City Cast Denver

Kwame Spearman is on leave from his job as CEO of Tattered Cover, which is also co-owns, and he wants to be mayor. He sits down with host Bree Davies to talk about his plan to make Downtown a better place to do business, he personal experience with psychedelics, and how he’d bring his experience running Denver’s most iconic bookstore to the mayor’s office.  We are inviting all 17 candidates for interviews before Election Day on April 4. So far, we've talked to: Renate Behrens Leslie Herod Lisa Calderón Ean Thomas Tafoya Trinidad Rodriguez Thomas Wolf Chris Hansen Mike Johnston Kelly Brough James Walsh Keep up with Mayoral Madness on our site! And if you’ve got a question you’d like us to ask the candidates, or one candidate in particular, email it to us at [email protected] For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Friday and we’re rounding up the stories that caught our eyes — and noses — this week. Producer Paul Karolyi is joined by host Bree Davies and returning favorite, public radio vet and podcast host Jo Ann Allen. First, the issue of public safety in Denver in 2023 has gotten a lot of attention from mayoral candidates on the campaign trail in the last few weeks. A recent piece in Colorado Newsline from Chase Woodruff has us wondering: what does “safety” even mean? Then, in a recent op-ed for the Denver Post, Jo Ann asks a very stinky question: Why can’t Denverites seem to scoop up their own dog’s poop? Finally, newsletter editor Adrian González rounds up the best stuff going on in Denver this weekend!  Paul mentioned this episode from earlier in the week about the state of the film industry in Colorado. Check out the latest season of Jo Ann’s podcast “Been There Done That.” Wanna follow our weather expert? Rain or Shine, he’s Andy Stein on TikTok and all socials. Hang out with us in person and hear Bree read her high school journals at the next edition of Mortified Live, happening April 13th! And if you want a chance to win a pair of free tickets to the event, leave us a voicemail with your own angsty, cringey, embarrassing teenage memory — bonus points if it’s got a Denver twist! The number to call is 720-500-5418. Subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsor of this episode: Hey Girl Friday Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Of all the dinosaurs, we Coloradans have a special connection to the Stegosaurus. So much so that in February, state lawmakers introduced a bill to create a new license plate honoring the 1876 discovery of our favorite ancient armored herbivore. But that’s not the only reason why our state — and the Front Range in particular — has had such a huge impact on the discovery and study of dinosaurs globally. Host Bree Davies sits down with Dinosaur Ridge’s Erin LaCount, one of Colorado’s foremost dinosaur educators to unearth the story of "the bone rush" and explain how Morrison became one of the most important sites for dino-lovers everywhere. For even more local dino stories and facts, check out Dinosaur Ridge’s new podcast! We want to know: What does “safety” mean to you? It’s become one of the biggest debates in the mayoral race, so we want to talk about what safety means to real Denverites. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear your answer on the show soon: (720) 500-5418‬ Subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Hey Girl Friday Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republican Party of Colorado is in tough shape. They’ve been on a major losing streak since Cory Gardner was elected to the Senate in 2014, and it’s unclear if they can turn things around. But that’s the job six senior Republicans are vying for this weekend as the state GOP convenes to elect a new leader. So host Bree Davies called up one of the last successful Republican strategists in Colorado, Dick Wadhams. He managed statewide campaigns for senate and governor, chaired the state GOP from 2007 to 2011, voted for Trump twice, and he has a lot to say about what the GOP could — and should — be doing to win over Colorado voters.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ City Cast Denver is hiring! We’re looking for a Senior Account Executive and an Audio Producer to join the Denver team. Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Hey Girl Friday Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 95th Academy Awards will be presented this Sunday in Los Angeles, and at least a couple Coloradans are up for an Oscar. But why not more? And why are so many theaters closing across the metro area? To help celebrate the biggest week in Hollywood, producer Paul Karolyi and newsletter editor Adrian González are surveying the local film landscape, from big changes that could be coming to our state film incentive program to the recent string of theater closings to the secret Canadians who saved The Mayan. Are you going to be watching the Oscar’s on Sunday? Join the official City Cast Denver Oscar’s Pick ‘Em Pool and see how your predictions stack up against Paul and Adrian’s. Sign up and make your picks here.  