Happy February, Madison! A new month means it’s time for a new guide. The City Cast Madison team is here with our recommendations for making the most out of February in our fair city. From winter festivals and local markets, to chili cook offs and movie marathons, we’ve got you covered.

If you’re new around here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Madison community. 

Mentioned on the show

🌺 Orchid Escape

🏂 Memorial Union Winter Carnival 

🪁 Frozen Assets Festival and Fundraiser hosted by Clean Lakes Alliance 

🎸 AUX Vintage Expo

🛍️ Minding My Black-Owned Business Pop Up

✨ Femmestival

🎥 Where To See Oscar Nominated Movies in Madison [Madison Minutes]

🎤 Limmie Pulliam, tenor with Greg Zelek, organ

☄️ Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert

🚀 MSCR’s Valentine’s Planetarium Events 

🍕 Molten Monkey

🌶️ WORT's annual ChiliOcracy 

🌶️ Wisconsin Union Chili Cook Off 

🌶️ Boneyard Chili Cook Off 

🌶️ VFW Super Bowl Cook Off 

🌶️ East Side Club 34th annual Chili Cook Off

🍫 Infusion Chocolates

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

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Learn more about the sponsors of this January 30th episode here:

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Introducing Alessandro Michele’s New Life at Valentino from The Run-Through with Vogue.

Follow the show: The Run-Through with Vogue

Alessandro Michele joins Nicole Phelps on this episode of The Run-Through for a formidable conversation about his new life chez Valentino. He talks about his approach to creativity, why he styles his own collections, how he seeks and keeps joy in the world, and why he thinks “fashion can build a better, dreamy place.”

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Today we’re talking about a hot topic that is ice cold. The City of Madison is forgiving $1.6 million of debt owed by Madison Ice, Inc, the nonprofit that ran Madison’s two ice arenas. As is usually the case with government spending, the details are messy — but Wisconsin State Journal city hall reporter Lucas Robinson breaks down the key points of the deal with Host Bianca Martin.

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

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Learn more about the sponsors of this January 28th episode here:

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Introducing What Parents Get Wrong About Money and Their Kids | The Oprah Podcast from The Oprah Podcast.

Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast

BUY THE BOOK! 

"Priceless Facts about Money" by Mellody Hobson, published by CANDLEWICK | PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE, is available wherever books and audio books are sold. 

In this episode of The Oprah Podcast, financial expert and Co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments, ‪Mellody Hobson, offers practical advice to simplify financial conversations for families.

Mellody shares details about struggling with money as a child, lessons she's taught her daughter and fascinating historical facts about money from her New York Times best-selling children's book, "Priceless Facts About Money."

People from around the country join via Zoom to ask Mellody how to address financial questions and situations with their children. 

Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social:

https://www.instagram.com/oprah/

https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@Oprah

Listen to the full podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Last week, Governor Tony Evers declared 2025 to be the “Year of the Kid” during his info-packed State of the State address; but what does that even mean? Host Bianca Martin sits down with Cap Times politics and state government reporter Erin McGroarty to unpack the plans, promises, and unending barrage of applause from Evers’ State of the State address.

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 Madison Minutes morning newsletter. 

Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. 

Learn more about the sponsors of this January 28th episode here:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing Do vitamin D supplements work? | Prof. Tim Spector and Dr. Federica Amati from ZOE Science & Nutrition.

Follow the show: ZOE Science & Nutrition

Vitamin D is the world’s favorite supplement. Governments around the world recommend people take the supplement for at least six months out of the year. But do we really need these pills? Do they even work? And could they actually be harming us?

In this episode, two ZOE scientists - Professor Tim Spector and Dr Federica Amati reveal the truth about vitamin D.

Tim is scientific co-founder of ZOE and professor of epidemiology at King’s College London. Federica is head nutritionist at ZOE and author of the Sunday Times bestseller ‘Every Body Should Know This’.

🥑 Make smarter food choices. Become a member a zoe.com - 10% off with code PODCAST

🌱 Try our new plant based wholefood supplement - Daily 30+

*Naturally high in copper which contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism and the normal function of the immune system

Follow ZOE on Instagram.

