Episodes

  • Why Pittsburgh Has 20K Vacant Homes AND a Housing Shortage

    Why Pittsburgh Has 20K Vacant Homes AND a Housing Shortage
    Jul 6 2026
    Pittsburgh lost more than half its population since peaking in the 1950s, and our city has more than 20,000 vacant homes. How do we also have a housing crisis? Public Source's Charlie Wolfson joins host Megan Harris to explain why so many houses are sitting empty, what (if anything) the city can do about it, and why our neighbors in Cleveland are doing a much better job turning abandoned houses into affordable homes. Notes and references from today’s show: How does Pittsburgh have 20,000 vacant homes — and a housing shortage? (Public Source) Where does Cleveland clobber Pittsburgh? Its land bank. (Public Source) 'A really steep lift': Pittsburghers in their 20s and 30s find home ownership less and less attainable (Public Source) Notes and references from today’s show: [articles, forms, reference materials, etc] [remove if no question →] Your turn! [TK-CTA] Call or text us at 412-212-8893. Learn more about our sponsor TK. Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
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    22 mins
  • 'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

    'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
    Jul 3 2026
    See if your Pittsburgh knowledge serves you well! In the first-ever Your City Could Be Better trivia episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz goes head to head with journalist and historian Alexandra Petri to see who knows more about U.S. history, geography, and celebrities ahead of the country’s semiquincentennial. Sean McPherson, trivia wiz and City Cast Twin Cities host, leads four riveting rounds of questions covering everything from The Declaration of Independence to the hottest college rivalries, and all 13 City Cast cities make an appearance. See how you stack up! Mentioned on the show: Trivia Mafia website and locations Alexandra Petri's US History: Important American Documents (I Made Up) Milwaukee's block of Frank Lloyd Wright - Atlas Obscura 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 mins
  • Can You Swim in Pittsburgh's Rivers? Plus, Teens in Public & Train Tours

    Can You Swim in Pittsburgh's Rivers? Plus, Teens in Public & Train Tours
    Jul 2 2026
    If the hot weather has you considering a dip in the Allegheny, Mon, or Ohio, take heed! City Cast contributor Meg St-Esprit joins host Megan Harris to answer, once and for all, whether it's actually safe to swim in Pittsburgh's rivers. We're also talking about the curfews, chaperone policies, and restrictions making it harder for teens to exist and public, and sharing some fun events and attractions for the train nerds among us — including a special chance to see the world's largest operating steam locomotive. Notes and references from today’s show: Pittsburgh youth, community members question Market Square restrictions at forum [WESA] More than 400 teenagers take over Pittsburgh park, prompting police to use pepper spray [KDKA] Should you swim in Pittsburgh’s rivers? A water researcher breaks down the answer [The Conversation] Union Pacific Steam Schedule [Union Pacific] We're hiring! The City Cast Pittsburgh team is looking for a Creative Producer to help shape the daily conversation across our podcast, newsletter, and social channels. Apply here. City Cast is looking for on-call roving producers and writers to support city teams across the network. Apply here. Learn more about the sponsor of this Thursday, July 3rd episode: Woodward Summer Camps Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
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    31 mins
  • Your Guide to July 2026 in Pittsburgh

    Your Guide to July 2026 in Pittsburgh
    Jul 1 2026
    There's a heatwave, but there's also no shortage of things to do in Pittsburgh! City Cast's Megan Harris, Sophia Lo, and Francesca Dabecco are making their bucket lists with help from Francesca's newly published book, 100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die. We're also talking about the most refreshing drinks to keep you cool all summer, a goodbye party for a century plant at Phipps, and a book crawl with 30+ stops. Plus, if you're thinking about taking a day trip, check out our guide to Erie. For even more tips on how to make the most of July in Pittsburgh, check out our website. City Cast Pittsburgh's guide to July is made possible by our awesome sponsor, Woodward Summer Camps. And City Cast Pittsburgh is also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more about how to become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here. Reach us at pittsburgh@citycast.fm.
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    37 mins
  • Is AI Pittsburgh's Next Labor Fight?

