Austin really does have it all: stage shows and live music, scenic hiking trails, and a food scene that never stops surprising. The variety the city has to offer is next level, and this month, the mix is especially on point. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and guest J. Summar to guide you through the plates, places, and performances worth checking out right now. From Austin's Free Week to Comadre Panadería’s Earl Grey concha, we're serving up a wide-ranging look at what to see, what to eat, and where to be around Austin this month.  For even more tips on how to make the most of January in Austin, check out Hey Austin’s take on what to do this month.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this January 2nd episode: NAMI Central Texas Simply Eloped

Austin's new million-dollar logo caused a lot of controversy this year and despite petitions to “stop” it, it is officially up and running on the city's social media accounts and website. The wavy A, in colors inspired by our “greenbelts, lakes, skyline sunsets, and bluebonnets,” replaces a seal that was designed as part of a contest back in 1916, as well as hundreds of department-specific logos. But will Austinites ever be okay with the exorbitant cost? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Jessica King, Austin’s chief communications director; and Yasmin Wagner, the city’s web and creative services manager, to discuss.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE 

With Texas being the home to several major U.S. cities, which one is actually the best? Our colleagues over at City Cast Houston, host Raheel Ramzanali and executive producer Laura Isensee, join City Cast Austin host Nikki DaVaughn and producer Elissa Castles to get to the bottom of it. Between entertainment, food, affordability, and outdoor space, does Austin have what it takes to win?  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our ⁠Hey Austin newsletter⁠.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠  Follow us ⁠@citycastaustin⁠ You can also ⁠text us or leave a voicemail⁠.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info ⁠HERE⁠ 

Just call us “Oprah” — as we wrap up 2025, the City Cast Austin team had to share some of our favorite things of the year. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to talk about the best things we ate this year — thanks to Casa Bianca, Allday Pizza, and Jupiter Supper Club — as well as our favorite drinks of the year (have you tried Small Victory’s Hotel Nacional?). Plus, we reminisce on the best experiences we had in Austin this year, from blow-out rivalry games at Darrel K. Royal Memorial Stadium to early night dance parties, and Country Fried Dance.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 23rd episode: Jeremiah Program Austin Simply Eloped Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more.

Crime has long been a concern in downtown Austin, especially on Sixth Street. That's why Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri, who represents the area, has supported rolling out new safety strategies aimed at restoring confidence and revitalizing the city's core. As the holiday season brings an influx of visitors, are those efforts making a difference? Host Nikki DaVaughn chats with Qadri to discuss his safety initiatives, concerns surrounding Rainey Street, and why he thinks Austin is experiencing its best years yet. Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 22nd episode: Jeremiah Program Austin • Simply Eloped

Texas' so-called Bathroom Bill is now in ⁠full effect⁠ and enforcement of this law remains murky. Still, this week Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a ⁠tip line⁠ to encourage residents to report suspected violations. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to discuss the ⁠bill's effects⁠ and how the city is ⁠fighting back⁠. Plus, why is Texas collecting a list of names of people who have tried to change the ⁠gender marker on their ID⁠? And later in the episode, the team breaks down the latest developments around Texas State University's decision to ⁠cancel a Black History Month⁠ exhibit, reflects on the five-year anniversary of a ⁠mysterious disappearance⁠, and pays tribute to the ⁠businesses Austin lost⁠ this year.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our ⁠Hey Austin newsletter⁠.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at ⁠membership.citycast.fm⁠  Follow us ⁠@citycastaustin⁠ You can also ⁠text us or leave a voicemail⁠.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info ⁠HERE⁠  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 19th episode: ⁠DUER⁠ - Get 15% off at ⁠shopduer.com/ccaustin⁠ ⁠The SAFE Alliance⁠

