We’re heading into a long holiday weekend, and if you’ve got family or friends in town, you might be trying to figure out what to do with them — especially if you’ve already hit some of the classics, like visiting a Carnegie museum. City Cast contributor Meg St-Esprit is an expert local tour guide. She’s here to help you plan the perfect Pittsburgh itinerary, whether you’re hosting a first-time visitor or someone who comes back year after year. Check out Meg’s City Paper story about...

Introducing Season 6 | 1. The Raid from This is History: A Dynasty to Die For. Follow the show: This is History: A Dynasty to Die For A young king finds himself locked out of power by his mother and her tyrannical lover. Time is running out, so he decides to take a huge risk and try to take back his country. A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast,...

Dietary restrictions and food allergies can be a real damper on all of the delicious holiday dishes, but they don’t have to be. Pittsburgh food blogger Liz Fetchin is with us to dish on all of the allergy-friendly recipes in her new e-cookbook, An Octofree Thanksgiving. With a grocery list, timeline, and alternatives to comforting classics, Liz will have you ready to serve everyone at your table this season. Follow Liz on Instagram at @octofree and buy her e-book at...

Today is Pittsburgh’s 266th birthday! Well, kind of. Mike Burke, assistant director at the Fort Pitt Museum, is here to explain how and why our city was founded, what the region was like at the time, and why so many people get our birthday wrong. Plus, he shares ways to celebrate Pittsburgh’s special day. Learn more about the sponsor of this November 25th episode: City Theatre Become a member of City Cast Pittsburgh at membership.citycast.fm. Want more Pittsburgh news?  Sign up for our daily...

Introducing How to lower cholesterol in 10 days | Prof. Sarah Berry from ZOE Science & Nutrition. Follow the show: ZOE Science & Nutrition Forty percent of people in the UK and US have high cholesterol. Knowing how to lower it can be confusing. In today’s episode, we simplify the science of cholesterol, drawing from ZOE’s 2021 PREDICT study, which explored its link to the gut microbiome. Dr. Sarah Berry explains the differences between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol, discusses...

It’s the Friday news roundup! It’s Light Up Night weekend in Pittsburgh, and we’re sharing all the things we’re excited to see, including a new themed light show on the Sister Bridges and an interactive art exhibit in Mellon Square. Pittsburgh Public Schools won’t close any district locations yet, and parents are hopeful an alternate plan could win out over a harsher one proposed this fall by consultants. Local businesses are offering free wedding services for queer couples who want to get...

Introducing So, Are We Buying Guns Now? from Hysteria. Follow the show: Hysteria While Trump is busy casting his cabinet and staff picks with former reality stars, Fox News hosts, sex pests, and even some of America’s Worst Women, Alyssa and Erin are here to keep you posted. They discuss the rights and wrongs of the women Trump picked and question who will even make it to the inauguration. Then they ponder the question on a lot of our minds right now: is it time to buy a gun? Finally, they...

We’re getting into the holiday spirits with Pittsburgh’s best, newest, and most over-the-top holiday pop-up bars. From South Side to Blawnox and especially Downtown, there’s no shortage of Christmas and winter-themed cocktails and watering holes this year. So grab your puffy coat, your silliest sweater, and maybe your rain boots – we’re going out with Discover the Burgh’s Jeremy Jones to check them all out. Plus, if you want to double check the opening dates or hours on any of the pop-ups we...

Introducing Gas & Bloating: the causes & how to stop it from ZOE Science & Nutrition. Follow the show: ZOE Science & Nutrition Most of us are familiar with the unpleasant feeling of being bloated. It can happen after eating specific foods or when you experience slower bowel movements. Sometimes, it can be a symptom of an underlying health condition.  To take a closer look at issues related to gas and bloating, we’ve invited a special guest this week: superstar...

We’re heading into the holiday season and that means our airport is about to get crowded. More 300,000 people are expected to fly in and out of Pittsburgh International in just the coming days — and did we mention the airport is still under construction? We’re talking about what to expect if you or a loved one are passing through PIT before the end of the year and our hacks for making your trip as smooth as possible. Plus, level up your airport knowledge by learning how to find cheap flights...

After living in Pittsburgh for more than a decade, host Megan Harris is giving herself a challenge: learn how to say one sentence in a convincing Pittsburgh accent. Actor, voice coach, and speech teacher Don Wadsworth is here to provide a Pittsburghese lesson and break down what exactly makes the dialect so distinct. **This episode originally published on November 7, 2023. Learn more about the sponsors of this November 19th episode: Handmade Arcade Luray Caverns Become a member of City Cast...

Introducing Conquer IBS: 3 steps to healthier digestion from ZOE Science & Nutrition. Follow the show: ZOE Science & Nutrition Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a lot more common than you might think. In fact, it affects 1 in 10 people globally. Yet there are still a lot of questions about why it occurs and how best to treat it.  Could new research connecting gut health to mental health help us unravel its mysteries? In today’s short episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition,...

