Back in October, one of the Mile High’s most popular social media influencers, The Denver Foodie, found himself at the center of perhaps the biggest local scandal of the year. Restaurants claimed that he had ripped them off, while some of his fellow influencers came forward with allegations of content theft. At the height of uproar, host Bree Davies talked with 9News investigative reporter Jeremy Jojola, who dug into these allegations and even talked with the guy behind the account, Jonathan Dav...
Dec 30, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Given how many people have flocked to Denver because of our proximity to the mountains, craft beer scene, or recreational marijuana, you’d think it’d be easier than ever for singles to connect. But maybe shared interests aren’t the problem; maybe it’s a question of shared goals? Or maybe the apps just aren’t as effective as we’d like to think they are? Westword’s Hannah Metzger and Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton from the Denver Post have both been reporting on dating in the Mile High, and earlier this ...
Dec 26, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast When Donald Trump started talking about Aurora being “taken over” by gangs during the presidential campaign, many Denverites looked around and thought, “huh?” It’s always kind of awkward when someone or something in Colorado goes viral like that, and the Tren de Aragua moment was far from the first time a Colorado story went global. Whether for ridiculous or tragic reasons, these viral moments stick around in our collective memory … and maybe they also say something about who we are. So today, w...
Dec 23, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast What better time than the holidays for another round of the age-old Denver debate of old vs. new? We’re looking back at the biggest stories of the week, from the Landmark Preservation Commission’s ruling on the fate of two rundown yet historic East Colfax mansions to the latest moves to block the construction of new gas stations in Lakewood and Denver. Stand-up comedian and returning guest JD Lopez joins producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love and brings a heaping helping of holiday hijink...
Dec 20, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast What really goes down inside the shadowy backroom where political deals are made? Nearly a third of our state lawmakers have been elected by small groups of party leaders known as “vacancy committees,” and typically all that wheeling and dealing plays out behind closed doors. So today, as about 110 Democrats in central Denver prepare to elect a replacement for State Sen. Chris Hansen, we’re taking you inside the proverbial shadowy backroom. Our newest politics correspondent Deep Singh Badhesha i...
Dec 19, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast With food prices on the rise, it was a challenging year for Denverites who love to eat. But who are we to back down from a challenge! Westword food & drink editor Molly Martin and contributor Jake Browne join producer Paul Karolyi to talk about 2024’s most exciting new restaurants, biggest trends, saddest closings, and their best bites of the year. Plus, a round of predictions for 2025. Do you have a prediction for how Denverites will eat and drink in 2025? We want to hear it! Text or leave us a...
Dec 18, 2024•29 min•Transcript available on Metacast New data from CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business shows that Colorado’s economy — once a national leader — took a big turn this year, with our GDP growth ranking 41st in the country. Maybe that’s why Governor Jared Polis was so eager to take a literal table saw to a pile of regulations last week? Stand-up comic Joshua Emerson joins producer Paul Karolyi to dig into the data. Plus, we want your help picking Denver’s Word of the Year! And we respond to a listener’s fiery hot take on Denver’s pro...
Dec 17, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast While they may seem like a long-forgotten exploit of our Wild West history, bank robberies are a big problem in Colorado right now. Over the past few years, the local FBI office has cracked down and cut our annual bank robbery total from a nation-leading 191 in 2021 to 104 in 2023. But that still ranks Colorado third in the country behind Illinois and California! So why is this particular crime so prevalent here? And what does a modern bank robbery even look like? Host Bree Davies sits down with...
Dec 16, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Will Denver take the lead and embrace housing density? Or will car lovers prevail and get their coveted parking spots? It’s Friday, and we’re looking back at the news of the week — including Mayor Mike Johnston’s new plan for eliminating minimum parking requirements and CPR’s explosive story on RTD CEO Debra Johnson reportedly “despising” Denver. Producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies are joined by fave guest Deep Singh Badhesha to dig into these parking and the messy politics of transit, as...