For decades, Austinites have been known to live on the healthier side of life — Whole Foods was founded here, our greenbelts go on forever, and people cycle year-round. But in recent years, the health movement has changed somewhat, and is now represented in large part on popular podcasts, in a growing number of parent-requested vaccination exemptions, and increasingly, by politicians. On today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Isabella Cueto, a reporter with STAT News who recently reported that Austin is the heart of the Make America Healthy Again movement; and Travis McCormick, the founder of Make Texas Healthy Again, to dig into what being healthy in Austin means today, and how the MAHA movement is taking hold.   Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 18th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST The SAFE Alliance

With holiday events coming out the wazoo, the City Cast Austin team decided to share some of our best tips for surviving the holiday season. Host Nikki DaVaughn and producers Elissa Castles and Eva Ruth Moravec are talking practical tips — like how to get out of awkward conversations when your boundaries fail you  — along with tips for parties and potlucks (don’t forget to send us pics of your brie-ath!). Plus, some tips on patronage, too, like which local businesses will be open as the end of the year gets closer.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  If you enjoyed this interview with Janessa White, the Director & General Manager of Simply Eloped, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this December 17th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST The SAFE Alliance

Almost 34 years to the day after Robert Brashers brutally murdered four Austin teenagers, four men who’d been wrongfully accused — and in two cases, convicted — of the crimes are beginning the path to exoneration. Last week, Travis County District Attorney José Garza filed legal paperwork that starts the process to clear the names of Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen, Maurice Pierce, and Forest Welborn. In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec recap the emotional day in September, when Austin officials announced that DNA and ballistics evidence undeniably tied the late Brashers to the crimes and not the four formerly accused men.  This episode originally aired on Sept. 30  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 16th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. The SAFE Alliance

Amid all of the best-of lists, none may be more important than this one. On today’s episode, executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Nicolai McCrary of The Infatuation to round up all things Austin food. McCrary shares the best bite he ate this year — spoiler alert, he loves chicken wings — plus, the best new restaurants of 2025, and some tips for folks who still might want to snag a reservation for New Year’s Eve. Also, McCrary predicts we’ll see more pickles (is that even possible?), Georgian food, and masa in the Austin food scene next year, and we remember the restaurants we’ve lost.  Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 15th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST The SAFE Alliance

After AISD school buses captured alarming footage of dangerous Waymo driving around Austin, the company announced this week that it will voluntarily recall its software to implement key programing updates. This news comes as Elon Musk doubles down on his plan to expand Tesla Robotaxis' presence in Austin, while also removing the in-car safety moderator by the end of the month. Executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by producer Elissa Castles and Andrea Grimes, co-founder of The Flytrap, to discuss why Austin is becoming the testing ground for the nation's autonomous vehicle race. Plus, the group discusses major Austin-Bergstrom updates, and which holiday pop-ups to check out around town.  Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm  Plus, if you join now, you could win a pair of tickets to the Paramount Theater for the Dec. 21 Rebecca Havemeyer and Stanley Roy show or for Bob Schneider's Great Big Spectacular New Years Eve Party!  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 12th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST

After a game of musical chairs, it’s finally clear exactly who is running for what in Texas’ March 2026 primaries. And especially among Austin-based candidates, there were some big moves. Executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Blaise Gainey of KUT News and The Texas Tribune’s Eleanor Klibanoff to talk about who’s in, who’s out, and what we’re watching as Texas ramps up for another round of elections. Plus, even though the Supreme Court of the U.S. upheld the state’s GOP-friendly congressional district map, could it still change?  Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm.  Plus, if you join now, you could win a pair of tickets to the Paramount Theater for the Dec. 21 Rebecca Havemeyer and Stanley Roy show or for Bob Schneider's Great Big Spectacular New Years Eve Party!  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 11th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST

It’s been a big year for Austinites with lots of highs and lows, from the very public back-and-forth over Cheer Up Charlies to the city’s new $1.1 million logo and so much in between. In today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producer Elissa Castles and newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw to recap what they saw as hits and misses when it comes to Austin events, civics, and more.  Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Plus, if you join now, you could win a pair of tickets to the Paramount Theater for the Dec. 21 Rebecca Havemeyer and Stanley Roy show or for Bob Schneider's Great Big Spectacular New Years Eve Party! Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 10th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST

