City Cast DC

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City Cast DC episodes

August 04 One of D.C.'s Greatest Novelists Just Dropped a New Book
George Pelecanos is maybe the greatest Washington novelist — and he never writes about the Senate. Over the years, his crime stories have doubled as a kind of history of our city. And his most recent novel, The Blue Flame, drops today. I talked with Pelecanos about growing up in the city, working on The Wire, and where he finds his stories.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠⁠⁠ sign up⁠⁠⁠ for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: ⁠⁠⁠(202) 642-2654⁠⁠⁠. You can also ⁠⁠⁠become a member⁠⁠⁠, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.

Learn more about the sponsors of this August 4th episode:
DC Department of Behavioral Health
Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠⁠⁠ HERE⁠⁠⁠.
29 min
August 03 D.C.’s Streateries Are Closing, But Are They Gone For Good?
Have you walked by Wonderland Ballroom in Columbia Heights recently? The familiar picnic table streatery is gone! A string of high-profile closures of DC’s streateries has reignited the debate over outdoor dining, parking, public space, and what kind of city Washington wants to be. City Cast's Alyssa Fowers and Kaela Cote-Stemmermann have been following the issue. They're here to explain how we got here, why this debate has flared up, and what comes next for restaurants and the future of our streets.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this August 3rd episode:
DC Department of Behavioral Health
Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
31 min
August 02 ‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One City Beat Restrictive Zoning — Presented By City Cast DC
Do you know how zoning laws affect DC’s housing costs? New Haven, CT, has been governed for years by restrictive zoning that made it physically impossible to build tall buildings downtown, even for housing — that is, until the local government finally aligned to overturn it. City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with Eli Sabin, a New Haven native and one of the alders (aka city council members) responsible for passing this change in recent months. Eli spent years working toward this goal, and he talks with David about what now needs to happen to fully realize its potential and increase affordability for locals.
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.
28 min
July 31 Luxury Digs for the National Guard, Bowser Ditches the Budget, and Wild New Plans for Dulles
We’re talking about the National Guard in D.C., how Muriel Bowser isn’t signing the DC budget, and the goofy plans for Dulles. Plus in a members-only fourth segment, a blistering report on the MPD’s cooked-books scandal.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at dc.citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City DC swag.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 31st episode:
DC Department of Behavioral Health
District Bridges
Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
39 min
July 30 Your Guide to August 2026 in D.C.
Whether it’s chomping on an apple with strangers in Malcolm X Park or vibing to local music at a summer concert series, our August Guide has got you covered.
For even more tips on how to make the most of August in D.C., check out City Cast DC’s take on what to do this month.
We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at dc.citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City DC swag.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 30th episode:
DC Department of Behavioral Health
District Bridges
Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Reach us at [email protected].
34 min
July 29 No Roommates, In-Unit Laundry – A Look At The National Guard’s Expensive New D.C. Digs
The National Guard is sticking around — and, like a lot of people who decide to stay in D.C., they’re about to pay through the nose for real estate. City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers and Emma Uber looked through the contract and crunched the numbers and they’re here to explain what it means that the troops are about to pitch up in some of the city’s buzziest neighborhoods.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at dc.citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City DC swag.

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 29th episode:
DC Public Library
DC Department of Behavioral Health
District Bridges
Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
21 min
July 28 D.C. Workers' Ample Leave Is Costing You Millions
D.C. taxpayers — you — spent $220 million last year on overtime for public-safety agencies in D.C. How did this happen? According to a new report from D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson, agencies are chronically understaffed, so bosses need to pay overtime to get the job done. How did we get here? And what does it mean? Kathy’s here to explain.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.

Learn more about the sponsors of this July 28th episode:
DC Public Library
DC Department of Behavioral Health
District Bridges
Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
20 min
July 27 The People Who Date AI
Our co-host Bridget has just published an audiobook that starts with her own journey into an AI relationship — and then examines the phenomenon through a range of others. As she notes, it’s a particularly ubiquitous thing in D.C., even if we don’t talk much about it.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 27th episode:
DC Public Library
DC Department of Behavioral Health
District Bridges
Library of Congress
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
35 min
July 26 ‘Your City Could Be Better’: The Trick to Getting People To Volunteer — Presented By City Cast DC
It’s not a given that every Washingtonian will chip in to help their community. In this episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with writer Taylor Lahey about how functional incentives could be the missing link in traditional systems of donations and volunteering. Inspired by a waste exchange program in Curitiba, Brazil, Lahey is working to create circular systems that effectively incentivize donations and just as effectively get them into the hands of those who need them. When investment and morale are low, sometimes an unconventional approach is the right way to go.
Want to hear your question on an upcoming episode of Your City Could Be Better? Submit your city dilemmas for our upcoming call-in show by using our Google Form: https://forms.gle/45X33jhGHf8BYDM5A
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.
27 min
July 24 D.C. Boycotts DoorDash, Why the Forrestal Building Must Die, and D.C.'s Best Screens for The Odyssey
We’re talking about D.C. versus DoorDash, the D.C. building everyone wants to demolish, and the best way to see The Odyssey. Plus, in a members-only segment, the latest on Metro’s plans for the new RFK stadium.

Want some more DC news? Then make sure to⁠ sign up⁠ for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: ⁠(202) 642-2654⁠. You can also ⁠become a member⁠, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month.
Learn more about the sponsors of this July 24th episode:
⁠DC Public Library⁠
⁠DC Sustainable Energy Utility⁠
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info⁠ HERE⁠.
32 min

About City Cast DC

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City Cast DC is the daily, local audio companion you knew DC needed.. Washingtonians are deeply passionate about our city, whose story is still being written, and City Cast DC is here to tell it.