    Is AI Pittsburgh's Next Labor Fight?
    Jun 30 2026
    Ever wonder how exactly our city employees are using AI…and whether there are safeguards in place to make sure these tools are being used safely? How exactly will artificial intelligence shape our city's workforce in the coming years? In the second episode in our two-part series about Pittsburgh's biggest challenges on the eve of America's 250th anniversary, Technical.ly Pittsburgh's Alice Crow joins host Megan Harris to talk about why our city government abandoned ChatGPT, the local jobs that AI isn't taking (yet), and why the future of our local labor market may depend less on the technology than the policies we build around it. This story is part of a Pittsburgh Media Partnership collaborative reporting project exploring how Southwestern Pennsylvania communities are marking America’s 250th anniversary — and how local history continues to shape civic life today. Technical.ly, City Cast Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh’s Public Source teamed up to explore the region’s economic horizons. Learn more about the sponsors of this Tuesday, July 1st episode: Woodward Summer Camps Pittsburgh CLO Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
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    35 mins
  • Can Pittsburgh Hold Onto Tech Startups? Plus, Household Robots and Data Centers

    Can Pittsburgh Hold Onto Tech Startups? Plus, Household Robots and Data Centers
    Jun 29 2026
    Pittsburgh is getting ready to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, and we’re partnering with Public Source and Technical.ly to explore some of our city’s biggest challenges in the years ahead. In the first episode in a two-part series, Public Source's Mia Hollie joins host Megan Harris to talk about the region's data center boom, whether we can do a better job holding onto tech startups, and the surprising connection between a 1920s household robots and Pittsburgh's AI future.This story is part of a Pittsburgh Media Partnership collaborative reporting project exploring how Southwestern Pennsylvania communities are marking America’s 250th anniversary — and how local history continues to shape civic life today. Technical.ly, City Cast Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh’s Public Source teamed up to explore the region’s economic horizons. Learn more about the sponsors of this Monday, June 29th episode: Woodward Summer Camps Athens County Visitors Bureau Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
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    34 mins
  • 'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh

    'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast Pittsburgh
    Jun 28 2026
    Just how good are the sidewalks in Pittsburgh? The state of a city’s sidewalks can be a good indicator of how healthy that city is — and pedestrian safety is just the beginning. In Denver, voters approved a new fee a few years ago to fund much-needed sidewalk repairs, and after a lot of back-and-forth, those repairs are finally underway. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Denver podcast host Bree Davies about what drove this initiative, how it’s going, and who’s paying for it. And speaking of sidewalks, do bikes, scooters, and people playing music belong on public sidewalks? 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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    27 mins
  • Pgh's Next Epidemic? Plus, Trash Talk & Playoff 'Passion'

    Pgh's Next Epidemic? Plus, Trash Talk & Playoff 'Passion'
    Jun 26 2026
    Pennsylvania's state Supreme Court ruled that skill games — like those poker machines you see at gas stations — are effectively the same as gambling. City Cast's Megan Harris, Sophia Lo, and contributor and City Paper managing editor Colin Williams are talking about how and why Pittsburgh's city council is jumping in to set regulations before state legislators make their move. We're also explaining how Pittsburgh accrued 10,000 trash complaints and our history of creative (questionable?) solutions for dealing with excess garbage. Plus, the Hoffman Group officially bought the Penguins, the Citizen Science Lab celebrated a new home, and the Pittsburgh Passion are vying for their fourth national championship. And in today's members-only bonus segment, we're sharing some hacks for making the most out of Anthrocon, Pittsburgh's premiere furry conference, which is open to all! Party with us on the Andy Warhol Bridge! The county is hosting a 100th birthday party for the Warhol Bridge and we're emceeing. Join us on Saturday, June 27 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. More details here. Notes and references from today’s show: Pittsburgh City Council moves quickly to tax 'skill games' and other amusements [WESA] The clock is ticking for Pa. lawmakers to regulate skill games. Here are the hurdles in their way. [Spotlight PA] ‘I’m not going to be alive tomorrow’: Is gambling addiction Pa.’s next public health crisis? [PennLive] Missed trash pick-up complaints have jumped in Pittsburgh [Public Source] The stench of “toasted garbage” once incensed East Enders [City Paper] NHL officially approves sale of Penguins to the Hoffmann Family. Here's what comes next. [KDKA] Learn more about the sponsors of this Friday, June 26th episode: AIDS Free PGH The Frick Pittsburgh Pittsburgh CLO Quantum Theatre Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news? Sign up for our daily morning newsletter. We’re on Instagram @CityCastPgh. Text or leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.
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    40 mins