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Artwork for City Cast Salt Lake

City Cast Salt Lake

City Cast
Salt Lake City
Utah
Great Salt Lake
Utah Legislature
Homelessness
Sundance Film Festival
Park City
ICE
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints
Skiing
Affordable Housing
Charlie Kirk
Data Centers
Republican Party
Democratic Party
Mental Health
Salt Lake Tribune
Nuclear Energy
University Of Utah
Salt Lake City Police Department

City Cast Salt Lake is SLC’s daily news podcast. Join host Ali Vallarta and a bevy of smart and entertaining locals for conversations about the issues that matter most. City Cast Salt Lake will celebrate the city’s triumphs, explore its history, (try to) solve its mysteries, and it’ll help you feel more connected to the Wasatch Front – whether you’ve lived here for six months or six generations. L... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1123Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsDaily NewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for City Cast Salt Lake

Latest Episodes

A pro-AI super PAC spent $450,000 on campaign ads for Ben McAdams. Host Ali Vallarta, executive producer Emily Means, and City Cast Salt Lake contributor Jack Stauss talk about how it could impact the primary election. Plus, Sandy City Council cut fu... more

Think you know all the best spots in Salt Lake? Host Ali Vallarta asks local explorer Darienne Debrule about the underrated experiences, shops, and restaurants to visit this summer.

This episode first aired on May 14, 2025.

Get more from City Cast ... more

We're a week out from the primary election; will Gen Z vote? Ignite Utah executive director Jenessa Jimoh tells host Ali Vallarta what’s shaping young voters' political habits.

This episode first aired on March 25, 2026.

Get more from City Cast Sal... more

The Salt Lake City Police Department wants $142 million this budget season. Host Ali Vallarta asks Police Chief Brian Redd how our money is being used, from the 999 ride to drones.

Get more from City Cast Salt Lake when you become a City Cast Salt L... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Austin Whitehead
City Cast Salt Lake member, first appearance
City Cast Salt Lake
Episode: Euro Summer at Home, Staycation Itineraries, Volunteer Ideas
Bianca Velazquez
Senior Comm Specialist at Rocky Mountain Power
Rocky Mountain Power
Episode: Busted: The Energy Myths That Are Costing You Money This Summer {Sponsored}
Ben Holcomb
Goes over HAB monitoring for the Utah Division of Water Quality
Utah Division of Water Quality
Episode: Keep You and Your Dog Safe in the Water This Summer
Aimee Dunsmore
Executive Director of the Utah Arts Festival
Utah Arts Festival
Episode: Booze News, 999 Ride Arrests, Saving the Coachman's Sign
Josh Romney
Founder of Great Salt Lake Rising and Romney Group
Great Salt Lake Rising / Romney Group
Episode: Can a Romney Save Great Salt Lake?
Jesse Merrick
Host of City Cast Las Vegas, introduced as a guest
City Cast Las Vegas
Episode: 'Your City Could Be Better': How Las Vegas Saves More Water Than Any Other City — Presented By City Cast Salt Lake
Brandon Miller
Hiking enthusiast and frequent guest on the show
Urban Trails Salt Lake City
Episode: Your Salt Lake Summer Hiking Guide
Noah Baskett
Salt Lake City Public Library CEO
Salt Lake City Public Library
Episode: SLC Library Staff Are Getting Paid To Quit. Why?
David Garbett
Stewardship Utah co-director
Stewardship Utah
Episode: Data Center Outcry Is Working, Ex-Mormons Vote Republican, Fancy Cocktail Rec

Hosts

Ali Vallarta
Host of City Cast Salt Lake; engages in local issues with a civic-news focus
Emily Means
Host/Executive Producer with a focus on in-depth local reporting and segment hosting

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 573 ratings
  • Hard-hitting and smart while being pleasant and entertaining

    This podcast gives a great overview of the current issues facing Salt Lake City, as well as all of the events and happenings of the week. I’m not usually a local news guy — I don’t like being pumped up with irrational fear. That’s not what this podcast is about. It takes an optimistic, rational, progressive viewpoint and makes a concerted effort to give listeners the tools and knowledge to participate in the community in an informed manner. The interviews are excellent and the host is a seasone... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dmatamales
    United States9 months ago
  • Local flavor

    Love having a local news source in podcast form. Wish they didn’t also push other random podcasts on the feed.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Rdood
    United Statesa year ago
  • Informative and helpful

    Great show, taught me a lot of great resources about my new city. Love the restaurant, bar, and shopping recommendations in particular. Accessible hosts that are fun to listen to and have great takes. Knocked a star off for all the spam oprah podcast “features” (seriously, it feels like oprah pops up in my podcast queue every week cuz of this show).