Dec 13, 2024•54 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s the big City Cast Denver Year-in-Review Spectacular! Who had the biggest year in Denver? Who made the news for all the wrong reasons? And really, where does Mayor Mike Johnston’s jacket sit in the competition for “Most Denver-est” person, place, or thing of 2024? From a massive W for YIMBYs and land-use nerds to thirsty politicians trying anything to go viral, we’re looking back at this year in the Mile High City. Host Bree Davies and producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love share thei...
Dec 12, 2024•42 min•Transcript available on Metacast When 6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was found murdered in her family’s home in Boulder in 1996, the story made national headlines. Almost 30 years later, the death remains unsolved but the true crime machine has consumed it, producing endless speculation, conspiracy theories, and plenty of sensational media coverage. This month, Netflix released “Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey,” putting Colorado and this gruesome crime once again in the spotlight. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi ar...
Dec 11, 2024•40 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday, and we’re talking about the biggest stories of the week. First, Mayor Mike Johnston is poised to reverse one of his predecessor’s most controversial decisions and approve City Council’s proposal to ban sales of flavored tobacco, including Zyn. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are talking about the changing politics of bubble gum vape juice, as well as some ongoing pizza drama and hear listeners responses to our conversation about CPR’s Caring for Denver investigation. Pau...
Dec 10, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast Governor Jared Polis is finally turning his attention to an issue guaranteed to divide Denverites: transportation. Last month, he published a beefy new document laying out his vision for how he wants to change the way Coloradans get around over. His ambitious goals over the next decade include reducing the climate impacts of driving, getting more people out of their cars, and making public transit more efficient and useful. So what will this all mean for Denverites’ everyday lives? Southwest Ene...
Dec 09, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday and we’re looking back at the biggest stories of the week. First, a big new investigation from CPR reveals that a foundation meant to support mental health and substance use treatment problems may be sending millions in taxpayer dollars to some potentially shady places. Then, the new plan for Civic Center Park has sparked controversy over a proposed modern redesign of the historic space. Host Bree Davies is joined by politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval and Westwor...
Dec 06, 2024•52 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Denny’s on Alameda and Santa Fe closed last month without warning. But that was just the latest diner casualty in a city already severely lacking in late night food options. The loss of this particular type of restaurant struck at something deeper for Suzi Q. Smith — the poet, performer, and educator grew up in Denver’s vast constellation of diners, finding a place where she could hang out as a teen with not much money, but a whole lot of time. Suzi explores these sacred places in her Denver...
Dec 05, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Wednesday and we’re looking at the news of the week. First, the owner of a bunch of strip clubs hoped to open a Hooters-like experience in a south Denver food hall space. Though the sexy food court idea never came to fruition, the Cherry Creek Food Hall & Brewery did open, but flamed out two years later. Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love dig into the uncertain future of the food hall trend, plus another addition of landlord watch featuring a mess left behind by X Denver — the...
Dec 04, 2024•34 min•Transcript available on Metacast There’s no shortage of fun stuff to do with kids around Denver this season. But how do parents and caregivers make the most of the holidays without stressing out or emptying their wallets? Host and mom Bree Davies is joined by fellow parents Linnea Covington, managing editor at DiningOut, and David Gilbert, writer and local history buff, to map out the best ways to make memories with your kiddos during this most wonderful time of the year. From free hot cocoa and no-cost holiday scavenger hunts ...
Dec 03, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to December in Denver, a time for gathering with friends, supporting the city’s many local businesses, and soaking up the holiday season! We’ve rounded up our top recommendations for places to shop, new social experiences to try, and more ways enjoy this month in the Mile High City. From a chocolate lover’s paradise and a delicious afternoon tea to a drive-thru holiday light show and a legendary live music performance, we’ve got your December calendar packed with fun. If you’re new here,...
Dec 02, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast From bike lanes and sidewalks to trash pick-up and snow plowing, Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure is in charge of the big things that make our city work. And if such issues make the news — like when Denver cyclists rallied against the city’s decision to ditch new bike infrastructure or when composting services got a big boost — someone has to answer for these choices. Amy Ford is the head of Denver DOTI and joins host Bree Davies to dig into some of the city’s biggest dec...
Nov 27, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday, and we’re flipping through the headlines you need to know before the holiday break. First, the 160th anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre is on Friday, and Colorado is still grappling with how we’ve interpreted our own shameful history. Then, Mayor Johnston is already backtracking on some controversial comments he made on Trump’s “Operation Aurora,” DPS votes to shut down more neighborhood schools, and state legislators look to overhaul the system for filling vacant seats. Host B...
