Episodios

  • How Austin is Succeeding at Affordable Housing. Plus, Walkable Cities vs. Car Cities

    How Austin is Succeeding at Affordable Housing. Plus, Walkable Cities vs. Car Cities
    Mar 27 2026
    Austin, Texas, is building more affordable housing than any other American city right now — 50% more, by some measures, than the second most successful city. However, this fast-growing city is also seeing a shortage in housing that middle- and lower-income residents can afford. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Austin podcast host Nikki DaVaughn about this paradox, the city’s affordable housing successes, and where Austin’s still falling short. Plus, how far is too far to walk to a neighbor’s house? Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
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    24 m
  • Could a Nevada Brothel Help Redefine Labor Standards Nationwide? Plus, Who Are Our Neighbors?

    Could a Nevada Brothel Help Redefine Labor Standards Nationwide? Plus, Who Are Our Neighbors?
    Mar 20 2026
    At Sheri's Ranch, a legal brothel 45 minutes outside Las Vegas, Nevada, some of the workers are seeking both recognition as employees and union representation. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with former City Cast Las Vegas podcast host, current contributor, and longtime Nevada attorney Dayvid Figler about why sex workers are considered independent contractors, what sparked this legal battle, and what happens if they win. Plus, what's different about neighborhoods in Las Vegas? Mentioned on the show: Could a Pahrump Brothel Union Set a New National Standard for Labor Laws? (City Cast Las Vegas) Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
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    26 m
  • DC’s Plan To Hold Federal Agents Accountable. Plus, Public Transit Etiquette

    DC’s Plan To Hold Federal Agents Accountable. Plus, Public Transit Etiquette
    Mar 13 2026
    DC Council in Washington recently passed emergency legislation requiring local police to release body-worn camera footage of incidents involving federal forces they patrol with, and to collect the names of federal officers who make arrests. It’s a big shift in local policy, partially motivated by the fact that local cops have damaged their reputation by patrolling with feds. City Cast Chicago podcast host Jacoby Cochran talks with City Cast DC podcast co-host and executive editor Mike Schaffer about the political stakes involved, the effectiveness of body cameras, and how Washingtonians are dealing with the heavy federal law enforcement presence. Plus, Mike and Jacoby weigh in on public transit etiquette in their cities when it comes to people playing music out loud. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email us now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
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    29 m
  • Utah's Controversial Plan for a 'Homeless Campus.' Plus, the Cafe of the Future?

    Utah's Controversial Plan for a 'Homeless Campus.' Plus, the Cafe of the Future?
    Mar 6 2026
    With homelessness on the rise in Utah, the state is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers. Mentioned on the show: Interrogating Controversial Homeless Policy Proposals (City Cast Salt Lake) Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
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    33 m
  • Pittsburgh’s Big Idea To Fix Downtown. Plus, Do Local Sports Really Matter?

    Pittsburgh’s Big Idea To Fix Downtown. Plus, Do Local Sports Really Matter?
    Feb 27 2026
    A lot of cities are trying to figure out how best to revitalize downtown, and Pittsburgh is no exception. With the NFL Draft coming up in April, the city is getting creative with downtown revitalization efforts. To solve the problem of vacant properties and empty storefronts, Pittsburgh is trying out a new rent abatement program. So, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Pittsburgh podcast host Megan Harris about why their downtown emptied out, whether this program will bring new businesses downtown for the long-term, and other revitalization plans that are in the works. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
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    25 m
  • A Showdown Over Madison’s Data Centers. Plus, City Survival Tips

    A Showdown Over Madison’s Data Centers. Plus, City Survival Tips
    Feb 20 2026
    More data centers are popping up across the country, thanks in part to the AI revolution. But some cities are stemming the tide, including Madison, Wisconsin, who recently passed a one-year moratorium on new data center construction. City Cast CEO David Plotz feels strongly that this was the wrong choice! He’s sitting down with City Cast Madison podcast host Bianca Martin to weigh the pros and cons of data centers, and debate the economic, ethical, and ecological considerations at the heart of this debate. Plus, David and Bianca share must-know tips for making it in Madison and DC. We also mentioned this City Cast Madison episode. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
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    28 m
  • How the Twin Cities Organized Against ICE. Plus, What Counts As ‘Cold’?

    How the Twin Cities Organized Against ICE. Plus, What Counts As ‘Cold’?
    Feb 13 2026
    Operation Metro Surge is reportedly ending in Minnesota, with the withdrawal of immigration agents expected over the next week. Over the last two months, though, residents of the Twin Cities have organized a range of local collective action efforts including protests, mutual aid, and monitoring ICE — and they’ve done it quickly. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Twin Cities podcast host Sean McPherson about how his community self-organized, why these networks have been so successful, and what other cities can take away from Minnesotans’ response to Operation Metro Surge. Plus, we have a DC vs. Twin Cities face-off on local cultural norms. We also mentioned this episode of City Cast Twin Cities. Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
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    32 m
  • Your City Could Be Better (Here's How)

    Your City Could Be Better (Here's How)
    Feb 6 2026
    Join City Cast CEO David Plotz weekly as he sits down with local insiders from across the City Cast podcast network, to talk through what their cities are doing right and sometimes wrong, the weird things they’re trying, and the surprising successes — so that we can all learn how to make our cities a little bit better. Because they could be! Launching Feb. 13 on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
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    1 m