Summer Buggin’, Mayoral Announcement, and Parasites in Produce
On top of the heat and the smoke, Madison had been pretty buggy this summer. Host Bianca Martin and executive producer Hayley Sperling chat with Wisconsin’s Bug Guy extraordinaire PJ Liesch, director of the Insect Diagnostic Lab at UW-Madison, to learn about what’s up in Madison’s insect world, plus how worried we should be about that case of West Nile Virus. Then Bianca and Hayley dig into Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway reelection announcement and the parasite on our produce wreaking havoc on stomachs across the nation.
Mentioned on the show:
Wisconsin Insect Fest [Olbrich Center]
West Nile virus found in Wisconsin: What to know [Cap Times]
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway to announce reelection bid Thursday [Wisconsin State Journal]
Pete Buttigieg Happy Hour [Act Blue]
Authorities Investigate Taco Bell and lettuce as cyclosporiasis outbreak surges [Washington Post]
Preventing Cyclosporiasis [FDA]
👋 Wanna talk to us about an episode? Leave us a voicemail at 608-318-3367 or email madison@citycast.fm. We’re also on Instagram!
👀 While you’re here…take our annual audience survey! It’s just a few minutes of your time and it will help us make better shows and newsletters to better serve you. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card and City Cast City swag.
📧 You can get more Madison news delivered right to your inbox by subscribing to the City Cast Madison morning newsletter.
🏠 Get more from City Cast Madison when you become a City Cast Madison Neighbor. You’ll enjoy perks like ad-free listening, invitations to members only events, and more. Join the City Cast Madison Neighbors program!
Looking to advertise on City Cast Madison? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads. Learn more about the sponsors of this July 17th episode:
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Latest Episodes
What To Know About Nov. 3 Election, Plus 90s Nostalgia Is Strong in Madison
It’s one week until election day and races are (predictably) tight statewide. Dan Shafer, founder of the Recombobulation Area substack, j...
Mayor Drops Out of Race, Madison’s Real Life Shop of Horrors, and What To Do This Halloween
With still months to go before the February primary, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has announced that she’s ending her bid for a thir...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Is Chicago More Prepared for Climate Change Than Every Other City? — Presented By City Cast Madison
How prepared is Madison to deal with the effects of climate change? In a recent report, Chicago was ranked as the most climate resilient...
Council Fires Police Monitor, a Train Is Coming, and Get Ready To Vote
This week, by a vote of 14-6, the Madison City Council terminated the contract of Interim Independent Police Monitor Aeiramique Glass. Du...
Madison’s Best New Restaurants of Fall 2026
An Asian bistro on the Square, a hibachi and ramen spot on the east side, and a rooftop restaurant at the Madison Museum of Contemporary...
National Geographic Says Visit Madison. Plus What Is in Store for Midwest Vintage Flea
Our dear city of Madison just made National Geographic’s list of “The Best Places in the World to Travel to in 2027.” The list highlights...
A Peek Inside Madison’s Jaw-Dropping Concert Organ, Plus What's on Deck For MSO
Madison’s Overture Hall is home to a 30-ton pipe organ that’s so massive that it moves on giant tracks. City Cast Madison Host Bianca Mar...
Wisconsin Needs Solutions To Support Black Pregnancies
Black infants in Wisconsin are nearly three times more likely than white babies to die before their first birthdays. Cap Times health and...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Salt Lakers are Adopting Storm Drains — Presented By City Cast Madison
How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Madison? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm dr...
City Mulls Police Monitor Contract, County Budget Concerns, and New YMCA Breaks Ground
The Madison Common Council is set to vote on whether to terminate the interim independent police monitor on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Whether or...