City Cast Austin

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

City Cast Austin Host Nikki DaVaughn and all 12 other City Cast hosts (from Chicago, DC, Denver, Las Vegas, Madison, Nashville, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland, Salt Lake, Seattle, and the Twin Cities) are coming together for a special episode that’ll help you knock out your holiday shopping early and support small businesses around the country. From a mount/app that turns your phone into a bike cam, to a mustard-of-the-month subscription box, our hosts are here to tell the stories of local businesses in their cities making cool stuff that you can order online right now.  For a full list (and links!), go here: https://austin.citycast.fm/ Learn more about the sponsor of this November 26th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin 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 November 26th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin

After Elon Musk won the ear of President Donald Trump and made it his job to slash the federal government’s budget, so-called Tesla Takedown groups sprouted up nationwide. Some grew less active after Musk was summoned back to his day job, but Austin’s group is different. Here, a group of folks takes their job watchdogging Musk’s business activities — and using very Austin-y tactics to protest them — very seriously, even if their demonstrations might make you laugh. And for good reason: Several of Musk’s businesses have footprints in Central Texas, his technology is tested on Austinites, he’s been active in state and local politics, and the county might owe his company millions of dollars.  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 November 25th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more.

Tax bills for Travis County residents are going out now, and on them is a big increase for the county, a one-year push to replenish the county’s disaster relief fund after they were depleted following this summer’s floods. Judge Andy Brown joins host Nikki DaVaughn to explain why the tax increase was necessary (and why it’s now facing a lawsuit); how the taxpayer-funded child care program is going; and why he and commissioners are now reviewing Tesla’s property tax rebate contract. Plus, hear why Brown’s now hopeful that a passenger rail line from Austin to San Antonio may actually come to fruition.  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 November 24th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin

Austin's oldest operating theater is getting a major makeover. This week, the Austin Theatre Alliance announced it's launching a $65 million campaign to restore the 110-year-old Paramount and 90-year-old State theaters. On this week's Friday News Roundup host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Hey Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to unpack the ambitious restoration plan, including long-overdue upgrades like comfier seating. Plus, the team laments the loss of a beloved downtown dining spot and digs into Austin Monthly's 2025 list of best new restaurants. And don't forget to stay tuned for the crew's weekend plans! 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 November 21st episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Simply Eloped

Texas’ new congressional map is back in the news after a three-judge federal panel blocked it from being used in the 2026 midterm elections. Gov. Greg Abbott has already appealed the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Eleanor Klibanoff, law and politics reporter for The Texas Tribune to break down the ruling, what it means for candidates now staring down the fast-approaching December 8th filing deadline and what comes next. Plus, amid the scramble, Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett has signaled he might not retire after all.   Get up to speed on how we got here with City Cast Austin’s previous coverage from Democrats’ quorum break this summer, the conservative case for redistricting, how the new map would redraw Travis County’s districts, and what the new local districts would mean for Austinites.     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 November 20th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Simply Eloped

Gone are the days when people seeking good barbecue in these parts had to go on a road trip: Nowadays, a good smoked brisket is a stone’s throw away from basically every Austinite. And maybe as a result of the sheer number of great barbecue joints, it takes more than a good smoked brisket to impress the Central Texan palate. On today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Texas Monthly’s barbecue editor, Daniel Vaughn, to talk about Austin’s best budget and splurge barbecue, local standouts, and where to find some excellent macaroni and cheese. Plus, hear how Vaughn survives days-long barbecue trips that require multiple stops in one day.  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 November 19th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Simply Eloped

After surviving the Texas Legislature, the hemp industry now faces a new challenge: In one year, products like gummies and drinks that are hemp-based or hemp-derived will be prohibited. The ban was folded into the deal to reopen the federal government, despite an attempt by Sen. Ted Cruz to strip it from the final version, and some are hoping that Cruz can help reverse it before the ban goes into effect. The move comes after the Texas cannabis and hemp industry beat most attempts by the state legislature to shut business down, and would cripple businesses in Austin, Central Texas, and throughout the state. Executive Producer Eva Ruth Moravec is joined by Heather Fazio, director of the Texas Cannabis Policy Center, to talk about it all. If you’re looking for info on the conference Fazio mentioned, check here.   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 November 18th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Simply Eloped Cozy Earth - Use code COZYAUSTIN for 40% off best-selling sheets, towels, pajamas, and more.

The six-week long federal government shutdown is over, but it is still affecting the 270,000 people in Central Texas who are a part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the 74,000 federal workers in the area. Without their typical amount of food assistance or even a paycheck, folks in the Austin region have turned to organizations for help. To find out more about how Austinites have been impacted, and how locals are filling in the gaps, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Tawana Barksdale, an organizer with the ATX Free Fridge Project; and Beth Corbett, vice president of governmental affairs and advocacy for the Central Texas Food Bank.  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 November 17th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at Simply Eloped

Austin is proud to be the nation's largest no-kill city, but with shelters overflowing and stray animals on the rise, is that title becoming unsustainable? On this week's Friday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Austin American-Statesman photojournalist Mikala Compton to discuss an eye-opening investigation into the city's animal crisis. Plus, we break down the rumors around Matthew McConaughey's bid for Texas governor and what went down at Austin's White Collar Fight Night.  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 November 14th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Adios - Use code CITYCAST for 50% off New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST

It’s finally time to get your cozy clothes out and start shopping for the holidays — but these days, money might be a little tight. You’re in luck, though, since Austin has dozens of secondhand stores, estate sales, vintage popups, clothing swaps, and other opportunities to buy things used. On today’s episode, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by expert thrifter Paula Cox and City Cast Austin newsletter editor Kelsey Bradshaw, who loves a secondhand store, to share their favorite shops and tips to scoring some excellent preowned clothing, furniture, and more. And, it’s not too late to help Paula’s all-time favorite store and Austin icon, Treasure City, get into their new digs.  This episode originally aired on July 22, 2025.  And don’t forget — become a City Cast Austin Neighbor today to win a free pass to the Texas Tribune Festival, taking place downtown Nov. 13 - 15. Join at 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 November 13th episode: DUER - Get 15% off at shopduer.com/ccaustin Adios - Use code CITYCAST for 50% off New Waterloo - Trick Hat Workway Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST