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City Cast Madison

Rob Thomas

Do you know where this slice of pizza is from? (Submitted photo)

There are many podcasts out there about writers and the writing life. But there’s likely only one where the host asks the writer who their favorite Green Bay Packer is.

 hosted by Madison writer Jeff Oloizia, which launched the first episode of its 10-episode debut season last week. Each week, Oloizia, a former New York Times editor, talks to a Wisconsin author about their work, the act of writing, and the ups and downs of making it as a writer in the Midwest, far from the publishing hubs of New York and Los Angeles.

The debut episode, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast players, features Madison essayist 

. The second episode, dropping Wednesday, features “Still True” author Maggie Ginsberg, whose next novel “Daisy Chain” will be released in 2027.

Oloizia talked to City Cast Madison recently about “Writing Forward.”

When I decided once for all that I wanted to stay put here and I wasn’t going back to New York, I thought “What can I make that will challenge me and add something to the literary community here?” I thought about starting a magazine, which in 2026 is a pretty tall order. But things have gotten to a point with podcasting that it’s pretty practical to start it up yourself.

As someone who aspires to publish books himself, I like to listen to people who are in the place that I want to be, talking about it. And I think it’s all the more powerful if they’re from the same place as I am.

Listening to the first episode, it really sounds like a conversation between two writers as opposed to an interview.

My hope is that it’s like overhearing two of your favorite writers in a bar. Which is not to say that I don’t want it to have structure and real purpose. Each of my guests I choose with some themes in mind. Sure, we’ll talk about somebody’s new book, but I really want to have a more holistic conversation about the writing life and their career.

How do you think the show reflects a Wisconsin vibe?

There are certain podcasts that I won’t name that I can’t get through because they’re too pretentious. I’m aware that there’s always that risk, but the kind of writing that I like, not to mention podcasts, definitely have some high and some low. I think that’s a very Wisconsin thing, too. Don’t take yourself too seriously. We’re all just here to have a good time. I want to get into it, but I also want my guests to have a good time.

I think everybody is always happy to talk about craft. You spend four or five years working on a book, and if somebody’s going to ask you how you did it, that’s a dream. But certainly aspects of the writing life, ambition, imposter syndrome.

I feel like it’s the thing that people don’t often get to talk about, especially in Wisconsin, where you aren’t supposed to say the quiet part out loud. But I think there needs to be a place to talk about ambition. I don’t think that’s a dirty word. In some ways we sort of hold ourselves back when we ignore that.

What do you hope listeners take away from “Writing Forward”?

My hope for the podcast is that if people can listen and take away one thing, one little nugget or quote or craft idea that they can apply to their own creative life, I’ll be happy with that. I’m sort of doing the same thing. If I go to a book event or reading, that’s what I’m looking for. I just want to hear people who I admire and whose writing I admire think out loud. I get to have a front row seat to that.

On the new podcast "Writing Forward," Madison writer Jeff Oloizia interviews Wisconsin authors about their writing process, how to be successful as a Midwestern writer.

Madison Writer Starts 'Writing Forward' Podcast

Wisconsin Authors Are an Open Book on New Podcast

Find the best of everything that Madison has to offer.

Madison’s Best

Madison's Best

Madisonian? Recently on the City Cast Madison podcast, we 

talked about the experiences and traits that define a Madison resident

. If you’re not sure where you stand, here’s a quiz on some things that every Madisonian ought to know about their city.

Quiz: Are you a True Madisonian? 

What Madisonians have been wondering. We break down why things in Madison are the way they are and how they work.

Madison, Explained

Happy May! While UW-Madison commencement is the big event this month, there's plenty going on for townies and students alike. Here's your guide to the events you shouldn't miss.

😆 Charlie Berens Gets a Wisconsin Welcome

How popular is Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens? He’s sold out three of his four shows at Overture Hall on May 8 and 9 – 

only a few seats for the late show on May 8 remain

Listen to him on the City Cast Madison podcast

 talk about what makes Wisconsin funny, and his surprisingly serious stance against data centers.

Children’s Theater of Madison is putting on the hit Broadway musical

 about a group of ragtag newspaper boys who rally against their greedy publishers May 2 through 17 in the Starlight Theater at MYArts.

🎉 The Center for Black Excellence’s Grand Opening

Center for Black Excellence and Culture will open its doors on May 6

, with a free grand opening celebration and open house, so you can explore all three levels of this testament to Black resilience and creativity.

