Episodes

  • Oregon Wine Loses a Legend, Picks For Your Next Beach Read, and Best Frozen Dessert Spots

    Oregon Wine Loses a Legend, Picks For Your Next Beach Read, and Best Frozen Dessert Spots
    Jul 6 2026
    Today we're talking about the legacy of one of the winemakers who helped put Willamette Valley on the map. We also have recommendations for the best summer reads and cool treats that are not technically ice cream (but are delicious). Joining host Claudia Meza are local food and drink reporter Alex Frane and senior artistic director at Literary Arts, ⁠⁠Amanda Bullock⁠⁠. Discussed in today's episode: ⁠⁠Joe Campbell, co-founder of Elk Cove Vineyards, dies at 87⁠⁠ [Oregonian] ⁠⁠Phelp’s Creek Vineyards⁠⁠ Summer reads: ⁠⁠Scavengers by Kathleen Boland⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Homebound by Portia Elan⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Famous Men by Julie Buntin⁠⁠ Icy treats: ⁠⁠Kulfi⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Cornet Custard⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Ice Queen⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Kate's Ice Cream⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Pinolo Gelato⁠⁠ Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.⁠ ⁠ Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at ⁠⁠portland@citycast.fm⁠⁠, or leave us a voicemail at ⁠⁠503-208-5448⁠⁠. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our ⁠⁠morning newsletter⁠⁠ and be sure to follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at ⁠⁠citycast.fm/advertise⁠⁠. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 6th episode: ⁠⁠D'Amore Law⁠⁠
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • 'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast Portland

    'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast Portland
    Jul 3 2026
    See if your Portland 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.
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Why We're Losing Over 1,000 Shelter Beds, a Psilocybin Pioneer Is Pivoting, and More of Portland's Pettiest Gripes

    Why We're Losing Over 1,000 Shelter Beds, a Psilocybin Pioneer Is Pivoting, and More of Portland's Pettiest Gripes
    Jul 2 2026
    Today on City Cast Portland, we're talking about how over a thousand Portland-area shelter beds are closing before the end of the year and what that means to our Mayor’s efforts to end unsheltered homelessness, why a leading psilocybin therapy center is no longer treating patients. Plus, we’re weighing in on Portland’s pettiest gripes. Joining host Claudia Meza are Oregonian homelessness reporter Lillian Mongeau Hughes and Willamette Week reporter and author Brianna Wheeler. Discussed in today's episode: ⁠Report Fireworks in Portland⁠ ⁠More than 1,100 homeless shelter beds to close in Portland area by year’s end⁠ [Oregonian] ⁠In Change of Tack, Major Portland Psilocybin Service Center Closes⁠ [Willamette Week] Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up ⁠here⁠.⁠ ⁠ Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at ⁠portland@citycast.fm⁠, or leave us a voicemail at ⁠503-208-5448⁠. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our ⁠morning newsletter⁠ and be sure to follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at ⁠citycast.fm/advertise⁠. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 2nd episode: ⁠pFriem Beer⁠
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Your Guide to July 2026 in Portland

    Your Guide to July 2026 in Portland
    Jul 1 2026
    Whether you’re watching fantastical kinetic sculptures race each other, catching some live music, or slurping down a slushie, July is when our Portland summer hits its peak. And to help you have the most memorable July ever, the team at City Cast Portland has rounded up their top picks in food, entertainment and everything in between. Discussed in today's episode: ⁠Stumptown Savings Farmers Market Directory ⁠ Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up ⁠here⁠. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at ⁠portland@citycast.fm⁠, or leave us a voicemail at ⁠503-208-5448⁠. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our ⁠morning newsletter⁠ and be sure to follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at ⁠citycast.fm/advertise⁠.
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
  • Why Councilor Angelita Morillo Is Prepared To Lose the Blazers. Plus, City Hall Drama and Saving City Jobs

    Why Councilor Angelita Morillo Is Prepared To Lose the Blazers. Plus, City Hall Drama and Saving City Jobs
    Jun 30 2026
    We're talking with District 3 Portland City Councilor Angelita Morillo about the interpersonal dynamics of City Council, the Moda Center renovations, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and much more. Councilor Morillo is the youngest councilor currently serving in Portland and is also part of the six-member City Council progressive caucus known as Peacock. Discussed in today's episode: Avatar: The Last Airbender Dueling Plans to Restore Public Safety Services and Jobs Emerge in City Council [Willamette Week] Reporting Live: City Council’s Contentious Budget Meeting [Portland Mercury] Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter and be sure to follow us on Instagram. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 30th episode: pFriem Beer
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • The Best Summer Food Events, Portland Vs. Chicago Dining, and Clackamas County's $200K Scandal

    The Best Summer Food Events, Portland Vs. Chicago Dining, and Clackamas County's $200K Scandal
    Jun 29 2026
    A Clackamas County official is accused of stealing over $200,000 of tax payer money. Plus, we have picks for the best summer food events and a highly scientific comparison of the Portland and Chicago dining scenes. Joining City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza are local food reporters Brooke Jackson-Glidden and Alex Frane. Discussed in today's episode: Fired pest control official accused of stealing $200K to buy drones, other goods to keep or sell [Oregonian] 6th Annual Tomato Fest Summer Supper 2026 9th Annual PDX Hot Sauce Expo Donald Daze Hazelnut Festival North Plains Elephant Garlic Hermiston Melon Fest Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up here. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at portland@citycast.fm, or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter and be sure to follow us on Instagram. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • 'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast Portland

    'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast Portland
    Jun 28 2026
    Just how good are the sidewalks in Portland? 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.
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Why Portland’s Affordability Is Tanking, and the Moda Center Deal Is Getting Rockier. Plus, 911 Operator Response Times Improve!

    Why Portland’s Affordability Is Tanking, and the Moda Center Deal Is Getting Rockier. Plus, 911 Operator Response Times Improve!
    Jun 26 2026
    We're talking about improved wait times for emergency calls, what happened at the big Moda Center renovation business summit, and why it’s getting more and more expensive to live in Portland. Joining City Cast Portland host Claudia Meza are Willamette Week City Hall reporter Sophie Peel and Oregonian City Hall reporter Shane Dixon Kavanaugh. Discussed in today's episode: ⁠Portland 911 call wait times improving, audit finds⁠ [OPB] ⁠Dundon Offers Brief Remarks and Elected Officials Urge Moda Center Renovation at Business Summit⁠ [Willamette Week] ⁠Portland’s cost of living is ballooning as city tax, fee increases pile up. Residents feel the pain⁠ [Oregonian] Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up ⁠here⁠. Who would you like to hear on City Cast Portland? Shoot us an email at ⁠portland@citycast.fm⁠, or leave us a voicemail at ⁠503-208-5448⁠. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our ⁠morning newsletter⁠ and be sure to follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠. Looking to advertise on City Cast Portland? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at ⁠citycast.fm/advertise⁠. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 26th episode: ⁠Portland Bureau of Transportation⁠ ⁠SAIF⁠ ⁠Grand Central Bakery⁠
    Show More Show Less
    41 mins