There’s lots to love about our city, from our beautiful parks to our stunning skyline to our tendency to put fries in salads. But we can admit Pittsburgh isn’t for everyone. If you think Mr. Rogers is creepy or like to drive on a grid, this might not be your place. Host Megan Harris is joined by Pittsburgh City Paper’s Ali Trachta and Stacy Rounds to discuss their list of the 13 people who ain’t gonna make it in Pittsburgh. If you enjoyed today's interview with Luray Caverns Director of...

Introducing Trump's YOLO Cabinet from Pod Save America. Follow the show: Pod Save America Donald Trump goes all in on naming his biggest political boosters to Cabinet posts, whether they're qualified or not (they're not!). Trump wants alleged sex offender Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, vaccine skeptic RFK Jr. for HHS Secretary, dictator sympathizer Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence, Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, and Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy for...

It’s the Friday news roundup! One of the main parking groups around Acrisure Stadium is enforcing abrupt new limits on how many people can tailgate at a single parking space, and Steelers fans are not happy about it headed into the weekend’s big Ravens game. Mayor Ed Gainey released his amended draft budget, the Esplanade development got the green light from the city planning commission, the purple parking curb program is expanding, and there’s good news for some remote city employees missing...

Introducing Should We Unfriend Trump Voters? from Hysteria. Follow the show: Hysteria This week, Erin and Alyssa assembled a super-panel with award-winning journalist Errin Haines, activist and author Julissa Arce, and comedian Megan Gailey. They chat about how things are settling post-election, from what it would really take for a woman to become president to the misguided logic of people who split their vote on abortion. Then, they sound off on a listener's question about whether to...

Thanksgiving is in two weeks, and if you haven’t made dinner plans yet, there’s no need to panic. We’re talking about the best holiday takeout and catering options in Pittsburgh — whether you’re hosting a big family gathering, bringing a dish to a Friendsgiving celebration, or just want a feast for one!  Whether you need some extra sides, pie, or a whole Thanksgiving feast, here’s a cornucopia of takeout options in Pittsburgh.  If we missed your favorite, please let us know. Send us an email...

Introducing Ezra Klein on Where Democrats Go From Here from Pod Save America. Follow the show: Pod Save America Jon and New York Times columnist Ezra Klein, host of The Ezra Klein Show, talk through what we know about how Democrats started to lose working-class and lower-information voters—even before 2024—how social media and interest groups drive those divides, why blue states and cities shifted right, and what progressives can do to tackle the affordability crisis. DISCLAIMER: Please...

It’s not raining enough!! In the city, the county, or the state, and it’s led to drought conditions just as we’re entering campfire season. City Cast Pittsburgh’s Megan Harris & Sophia Lo explain what a drought actually means here, what actions you can take or avoid, and what scientists say they’ll be looking for as climate change keeps changing Southwestern Pennsylvania. Learn more about the sponsors of this November 13th episode: Pittsburgh Opera Handmade Arcade Become a member of City...

Introducing First Look At Trump's Second Term from Pod Save America. Follow the show: Pod Save America Trump begins staffing top roles in his second administration with loyalists and sycophants—and demands that the senators running for majority leader agree to embrace a process that would allow him to appoint whoever he wants without Senate confirmation. Jon, Lovett, and Tommy discuss whether Trump's opening moves are as chilling as we thought they'd be, what we do and don't know about his...

Sweater weather is upon us! If you’re looking for a new winter wardrobe without breaking the bank, consider shopping secondhand. Pittsburgh’s got so many thrift stores, and if you need some help getting started, thrifting expert and sustainable fashion advocate Hannah Horstmyer is joining producer Sophia Lo to share their favorite thrift shops in the city and tips for leaving with a clothing haul you’ll love. Want even more thrift shop recommendations? Check out our list for more new-to-you...

Introducing Trump Won. Now What? from Hysteria. Follow the show: Hysteria After a night of very little sleep and a heartbreaking Harris loss, Erin and Alyssa come together to talk it through. They give down-ballot updates for Congress, state-level races, education, and abortion measures. Then they get into their feelings and try to navigate where this leaves us and a path forward.    For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email...

The 2024 election brought a lot of change, and not just for high-level Republicans. In a handful of states, there were also citizen-led initiatives in consideration, too. They’re sometimes called ballot questions or voter referendums, and they’re one way regular people can go around their lawmakers to pass things like recreational cannabis, abortion protections, a higher minimum wage, and more. They literally give power to the people. But those paths aren’t available to us here in...

Introducing Where We Go From Here from Offline with Jon Favreau. Follow the show: Offline with Jon Favreau Yeah, rough week. Jon and Max reckon with Tuesday’s result and break down how Donald Trump — once again — was able to grow his coalition. They dissect how Trump won despite his very online campaign, not because of it — and why that may be cause for hope. Then they share their own experience knocking doors in swing states, talk about the role misinformation and foreign interference played...