Former Wisconsin author Jane Smiley (“A Thousand Acres”) will close out the Wisconsin Book Festival’s spring series with 

a free May 6 event at Madison Central Library

 to talk about her new book “Lidie,” which revisits the main character from her 1998 novel “The All-True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton.”

 on Memorial Day Weekend, May 22 through 24 on Willow Island at Alliant Energy Center. Headliners for the music stages include The Lovin’ Spoonful and Great White.

Acclaimed indie-rock singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett took a few years off, but she’s back with a new album and tour. 

Parrfection Produce Farm Market near Monticello is hosting its 

. There’ll be over 100,000 tulips (minus any that the deer get into), plus food trucks, bouncy houses, and opportunities for lots of beautiful photos.

From Brat Fest to Tulip Fest, from 'Newsies' to Charlie Berens, there's lots going on in Madison this spring.

What to Do in Madison in March 2026

Your Guide to May 2026 in Madison

Over 55 years after they broke up, The Beatles still have a hold on the culture like nobody else. Paul McCartney still sells out stadiums at 83, new books and remastered albums are constantly being released, and 

not one but four movies about the Fab Four are coming

Sean Michael Dargan feels that love for The Beatles when he takes the stage with his tribute band, the 

. While other Beatles cover bands dress up in costumes and moptops, the MMT focus on the music, with its five core members backed up with a 16-piece orchestra.

The Madison Mystery Tour is returning to the Barrymore Theatre on May 2 

 playing some of the band’s most famous singles and most obscure B-sides. Dargan, a fixture on the Madison music scene for years, talked about why it’s still so much fun to play The Beatles.

How did you find yourself in a Beatles tribute band?

I love The Beatles. Always have. They were the first band I really, really loved. I stole all my sister's records. But I hadn't really planned on doing a Beatles tribute, The Beatles tributes that I knew all dressed up like The Beatles and pretended to have a British accent. I didn't really want to be any part of that sort of scene. But these guys just play The Beatles like they play their own stuff, and they try to play it note for note.

How did you hit on the idea of “The Beatles Singles”?

The original premise of the band, which started over 10 years ago, was to play every Beatles album on its 50th anniversary. To be blunt, we ran out of albums and we needed something to keep playing.

The singles idea was just another way to build a show that's a little different than what we've done in the past. It’s the same canon, obviously, just more of a smattering across time. We’re doing A-sides and B-sides, so we’re getting all kinds of flavors of The Beatles.

What’s your favorite A-side to play? And what’s your favorite B-side to play?

A-side – “Let It Be,” and it’s for a purely selfish reason. I’m a guitar player, and no one's gonna confuse me with Paul McCartney on the keyboard. But that's the one song in the world that I actually perform on piano. So it's just a gas. I'm really nervous when I sit down. And I haven't felt nervous about playing, you know, in a rock setting in 40 years. So it's kind of a fun experience.

For B-side, it’s got to be “You Know My Name, Look Up the Number.” It’s just the weirdest song, and we do a really credible version of it. (Keyboardist) Steve Morgan and I take the Paul and John parts and go back and forth. It’s just an absurd song, and it’s really fun to try to pull off.

What’s special about these Barrymore shows?

The five of us are the core band, but when we do these Barrymore shows, we have an orchestra. We're doing “Strawberry Fields Forever,” which has huge orchestration, and we’re doing “I Am the Walrus,” which has huge orchestration.

Still, to this day, as soon as the orchestra kicks in on whatever song we’re playing, I get chills. It’s so cool.

Over a half-century after they broke up, the Beatles still have a huge hold on popular culture. For over a decade, the Madison Mystery Tour has been bringing their music to life on local stages, sometimes backed by a full orchestra.

Meet the Madison Band Who Makes the Beatles Come to Life

The Madison Mystery Tour Is Coming To Take You Away

It’s no exaggeration to say that Baraboo is the center of the circus world. After all, it’s the home of 

, which both keeps the history of the circus alive and brings it into the future with its dazzling Big Top Show and other special events.

, host (and Baraboo’s own) Bianca Martin talks to Circus World’s new attractions director, Scott O’Donnell, about what makes the circus and Circus World such a magical place.

