City Cast Boise
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City Cast Boise episodes

  • What We’ve Learned About Boise

    After three years of making this daily podcast about all things Boise, this is our final episode of the show. Every story we’ve shared on this podcast has shown us something new about this city. In this final episode, we’re looking back at what this journey has taught us, how it’s changed the way we see Boise, and what we hope for its future. 

    So what’s next for the team? Host Lindsay Van Allen will keep posting about stories that are important to Boiseans on TikTok and Instagram, so be sure to follow her there. Executive producer Frankie Barnhill is taking a break from daily news for now, to winterize her garden and plot her next one. Producer Evelyn Avitia is dreaming up her next adventure and still posting about fashion. And our newsletter editor Blake Hunter is noodling on a possible fresh email you’ll definitely want in your inbox, and continuing their literary work with Paper Plane Press. 

    This is our last episode for the foreseeable future. Even though we’re closing up shop in Boise, it's not impossible that City Cast could return one day. If you stay subscribed to this podcast, you'll be the first to know.

    Learn more about the sponsor of this October 24th episode: 

    Visit Walla Walla

    35 min
  • Are These New Coffee Shops Really Worth The Hype?

    Coffee culture says a lot about a city, and Boise's scene is evolving. Our producer Evelyn Avitia sipped her way through the newest coffee shops to find the best spots for getting work done, grabbing a fall flavored pick-me-up, and soaking up the coffeehouse vibes with friends. She’s telling host Lindsay Van Allen which new coffee shops are really worth a visit. 

    Spots mentioned: 

    • Coffee With A Twist
    • Salt & Light Coffee Lounge
    • Jitters by Jayne
    • Hidden Grounds Coffee
    • Roast & Vine

      Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a cheatsheet to the city every weekday morning.

      Learn more about the sponsor of this October 23rd episode: 

      Visit Walla Walla

      Reach us at [email protected].

      24 min
    • How To Spend the Day in Boise for Under $50

      Between rising costs and tighter budgets, our city is not as inexpensive as it used to be. So, we are revisiting the time our City Cast Boise team took on a challenge to see how far $50 could go, and if it was still possible to have a great time in Boise without breaking the bank.

      And if you hadn’t heard the news, City Cast Boise is closing down operations at the end of the week. We want to hear from you before we say goodbye! Have a favorite episode? Or maybe we’ve shared a story that changed your mind or that made you feel more connected to our city. Please leave us a voice message at 208-546-9485.

      Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a cheatsheet to the city every weekday morning.

      Learn more about the sponsor of this October 22nd episode:

      Visit Walla Walla

      Reach us at [email protected].

      29 min
    • The Boise Pastor Crusading for Separation of Church and State

      As Christian nationalism gains ground in Idaho, many are wondering: Does this movement reflect the heart of Christianity, or has faith been hijacked for politics? We’re resharing a conversation with Boise’s Benjamin Cremer, a pastor who is critical of this movement. He and host Lindsay Van Allen are exploring what happens when religion and power intertwine, and how it’s changing life in our state. 

      And if you hadn’t heard the news, City Cast Boise is closing down operations at the end of the week. We want to hear from you before we say goodbye! Have a favorite episode? Or maybe we’ve shared a story that changed your mind or that made you feel more connected to our city. Please leave us a voice message at 208-546-9485.

      Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a cheatsheet to the city every weekday morning.

      Learn more about the sponsor of this October 21st episode:

      Visit Walla Walla

      Reach us at [email protected].

      28 min
    • The School Board Race That’s Dividing West Ada

      West Ada’s school board races have drawn unusual attention. With fresh challengers stepping forward, incumbents dodging public forums, and questions swirling about the district’s transparency and values, executive producer Frankie Barnhill is asking host and local parent Lindsay Van Allen about what this election might reveal about where the community stands.

      Early voting starts today! Click here to find where you can cast your ballot.

      Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a cheatsheet to the city every weekday morning.

      Learn more about the sponsor of this October 20th episode: 

      Visit Walla Walla

      Reach us at [email protected].

      25 min
    • Saying Goodbye to City Cast Boise

      We have some sad news to share today: City Cast Boise and Hey Boise are suspending operations. Our last episode and newsletter will be released on Oct. 24. 

      Next week, we’ll be sharing a mix of fresh and beloved conversations, to celebrate this community and our city. And we want to include you in our final episode! Tell us how City Cast Boise has been a part of your life. From your favorite episode, to a story that changed your mind, or something that made you feel more connected to our city. Please email us at [email protected] or leave us a voice message at 208-546-9485.

