Best Smart Biking Podcasts (2024)

1
A New Union Station, D.C.'s Media Failures, and Foxtrot's Demise 27:57

8h ago27:57

27:57

Washingtonian’s Andrew Beaujon joins the team to talk about the future of Union Station, the future of D.C. media, and the future — or lack thereof — of the Foxtrot food chain. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8 a month. Inter…

1
Metro's Stance on Price Hikes, Fare Evasion, and the Funding Crisis 27:03

1d ago27:03

27:03

Metro is voting on their proposed 2025 budget TODAY. To explain it all, we sat down with Randy Clarke, who runs the Metro system. Clarke’s new budget proposal isn’t full of the kinds of draconian cuts that were on the table last year, but he’s still managing a lot of the challenges — and, according to him, a lot of the opportunities — that come wit…

1
Could Connecticut Avenue’s Bike Lane Be Resurrected? 18:00

2d ago18:00

18:00

Recently, D.C.’s Department of Transportation announced that the bike lane planned for Connecticut Avenue was no more. Sauleh Siddiqui, who represents a portion of Cleveland Park, joined us to explain if the bike lane could make a comeback in future transportation plans, and what it says about how D.C. treats multimodal transportation. Sauleh joine…

1
DCPS Cuts, Wydown Unionization, and the Real Housewives of D.C. 25:44

3d ago25:44

25:44

To get into today’s news and culture updates, City Cast DC producer Ashe Durban and Washington City Paper’s Cat Sposato join the show to chat about DCPS facing major cuts, a D.C. coffee staple unionizing, and Real Housewives of D.C. finally being released on streaming. We wanted to issue a quick correction for some misstatements in this episode. Yo…

1
Personalized Spinal Bracing Made Reality with Additive Manufacturing 36:22

4d ago36:22

36:22

Additive manufacturing (AM) isn't just shaping the future of medical devices, it is actively changing lives. As it opens new possibilities for patient care around the globe, innovative 3D design solutions are raising the bar for patient comfort and satisfaction. Today, Host Fabian Alefeld speaks with Lisa Tweardy, CEO of MIGN, a company leading the…

1
D.C. Needs a ‘Real’ Chinatown 15:01

4d ago15:01

15:01

Here in D.C., Chinatown is more like a “China block.” And the longtime Chinese immigrant community has been advocating for a more robust Chinatown, one that meaningfully reflects their culture. Amanda Michelle Gomez, who reports for WAMU, is here to explain the future of Chinatown and why it is so important to the city. Want some more DC news? Then…

1
S1E536 - Smart Souvenir Shopping, Plus How to Fix Boeing 38:03

5d ago38:03

38:03

Episode Notes Laura Morelli, art historian and author of "Made In Italy", gave advice on how to find real treasures on the road. Then William McGee discussed his latest Frommers.com column which gives a smart analysis about the way forward for the aviation giant and the FAA.

1
Zombie Office Buildings, RIP Bike Lane, and Trivia Cheaters 25:43

7d ago25:43

25:43

Axios’ Cuynet Dil and City Cast’s Julia Karron join our roundup to talk about zombie office buildings and zombie bike lanes and one of the most D.C. stories of all time: A cheating scandal at a pub quiz. Check out our episode on the fight over the Connecticut Avenue bike lanes here. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning …

1
The Crazy History of D.C.’s Alleys 23:12

8d ago23:12

23:12

The history of D.C.’s alleys is a weird, crazy metaphor for a couple centuries of race and class and power. We spoke to Kim Prothro Williams, author of Hidden Alleyways of Washington, DC: A History, to learn about the streets behind the streets. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. And we’ve got Natio…

1
How to Buy, Smoke, and Celebrate Weed in the Nation’s Capital 15:10

9d ago15:10

15:10

This weekend is 4/20, the annual holiday where cannabis enthusiasts celebrate all things weed. Being in the shadow of the federal government means the laws around cannabis in the city are a little complicated. Alan Amsterdam, Owner of Capitol Hemp, is here to clear the smoke around getting high in D.C. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign…

1
The Complicated History Of D.C.'s Emancipation 16:45

10d ago16:45

16:45

Today is Emancipation Day. Even if you’ve been living in the District for a while, you might not know much about the holiday, and what makes it uniquely D.C. Briana Thomas, author of Black Broadway, joins to explain what you should know about Emancipation Day in D.C. and how to commemorate it. Want some more D.C. news? Then make sure to sign up for…

