It’s Friday, and we’re digging into the biggest stories of the week. First, wildfire smoke shrouded the Mile High skyline all week long as multiple wildfires on the Front Range spread to more than 9,000 acres, as of Thursday afternoon. CSU climate geographer Lauren Gifford joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about how climate change is moving so fast that even the fish in Sloan’s Lake are feeling the heat. Then, to celebrate Colorado’s 148th birthday, we’ve got another insta...
Aug 02, 2024•52 min
If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Denver community. School is starting up again soon, but it’s not too late to squeeze a few last drops out of summer. To get in the Olympic spirit, we’re putting an international twist on our monthly guide to the city, with tons of insider tips on how to make the most of August in Denver, from a mouth-watering Hong Kong-style french toast at a buzzy new restaurant to ...
Aug 01, 2024•30 min
Colorado has long been a stronghold for people across the country seeking abortion access — and when Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, local reproductive health care providers began to see an unprecedented amount of patients seeking care. But there’s still a conservative majority on the Supreme Court and anything could happen in November, so local reproductive health care advocates are rallying to strengthen Colorado’s protections even more. Our state politics and green chile correspondent Jus...
Jul 31, 2024•26 min
It’s Tuesday and we’re digging into the biggest stories of the week. First, the mere proposal of a new bike lane on the Northside already has people up in arms over precious parking spots. But does a lack of parking really add up to a loss of customers? Then, Glendale has been trying for decades to revive itself as an entertainment destination for adults. With the new “4 Mile District” breaking ground and Alamo Drafthouse signing on, could this finally be the tiny municipality’s moment? Plus, li...
Jul 30, 2024•30 min
Enjoying a Colorado summer on these super hot days can be tough — but a easy solution? A quick camping trip in the much cooler Rocky Mountains. We’re bringing you an episode from a while back featuring City Cast Denver’s own outdoor pro Peyton Garcia, and camping novice Paul Karolyi. Together they dig into the best places to pitch a tent, what to bring, what to expect, and more tips for a smooth and simple adventure. What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood...
Jul 29, 2024•23 min
It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up this week's news. In the wake of the news about President Biden dropping out of the race and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, will Colorado democrats change their campaign strategies? Then, with a new Trader Joe’s slated to open in Westminster in 2025, producer Olivia Jewell Love is back with another hot City Cast Denver Top 5 list, this time, Trader Joe’s snacks. She’s joined by host Bree Davies and politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandova...
Jul 26, 2024•48 min
Young people have long flocked to Denver for our proximity to the mountains, Red Rocks’ stellar concert calendar, tons of local breweries, and even access to local weed. But do they ever come here for… love? If so, how do single Denverites even meet? Westword’s Hannah Metzger and Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton from the Denver Post have both been reporting on dating in the Mile High and have some interesting insights into how people are — or aren’t — having luck finding partners. They join host Bree Dav...
Jul 25, 2024•29 min
With a little less than two weeks left to gather the signatures needed, canvassers are working hard to get Initiative 310 on the ballot. This piece of legislation could fundamentally change the way we vote in Colorado, introducing the concept of ranked choice voting. Supporters of RCV say it would level the playing field for third party candidates and offer voters more options at the ballot box. However detractors — like today’s guest, Representative Emily Sirota — are concerned that RCV could i...
Jul 24, 2024•30 min
After a year in office, what does Mayor Mike Johnston think he’s accomplished? Yesterday he gave the annual State of the City speech at the Paramount Theater, pointing out his housing wins and what he sees as a successful approach to welcoming newcomers. He also unveiled some projects in the works, like plans for creating a more vibrant downtown, the development of a “trust patrol” with Denver police, and a new citywide volunteer effort called “Give 5 Mile High”. But when it comes to sweeping po...
Jul 23, 2024•29 min
Thanks to our sponsors at the Colfax Ave BID for helping us end our Colfax Week with a bang! All week long we’ve been talking about the colorful, complex, and celebrated street known as Colfax Avenue. For the week’s grand finale, host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi talked to Mayor Mike Johnston in front of a live audience, on perfect summer Colfax evening. Johnston rates his performance as mayor so far, discusses his approval ratings, and even weighs in on President Biden’s future. Then, ...
Jul 22, 2024•28 min
Celebrate the end of Colfax Week with our Ultimate Colfax Playlist! Presented by our sponsors at the Colfax Ave BID, you can listen along and enjoy special deals up and down Colfax this weekend at Colfax’s Independents Day It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First up, rich people in the ‘burbs are trying to block an office-to-residential building conversion and definitely don’t want a McDonald's in their neighborhood. Then, Aurora unveiled plans for a new Zyn fact...
Jul 19, 2024•56 min
Colfax Week Continues! Thanks to our sponsors at the Colfax Ave BID. Denver’s never had a ton of great options to eat out late at night — even on Colfax, where hundreds of hungry concert-goers and bar patrons pour out onto the sidewalks after last call. Ever since the pandemic, Denver’s night owls have been left hungrier than ever. But a couple of recent announcements offer a glimmer of hope: Rosenberg’s Bagels is opening a new late-night slider pop-up, and Little India on 6th Avenue is going 24...
Jul 18, 2024•24 min
We’re stepping away from Colfax Week for an exclusive interview with Denver’s longtime congresswoman on this historic moment in the presidential race, presented by our sponsors at Colfax Ave BID. Ever since President Biden’s dismal debate performance a few weeks ago, an increasing number of Democrats in Congress have called on him to step aside as the party’s nominee, including Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen, and even more have expressed doubts about his chances in November, including...
Jul 17, 2024•28 min
It’s Tuesday and we’re breaking down the biggest stories of the week. First, after the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump over the weekend, Colorado politicians on both sides of the aisle are jockeying for command of the narrative. Then, Denver Police implemented over the weekend a new program to tackle LoDo’s late-night violence issues. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are talking about the local political implications of the assassination attempt, LoDo’s let-out proble...
Jul 16, 2024•30 min
Welcome to Colfax Week! We’ve teamed up with the Colfax Ave BID for a weeklong celebration of Denver’s most iconic street. The 26-mile long strip is notorious, charming, and unexpected — and no where better embodies Colfax’s complex personality quite like the bathrooms of some of our fave establishments. AAA Spokesperson and Oak Creek Tavern owner Skyler McKinley and politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval join host Bree Davies to break down some of the best — and worst — places ...
Jul 15, 2024•23 min
This is the final episode of a special, limited-run podcast series, Lauren Boebert Can’t Lose, from City Cast Denver. Don’t miss the whole series, available now in this podcast feed or on our website. June 25 was a big election day for Congresswoman Lauren Boebert. She had five opponents for the Republican nomination in her new district in Colorado and, as we’ve learned in this limited-run podcast series, a whole lot of baggage. But we’re done dissecting her controversies and analyzing her strat...
Jul 13, 2024•42 min
It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First, how are Denverites feeling about Mayor Johnston after his first year in office? What about his work on homelessness or revitalizing downtown? A new poll shows all. Then, Democrats across the country are divided on President Biden’s chances at re-election in November, and local politicians are speaking out. Big thinker and local business owner Deacon Rodda joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to dig into those ...
Jul 12, 2024•57 min
Denver is projected to see a three-day streak of temperatures over 100 degrees this weekend. So, what is causing these high temps? And what does this mean for our day-to-day lives? 9News meteorologist Chris Bianchi joins host Bree Davies to break down the heat wave, the broader context, and share some advice to consider before you venture outside this weekend. For more weather news and analysis, we think Chris is really good on TikTok. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our mo...
Jul 11, 2024•22 min
In a presidential election year when democracy itself is under threat, local political megadonor Kent Thiry is proposing a massive reform to Colorado’s elections. But Initiative 310 will only make it onto our November ballots if the campaign can collect 125,000 signatures by the first week of August. So producer Paul Karolyi sat down with Thiry and one of his top allies — former Denver Elections director Amber McReynolds — to talk about how this reform would work, why both Democrats and Republic...
Jul 10, 2024•31 min
It’s Tuesday, and we’re rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First, Union Station is set to unveil the results of a six-month, $11-million renovation this weekend, but is this a revolution for the transit hub? Or yet another evolution in its 110-year history? Then we discuss the Denver Police Department's crack down on what is apparently a huge public safety issue: expired car registrations and temporary plates. Westword editor Patty Calhoun joins producer Paul Karolyi to share license p...