Nov 26, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Denver’s got no shortage of places to grab a drink — from fancy lounges with cocktail programs to those down and dirty dives that serve up cheap shots with a smile, there’s a place for every taste. But how do you choose? Westword food and drink editor Molly Martin just published the paper’s annual “Best Bars We Can’t Live Without” and it’s a wonderful doozy of a list! She joins host Bree Davies and politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval to dig into the Mile High’s vast selection...
Nov 25, 2024•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First, CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy Chris Wright — also known as the guy who drank fracking fluid on camera to “prove” it was safe — is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Energy. Who is Wright, and what would his appointment mean for the climate crisis? Then, the city has proposed building pickleball courts to fill the vacant lot at Colfax and Broadway. Will pickleball players go for it? Host Bre...
Nov 22, 2024•48 min•Transcript available on Metacast We know art is big business in this city — world-renowned artists exhibit their work here, live music dominates our many music venues, and Denver has become a go-to place for hit Broadway shows. But what about the artists who live here? Like other working people, creatives often hold down multiple jobs just to afford living here. Recently, writer and photographer Manuel Aragon wrote about the affordability crisis many artists face — and offered some creative solutions Denver could embrace to kee...
Nov 21, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s an age-old question in Denver: Which buildings are worth preserving, and which ones, well, aren’t? From gentrification and housing affordability to the impacts on a city’s cultural significance and the built environment, historic preservation plays varying roles across Mile High neighborhoods. Host Bree Davies sits down with John Deffenbaugh, the president and CEO of Historic Denver, to talk through his philosophy on preservation, and take a look at some current properties with fates being ...
Nov 20, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday, and we’re looking at the big stories of the week. First, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services has sparked national concerns due to RFK’s skepticism over vaccines. More surprising? Gov. Jared Polis’ endorsement of him. Meanwhile, the future of RiNo’s business improvement district is uncertain — some property owners who lobbied for the creation of BID now want to get rid of it, arguing in a petition that the ...
Nov 19, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast The presidential election left many folks feeling discouraged and defeated. But it also energized people looking to plug in and start helping their neighbors right now — but how? And where? And beyond performative allyship, how do you actually make a difference? Host Bree Davies sits down with Tran Wills, a longtime business owner and organizer in Denver, to lay out the most effective ways to use your time, resources, and expertise to help your community in this moment. These are the organizatio...
Nov 18, 2024•32 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First, after winning re-election in a landslide last week, State Senator Chris Hansen just announced that he’s is leaving his seat for a big payday in the private sector. But questions are swirling: Why such bad timing? And are the Dems making backroom deals to replace him? Then, mega-millionaire Kent Thiry’s ranked choice voting ballot measure went down in flames, but his work tweaking Colorado’s elections process may be far fr...
Nov 15, 2024•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast Just 18 months after an emotional board debate ended with three schools closing, DPS superintendent Alex Marrero has proposed the closure or consolidation of ten more schools in the district. The news came just after election day, leaving the community with less than two weeks to share their thoughts ahead of a school board vote on November 21. But beyond declining enrollment and funding issues, what else is DPS weighing this time? And what’s different about their approach? Former education poli...
Nov 14, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Between the presidential elections of 2020 and 2024, every single state in the country shifted to the right… except Colorado. While Democrats lost close congressional races in CO’s Congressional District 3 and District 8, the Democratic Party here made significant gains across the state. So what are the local Democrats doing right that the national party could learn from? Colorado Democratic Party chair Shad Murib returns to the show with host Bree Davies to talk about the strategic choices he m...
Nov 13, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast It’s Tuesday, and we’re looking at the biggest stories of the week ahead. First, Mayor Johnston’s big proposal of a sales tax for affordable housing failed in last week’s election, so what will Mayor Mike tackle next? Another strategy to fund affordable housing or something else entirely? Then, changes to the Mile High’s trash collection service are on the horizon — will less recycling and more composting have better outcomes for the environment? Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi do som...
Nov 12, 2024•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
