature this year.
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 16th episode:
Tecovas

Visit Port Aransas

Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

Zach Theatre
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
...more
25min
June 13, 2025Protests in Austin, a Taylor Pride Update, and the Latest on the THC Ban
Governor Greg Abott has ⁠called in⁠ the Texas National Guard after ⁠13 were arrested⁠ at Monday's anti-ICE protest in Austin and a clown-themed ⁠"No Kings"⁠ protest gets planned for Saturday. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to unpack it all. Plus, we talk about the latest ⁠staffing issues⁠ at the Austin airport, a Taylor Pride ⁠update⁠, and where Governor Abbott sits on the ⁠THC ban⁠.
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 13th episode:
⁠Tecovas⁠

⁠XOXO Downtown Austin⁠
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
...more
38min
June 12, 2025Austinites, Beware — the Heat Dome Is Returning
Summertime in Austin means the return of our frenemy, the heat dome, but we’re hoping this year’s is friendly enough to let in some rainfall here and there. To prepare us for the sweltering heat, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco. Join us in praying for a nice, gentle tropical storm in the gulf, and in letting your lawn brown. It’d be a lot cooler if you did.
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 12th episode:
Tecovas

XOXO Downtown Austin
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
...more
37min
June 11, 2025Austin’s Barbecue Pros Buy Their Meat at H-E-B, Too
Let’s face it, Austin, it’s just too hot to cook inside. Enter: Grilling season. To get you grillmaster-ready, we’re revisiting a conversation host Nikki DaVaughn had last year with Cairo-born and Texas-trained pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh, of KG BBQ. The award-winning, self-proclaimed “Lambassador of Texas” shares his best tips and tricks for cooking meat like a pro, his favorite place to buy meat, and where he had the first taste of barbecue that forever changed his life.
This episode originally aired on August 29, 2024.
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 11th episode:
Tecovas

XOXO Downtown Austin
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
...more
31min
June 10, 2025Where Are the Worst Public Schools in Austin?
If we were to grade Austin Independent School District’s paper right now, they’d probably get a B — could be better, but certainly could be a lot worse. After getting repeated “F’s,” three AISD middle schools are being forced to shape up, in a year that the school district’s budget has shrunk to deficit level. But now that state lawmakers have funneled $8.5 billion into public schools, increasing the basic student allotment and giving teachers raises, will AISD be able to balance its books? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Austin American-Statesman reporter Keri Heath to discuss it all, including other education-related bills passed by the Texas Legislature.
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 10th episode:
Tecovas

XOXO Downtown Austin

Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more.
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
...more
26min
June 09, 2025The 2025 Legislative Session Is Over. Here’s What You Should Know
Texas lawmakers wasted no time this legislative session setting up a school voucher program, and eventually passed an $8.5 billion public school funding bill. And, lawmakers found new ways to impact the lives of LGBTQ-plus Texans. But some items are yet to be decided. Will Gov. Greg Abbott veto a bill banning virtually all consumable hemp in Texas? And will voters approve increases to homestead exemptions on property taxes and changes to the bail system? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by KUT’s Blaise Gainey to get into it all.
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 9th episode:
Tecovas

XOXO Downtown Austin
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
...more
33min
June 06, 2025‘King of the Hill’ Actor Killed As Show Reboots, Texas Legislative Session Ends, and How To Celebrate Pride
The Texas Legislature is finally out of our hair, the city of Austin is ending its use of automatic license plate readers (at least for now), and there’s some tragic news on the heels of the King of the Hill reboot announcement. On today’s Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to discuss it all. Plus, we discuss why the mayor of Taylor is refusing to sign a proclamation for this year’s Taylor Pride event, and where you can celebrate Pride Month in Austin. And hey, please do send us a voicemail or email and let us know what you think about Rainey Street! We want to hear all the opinions.
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 6th episode:
Jones Dairy Farm

Visit Port Aransas

InKind - Get $25 off your next order of $50 or more!

LBJ Presidential Library
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
...more
33min
June 05, 2025Has Austin Lost Its "Hi, How Are You?" Spirit?
What kind of people can you meet by spending 24 hours in one spot in Austin? KUT’s podcast, “24 Hours in Austin,” dispatched a team of producers to find that out. From Sixth Street to coffee shops to a call center for mental health emergencies, characters abound on Austin's streets. KUT’s projects editor and podcast producer, Matt Largey, joins host Nikki DaVaughn to discuss what happens when you slow down, start a conversation, and connect with the strangers in your city.
This episode originally aired December 5, 2024
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 5th episode:
Jones Dairy Farm

Visit Port Aransas

InKind - Get $25 off your next order of $50 or more!

LBJ Presidential Library
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
...more
32min
June 04, 2025Where To Find Austin’s Best Cold Treats
Is Amy’s Ice Cream still the best ice cream shop in town? Who has the best frozen summer drinks, with or without booze? And where are we drinking our iced lattes? In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn contemplates where to find the best cold treats in town with Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw (she’s a Sandy’s stan) and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec (whose lactose intolerance prefers Dulce Neve Gelato). And a warning: This episode may give you a brain freeze.
Learn more about the sponsors of this June 4th episode:
Jones Dairy Farm

Visit Port Aransas

InKind - Get $25 off your next order of $50 or more!

LBJ Presidential Library
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
...more
35min

FAQs about City Cast Austin:

How many episodes does City Cast Austin have?

The podcast currently has 413 episodes available.