"I never know when the next P.T. Barnum, the next Al Ringling, the next Guy Laliberté, is gonna walk through our doors and they might be three or they might be 30, and this might be the opportunity for that light switch to go off and, and that flame of entrepreneurialship and flame of passion and art form is lit,” O’Donnell said.

One of the things that has kept the circus arts so vibrant is the many different directions that performers can take them. Here’s some places to enjoy the circus arts in Madison, whether you want to see a touring show, enjoy an innovative performance by Madison’s own, or even take a class yourself.

This space on Winnebago Street offers classes in the circus arts, such as aerial and trapeze work from groups like Flying Trapeze Madison and Novel Motion Circus as well as putting on innovative shows that redefine circus performance, such as July’s 

Many Madisonian’s first encounter with this enchanting troupe is their high-flying performances among the majestic trees at the Orton Park Festival. But they host events and classes all year round – their new show, “

The big stages at Overture Hall and the Capitol Theater always lure in world-class touring circus performers and acrobats. Check out 

Started in Madison in 2002, Wild Rumpus offers classes and camps for kids and adults in juggling, clowning, and other circus arts. They operate out of a spacious theater space in Mazomanie and offer shuttles from Madison for campers. They also put on shows in Madison at locations like MYArts.

While Circus World in Baraboo is what put Wisconsin's circus scene on the map, there's lots of acrobatics, clowning and more going on in Madison, from Madison Circus Space to Cycropia Aerial Dance.

Circus Shows in Madison You'll Flip For

Madison’s Circus Scene isn’t Clowning Around

Movie lovers who went to the Barrymore Theatre to see films at the Wisconsin Film Festival earlier this month discovered what a lot of longtime Barrymore fans already knew. In addition to being a great place to see live music or comedy, the historic theater on Atwood Avenue is also a great place to see a movie.

In addition to serving popcorn with real butter in the lobby, the Barrymore has become home to touring short film festivals that showcase snowboarding, trail running, hiking and even some, uh, indoor physical activities. Here’s some of the short film showcases that come back to the Barrymore year after year:

What started in 1976 as a one-day local event in the Albertan mountain town has become a nine-day festival and world tour showcasing “peak performance” across the globe. This year’s festival plays two nights at the Barrymore on April 24 and 25, featuring stories of cave climbers, slopestyle mountain bikers, and ultramarathoners.

 sponsors this short film fest on April 30, with most of the documentaries being centered on Black or Indigenous communities. The anthology includes a “deep dive” into the impact of AI and data centers on waterways, a profile of youth climate change activists protesting uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, and a National Geographic photojournalist training children of color to become the next generation of wildlife photographers.

, this festival usually rolls through the Barrymore Theatre in the fall. Last year’s films followed youth cyclists in La Crosse’s three-day Omnium ride, and a migrant worker in rural China recycling styrofoam boxes by bike.

The annual tour, now in its 20th year, screened at the Barrymore last month, showcasing anglers from Colorado rivers to the deep blue sea.

This popular festival also ran through the Barrymore in March, but you can watch some of the films online through October. The films follow routes that include a quirky marathon in Seattle, an Ecuadorean para-athlete making sure trails are welcoming to all runners, and a “race” between a mountain runner and a BASE jumper.

It’s no surprise that a long-running film festival devoted to winter sports would have such a following in a cold-weather climate like Wisconsin. Look for the follow-up to last year’s “SNO-CIETY” at the Barrymore this fall.

It’s a bit of a homecoming when the indie erotic film festival curated by sex advice columnist and 

In addition to being a favorite spot for live music and comedy, the Barrymore Theatre on Madison's east side hosts one-night-only film festivals all year. Here are some of the favorites, from the Hump! Film Festival to the Wild & Scenic Film Fest.

Short Films to See at Madison's Barrymore Theatre

Your Guide to the Barrymore Theatre’s Fit Film Fests 

Madison has changed a lot since the first issue of Isthmus hit the streets on April 9, 1976. From the city’s exploding growth to turmoil in the streets to game-changing new developments, Madison’s beloved alt-weekly has covered it all.

To celebrate its 50-year milestone, the newspaper is throwing a 

“Isthmus 50 Fest” show this Saturday at Atwood Music Hall

 featuring Madison favorites like Ben Sidran, Mama Digdown’s Brass Band, and more.