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Noahlips
    United Statesa year ago
  • Far-left nonsense

    They’ve got some good local commentary when it happens to be a non-political issue, but for the most part they are pushing the extremist religion of leftism.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Alijah Simon
    United Statesa year ago
  • So pleasant, careful with the pushiness though

    I like this podcast. Ali does a great job and it’s fun to hear her chat with Emily. That being said, I understand you need members, but four separate membership pushes in a single episode is just too much. You have paid advertisers and other funding, so give people a break from the pushy pushes. Especially in this economy.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    wka940
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows range from hard news to culture, though some listeners want fewer ad/promo breaks
Local focus is strong and practical for newcomers and long-time residents alike
Listeners appreciate city-specific insights and actionable takeaways
Hosts are engaging and push for answers without causing friction
Some episodes are perceived as left-leaning by a portion of listeners

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#99
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#161
China/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

SLC Library Staff Are Getting Paid To Quit. Why?
Q: How is staff morale being addressed amid concerns about changes and leadership alignment?
The CEO describes ongoing engagement with staff and the union, with monthly meetings, an annual employee satisfaction survey showing improvements, and strong investments in frontline staff and benefits to maintain morale while pursuing long-term strategic goals.
SLC Library Staff Are Getting Paid To Quit. Why?
Q: Is there a risk of layoffs due to this program?
No, the library has stated there are no near-term layoffs and the program is designed to be completely voluntary, with a budget that is essentially neutral in terms of personal expenses.
SLC Library Staff Are Getting Paid To Quit. Why?
Q: Why is the library offering voluntary separation incentives to employees?
The library is responding to staff interest in retirement and new career opportunities, using the program to facilitate transitions, expand capacity, and position the organization for future needs without resorting to layoffs.
Keep You and Your Dog Safe in the Water This Summer
Q: What practical steps can listeners take to stay safe around water this summer?
Avoid waters with cyan color or stringy algae, use stick tests cautiously, monitor official advisories on HABs, and keep pets away from potentially contaminated water; prevent runoff from entering waterways by cleaning up after pets and reducing fertilizers.
Keep You and Your Dog Safe in the Water This Summer
Q: Can self-test kits effectively detect toxins in blooms?
There are some reputable kits, but many kits are not reliable for toxins; they may indicate concentration ranges, but toxin testing is more complex and not always accurate.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About City Cast Salt Lake

What is City Cast Salt Lake about and what kind of topics does it cover?

City Cast Salt Lake delivers daily local news with a civic-leaning, conversation-driven format. Episodes tackle Salt Lake City–area politics, urban planning, infrastructure projects, culture, and community events, often pairing reporters and experts with occasional high-profile guests to unpack complex local issues. The show stands out for its mix of hard-hitting analysis and accessible, community-oriented storytelling, plus periodic cross-city segments and culture-focused features that keep the coverage rooted in practical impacts for residents. Potential listeners can expect timely context on governance, public input, and local initiatives, with a clear emphasis on enabling informed participation in civic life.

Where can I find podcast stats for City Cast Salt Lake?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for City Cast Salt Lake. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to City Cast Salt Lake and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does City Cast Salt Lake get?

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What are the audience demographics for City Cast Salt Lake?

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How many subscribers and views does City Cast Salt Lake have?

To see how many followers or subscribers City Cast Salt Lake has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to City Cast Salt Lake?

These podcasts share a similar audience with City Cast Salt Lake:

1. RadioWest
2. Embedded
3. Radiolab
4. This American Life
5. Search Engine

How many episodes of City Cast Salt Lake are there?

City Cast Salt Lake launched 5 years ago and published 1123 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact City Cast Salt Lake?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for City Cast Salt Lake?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for City Cast Salt Lake from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for City Cast Salt Lake?

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What guests have appeared on City Cast Salt Lake?

Recent guests on City Cast Salt Lake include:

1. Austin Whitehead
2. Bianca Velazquez
3. Ben Holcomb
4. Aimee Dunsmore
5. Josh Romney
6. Jesse Merrick
7. Brandon Miller
8. Noah Baskett

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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