City Cast Madison

MMSD Parental Leave, Land Donation to Ho-Chunk Nation, and Police Monitor Contradicts Internal Investigation

This week, the Madison Metro School District school board approved a 12-week paid parental leave policy [https://www.channel3000.com/news/an-investment-in-the-future-madison-school-district-approves-paid-parental-leave-policy/article_d9376b53-f18e-41bd-986f-aa3584052e19.html] for all district staff. Meanwhile, the interim independent police monitor found that Madison police officers violated department policy [https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-police-under-scrutiny-after-report-shows-possible-misconduct-during-arrest-of-community-leaders/article_b163d4b7-fa03-4f38-bfc6-4efc2c42df04.html] when arresting Madison School Board member Maia Pearson in December. Plus, Dane County will donate 165 acres of land to the Ho-Chunk Nation [https://www.wkow.com/news/dane-county-approves-6-41m-land-purchase-to-protect-165-acres-donate-to-ho-chunk/article_2575e0d8-e72a-4dd6-8651-cbb18891cc52.html]. Host Bianca Martin and producer Jade Iseri-Ramos break down these stories, and in the Neighbors-only segment we talk about American Players Theatre’s latest national recognition [https://www.wpr.org/news/american-players-theatre-spring-green-tony-award]! 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 22nd episode: * Telsaan Tea [https://www.telsaan.com/] * Clean Lakes Alliance [https://www.cleanlakesalliance.org/loop-the-lake/] * Oak Bank [https://www.oak.bank/?utm_source=CityCast&utm_medium=ad&utm_campaign=2026&utm_content=BankingOutsideTheBox] - Do you have questions for Oak Bank? Submit them HERE [https://airtable.com/app7ni84ypo5bRfEK/shrDdP0QYCiPT2GkL].

Who Wins Summer in the USA? Madison Makes Its Case

City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson hosts this showdown where 12 City Cast reps, including City Cast Madison host Bianca Martin, compete head-to-head and debate which city is the best for a weekend trip this summer. From hot tub boats (exactly what they sound like) to epic outdoor summer festivals, our hosts are bringing the best of what their city has to offer this season. Can Bianca beat out her competitors from Chicago, DC, Denver, Las Vegas, Nashville, Philly, Pittsburgh, Portland, Salt Lake, Seattle, and the Twin Cities? 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]! 📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 21st episode: * Telsaan Tea [https://www.telsaan.com/] * Clean Lakes Alliance [https://www.cleanlakesalliance.org/loop-the-lake/]

Inside the Wisconsin Academy’s Biggest Night

The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters [https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/] connects Wisconsinites at the intersection of science, art, and culture. And their biggest event of the year is happening TOMORROW, May 21. They’re bringing the 23rd U.S. Poet Laureate, Joy Harjo [https://www.joyharjo.com/], to speak at the Overture Center and our very own Bianca Martin will be moderating. Ahead of the big event, Bianca speaks with Tiffany Rodriguez-Lee, the Academy’s director of arts and fellows, who explains the Academy’s statewide mission, its “Finding Home” series, and why centering Indigenous perspectives is essential to understanding Wisconsin.  🎟️ Learn more about Joy Harjo: Inhabiting Home on Earth and get tickets here [https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/evenings/joy-harjo-inhabiting-home-earth-0]. 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 20th episode: * Telsaan Tea [https://www.telsaan.com/] * Clean Lakes Alliance [https://www.cleanlakesalliance.org/loop-the-lake/]

Secrets Around Data Centers, Vegan Sausage Fest, and Madison Public Market Is Opening in July

Data centers have become a hot-button issue across the state. Newly released public documents show that Alliant Energy has received proposals for at least 12 centers [https://captimes.com/news/government/at-least-12-data-center-proposals-in-alliant-territory-documents-show/article_70d7892a-be08-4e4d-b8ea-3cb8270cea19.html]in its service area. Host Bianca Martin chats with executive producer Hayley Sperling and contributor Emily Winter about the secrecy surrounding data centers and why a majority [https://captimes.com/news/government/data-centers-have-staying-power-as-a-wisconsin-election-issue/article_60c1b29f-677d-4b9b-9765-a8e33cd91ec1.html] of Wisconsinites disapprove of them. Plus, Vegan Sausage Fest [https://www.vegansausagefest.com/] is returning to Madison, and the Madison Public Market has announced [https://www.channel3000.com/news/madison-public-market-announces-opening-date/article_00e943f8-3eac-4d5e-8cdd-910f2ead48cd.html] a grand opening date! 🎵 P.S. Listener Wendy wrote in with a kind note about our Smart Studios episode [https://madison.citycast.fm/podcasts/how-madisons-smart-studios-shaped-indie-rock]. Her dad’s band Unchained Mynds’ hit song can be heard on Youtube. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJItFyMdqeo] 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise].Learn more about the sponsors of this May 19th episode: * Telsaan Tea [https://www.telsaan.com/] * Clean Lakes Alliance [https://www.cleanlakesalliance.org/loop-the-lake/]

How Madison’s Smart Studios Shaped Indie Rock

Did you know that Nirvana recorded [https://wi101.wisc.edu/the-history-of-smart-studios/]demos for their breakthrough album “Nevermind” here in Madison? It’s true. They recorded with Butch Vig (of Garbage fame) in an unassuming red brick building  on East Washington Avenue. In the documentary film “The Smart Studios Story [https://thesmartstudiosstory.com/],” local filmmaker and former Smart Studio engineer Wendy Schneider shows just how influential the recording studio was on ‘90s alternative rock. Host Bianca Martin chats with Wendy about the film and the studio’s legacy.  This episode originally aired on July 7, 2025. 👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 [tel:608-318-3367] or email madison@citycast.fm [madison@citycast.fm]. We’re also on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/citycastmadison/]!  📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter [https://madison.citycast.fm/newsletter].  🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program! [https://membership.citycast.fm/madison] Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads [https://madison.citycast.fm/advertise]. Learn more about the sponsors of this May 18th episode: * Telsaan Tea [https://www.telsaan.com/] * Clean Lakes Alliance [https://www.cleanlakesalliance.org/loop-the-lake/]