, host Bianca Martin talks to Isthmus publisher Jason Joyce and editor/president Judith Davidoff about a half-century of Isthmus in Madison and how the newspaper is celebrating.

For their April anniversary issue, Isthmus editors dug deep into the newspaper archives to find “

,” headlines that captured key moments in Madison’s history. Here are a few of our favorites that they found.

Isthmus’ countercultural bent was evident in this snarky dispatch about the day that State Street was transformed into a pedestrian mall. The debate over 

what to do about State Street still rages today.

On the far side of the Capitol Square, another transformation was taking place. The notorious Main King Tap, a hallmark of King Street’s 

reputation as “Madison’s Red Light District,”

 closes, paving the way for the classier First Settlement District to come decades later.

The long-standing issue of two Madisons – one for white people and one for Black people – was highlighted in this poll, which found that more than half of Black Madisonians strongly disagreed with the idea that they have the same opportunities as their white neighbors. Less than one-fifth of white neighbors strongly disagreed with that statement.

L’Etoile is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year

 and is a nationally-known pioneer in the farm-to-table movement. This profile of founder Odessa Piper captures the moment that she was emerging as a culinary force to be reckoned with.

After decades of public contention, Monona Terrace Convention Center opens on the shore of Lake Monona. This cover story says designer Frank Lloyd Wright would have “loved and hated” the result.

Epic Systems’ decision to move out of Madison and build a sprawling new campus in Verona has “profound and troubling implications” for the region, Marc Eisen writes in this story, including its environmental and economic impact.

Isthmus went big when Overture Center opened its doors downtown, and publisher Vince O’Hern presciently declares “the state of the arts in the city will never be the same.”

‘The Sky’s The Limit,’ Feb. 20, 2009

Construction cranes are a familiar site now on the isthmus, but this story looks at how the downtown skyline is 

beginning to change with ever-taller developments

Wisconsin’s Capitol Protests: A 13-Day Timeline

When public employees took to the streets to protest Gov. Scott Walker’s attempt to repeal Act 10, Isthmus reporters chronicled the twists and turns of the labor fight that drew national attention to Madison.

When an unarmed 19-year-old Tony Robinson was killed in the stairwell of a Williamson Street apartment by a Madison police officer, peaceful but passionate protests erupted about 

police violence and the city’s racial disparities.

Madison alt-weekly Isthmus is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. The editors dug through the archives to look to see how the newspaper covered some momentous moments in local history, from the transformation of State Street to the construction of Epic Systems' Verona campus.

How Isthmus Covered 50 Years of Madison History

The History of Madison in 10 Isthmus Headlines

People, places, and scenes from Madison's past.

Madison History

One single act by itself won’t save the world. One single person on their own won’t save the world. But the message of Earth Day on April 22 is that a lot of people all doing little things to preserve and beautify the planet can achieve big results.

Earth Day has its roots in Wisconsin – U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson founded it in 1970 as a national day to promote environmentalism, and it went global in 1990. 

, host Bianca Martin talks to Curt Meine, a senior fellow with the Aldo Leopold Foundation, about Wisconsin's conservationist tradition.

There are all kinds of family-friendly, thoughtful, and fun ways to celebrate Earth Day and support environmental causes in Madison this week.

Given Earth Day’s Wisconsin roots, UW-Madison goes big for Earth Day with this weeklong series of events. This year’s festivities includes a 

 crafting activity on April 19, a two-day 

symposium by the Center for Ecology and the Environment

 on April 21, featuring a keynote address by Isaias Hernandez, an environmentalist and educator best known online by the moniker 

For the first time, Overture Center is sponsoring a massive clothing swap on April 18. Bring your gently used clothing to the Rotunda lobby to donate this week, then come back Saturday to find new fashions to enjoy.

At the April 18 event, DaneNET will also be accepting donations of electronics that they can refurbish and donate to nonprofits and low-income households.

Get rid of your computers, peripherals and other tech safely at this event sponsored by Hilldale and Goodwill on April 18.

Sign up to volunteer to help clean up Dunn’s Marsh, Swan Creek, and other open spaces in Fitchburg on April 18.

Arts and science meet in this special concert on April 20, where meteorologists and musicians join forces to use climate data to create musical pieces.

Madison Parks is looking for 900 volunteers to clean up over 60 of its parks on April 25. 

Register online and see where volunteers are needed most

, then head out with your neighbors to help keep Madison beautiful.