It’s been a decade since Austin pledged to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries — but even after spending $125 million, the number of people dying in crashes hasn’t really changed. So is Vision Zero a failure? And will all of the autonomous vehicles now in Austin help? Joel Meyer, Austin’s Transportation Safety Officer, says there have been significant improvements, particularly on roadways deemed the most dangerous in town.  Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Plus, if you join now, you could win a pair of tickets to the Paramount Theater for the Dec. 21 Rebecca Havemeyer and Stanley Roy show or for Bob Schneider's Great Big Spectacular New Years Eve Party! Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 9th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more.

Homelessness services took center stage during Austin’s Proposition Q debate. After the measure’s resounding defeat, the city moved quickly to pass a new budget that maintains existing programs, but will it be enough? With Austin’s unhoused population continuing to grow, what comes next for the city and the people on the frontlines? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Mark Hilbelink, lead pastor and executive director of Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center; and Lenny Barszap, co-founder of Been There, to discuss the city’s current strategies, the challenges that remain, and ultimately, whose responsibility it is to care for our unhoused neighbors. Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 8th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Aura Frames - Get $35 off the Carver Mat frame with Promo Code CITYCAST

The Austin Independent School District is urging Waymo to pause its autonomous vehicle operations during school pick-up and drop-off hours after footage showed the cars illegally passing school buses 19 times since the beginning of the school year. This comes after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration launched a probe into Waymo's vehicles after similar incidents occurred elsewhere. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshow and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to discuss the safety concerns these vehicles pose on our roads and what might happen next. Plus, the team digs into why Austin's bar sales are dropping and discusses Hope Gallery's new outdoor space.  Get more from City Cast Austin when you become a City Cast Austin Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events and more. Join now at https://membership.citycast.fm  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 5th episode: New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway

‘Tis the season to spend a ton of money — but in Austin, it’s still possible to eat, drink and be merry on a budget. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by the City Cast Austin team to share our best recommendations for cheap eats, drinks and activities to help you and your pocketbook get through December.  This episode was originally published on Aug. 14, 2025.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 4th episode: New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway

Austin’s nearly 200 years old, and in a state full of tall tales, it’s no surprise that this city is swirling with myths and legends. But can you tell the truth from fiction? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by producers Elissa Castles and Eva Ruth Moravec to see who can do just that the best — in a game of Two Truths and a Lie. Play along to see how well you know Austin’s history, and remember, in this weird city, truth is always stranger than fiction!  Share your favorite Austin legend via text or voicemail, and follow us @citycastaustin — we just might post your submissions.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 3rd episode: New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway NAMI Central Texas

When Austinites rejected Proposition Q on Election Day, they sent city council back to the drawing board to create a new budget — which Austin adopted in what seemed like record time. On today’s episode, executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Amy Stansbury, editor-in-chief of the Austin Common, to recap what all council cut and funded to balance the budget; how efforts by Prop Q opponents to force an audit may be redundant to what the city’s already doing; and whether the city can regain the public’s trust when it comes to spending and austerity.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 2nd episode: New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more. The SAFE Alliance

The holidays in Austin are full-throttle and upon us, and it’s time you made your plans. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by contributor Eric Webb and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to help Austinites fill out their calendars. We’re talking about must-sees and must-dos this December in Austin, like movie screenings, shows, neighborhood lights, and volunteer opportunities; December goings-on that might be skippable (do you really need a new selfie from  the tunnel at Trail of Lights or that sugary boozy bev that’s gonna make your head throb?); and things that we’re looking forward to trying this year, like the Holiday Sing-Along and Stroll, treats from all of Austin’s bakeries, and Chabad’s South Austin Hanukkah party.    For even more tips on how to make the most of December in Austin, check out Hey Austin’s take on what to do this month.  Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.  And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm  Follow us @citycastaustin You can also text us or leave a voicemail.  Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE  Learn more about the sponsors of this December 1st episode: New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway Jeremiah Program Austin