Timecodes:

00:00 The sunshine vitamin

01:50 Quickfire questions

04:05 What is vitamin D?

07:12 Is sunlight the best source of vitamin D?

09:40 Does vitamin D keep my bones strong?

15:34 Are vitamin D levels a marker of good health?

20:00 What counts as normal levels of vitamin D? 

24:42 Supplement controversy

29:10 Do calcium supplements help bones?

31:29 Can I take too much vitamin D?

37:50 Could vitamin D prevent these health conditions?

42:54 Tim’s sunscreen controversy

46:46 Vitamin D and immunity

Books by our ZOE Scientists:

Mentioned in today’s episode:

Other ZOE Science & Nutrition episodes to try:

Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here.

Episode transcripts are available here.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

After four years leading the department, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes is leaving his post at the end of the month. He’s off to Seattle, where he’ll become that city’s next top cop. We sat down with Barnes ahead of his departure to get his perspective on what’s going well for our city when it comes to law enforcement, and what challenges the next police chief will face.

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 Madison Minutes morning newsletter. 

Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. 

Learn more about the sponsors of this January 27th episode here:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing Episode 9: Framing the Gambler from Against the Rules with Michael Lewis.

Follow the show: Against the Rules with Michael Lewis

Michael Lewis gets a glimpse of sports gambling's future by talking with writers in Great Britain and Australia, where the industry is even more entrenched. But the US has its own peculiar history of failing to regulate dangerously addictive new products, and blaming the users instead. Especially when powerful industry advocates are able to pay scientists to sow doubt and delay the day of reckoning.

For further reading: 
Lying for Money: How Legendary Frauds Reveal the Workings of our World by Dan Davies

Crikey’s coverage on sports gambling in Australia: Punted

Patrick Radden Keefe’s Empire of Pain: The Story of the Sackler Family and Purdue Pharma

Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Happy Friday, Madison! The City Cast Madison team is here to round up the news of the week. This week host Bianca Martin chats with executive producer Hayley Sperling and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos about the stories you need to know. 

Jade kicks off the show with an explainer of President Trump’s executive orders regarding citizenship and deportation and how to be prepared for when ICE comes to town. Bianca breaks down the reasons UW Madison removed the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Educational Advancement. And Hayley talks about these frigid temperatures, where people can go to seek shelter, and how Friends of the State Street Family are checking in with unhoused people during the extreme weather. We also celebrate James Beard Best Chef in the Midwest semi-finalist, Ahan!

Mentioned on the show:

Kaul and Evers sue Trump over ending birthright citizenship [WPR] 

Trump Immigration Crackdown in Madison [The Cap Times]

WI Republicans Audit DEI at UW-Madison [Wisconsin State Journal]

Blanket donation drive at St. Vinny's Thrift Stores [Channel 3000]

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

Want more Madison news delivered right to your inbox? Subscribe to the Madison Minutes morning newsletter. 

Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. 

Learn more about the sponsors of this January 24th episode here:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Introducing Defeating Trump’s Chaos Playbook with Our New Age of Insistence from Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams.

Follow the show: Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

Donald Trump has been inaugurated for a second term as President, and the “blitzkrieg” of orders, insults and rhetoric has already begun. Stacey Abrams speaks to Melissa Murray, host of Crooked’s legal podcast Strict Scrutiny and constitutional law professor at NYU, about how much Trump can actually do unilaterally and why his actions–like his order about TikTok–threaten the balance of power between the branches of government. They look at the true impact of using shock and chaos to govern–like his order about renaming Denali–and why we should be concerned about the new “broligarchy” that stood behind Trump at his inauguration. Stacey and Melissa explain the executive orders that run afoul of the 14th Amendment, like the end to birthright citizenship and new government policy on gender, and together, they showcase ways that we can continue to understand what’s coming so we can effectively speak out.

We want to hear your questions. Send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 213-293-9509. You and your question might be featured on the show.

Learn & Do More:

• Listen to Crooked’s Strict Scrutiny
• Sign up for Sherrilyn Ifill’s Substack
• Get involved with local and state organizations working on an issue you care about
• Check in with friends and family

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].