City Cast Pittsburgh

It's a popular season for cemetery tours, and there are some beautiful and historic burial grounds in the Pittsburgh region. But we're also home to Pennsylvania's first and only fully green cemetery. Host Megan Harris visits Penn Forest Natural Burial Park in Verona to learn how a green burial works, the unique ways friends and family can get involved in the process, and why more people are choosing to go out sustainably.

Thank you to guests Laura Faessel, Deanna Mance, and Thom Wood.

You can learn about upcoming events at Penn Forest — including goat yoga and a forest bathing walk — on their events page. Stay tuned for information about their Day of the Dead ancestral ceremony and Winter Solstice celebration.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 9th episode:

Fulton Commons

YWCA

Liberty Magic

Pittsburgh Opera

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Pittsburgh voters face a big choice this November: not just who should be the city's next mayor, but whether to retain three state Supreme Court judges. That decision could shape whether Democrats or Republicans control PA's highest court and affect major rulings on everything from election law to abortion access. SpotlightPA's Stephen Caruso joins executive producer Mallory Falk to explain what's on the ballot, what's at stake, and why dark money is pouring into these judicial retention contests.

The deadline to register to vote in the next PA election is Oct 20.

If you enjoyed today's interview with Pittsburgh Opera's Director of Marketing and Communications, Chris Cox, learn more here.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 7th episode:

Fulton Commons

YWCA

Liberty Magic

Pittsburgh Opera

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Making friends in Pittsburgh can feel really daunting. Lots of people here are part of friend groups that formed in their elementary school years, but transplants, boomerangers, and even lifelong Pittsburghers are making new friendships all the time with the help of great social clubs. Haley Ingersoll of Pittsburgh Social Health, Dan Lampmann of Yinz Run Club, and local author Ryan Rydzewski join us to share their best tips for building community in the Burgh.

Read Ryan's story on making local friends in Pittsburgh Magazine, and hear more from Dan in our guide to running in Pittsburgh.

**This episode originally aired on June 6, 2025.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 7th episode:

Fulton Commons

YWCA

Liberty Magic

Pittsburgh Opera

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Pumpkin spice lattes get a lot of fanfare, but there are so many pumpkin goodies to choose from in Pittsburgh. The City Cast Pittsburgh team tried over a dozen local pumpkin beers and are sharing their favorites. Plus, we're sharing the other sweet and savory pumpkin dishes we've loved or want to enjoy before the season's over, including Di'Anoia's famous pumpkin gnocchi bowl, pumpkin bagels, and baked goods from Mediterra. 

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 6th episode:

Fulton Commons

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

YWCA

Liberty Magic

Pittsburgh Opera

Heinz History Center

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Giant Eagle says it's lowering prices on hundreds of products, jussst as the beloved Midwestern chain Meijer announced a new location north of Pittsburgh. Outgoing Mayor Ed Gainey released his draft for the city’s 2026 budget, and his most vocal critics are getting pretty creative with their complaints. Plus, Spirit Christmas is coming, Pitt announced a new Horror Studies Center, vaccination exemptions are going down for students countywide.

And it’s the last day of our fall membership drive. Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm/ 

Notes and references from today’s show:

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 3rd episode:

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

City Cast Neighbors - Now through Oct. 3 when you sign up you get this awesome tote that says Neighbors Make Pittsburgh

Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.

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In photos from Pittsburgh's peak steelmaking days, you can see all the pollution along with all the smokestacks and blast furnaces lining our riverfronts. Since then, we've been able to clean up our waterways, air, and the riverbanks, but there are still sections of the shore dedicated to heavy industry. For residents in Hazelwood, this means a recycling center's attracting rats and more ickiness to the neighborhood. Host Megan Harris is with City Councilor Barb Warwick to talk about her proposal to rezone a small portion near the Glenwood Bridge, why the railroads are mad about it, and what all this says about where our riverfronts are headed.

Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm/ 

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 2nd episode:

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

City Cast Neighbors - Now through Oct. 3 when you sign up you get this awesome tote that says Neighbors Make Pittsburgh

Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.

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October is full of spooky events for all of our Halloween lovers! You can catch a classic horror film or visit Vinegar Syndrome's new location on the South Side, sip on a cocktail topped with a gummy eyeball, and make some skull screenprints. But if you're a scaredy cat, consider going on a walking tour to learn more about Pittsburgh's skyscrapers or pop into a coffeeshop for a carrot cake latte. Plus, if you need even more fun this month, check out some of our favorite fall festivals.

Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm/ 

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

For even more tips on how to make the most out of October in Pittsburgh, check out Hey Pittsburgh’s take on what to do this month.

City Cast Pittsburgh is made possible by our awesome sponsor, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

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Fall's in full swing! The leaves are just beginning to change colors, pumpkin spice is back in coffee shops, and Oktoberfest beers are lining the shelves. City Cast Pittsburgh's Megan Harris and Francesca Dabecco are running through even more fall markets and fairs, outdoor activities, and Halloween celebrations all around the Pittsburgh area. Plus, find our complete list of festivals on our website and learn about the best spots to go apple picking.

Get more from City Cast Pittsburgh when you become a City Cast Pittsburgh Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm/ 

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 30th episode:

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

City Cast Neighbors - Now through Oct. 3 when you sign up you get this awesome tote that says Neighbors Make Pittsburgh

Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.

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The Penn Avenue “rightsizing” project kicks off tomorrow night — if a judge doesn't step in and stop it. The city's planning to remove a lane of driving traffic, add a protected bike lane, and keep roughly the same number of parking spots between 22nd and 31st streets in the Strip District. But it hasn't been a straightforward process. A coalition of small business owners, acting as the Strip District Business Association, recently asked a judge to intervene and grant an emergency injunction to stop the project. Axios Pittsburgh's Ryan Deto is with City Cast Pittsburgh host Megan Harris to talk about why cyclists and city officials have been pushing for this project since 2023, why some people are mad about it, and what it all means for the identity and future of the Strip.

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 29th episode:

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

City Cast Neighbors - Now through Oct. 3 when you sign up you get this awesome tote that says Neighbors Make Pittsburgh
Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm.

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Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.

Pirates baseball ended poorly and quietly, but Penguins hockey is just getting started! The Pens are bringing back a beloved player, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, for a one-night-only, send-off party at Saturday’s game. There’s an idea to build a private helipad in the city, City Council agreed to spend $1.8 million on a plan for the proposed public safety training center in Lincoln-Lemington, and Kamala Harris is spilling the tea on why she didn’t pick PA Gov. Josh Shapiro to be her running mate last year. Plus, Pittsburgh’s iffy finances got dealt another blow over the jock tax this week, and parents of local trans kids have filed a complaint with the state against UPMC over their policy to end gender-affirming care for their children.

Won’t you be our Neighbor? Sign up ASAP to get a limited edition tote bag + a chance to win free tickets to Say Cheese! at Mazzotta Winery and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.

Notes and references from today’s show:

Learn more about the sponsors of this September 26th episode:

Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

Heinz History Center

Planned Parenthood of Western PA

City Cast Neighbors - Now through Oct. 3 when you sign up you get this awesome tote that says Neighbors Make Pittsburgh

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

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