1
Fatigue & Fracture Behavior in AM Materials with Nima Shamsaei of Auburn University 30:20

11d ago30:20

30:20

The ultimate goal for additive manufacturing (AM) is for those creating, building, and designing for our future to reach for AM as another tool in their toolbox as easily as they would a traditional manufacturing method. To build this trust and knowledge of industrial 3D printing, countless hours of research are necessary. To learn more about the r…

1
Why Gas Leaks are Happening More Frequently 20:53

11d ago20:53

20:53

You might have noticed that gas leaks have been in the news more often. It’s pretty scary! When you suspect there’s a gas leak happening, it might not be clear what to do. So today on City Cast DC, we’re talking with environmental reporter Kayla Benjamin to get the lay of the land on what’s happening. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign …

1
S1E535 - Cruising and Camping: Two New Studies Reveal the Top Trends for These Popular Vacation Activities 34:00

12d ago34:00

34:00

Episode Notes Bob Levinstein of Cruise Compete analyzed his company's analysis of what's most popular in cruising. Then Kevin Long, CEO of camping app TheDyrt, discussed what camping's still growing popularity means for folks trying to find a place to park an RV or pitch a tent.

1
Slashing Metro and Childcare Funding, and Vote For Your Favorite Restaurants 27:54

14d ago27:54

27:54

Reporter Michael Pope and author Briana Thomas join the show to talk about what the D.C. budget means for the cost of your child care, what the Virginia budget means for the health of our Metro system, and ways YOU can vote for D.C.’s best restaurants. You can vote for your favorite restaurants for the RAMMY awards here. Wanna win tickets to see th…

1
How to Kayak, Bike, & Metro to Every D.C. Park 12:50

15d ago12:50

12:50

D.C. has an absurd amount of parks – 683! Longtime D.C. environmental reporter Jacob Fenston is hitting up all of them for us in the ultimate D.C. park's quest. We catch up with him to see how it's going, what his approach is, and to learn the weirdest thing he has seen in the Potomac so far. And don’t forget to vote for City Cast DC as the Distric…

1
D.C. is Upping Its Public Restroom Game 16:16

16d ago16:16

16:16

If you’ve ever had to GO while out and about in D.C., we’ve got good news. Throne Labs, a high tech toilet company, is bringing public restrooms to 5 different locations in the city as part of the D.C. Public Restroom Pilot Program. But D.C.’s track record with public restrooms has been iffy at best. Jonathan Katz joined us awhile back to explain w…

1
Weed Crackdown, Arena Deal Fine Print, and One-Star Reviews 22:12

17d ago22:12

22:12

In today’s roundup, we’re talking about the city sending a warning to unlicensed weed shops in the city, an update on keeping sports teams in D.C., and 1 star reviews of Capital One Arena. Parents have taken on weed shops in the past, and we explain why that’s a big deal. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter …

1
A.I. in Additive Manufacturing with Omar Fergani of 1000 Kelvin 30:13

18d ago30:13

30:13

It's clear that AI and additive manufacturing (AM) are a natural marriage of innovative technologies. As more companies focus on solutions that fortify the supply chain and increase the speed of engineering ingenuity, AM adoption will continue to accelerate. Today, host Fabian Alefeld speaks with the co-founder and CEO of 1000 Kelvin, Omar Fergani.…

1
The Fight Over U Street's Future 16:29

18d ago16:29

16:29

There’s been a crazy fight going on about whether to erect an apartment building on the site of an old firehouse on U Street — and it’s a fight worth watching because it says a lot about what it takes to actually build anything in D.C. Paul Schwartzman from the Washington Post has been covering it and is here to walk us through the wild details. Wa…

1
S1E534 - Spectacular Undertouristed Destinations Around the World, Plus a New Memoir About the Interactions Between Travel and Faith 37:00

19d ago37:00

37:00

Episode Notes Andrew Nelson, author of National Geographics new book "Here Not There: 100 Unexpected Travel Destinations" was our first guest, followed by Angie Orth, author of "Flirting with Disaster: True Travel Tales of Fear, Failure and Faith"

1
Bowser's Brazen Budget Cuts, James Beard Nominations, and a Russian Spy Chef 25:50

21d ago25:50

25:50

We’re breaking down the 2025 budget with City Paper’s Alex Koma, and Washingtonian’s Jessica Sidman is here to talk about D.C.’s nominees for the James Beard awards — and a crazy spy story at a local Russian restaurant. Check out our interview with James Beard award-winning chef, Rob Rubba, on why we should all be switching to electric stoves! Also…

1
D.C. Food Trivia Smackdown 14:41

22d ago14:41

14:41

How’s your D.C. food trivia game? Two of the city’s premier food journalists are here to match wits about the past and present of Washington culinary life. It’s Jessica Sidman versus Ann Limpert in a D.C. food trivia showdown. Jess mentioned that she doesn’t think D.C. is in the South, but we’re not sure it’s so simple. Check out the episode where …

1
D.C.'s Best (and Worst) E-Bikes 24:30

23d ago24:30

24:30

Right now, through April 15, D.C. residents can apply to get up to $2000 from the city government to buy an e-bike. But there are limited funds available, and it got us thinking – how desperate ARE we really to buy our own e-bikes? Or, do the ones sprawled around town to rent do the trick? City Cast Producer Ashe Durban systematically tested all th…

1
Has The Arena Saga Ruined Ted Leonsis' Legacy? 17:53

24d ago17:53

17:53

Ted Leonsis, who owns the Capitals and Wizards, is giving us some major whiplash. He’s had an abrupt change of heart and the Caps and Wizards will be staying in D.C. The Washington Post's Candace Buckner is here to tell us how Ted can make Washingtonians love him again and protect his long-term legacy. Losing the teams would have been a tough blow …

1
A Space Roundtable with NASA, Rocket Lab, The European Space Agency, and TRUMPF 1:03:46

25d ago1:03:46

1:03:46

Space exploration and additive manufacturing (AM) are accelerating rapidly. SpaceX was able to reach orbital velocity with its latest starship launch, providing beautiful imagery upon its reentry. Rocket Lab had its 45th launch, with 22 additional launches planned for this year, and the first metal 3D printer installation on the International Space…

1
Your Guide to April in D.C. 20:35

25d ago20:35

20:35

April in D.C. is about more than just cherry blossoms. The City Cast D.C. crew has recommendations for upcoming festivals, celebrations, and new ways to explore the city. Let us be your guide to ensure April isn’t the cruelest month. Plus, at the end of the episode, senior executive producer Priyanka Tilve sits down with our sponsor District Bridge…

1
S1E533 - Are Credit Card Points Going Away? Plus River Cruises in India and Green Vacation Rentals 34:00

26d ago34:00

34:00

Episode Notes The New York Times' Elaine Glusac discussed what a recent settlement by Visa and Mastercard might mean for loyalty point collectors. She also talked about sustainable vacation rentals. Then Heidi Sarna discussed her recent Frommers.com article on doing river cruises on the Indian subcontinent.…

1
Caps and Wiz Stay in D.C., New Rosslyn Food Hall, and Nats Park Upgrades 26:53

28d ago26:53

26:53

In a dramatic turn of events, Monumental Sports owner Ted Leonsis announced that the Capitals and Wizards will be staying in D.C. after all. Plus, there’s yet another new food hall in the DMV and Nats Park has undergone some futuristic upgrades just in time for the new season. Axios’ Cuneyt Dil and Anna Spiegel join the team to break it all down. F…

1
D.C.’s Weirdest and Hugely Influential Unelected Board 24:04

29d ago24:04

24:04

Anything built in Georgetown has to go through the Old Georgetown Board. And, most recently it refused to approve an office-to-residential conversion on Thomas Jefferson St. NW. Topher Matthews, from Georgetown Metropolitan, explains how this unelected board of architects came to be and why it may be out-of-step with the city’s priorities. Want a f…

1
D.C.'s Got Snakes. Here's What To Do (And Not Do) 18:32

1M ago18:32

18:32

You might not think of D.C. as a city where you need to watch out for snakes, but multiple snake sightings in the city dispel that notion. Wildlife educator Caroline Seitz loves our scaly, slithery friends and last year, she explained to me what types of snakes are in the area and what you should do if you see one. Want a free (and beautiful) engra…

1
What We Hate About D.C.'s Weed Culture 21:29

1M ago21:29

21:29

It seems like there are weed shops, vape shops and smoke shops on every corner in D.C. these days. For some, it's heaven, for others it’s a bit much. Our hosts Bridget Todd and Michael Schaffer sat down to get into how D.C.’s cannabis culture is changing, why there’s so many weed shops, and what it means for the city. Want a free (and beautiful) en…

1
3D Printing Offers Opportunity to Custom Bike Designers with Kris Henry of 44 Bikes 46:09

1M ago46:09

46:09

Bike enthusiasts understand the importance of quality welds, dynamic suspensions, and low-maintenance bikes. But to have a bike custom designed to their unique specifications is a dream come true. Today’s guest not only builds custom bikes he designs the parts using additive manufacturing (AM). Today, host Fabian Alefeld speaks with the owner and f…

1
263: Using Real Human Connections to Achieve Exceptional Success... Doug Brown of CEO Sales Strategies 1:59:52

1M ago1:59:52

1:59:52

Doug C. Brown is the CEO of CEO Sales Strategies and a Sales Revenue and Profit Growth Expert. He has led client award-winning and high-performance teams as well as pioneered profitable development programs for companies. He has advised companies such as Intuit, CBS Television, Procter & Gamble, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Nationwide, Embassy Suites, In…

1
How Landlords Are Ripping Off The City 17:49

1M ago17:49

17:49

There’s been a lot of controversy around D.C.’s public housing agency. The latest involves the question of whether the city is overpaying landlords. Steve Thompson from the Washington Post is here to explain why it matters — to people on public assistance and to everyone else in D.C. too. Want a free (and beautiful) engraved mug? Sign up to become …

1
S1E532 - Southern Italy in Off Season 40:30

1M ago40:30

40:30

Episode Notes Pauline and Frommers.com Editor In Chief Jason Cochran discussed her recent trip to Naples, Matera, and the Amalfi Coast

1
Frat Chaos at UMD, E-Bike Vouchers, and Visiting All 683 D.C. Parks 25:50

1M ago25:50

25:50

Environmental reporter Jacob Fenston joins the team to talk about frat chaos at the University of Maryland, e-bike vouchers in D.C., and a new quest to visit every park in the District. Learn more about D.C.'s impending budget crisis in this podcast episode. Want a free (and beautiful) engraved mug? Sign up to become a City Cast DC member to enter …

1
Tinkering with D.C.'s Height Act 16:43

1M ago16:43

16:43

One of the most notable features of Washington’s cityscape is the skyscrapers: there aren’t any! That’s thanks to a law that’s more than a century old. But we’re in the midst of another conversation about tinkering with the law. We spoke with WTOP’s Luke Garrett last year to break it all down. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for o…

1
How to Survive D.C.'s Wild Allergy Season 18:28

1M ago18:28

18:28

Allergy season is here. It may seem a little early, but this year’s unusually warm weather has pollen counts near record highs in D.C. Dr. Rachel Schreiber, who heads up the Schreiber Allergy practice, joins us to share what you need to know about surviving allergy season. Stay up to date with DC news! Sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Int…

1
Blossoms Blooming, National Airport Debate, and Jefferson Memorial One-Star Reviews 23:39

1M ago23:39

23:39

Cherry blossoms are peaking early thanks to climate change and there’s a fight over D.C.’s busiest airport. The City Cast team is here to sum up the latest news and laugh at some hilarious one star reviews of the Jefferson Memorial. Make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC, to keep up with all the latest in the city. You can also beco…

1
The History of Additive Manufacturing in the U.S. Army with L.J. Holmes 49:59

1M ago49:59

49:59

Are you curious about how the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) uses additive manufacturing (AM)? The military’s innovative approach has a 30-year roadmap, which was authored by this week’s guest. In this special episode, host Fabian Alefeld speaks with LJ Holmes. LJ has one of the most diverse jobs in the AM industry. He is the Executive Director o…

1
What To Know About D.C.'s Impending Budget Crisis 14:23

1M ago14:23

14:23

It looks like D.C.’s city budget is about to have a big fat hole in it. If you feel like we were swimming in cash not so long ago, you’re right. Tristan Navera from the Business Journal is here to tell us how this happened and what could be on the chopping block. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. Y…

1
Fare Evasion, Baseball Tax, and Pricey Parking Spaces 20:56

1M ago20:56

20:56

We’re talking Metro fare evasion, the future of Nats Park, and the cost of a parking space. City Cast Contributor Dan Reed and our senior producer Julia Karron are here to give us the latest. Want some more DC news? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter Hey DC. You can also become a member, with ad-free listening, for as little as $8…

1
How to Avoid Trash Collection Fines 14:26

1M ago14:26

14:26

Are you confused about your trash? What goes in what can, when should you use bags, and just what are you supposed to do with batteries? We sat down with Marlon Wright, the city’s solid waste administrator, to get the dirt on garbage. If you need help figuring out what to do with your garbage, reach out to the Department of Public Works. Want to ke…

1
Why You Should Explore 16th Street Heights 11:58

1M ago11:58

11:58

Big changes could be coming to 16th Street Heights. Businesses on the 4700 and 4600 blocks of 14th are doing a big push to revitalize this stretch and bring more commercial and residential development. City Cast contributor Austin Graff, who runs a popular Instagram account about exploring D.C., is here to tell us about all of the neighborhood's vi…

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