City Cast Madison logo

The Best Podcasts in Madison (That Aren’t City Cast Madison)

Posted on November 11, 2025   |   Updated on November 12, 2025
Rob Thomas

Rob Thomas

Four people talking around a table covered in microphones and laptops.

City Cast Madison isn't the only game in town when it comes to podcasts! (Hayley Sperling / City Cast Madison)

You don’t have to tell us here at City Cast Madison that podcasts are a great way to connect with your city. Whether you’re driving in your car, doing the dishes or going for a run, we’ve always got our earbuds in listening to something.

UW-Madison’s Center For Campus History has used long-form documentary podcasts to explore the history behind some of the university’s most complicated issues. After looking into campus policing in its first season, the new season of “Reorientation” delves into campus housing, and how decisions made a century ago have created the expensive, competitive housing market we see today.

On the City Cast Madison podcast today, host Bianca Martin talks to “Reorientation” co-host Kacie Lucchini Butcher about researching 150 years of campus housing history and bringing it to life.

City Cast

Can College Students Afford to Live in Madison?

00:00:00

Here are some other locally-made podcasts that are still going strong to bring Madison into your headphones.

Buzz Kemper of Audio of the Arts interviews UW-Madison professors on a variety of topics, from regulating eco-anxiety to Wisconsin’s cranberry crops.

Host Angela Russell illuminates and celebrates the lives of Black residents in Wisconsin. The podcast has been on hiatus for a few months but is coming back with new episodes.

Former City Council candidate Noah Lieberman’s new podcast looks at local and state issues from a progressive perspective, featuring interviews with Madison leaders.

Pam Jahnke, aka the “Fabulous Farm Babe,” reports on the latest farm news in this daily podcast, from Wisconsin’s honey yield to the latest agriculture bills before the Legislature.

Therapist and CEO Myra Renee interviews people who have gone beyond their intentions and made real, positive change in their communities.

Zach Heilprin of the Wisconsin Sports Zone Network hosts this podcast about the ins and outs of Wisconsin Badgers football. He finally had some good news on this week’s episode about the Badgers’ upset win over Washington.

The official podcast of Discover Wisconsin features hosts Andrea Boehlke and Megan Christian cozying up with Badger State topics, from travel tips to tales of Wisconsin history.

Onetime City Cast Madison producer and former West Coaster Phil Surkis overcomes his midwestern culture shock by interviewing Madisonians, including our own Bianca Martin!

Miss that last Madison City Council meeting you were interested in? The city has a wealth of podcasts for all kinds of city meetings to catch you up, along with “Know Your Candidate” interviews.

Want to start your own business, or hear about somebody else who did? Madison entrepreneurs Therese Merkel of Tricky Foods and Shelby Olstad of Miggy’s Bakes talk to Wisconsinites who pursued their dreams, including Craig Culver of Culver’s.

Madison365 created this weekly podcast digging into the news involving Madison’s citizens of color and their allies. Recent news stories have included the state of Wisconsin’s FoodShare program and digging into a false news story about Urban Triage.

Madison life coach Alecia Jacobson interviews women who have faced great challenges in their lives and discovered their inner resilience and strength.

Pour yourself a pint and listen to Brian Hanson talk about the local craft brew scene, including hearing the origin stories of local brewers.

A group of friends who studied philosophy in college get together to talk about how the ideas of history’s great thinkers can be applied to modern life.

Share article

Hey Madison

Sign up for your free daily toolkit to get the most of the city you love.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Madison's Best

See All
Madison's BestJuly 31

Madison’s Best: Your Guide To August 2026 in Madison

Discover the best events, festivals, and activities in Madison this August 2026. Don't miss out on the ultimate summer highlights—plan yo...

The City Cast Madison team stands in front of a pop-up tent at the 2025 Magic Pride Festival.
Madison's BestJuly 17

An AC/DC Fan’s Guide to Madison

Get all the details for the AC/DC Power Up Tour at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison! Discover how to get tickets, show times, and where to...

