Oregon has a reputation in popular culture for its long and weird history with cults. Whether it was for the cheap abundant land, mystic moody vibes, or just the lack of competition from organized religion, many groups have come to our state and set up new eyebrow-raising belief systems. Today, we’re talking with Kick Ass Oregon History podcast host Doug Kenck-Crispin about the impact of a few of our state’s most notorious cults – and even one group that exists today.      Mentioned in...

Introducing Stop dementia before it starts from ZOE Science & Nutrition. Follow the show: ZOE Science & Nutrition How early should you start taking dementia seriously? Here’s 5 things you can do now to reduce dementia risk today. Professor Claire Steves and Jonathan Wolf explore the multifaceted world of dementia. They delve into the significance of dental health, genetics, diet, and physical activity — plus, they unpack the latest research — to give you practical strategies...

Portland Public Schools started enforcing strict policies for cellphone-free campuses in response to concerns over teachers struggling to hold students’ attention. But is it working? Today, we’re talking with Willamette Week arts and culture reporter Rachel Saslow. She visited one of the high schools with an active phone ban and has an inside look at how everyone is adjusting to their new reality. Previous episodes mentioned: Why a Portland Restaurant Closed for Smelling Like Food [City Cast...

Introducing What to eat to avoid osteoporosis from ZOE Science & Nutrition. Follow the show: ZOE Science & Nutrition 🥑 Make smarter food choices. Become a member at zoe.com - 10% off with code PODCAST Every 12 years, our skeletons undergo a complete transformation. Prof. Tim Spector and Prof. Cyrus Cooper discuss how to avoid Osteoporosis, a condition where bones become fragile, significantly increases the risk of fractures from minor incidents, often without any noticeable...

Today on City Cast Portland, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D, Ore.) is talking to us between sessions to share his thoughts on Portland’s new form of city government, what Oregon can do to brace itself for another Trump administration, and his next steps as he approaches retirement. 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 [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at...

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,...

Hiking during the rainy season can be a tough sell, because let’s be real: No one likes getting soaked outdoors. But once you know how to do it, going for a hike in the rain comes with some perks you won’t get at any other time of year. Today, we’re revisiting a conversation with Norther Emily of Wild Solitude Guiding. She has some picks for where you should visit when the rain falls — and how to maybe even stay dry while you’re doing it.  This conversation originally aired on Nov 2,...

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...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about the dwindling prospects of Oregon landing more tech jobs, our new city leaders' stance on much-needed climate action, and our city starting to tow vehicles without notice. Joining host Claudia Meza on this week’s Friday news roundup are Portland Business Journal reporter Malia Spencer and our very own executive producer, John Notarianni. Discussed in Today’s Episode: Oregon’s Chance for Semiconductor Hub Diminished by Trump Victory, Intel...

Introducing 8 foods that soothe anxiety | Dr. Uma Naidoo from ZOE Science & Nutrition. Follow the show: ZOE Science & Nutrition 1 in 3 people have anxiety. It’s the most common mental health disorder in the world. And many of us know what anxiety feels like: palms sweating before a job interview, losing your appetite before a looming deadline, a pit in your stomach when you get bad news. It’s not just in your head, it’s in your gut. Today, we’ll learn how food could help us...

Today, we’re welcoming back Brooke Jackson-Glidden, Portland Monthly’s editor in chief (and previous editor of Eater Portland) to hear about some of the best new restaurants you need to try this season. From fish sauce bacon to farm-fresh cider, she’s got the ultimate list of where to taste some of the best dishes in Portland right now.  Restaurants discussed in today’s episode: Mémoire Cà Phê Phaya Thai Express Bua of Siam Bauman’s on Oak Bar Loon Fallow’s Rest Wild Bark City...

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...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about why ambulance response times are improving and what to expect from our almost entirely brand-new county commissioners. We're also looking at some other positive headlines we missed during election week. Joining host Claudia Meza on this midweek round-up is our very own producer, Giulia Fiaoni. Discussed in Today’s Episode: Multnomah County: Ambulance Response Times ‘Trending in the Right Direction’ [KOIN] Multnomah County Voters Want...

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...

If a major disaster hits Portland, the city will rely not just on professional first responders, but a trained team of volunteers. There are, after all, over 600,000 people in Portland and only about 700 sworn firefighters. So today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking with Glenn Devitt, community resilience coordinator for the Portland Bureau of Emergency Management. He trains and oversees the Neighborhood Emergency Team or NET volunteers. These are your neighbors who will probably be the...

Introducing Will fermented foods improve my gut health? from ZOE Science & Nutrition. Follow the show: ZOE Science & Nutrition Fermentation is a hot craze in fancy restaurants around the world. And fermented foods, like kombucha and kimchi, are even sold in corner stores.  Listeners of this show will have heard that fermented foods might benefit our gut health. But these foods make us uneasy. The idea of letting food rot, then eating it goes against everything our parents...

Today on City Cast Portland, Norther Emily, owner of the wilderness skills school and guide service Wild Solitude, is here to help us plan the perfect road trip to the Southern Oregon coast. Summer is an obvious time to go, but Oregon has something that most states don't: beaches that get better during the fall. The landscapes are moodier, the tide pools wilder, and if you keep driving south, the weather can be milder. So go pack some boots and a raincoat, Norther is sharing all the best...

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...

Today on City Cast Portland, we’re talking about Portland’s new mayor-elect, as well as breaking down the City Council races and a handful of headlines that have absolutely nothing to do with the election. Joining host Claudia Meza are KBOO news director Althea Billings and Jake Weigler, a local political strategist and partner at the consulting firm Praxis. Discussed in Today’s Episode: 2024 Oregon General Election Results [Oregonian]  Elections Results [Multnomah County...

Introducing Making Sense of Trump's Win from Pod Save America. Follow the show: Pod Save America After a night of resounding losses and a nationwide lurch to the right, Jon, Lovett, Tommy, and Dan begin to sift through the pieces—what we know, and we don't, about the race Democrats ran, what voters are looking for, and how to endure the turmoil of a second Trump term.   For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email...

Whether it’s the post-election blues or the endless rain, it can be hard to stay active in the late fall and winter in Portland. But there’s still plenty of fun stuff to do, even when it’s wet outside! Today, we’re revisiting a conversation with our resident fun expert, Eden Dawn — co-author of “The Portland Book of Dates” and the “Seattle Book of Dates.” Dawn talks with host Claudia Meza about all the best places to go and the most fun things to do during our cold, rainy season — that don’t...

Introducing What Now with Brittany Howard from Good Game with Sarah Spain. Follow the show: Good Game with Sarah Spain As we take time to process the state of our nation, here’s Sarah’s espnW Summit interview with Grammy award winning musician Brittany Howard, formerly of Alabama Shakes. They discuss Brittany’s unbelievable vocal talent, her childhood, and playing for and with her musical heroes. Plus they imagine what their future farms will look like. Watch the Prince video Sarah...

The City Cast Portland team stayed up until 2 a.m. so you didn’t have to: We’ve got the winners of some key local races, and a few surprising frontrunners in the ones that are still too early to call. 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 [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 503-208-5448. Want more Portland news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter,...

After a year of intense campaigns, countless candidates, and more podcast episodes than we can count, Election Day is finally here! Today, we're bringing you a local election preview with a final look at some of the biggest races, and what to expect once the polls close — like, how soon we might actually have results. Joining host Claudia Meza to help make sense of it all is KBOO news director Althea Billings.  Become a member of City Cast Portland today! Get all the details and sign up...