Jul 09, 2024•32 min
Who is responsible for making the Mile High’s food scene stand out? What restaurants have created the culinary landscape we know today as unmistakably Denver? In other words, if there was a Mt. Rushmore of this city’s dining innovators, who would be immortalized? Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are joined by Westword’s food editor Molly Martin to dig into our culinary history and create the ultimate list of the people behind the biggest influences on the tastes, innovations, and cultu...
Jul 08, 2024•39 min
City Cast CEO David Plotz sits down with hosts from all 13 City Cast daily local podcast hubs to talk about what stories they’re watching in their hometowns that are likely to impact yours too. Listen in for how Bree Davies's story stacks up against the rest. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver What do you think? Text or leave us...
Jul 05, 2024•52 min
It’s only Wednesday, so we’re rounding up a short week of news before the holiday weekend! First, a new investigation from the Denver Post attempts to answer the question of the summer: Why is the Cyclone rollercoaster at Lakeside Amusement Park still closed? Then, concerns linger about just how much money Mayor Johnston is spending on homelessness, especially after SCOTUS’s recent ruling on camping bans. Producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies are joined by a returning fave — comedian and Ca...
Jul 03, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Thoughts of the Wild West illicit imagery of cowboys, miners, railroad workers, land speculators; jobs often held by men. But in the early days of Denver women were also working — businesswomen, called madams, ran parlor houses and brothels that served the growing city, and many women were employed as sex workers at these Lower Downtown establishments. Host Bree Davies sat down last year with History Colorado’s Assistant Curator of Serials, Ann Sneesby-Koch, to dig into the nuanced, complicated,...
Jul 02, 2024•21 min
If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Denver community. July in Denver means it’s time for hot dogs, swimming pools, and summer fun! We’ve got plenty of super local recs, hidden gems, and some tips for keeping cool in the Mile High, like taking a dip at an off-the-radar reservoir or hitting up an indoor art show with prints inspired by cats! Come party with us at the Colfax Indie Bash! We’re doing a live...
Jul 01, 2024•28 min
It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the news of the week. First, the primaries are over! Now it’s time for the Democrats and Republicans to do some soul searching — where will these two internally divided parties go from here? Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are joined by our politics and green chile correspondent, Justine Sandoval, to dig into the details of the big losses and surprising wins from this primary. Then, it’s really summer now and that means lots of outdoorsy activities a...
Jun 28, 2024•54 min
Forty years ago, a group of white supremacists calling themselves The Order of Death gunned down one of Denver most beloved talk radio hosts, Alan Berg, in the driveway of his home on Adams St. off Colfax. The antisemitic attack was a shock to our city, but as antisemitism and far-right extremism have surged once again, it’s more important than ever to understand what happened and why. KNUS host Peter Boyles was Berg’s colleague and friend, and he’s on today to share his story of the attack and ...
Jun 27, 2024•23 min
Coloradans voted in primary elections all across the state yesterday, with hotly contested races deciding the future of both the Democratic and Republican parties. Here in Denver, voters picked our next district attorney and decided the political future of two firebrand progressive legislators in House Districts 4 and 6. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi were up late watching the results roll in, and they’re breaking down everything you need to know. Find the latest local results at Den...
Jun 26, 2024•24 min
It’s Tuesday, and we’re digging into the biggest stories of the week. The 16th Street Mall is still under construction, tourists have yet to return in full, and office vacancies remain high, leaving some local business owners to wonder if they can survive. Plus, the Harvey Park Grille looked to be the beginning of a neighborhood renaissance — until it closed after just four months in business. Was southwest Denver not ready for such a hip restaurant, or were there more factors at play? Host Bree...
Jun 25, 2024•31 min
Summer in Denver has officially begun and temps are hitting the 90s. So where do you go in this city for a chilly respite? Host Bree Davies is joined by newsletter editor Peyton Garcia and producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love to share their favorite places to cool off — from cheap or free options to some pricey picks if you’re really desperate to beat that heat! Some links to learn more about all the things we talked about: National Science Foundation Ice Core Facility (Lakewood) Colora...
Jun 24, 2024•20 min
