City Cast Pittsburgh

Is apple picking overrated? Are ping pong and piggy races uniquely autumnal? Would you like to make a snow (corn?) angel in a pit of dried grain? Nevermind the heat wave — fall is here in Pittsburgh. Host Megan Harris, contributor Sophia Lo, and creative producer Marla Kauffman (in her first pod appearance!) share their favorite fall festivals, farm lore, Oktoberfests, and more for the season.

Learn more about the sponsors of this Thursday, September 10th episode:

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For the Love of Our Parks

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U.S. Senator John Fetterman’s former staffers have a lot to say about his public behavior and private comments, according to a new exposé from the Wall Street Journal. Some highlights: complaining that a funeral for police officers killed in the line of duty was over three hours long (he ultimately didn’t attend), cancelling a meeting with paralyzed veterans over an upset stomach (while still feeling well enough for a Fox News interview the same day), and much more. We discuss the Journal’s findings, responses from other Pennsylvania lawmakers, and why Fetterman’s memoir might actually be worth a (hate) read.

Notes and references from today’s show:

Learn more about the sponsors of this Wednesday, September 9th episode:

Carnegie Library

P3R

For the Love of Our Parks

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Pittsburghese is full of fun terms and quirks, like (lovingly) referring to your nosy neighbor as nebby or saying it's slippy aht. But how exactly did it develop, and how tricky is it to pick up? 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.

Learn more about the sponsors of this Tuesday, September 8th episode:

Carnegie Library

P3R - use code CITYCAST20 for 20% off any event.

For the Love of Our Parks

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Do you know what kind of surveillance technology is being used in Pittsburgh? In Nashville, the city government has blocked numerous measures to install and use it. From license plate readers to drone cameras, the technology is routinely rejected by the Metro Council and mayor, and locals are somewhat split on if that’s for the better. City Cast Nashville host Rachel Iacovone joins “Your City Could Be Better” to walk through all the measures that the Nashville government has reviewed and rejected, why people have reason to fear the tech, and what the city may lose by saying no to surveillance.

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The Trump Administration’s latest round of sanctions against Iran, dubbed “Operation Economic Outcast,” includes restrictions on cooperation between Iran and American universities. Starting this month, Duolingo banned Iranian citizens from taking its English Test, which many U.S. colleges require for international applicants. Host Megan Harris, executive producer Mallory Falk, and contributor Colin Williams discuss how the language learning company has been swept up in the U.S.-Iran War. We also share our favorite finds from PIT’s annual auction of lost items (thousands of earbuds, stuffed animals, a Mercedes… the list goes on); how the shift to fall signals earlier sunsets but also a Dolly Parton-themed corn maze; and a win for renters and housing advocates around evictions.

And in our members-only bonus segment, we track the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s itinerary for its big biannual European tour and why that matters here at home.

Learn more about the sponsors of this Friday, September 4th episode:

Carnegie Library

Propel Schools

Film Pittsburgh

For the Love of Our Parks

Notes and references from today’s show:

Learn more about our sponsor TK.

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Pittsburgh is full of unwritten rules and weird quirks, like reserving your parking space with a rickety chair, taking a left turn the moment the light turns green, and holding a lifelong grudge against anyone who honks in the tunnels. If you're new to the city or just need a refresher on local etiquette, we're sharing some essential rules for surviving and thriving in Pittsburgh.

Learn more about the sponsors of this Thursday, September 3rd episode:

Carnegie Library

Propel Schools

Film Pittsburgh

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If you're making a trip to Rivers Casino, it's probably not for the food, but City Cast Pittsburgh contributor and Post-Gazette dining critic Hal B. Klein argues there are some pretty tasty dishes there. He joins host Megan Harris to talk about a months-long challenge to eat at all the casino's restaurants, and he’s sharing what each of them is best at, from legitimately great burgers and broccolini to confusingly terrible rice.

**This episode originally aired February 25, 2026.

Learn more about the sponsors of this Wednesday, September 2nd episode:

Carnegie Library

Propel Schools

Film Pittsburgh

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September in Pittsburgh means fall is coming! Check out a new regal-looking harpy eagle at the National Aviary, drive some golf balls off the upper deck of PNC Park, and toss a cast iron skillet at the Pittsburgh County Fair. Host Megan Harris, contributor Sophia Lo, and friend of the pod Rachel Carlson are sharing their picks, including The Lion King at the Benedum and a Mario Kart tournament at Bottlerocket. Plus, where to find Southern-style green beans in Homestead, the best Korean barbecue in the region, and the ALCOSAN open house literally everyone has told us to attend.

For even more tips on how to make the most of September in Pittsburgh, check out our newsletter's take.

Learn more about the sponsors of this Tuesday, September 1st episode:

Carnegie Library

Propel Schools

Film Pittsburgh

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Should Pittsburghers stop dreaming about high-speed rail and start celebrating the trains we already have? The reality of having one is a lot more complicated and Axios Pittsburgh’s Ryan Deto is here to explain why. He and host Megan Harris talk about why geography, money and politics make high-speed rail such a long shot and why Pittsburgh’s slower Amtrak service might actually be the thing worth discovering…or rediscovering. Plus, they talk about the upcoming expansion of service between Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and New York and what it could mean for train travel in the region.

Notes and references from today’s show:

Learn more about the sponsors of this Monday, August 31st episode:

Carnegie Library

Propel Schools

Film Pittsburgh

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

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Pittsburgh’s airport might not be the international hub it once was (RIP USAir), but it stands alone in a newer, lesser-known way: having its own electrical grid. Since 2021, PIT has been generating on-site electricity, more than it needs even at peak operation, to fortify itself against the kind of power outages that hit airports unsettlingly often across the world. Megan Harris brings David into the quiet world of airport energy independence, showing how a one-time investment is bringing peace of mind to PIT — and even making it some money in the process.

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

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