      This show has been such a meaningful part of our lives and we know it’s meant something to so many of you too. As host Lindsay Van Allen so eloquently says in today’s episode: Thank you for listening, for trusting us with your stories, and for helping us make this show everything that it was. 

      3 min
    • How Idaho’s Prisons are Protecting Sexual Predators

      According to a new bombshell report, survivors inside women’s prisons in Idaho say they endured years of sexual abuse from staff. But when they sought help, complaints disappeared, investigations went nowhere, and retaliation became routine. Investigate West journalist Whitney Bryen joins host Lindsay Van Allen to break down her year-long investigation, look at how this culture of abuse and cover-up was allowed to thrive, and discuss what it will take to change it. 

      Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a cheatsheet to the city every weekday morning.

      Learn more about the sponsor of this October 16th episode:

      Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

      And when you join our City Cast Boise Neighbors program, you’ll get great perks like ad-free listening, access to members-only events, and much more. Become a member for just $10/month here. 

      Interested in advertising with City Cast Boise? Find more info HERE.

      Reach us at [email protected].

      35 min
    • Inside the Eerie Legacy of the Old State Penitentiary

      Long before it became one of our city’s favorite Halloween destinations, the Old Idaho Penitentiary was a place of punishment, rebellion, and resilience. Now its crumbling cells and quiet corridors tell both ghost stories and hard truths about Boise’s history. Host Lindsay Van Allen is learning more from the Old Idaho Penitentiary's Samuel Anderson and Anthony Parry with the Idaho Historical Society.

      For more stories about the Old Pen, check out Samuel and Anthony’s “Behind Gray Walls” podcast.

      Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a cheatsheet to the city every weekday morning.

      Learn more about the sponsor of this October 15th episode:

      Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

      And when you join our City Cast Boise Neighbors program, you’ll get great perks like ad-free listening, access to members-only events, and much more. Become a member for just $10/month here. 

      Interested in advertising with City Cast Boise? Find more info HERE.

      Reach us at [email protected].

      27 min
    • What Voters Need To Know About Boise’s $11M Levy

      Boise has passed two previous open space levies, totaling $20 million in the last 25 years. So, why does the city want another $11 million, and how would the extra tax revenue be used? Host Lindsay Van Allen is joined by Conservation Voters for Idaho Executive Director Alexis Pickering to break down the levy on the ballot, what the money would go toward, and how voters are responding.

      For info on early voting, how to register, and how to check your ballot ahead of Nov. 4, click here. 

      Want some more Boise news? Head over to our Hey Boise newsletter where you’ll get a cheatsheet to the city every weekday morning.

      Learn more about the sponsor of this October 14th episode: 

      Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

      And when you join our City Cast Boise Neighbors program, you’ll get great perks like ad-free listening, access to members-only events, and much more. Become a member for just $10/month here. 

      Interested in advertising with City Cast Boise? Find more info HERE.

      Reach us at [email protected].

      20 min
    • BSU Can’t Find a President, a Mayoral Race with Big Stakes, and a New Bakery

      Today on the show, host Lindsay Van Allen and our ⁠Hey Boise newsletter⁠ editor, Blake Hunter, are going deeper on the headlines of the week. After 20 years with the same mayor, Garden City is ⁠finally getting a leadership shakeup⁠. Who will be their next mayor? Meanwhile, Boise State’s hunt for a new president ⁠still hasn’t produced a full slate of finalists⁠. And there’s a perfectly unserious ⁠.5K race this weekend ⁠with donuts at the halfway mark, plus we’re counting down the days for a ⁠new bakery to open⁠. 


      Want some more Boise news? Head over to our ⁠Hey Boise newsletter⁠, where you’ll get a cheatsheet to the city every weekday morning.


      Learn more about the sponsor of this October 10th episode: 

      ⁠Summit Innovations⁠

      ⁠Black Rock Resort⁠ - Use promo code CITYCAST for 20% off, a $50 resort credit, and 2pm late checkout.


      And when you join our ⁠City Cast Boise Neighbors program⁠, you’ll get great perks like ad-free listening, access to members-only events, and much more. Become a member for just $10/month ⁠here. ⁠


      Interested in advertising with City Cast Boise? Find more info ⁠HERE⁠.


      Reach us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

      29 min

    About City Cast Boise

    From the publisher's feed

    City Cast Boise is the award-winning daily news podcast that connects us to the city we love. With a companion newsletter it’s the place where curiosity and passion for Boise meet.

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