This episode was recorded on location at the Jewish Community Center during their Tzedakah 4 Kids fundraiser supporting the JCC’s ESL and summer programming. If you’d like to support those programs, you can make a donation here: https://www.jccdenver.org/tzedakah-4-kids/ We discussed the new Denver Arts & Venues/CineFe study on the local film and TV industry and the recent Regal and Elvis Cinemas closings.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Hey Girl Friday Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between the high price of natural gas and the push for green energy, conservatives in Colorado have in the last few years become increasingly interested in nuclear power. They have called to replace the old coal plant in Craig with a new small-scale reactor, and GOP state lawmakers recently introduced a bill that would have reclassified nuclear as “clean energy.” Across the country, people are reconsidering the highly stigmatized and highly powerful technology. So today, we are revisiting the story of Colorado’s first and still only nuclear power plant, Fort St. Vrain. Our producer Paul Karolyi first reported this story for Colorado Public Radio in 2019. This episode features an extended version that ran on the podcast Range & Slope. It also features an original, explicit song by Jesse Wooten of the local band Creekbed. Bree mentioned the GoFundMe for Luis Garcia.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Walsh is a professor of political science and labor history at CU Denver, and he wants to be mayor. He talks to host Bree Davies about how he’d make Denver the most worker-friendly city in the country, universal basic income, and what he learned riding his bike to all 77 neighborhoods.  We are inviting all 17 candidates for interviews before Election Day on April 4. So far, we've talked to: Renate Behrens Leslie Herod Lisa Calderón Ean Thomas Tafoya Trinidad Rodriguez Thomas Wolf Chris Hansen Mike Johnston Kelly Brough Keep up with Mayoral Madness on our site! And if you’ve got a question you’d like us to ask the candidates, or one candidate in particular, email it to us at [email protected] For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Brough served as president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and chief of staff for then-mayor John Hickenlooper, and she wants to be mayor. She sits down with producer Paul Karolyi to talk about fixing Denver’s downtown problem, expanding the STAR first responder program, and keeping reckless scooter drivers off the sidewalks. We are inviting all 17 candidates for interviews before Election Day on April 4. So far, we've talked to: Renate Behrens Leslie Herod Lisa Calderón Ean Thomas Tafoya Trinidad Rodriguez Thomas Wolf Chris Hansen Mike Johnston Keep up with Mayoral Madness on our site! And if you’ve got a question you’d like us to ask the candidates, or one candidate in particular, email it to us at [email protected] For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Friday, and we’re rounding up all the local stories that mattered this week. At the top of that list: Denver is the third best place in the country to live if you’re Gen Z, according to a recent survey. But what the heck does that mean? We invited Shana Saint-Phard, a young reporter from the TJ Journal, Thomas Jefferson High School’s student paper, to give us an inside look at Gen Z life in Denver, swap some overlooked stories of the week, and help us pick the Official City Cast Denver Maybe For Your Weekend. Check out Westword’s piece on how to celebrate today — 303 Day. Read Shana Saint-Phard’s work in the TJ Journal, from Thomas Jefferson High School.  Subscribe to Hey Denver, our kickass morning newsletter, by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Politico published its rules for surviving Washington DC, it got us thinking: What are the essential rules for surviving Denver? From how to dress for all occasions (hint: cowboy boots and Tevas carry the same fashion clout) to the question of ‘to smother or not to smother,’ host Bree Davies is joined by producer Paul Karolyi and returning fave, Westword reporter Conor McCormick-Cavanagh, to lay down our unofficial rules for how to make it through Mile High.  Do you have tips for how to survive Denver? Tell us about them! We want to create the definitive list, and we need your help. Text or call the Surviving Denver Hotline at 720-500-5418, or email us: [email protected] Bree mentioned the livestream from the Standley Lake eagles. And if you haven’t already, here’s where you can find and read Conor’s complete archive of articles at Westword.com. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866 Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices