Episodes

  • Why East Portland Doesn’t Have Sidewalks

    Why East Portland Doesn’t Have Sidewalks
    Feb 24 2025
    Today we’re revisiting a conversation with one of the city’s experts on East Portland: former state legislator and former Portland commissioner Randy Leonard. He lived in East Portland from the ‘80s until not long ago. Leonard is here to talk about the history of the area, the political consequences that led to its lack of infrastructure, and how these issues might come into play in the next couple of years. This episode originally aired on October 3, 2024. 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, Hey Portland, 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 February 24th episode: Treefort Music Fest Portland Jazz Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Why Do Republicans Hate Oregon’s Wildfire Map? Plus, More Old Town Drama & New Housing Ideas

    Why Do Republicans Hate Oregon’s Wildfire Map? Plus, More Old Town Drama & New Housing Ideas
    Feb 21 2025
    Today on City Cast Portland, we are talking about the first meeting of the city’s new housing committee, an eyebrow raising $7 million the city is lending to a startup, and why Republican state legislators want to do away with a statewide wildfire hazard map. Host Claudia Meza is joined by Willamette Week reporter and author Brianna Wheeler along with our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today’s Episode: A $7 Million Loan From Prosper Portland to an Athletic Wear Campus in Old Town Flouts the Agency’s Risk Guidelines [Willamette Week] New Housing Committee Takes on Portland's Affordability Crisis [Portland Mercury] New Council Committee Grapples With Portland’s Slipping Climate Goals [Portland Mercury] Oregon House and Senate Republicans Want To Do Away With Statewide Wildfire Risk Map [KGW8] 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, Hey Portland, 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 February 21st episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Treefort Music Fest Portland Jazz Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • Have We Hit Our Tipping Point With Tipping?

    Have We Hit Our Tipping Point With Tipping?
    Feb 20 2025
    Today we’re revisiting a conversation about the cultural norms surrounding tipping. Now that seemingly every business interaction feels like it ends with a tip screen, we asked ourselves: What are the new rules of tipping in Portland? And have we just reached a tipping point with tipping? Helping host Claudia Meza dig into this are City Cast director of digital strategy Bryan M. Vance and our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni, and you, our listeners! This episode originally aired on September 25, 2024 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, Hey Portland, 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 February 20th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Treefort Music Fest Portland Jazz Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 mins
  • What Trump Cuts Mean for Oregon Right Now. Plus, National Parks TikTok Drama

    What Trump Cuts Mean for Oregon Right Now. Plus, National Parks TikTok Drama
    Feb 19 2025
    Federal workforce layoffs, funding freezes, and internet beef between two Pacific Northwest mountains are on the table for today’s midweek roundup. There’s also news from OHSU about a new early-detection test for pancreatic cancer and comments from our listener mailbag. Joining host Claudia Meza on this midweek roundup is our very own senior producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today’s Episode: Mass Layoffs at Bonneville Power Administration Raise Concerns About Reliability of Power Grid [KGW] Oregon Senators Call for Federal Firefighters To Be Exempt From Hiring Freeze [OPB] OHSU Researchers Develop Test for Earlier Detection of Pancreatic Cancer [Wilamette Week] Court Pause on Trump Cuts to Medical Research Funds Is Expanded Nationwide [New York Times] 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, Hey Portland, 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 February 19th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Treefort Music Fest Portland Jazz Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 mins
  • Where To Soak and Steam Away the Winter Freeze in Portland

    Where To Soak and Steam Away the Winter Freeze in Portland
    Feb 18 2025
    There are so many options to soak and steam in spas around Portland that picking just the right one can be overwhelming. Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking with Oregonian life and culture reporter, and self-proclaimed spa expert, Lizzy Acker. She has a look inside our area’s best saunas and soaking pools — from clothing-optional hideaways to outdoor escapes. 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, Hey Portland, 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 February 18th episode: Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Treefort Music Fest Portland Jazz Festival Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Cancer Researchers Tackle Car Thieves, More on Sortis Holdings, and Who Runs Old Town?

    Cancer Researchers Tackle Car Thieves, More on Sortis Holdings, and Who Runs Old Town?
    Feb 14 2025
    Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about the closing of Sizzle Pie’s original East Burnside location and how it relates to parent company Sortis Holdings’ economic woes. We also discuss the tense drama that’s been unfolding within the Old Town Chinatown Community Association surrounding a proposed skatepark. Finally, some surprising heroes are behind the recent decrease in Portland car thefts. Host Claudia Meza joins City Cast director of digital strategy Bryan M. Vance and senior producer Giulia Fiaoni for this week’s Friday news roundup. Discussed in Today’s Episode: Portland Pizza Chain Sizzle Pie To Close Original Location 1 Month After Union Vote [The Oregonian] Sortis Holdings Bought Up Portland Brands in the Pandemic. Now It’s Struggling To Pay Its Bills [The Oregonian] Tensions Bubble in Old Town Over Who Gets To Decide What Progress Looks Like [Willamette Week] Portland Car Thefts Decline by More Than 50% Over 2-Year Period, PPB Data Shows [KOIN] WATCH: Portland Police, Cancer Researchers Crack Down on Car Thieves [KOIN] How To Plan This Summer’s Outdoor Adventures Before it’s Too Late [City Cast Portland] The Perfect Road Trip to the Southern Oregon Coast [City Cast Portland] 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, Hey Portland, 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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • Why the Piedmont Neighborhood Claims To Have Portland’s Most Beloved Park

    Why the Piedmont Neighborhood Claims To Have Portland’s Most Beloved Park
    Feb 13 2025
    Portland’s Piedmont residents are surrounded by some of our city’s best neighborhood business districts, but can they claim them as their own? We’re continuing our neighborhood guide series with a trip through the restaurants, parks, and bikeways of this neighborhood straddling North and Northeast Portland. Today we’re talking with longtime Piedmont resident and BikePortland publisher and editor Jonathan Maus. 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, Hey Portland, 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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 mins
  • The Surprising History of Our Local Exports, From Dutch Bros to Jacobsen Salt

    The Surprising History of Our Local Exports, From Dutch Bros to Jacobsen Salt
    Feb 12 2025
    Portland is famous for its music, coffee, craft beer, and a little sneaker brand called Nike — but our city and state’s influence goes far beyond that. Today on City Cast Portland, producers John Notarianni and Giulia Fiaoni join host Claudia Meza to talk about some of the best and most surprising Oregon products and brands. 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, Hey Portland, 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 your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 mins