Podcast
City Cast DC
Hosted by City Cast · EN
City Cast DC is the daily, local audio companion you knew DC needed.. Washingtonians are deeply passionate about our city, whose story is still being written, and City Cast DC is here to tell it.
Every weekday morning, our hosts Michael Schaffer and Bridget Todd will engage people from all over the eight wards in conversation about DC’s crises and its beauty, both literal and figurative. It’ll have the feel of eavesdropping on an energetic and informative coffee shop chat, except that with City Cast DC, consider this your official invitation to listen in. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at dc.citycast.fm.
136episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Luxury Digs for the National Guard, Bowser Ditches the Budget, and Wild New Plans for Dulles
2w ago00:38:32Tap to summarizeWe’re talking about the National Guard in D.C., how Muriel Bowser isn’t signing the DC budget, and the goofy plans for Dulles. Plus in a members-only fourth segment, a blistering report on the MPD’s cooked-books scandal. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at dc.citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City DC swag. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 31st episode: DC Department of Behavioral Health District Bridges Library of Congress Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →Your Guide to August 2026 in D.C.
2w ago00:33:48Tap to summarizeWhether it’s chomping on an apple with strangers in Malcolm X Park or vibing to local music at a summer concert series, our August Guide has got you covered. For even more tips on how to make the most of August in D.C., check out City Cast DC’s take on what to do this month. We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at dc.citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City DC swag. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 30th episode: DC Department of Behavioral Health District Bridges Library of Congress Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE. Reach us at DC@citycast.fm.
Transcribe →No Roommates, In-Unit Laundry – A Look At The National Guard’s Expensive New D.C. Digs
2w ago00:20:07Tap to summarizeThe National Guard is sticking around — and, like a lot of people who decide to stay in D.C., they’re about to pay through the nose for real estate. City Cast’s Alyssa Fowers and Emma Uber looked through the contract and crunched the numbers and they’re here to explain what it means that the troops are about to pitch up in some of the city’s buzziest neighborhoods. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at dc.citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City DC swag. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 29th episode: DC Public Library DC Department of Behavioral Health District Bridges Library of Congress Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →D.C. Workers' Ample Leave Is Costing You Millions
2w ago00:19:04Tap to summarizeD.C. taxpayers — you — spent $220 million last year on overtime for public-safety agencies in D.C. How did this happen? According to a new report from D.C. Auditor Kathy Patterson, agencies are chronically understaffed, so bosses need to pay overtime to get the job done. How did we get here? And what does it mean? Kathy’s here to explain. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 28th episode: DC Public Library DC Department of Behavioral Health District Bridges Library of Congress Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →The People Who Date AI
3w ago00:34:43Tap to summarizeOur co-host Bridget has just published an audiobook that starts with her own journey into an AI relationship — and then examines the phenomenon through a range of others. As she notes, it’s a particularly ubiquitous thing in D.C., even if we don’t talk much about it. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 27th episode: DC Public Library DC Department of Behavioral Health District Bridges Library of Congress Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →‘Your City Could Be Better’: The Trick to Getting People To Volunteer — Presented By City Cast DC
3w ago00:26:15Tap to summarizeIt’s not a given that every Washingtonian will chip in to help their community. In this episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with writer Taylor Lahey about how functional incentives could be the missing link in traditional systems of donations and volunteering. Inspired by a waste exchange program in Curitiba, Brazil, Lahey is working to create circular systems that effectively incentivize donations and just as effectively get them into the hands of those who need them. When investment and morale are low, sometimes an unconventional approach is the right way to go. Want to hear your question on an upcoming episode of Your City Could Be Better? Submit your city dilemmas for our upcoming call-in show by using our Google Form: https://forms.gle/45X33jhGHf8BYDM5A 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.
Transcribe →D.C. Boycotts DoorDash, Why the Forrestal Building Must Die, and D.C.'s Best Screens for The Odyssey
3w ago00:31:13Tap to summarizeWe’re talking about D.C. versus DoorDash, the D.C. building everyone wants to demolish, and the best way to see The Odyssey. Plus, in a members-only segment, the latest on Metro’s plans for the new RFK stadium. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 24th episode: DC Public Library DC Sustainable Energy Utility Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →The Country Town for D.C.'s Horsey Set (and JD Vance)
3w ago00:20:06Tap to summarizeVirginia Horse Country looms large in the DC imagination — a preppy land beyond the suburbs you may hear about from time to time. Especially lately, because Vice President JD Vance is moving there, to a 500-acre estate in Middleburg. The Washington Post’s Paul Schwartzman is here to explain what the place means. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 23rd episode: DC Public Library DC Sustainable Energy Utility Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →The D.C. Housing Authority Cyberattack That Went Under the Radar
3w ago00:15:20Tap to summarizeTo get public housing in DC, you need to cough up a lot of data about yourself. Which makes it a particular problem when the public housing authority is hacked — and when they don’t tell anyone about it. Reporter Suzie Amanuel has been covering the story and is here to explain. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 22nd episode: DC Public Library DC Sustainable Energy Utility Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →Forty Years of Heavy Metal Parking Lot
3w ago00:32:28Tap to summarizeThe movie Heavy Metal Parking Lot turns 40 this year — and feels weirdly contemporary. The basic setup is this: A couple of guys showed up at the parking lot of a Judas Priest show outside DC and just let cameras run as the tailgaters go wild. The difference: The cringe behavior didn’t wind up on social media, but instead became part of an underground art film that slowly became a cult classic. The filmmakers Jeff Krulik and John Heyn are here to tell the story of the metal show and what happened next. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter City Cast DC. You can text us or leave a voicemail at: (202) 642-2654. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $10 a month. If you enjoyed this interview with Richard Reyes-Gavilan, the Executive Director for DC Public Library, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 21st episode: DC Public Library DC Sustainable Energy Utility Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE.
Transcribe →