City Cast Pittsburgh

July is the season for fireworks, furries, and a giant pickle festival. The City Cast Pittsburgh team is sharing our favorite ways to explore the city this month, from regular hits like Anthrocon and Picklesburgh to newer fare like an international moustache competition. And if you're looking for a sweet treat this summer, don't miss our episode about the best ice cream shops around Pittsburgh.

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 of July in Pittsburgh, check out Hey Pittsburgh’s take on what to do this month. 

City Cast Pittsburgh's Guide to July is made possible by our awesome sponsor: The Frick Pittsburgh. And City Cast Pittsburgh is also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh.

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July is National Ice Cream Month, but we're starting our celebrations early. Contributor Meg St-Esprit has tried ice cream all over the city, and she's  sharing which ice cream shops have the best soft serve, custard, hard scoops, and more. Plus, she makes the case for why it's worth standing in line in Page's – even if the bridge is drippy.

Learn more about the sponsor of this June 30th episode:

Heinz History Center

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UPMC is ending gender-affirming care for young people, and a lot of staffers and city officials aren't happy about it. We explain how providers and City Council members are pushing back against the health care giant. Plus, we're sharing tips for staying cool and not overtaxing our power grid as the weather heats up and highlight some Pittsburgh wins and losses from the past week — including local love in a new Netflix hit and (potentially?) good news for raising our state minimum wage.

Do you know where trans youth can access safe medical care? Call or text the I WILL AID AND ABET TRANS HEALTH CARE HOTLINE at 412-212-8893.

Want to learn more about UPMC staffers' calls to reinstate gender-affirming care? Find their open letter to UPMC here and their rally supply wishlist here.

Think you’ve experienced discrimination? The Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations has been around since before the Civil Rights Act, and their investigations yield enforceable results. Submit an inquiry on the PghCHR portal, call their office at 412-255-2600, or email [email protected]

Notes and references from today’s show:

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 27th episode:

Heinz History Center

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VisAbility

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Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We’re also on Instagram @CityCastPgh!

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Pittsburgh Regional Transit and other public transit systems across the state are in big financial trouble. The state budget is due on Monday, and lawmakers are considering a few proposals to boost transportation funding — including taxing Uber and Lyft rides — but it seems likely PRT won't get what it needs to avoid service cuts. Laura Chu Wiens, the executive director of Pittsburghers for Public Transit, is here to explain what's on the table, what's at stake, and what she thinks could be done to build a more robust, financially stable transit system.

Want to learn more about the statewide campaign to improve our transit system? Check out Transit for All PA.

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

Heinz History Center

Bike PGH

VisAbility

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

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The Carnegie Museums have an extensive collection, but there are plenty of other museums and hidden gems in and around the city that are free or donation-based. Discover the Burgh's Jeremy Jones and SpotlightPA's Asha Prihar are here to talk about their favorites (including where you might be able to see a singing tumor!), what's on their summer bucket list, and how to make the most of a free experience. 

Notes and references from today’s show:

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 25th episode:

Heinz History Center

Bike PGH

VisAbility

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

Want more Pittsburgh news? 

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

If you've been on Pittsburgh TikTok lately, you may have seen a whole bunch of videos about how yinzers pronounce the word "cookie." (Apparently we do something different with our vowels.) In honor of this semi-viral trend, we're revisiting our episode all about the Pittsburgh accent. Actor, voice coach and speech teacher Don Wadsworth joins us to explain what makes our dialect so distinct, and give host Megan Harris a master class in speaking Pittsburghese.
**This episode originally published on November 7, 2023.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 24th episode:

Heinz History Center

Bike PGH

VisAbility

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

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Pittsburgh hillsides are sorta trashy. There’s the usual culprits like beer cans and single-use plastics, but these impromptu “dumpsites” also have tires, doll heads, and even big ticket items like flat screen TVs. Caily Grube, executive director of Allegheny CleanWays, shares how they approach community cleanups, why it’s so important to take responsibility for our shared spaces, and how existential questions like “what is litter?” help her frame her work in Pittsburgh. Plus, learn about new ways to plug in, including regular meetups, earning badges as an Eco Scout, and the city’s Garbage Olympics in September.

Not sure how you stack up? Double check the city's trash and recycling rules!

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 23rd episode:

Heinz History Center

Bike PGH

VisAbility

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

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City Cast hosts are on the pulse of what’s happening in our communities. So Megan Harris and all 12 other hosts sat down with City Cast CEO David Plotz to talk about creative local problem solving that might work in your hometown too and to commiserate about stressors affecting most of our cities, from unaffordable housing to bike lanes.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 20th episode:

Heinz History Center

Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

Pittsburgh International Airport isn’t a hub, it’s still under construction, and it’s not on a coast – we’re not often the cheapest place to catch a flight to a desirable destination. But if you’re a little creative and very patient, there are lots of deals to be found! City Cast Pittsburgh’s Megan Harris and Sophia Lo are sharing the best strategies for finding a cheap flight, which sites and services to use, and a few interesting cities you can book right now.

Want more direct options? Check out our bonus episode with a ton of recommendations about all the fun places you can travel to from Pittsburgh this summer.

If you enjoyed today's interview with Heinz History Center's Chief Historian, Anne Madarasz, learn more here.

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 18th episode:

Heinz History Center

Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

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

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Itching to travel but not sure where to go? If you love a deal, City Cast Pittsburgh’s Sophia Lo and Megan Harris are back with a bonus episode and talking about more international options, the shocking number of cities you can get to in Florida, the cheapest tickets out of town right now, plus where we would go right now if someone wanted to gift us our next great trip! 

Don’t sleep on the main episode! We’re sharing the best websites and listserves to check before you book, plus how to approach the ticket-buying process when saving money is your top priority.

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

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