Earth Day is personal for Wisconsin, because it was U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson who made it a national day to celebrate and promote environmentalism. So there's a lot going on in Madison, including the weeklong Earth Fest at UW-Madison, a clothing swap at Overture Center, and multiple volunteer opportunities.

Your Guide to Earth Day in Madison

How to Celebrate Earth Day 2026 in Madison

You may like pizza, but do you really know pizza? Madison has several popular local pizza restaurants, each serving their own distinctive signature pies. Take our quiz and see how well you know your slices.

Test Your Knowledge of Madison's Iconic Pizzas

The latest on the hottest places to eat, drink, socialize, and talk about in Madison.

The latest on the best and newest restaurants and bars in Madison. We'll help you find where to eat, drink, and socialize.

Madison Food & Drink

Food & Drink

People want to know where their produce comes from, their milk, 

. So why not their meat? As concerns rise about factory farming and the treatment of animals, a new breed of local butcher shops have flourished using the “farm-to-table” model. They partner directly with small-scale Wisconsin farmers so they can tell their customers exactly where that ribeye steak comes from.

 co-owner Pip Freeman about the shop’s commitment to sourcing their meat from Wisconsin farms that treat their animals humanely and provide responsible land stewardship. (Warning: Today’s episode 

Here are some butcher shops around Madison where you can stock up for your Memorial Day cookout and beyond.

This shop on Monona Drive sells pasture-raised beef, pork, lamb and chicken, as well as a curated grocery section and wine, beer and spirits. 

Also make sure to follow them on Instagram

 or sign up for their newsletter to learn about their Thursday sandwich specials – they’re worth planning lunch around.

Started as a retail outlet for the organic food producer Black Earth Meats, this whole animal butcher shop on University Avenue in Shorewood Hills sells a dizzying array of meats, including handmade sausages every Thursday.

As the name suggests, this butcher shop is located on the UW-Madison campus, inside the Meat Science & Animal Biologics Discovery Building. The show sources its products from 2,000 acres of farmland that the university owns for agriculture research in Arlington, as well as other local producers.

While Underground Butcher on Williamson Street 

, its sausage-making business lives on at a facility on East Wilson Street. Its handmade sausages, including soppressata and black garlic salami, are made from humanely-raised high-quality pork.

This Monona Drive institution has been in existence since 1964, and 

is as much of a deli and a grocery store as it is a butcher shop

. Not only can you get a top-quality cut of meat like Ken’s signature burgundy pepper sirloin, you can pick up a seven-layer salad, a loaf of Stella’s cheese bread, and a fresh-baked apple pie as well.

While UW Provision is one of the largest retail and wholesale producers in the Midwest, locals in Middleton flock to its specialty grocery store known as “The Meat Market.” It sells everything you need for a holiday cookout, including UW Provision meat, salads, desserts, beverages, and even grilling tools.

While this Madison OG butcher’s 84-year-old shop on Old Middleton Road closed in 2022, it lives on in Waunakee as a wholesaler and an online retailer. See what’s for sale, place your order, and pick it up at the Athens Grill in Westport.

With summer coming up, you might want to stock up for the next cookout. Here are some of Madison's favorite butcher shops, from Meat People Butcher to Ken's Meat & Deli, many of which work closely with Wisconsin farmers.

The Best Butcher Shops in Madison

These Madison Butcher Shops Are a Cut Above 

Every Wisconsin resident thinks they know what a supper club is. But ask them to define it, or tell you whether a restaurant does or doesn’t qualify, and it might spark a serious debate.

To help settle the arguments, former Madison Magazine editor-in-chief Andrea Behling asked her readers to come up with 

a list of “essential supper club criteria.”

 City Cast Madison podcast host Bianca Martin talked to Behling

, from wood paneling to French onion soup.

Here’s a list of Madison-area restaurants that definitely qualify for supper club status.

Behling wrote that she knew within the first few seconds of entering this iconic restaurant that it qualified as a supper club. Hit the restaurant for a perfectly cooked ribeye or a shrimp cocktail, or crowd at the bar for the perfect martini.

You can savor the Wisconsin supper club tradition without traveling far from Madison, hitting historic spots like Tornado Steak House, Kavanaugh's Esquire Club, and Mariner's Inn. 

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Test Your Knowledge of Madison's Iconic Pizzas

Rob Thomas

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