Brian Johnson of AC/DC stands on stage with his arms extended out the side during a concert in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Madison's BestJuly 7

A Phish Head’s Survival Guide to Madison

Are you going to see Phish in Madison at the Kohl Center this week? Here’s what to know, from your chance to score last-minute tickets to...

A crowd of people wearing colorful t-shirts and bracelets smile at a Phish concert.
Madison's BestJuly 1

Your Guide To July 2026 in Madison

Plan your perfect July in Madison with our ultimate guide. Discover top summer events like Fete de Marquette, Maxwell Street Days, and At...

A large group of people sit at tables on a terrace overlooking the beach.
Madison's BestJune 16

How To Celebrate Juneteenth 2026 in Madison

June 19 is Juneteenth, the day that America celebrates the end of slavery. But there are events all week in Madison to commemorate the ho...

A group of people walk down the street on a sunny day in a parade celebrating Juneteenth. People in the front hold a banner that reads "June 19, 1865."
Madison's BestJune 10

How to Celebrate Pride Month 2026 in Madison

The city’s biggest LGBTQ+ gathering, OutReach Magic Pride Festival, isn’t actually until August, but there are still plenty of ways to ce...

A group of 6 people sit on a bench smiling, looking on at the Middleton Pride Festival
Madison's BestJune 3

Your Guide to Frank Lloyd Wright's Madison

Legendary designer Frank Lloyd Wright called Madison home and he left his mark on the city. Here's some of his most famous buildings, fro...

A building with glass windows and a triangular roof.
Madison's BestJune 2

Your Guide to June 2026 in Madison

If you’re looking for a page-turner to take to the beach this summer, UW-Madison graduate Joseph Eckert is coming back to town to Lake Ci...

A group of people at tables in front of a marble building.

The latest in Madison

Madison, ExplainedAugust 3

How State Government Is Reducing Its Footprint in Madison

Wisconsin is shrinking its downtown Madison office space. Learn how the long-term Vision 2030 plan will change the state government's phy...

A gray multi-story building in downtown Madison.
Food & DrinkJuly 30

The Best New Restaurants in Madison

This month’s list of the area’s best new restaurants includes a new outpost for a wildly popular local pizza chain, a new sushi spot near...

Two people standing at a counter at a pizza restaurant.
Madison NewsJuly 29

Listen to Our Interviews with Wisconsin’s Candidates for Governor

There are still seven candidates in the running for Wisconsin governor. Find out where they stand on the issues.

Four voting stations sit empty in front of a windows on a sunny day
Madison NewsJuly 29

Site of Corey Ruiz Shooting Becomes a Living Memorial

Protesters close Madison blocks for a Corey Ruiz memorial site, sparking debate over safety and traffic. Chief Patterson shares no new up...

A sprawling makeshift memorial for Corey Ruiz with flowers and candles.
Madison, ExplainedJuly 28

Meet the Madison Democrats Running For Assembly District 76

Find information about the candidates running for Wisconsin's Assembly District 76 seat in the upcoming primary election.

Five political candidates sit on a stage with microphones in front of them.
Madison, ExplainedJuly 28

Your Guide to the August Primary Election in Wisconsin

Get ready for the Wisconsin election on August 11. Learn where to vote in Madison, what ID to bring, how to vote early, and mail-in ballo...

A white sign with a United States flag image and the words “VOTE HERE VOTE AQUI” stands upright in front of a Madison municipal building.
Madison NewsJuly 27

Here’s the Latest on the Corey Ruiz Shooting

AtwoodFest and local concerts are cancelled following the Corey Ruiz shooting. Plus, Willy Street remains closed as police records are su...

A group of protestors stand outside a brick building. One holds a sign that reads "MURDER."
Madison NewsJuly 23

Photos: Madison Reacts To Deadly Police Shooting

On July 22, protesters took to the streets of Madison after the fatal shooting by police of a young Black man at the intersection of Will...

A man in a gray hooded sweatshirt speaks into a microphone in a crowd.