City Cast Madison

Black infants in Wisconsin are nearly three times more likely than white babies to die before their first birthdays. Cap Times health and policy reporter Erin McGroarty is investigating this disparity and the lived experiences of Black Wisconsin mothers. Erin joins City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin to discuss how systemic racism, chronic stress, and epigenetics are driving preterm birth and low birth weight, which are the leading causes of Black infant death. Erin also shares an intervention by The Foundation for Black Women's Wellness to connect pregnant people with doulas, and a Madison NICU collaboration to save extremely premature babies.

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How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Madison? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm drain” to help keep city streets free of floods and trash — and to possibly slow the drying and pollution of the Great Salt Lake. City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta says it’s worth a shot. This week, she joins David to discuss how quick, periodic cleaning of a neighborhood sewer grate can be part of a much bigger solution.

Listeners, it’s that time again! Send us the dilemmas you’re facing living in a city, and we might debate them on our upcoming call-in show. Email us or submit using this Google Form.

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The Madison Common Council is set to vote on whether to terminate the interim independent police monitor on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Whether or not they have legal standing to do so is up for debate. Madison365 Executive Editor Rob Chappell joins City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin and Creative Producer Rob Thomas to break down the story. Then, Rob Thomas lays out two contentious items in Dane County Executive Melissa Agard’s proposed 2027 budget: funding for sheriff body-worn cameras and a mental health contract dispute with Journey Mental Health. Plus, the team talks about the groundbreaking of the new YMCA facility in Fitchburg and, for Neighbors’ ears only, the impending federal hemp rule change and where gubernatorial candidates stand on cannabis.

👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! 

📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter. 

🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!

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Did you know the iconic 1976 film “Car Wash” has a Madison connection? The film’s director, Michael Schultz, studied at UW-Madison where he quickly changed his aspirations from being an astronaut to being a filmmaker. He chats with City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin about his long career as a trailblazing director, the lack of Black film representation during his early years, and the lasting relevance of his films.

This episode was originally published on Feb. 22, 2023.

👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! 

📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter. 

🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!

Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 15th episode:

For the second year in a row, UW-Madison students who live on campus will be charged $100 to host one guest over Halloween weekend. The university says this will help pay for additional security and cleaning costs. But will it keep things tame during “Halloweekend?” City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin talks with contributor, writer, and comedian Emily Winter about Madison’s Halloween party history from State Street’s block-party in the 70s and 80s to the riot-era peak in the early aughts, all the way up to the now defunct city-run Freak Fest. 

Then Daniel Haschke, saxophonist and co-leader of Madison funk fusion band Wurk, joins the show to talk about the band’s 10-year anniversary show at the Barrymore Theatre. The WURKestra will feature the 17-piece DB Orchestra and an instrument donation drive with the Madison Area Music Awards and Hyde Music. Finally, there’s more Brewers playoff excitement with the team taking the first two NLCS games from the Dodgers. Go Brewers! 

👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! 

📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter. 

🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!

Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 14th episode:

The Wisconsin Book Festival Fall Celebration kicks off this Thursday. The yearly tradition brings more than 80 authors to Madison for book readings and author talks around town. City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin talks with festival Director Jane Rotunda about the event line up. Writer Jeff Oloizia also joins the show to discuss the new season of his podcast “Writing Forward.” Plus the three settle the age-old debate: is listening to an audiobook the same as reading a physical copy?   

🧢 And hey! It’s not too late to get the limited-edition Neighbors dad hat. Become a City Cast Neighbor today to snag this great gift before they are gone!

🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!

Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 13th episode:

Another Madison school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no-phone school day can work, and they’ve got the (mostly) positive feedback to show for it. City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson joins David to talk about how St. Paul Central High School is succeeding at enforcing a phone-free school environment, the surprising ways that some students approach it, and how these kinds of bans can even affect adults like Sean.

Listeners, it’s that time again! Send us the dilemmas you’re facing living in a city, and we might debate them on our upcoming call-in show. Email us or submit using this Google Form.

Mentioned on the show:

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.

This week, a Madison Alder made a motion for the Common Council to consider terminating the city’s contract with Interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass. Executive Producer Hayley Sperling and Creative Producer Rob Thomas break down that news and dive into the turbulent history behind the office. Then Rob explains why more Madison students are rejecting Chromebooks this year. And Keegan Lynch joins the show to talk about his Corry Street Video, which is like a Little Free Library, but for movies!

For neighbors only, we ask an entomologist why the wasps are so out of control right now. Become a City Cast Madison Neighbor today to hear that special segment. Plus, if you join now, you’ll get our limited edition dad hat!  
Mentioned on the show:

History of Madison's Office of the Independent Police Monitor [WPR]

🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!

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Today is Latina Equal Pay Day, which marks, on average, when in the year a working Latina woman has earned as much as a white, non-Hispanic man. Araceli Esparza, founder and executive director of Midwest Mujeres joins City Cast Madison executive producer Hayley Sperling and creative producer Jade Iseri-Ramos to discuss the necessity to discuss wages and the Midwest Mujeres’ upcoming storytelling event. Plus Hayley and Jade talk about shake-ups in Madison’s food scene, and the UW-Madison physics professor who was just awarded a Nobel Prize. 

🧢 You are running out of time to get the limited-edition City Cast Madison Neighbors dad hat! Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program to secure your very own hat. Plus, you’ll also enjoy other great perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Become a City Cast Madison Neighbor today!

👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! 

Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 8th episode:

More than 7,000 disabled Wisconsinites are waiting for help navigating the state’s employment development program due to funding cuts. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Martin talks with Cap Times Opinion Editor Natalie Eilbert about the program meant to help people with disabilities access employment support, but that is now facing a waitlist of more than 7,600 people. They discuss how a $7 million state funding shortfall has impacted Madisonians with disabilities and will have long-term consequences for the state's Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Plus, do you know all the perks that come with a City Cast Madison membership? Creative Producer Jade Iseri-Ramos joins today’s episode to break it down. Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program today and get the limited-edition dad hat!
👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email [email protected]. We’re also on Instagram! 

Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 7th episode:

Wisconsin Science Festival