City Cast Denver

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Our Best and Boldest Predictions for Denver in 2026 Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

After the wild ups and downs of 2025, we’re looking ahead to another crazy year. But what specific flavors of wild should Denverites expect this year? Producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love join host Bree Davies to swap their biggest and boldest predictions for the Mile High City in 2026. Plus, some bonus forecasts from a bunch of friends of the pod.

What do you think of our predictions? What’s the most likely or unlikely to happen for real? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm

Learn more about the sponsors of this January 7th episode:

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Gov. Polis’ Response to Trump’s Venezuela Attack, Denver on Fire, and King Soopers Receipts Jan 06, 2026

Show notes

President Donald Trump ordered an attack on Venezuela last Friday and U.S. armed forces have captured the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. So, what does Denver have to do with it? Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi are dissecting all the local connections, from Trump citing Aurora in his justification of the attack and Governor Jared Polis’ controversial response to the possibility that local oil and gas companies might be involved in the next phase of the president’s plan. Plus, tons of great listener comments and questions.

Paul quoted CPR’s fact-checking of Trump’s Saturday press conference and 9News’ coverage of Lauren Boebert’s recent tension with Trump.

What do you think? We always want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your question or hot take, as well as your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm

Learn more about the sponsors of this January 6th episode:

Multipass
University of Denver
Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

What U.S. Cities Will Be Talking About in 2026 (Including Denver) Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Nobody understands a city’s pulse quite like a City Cast host — and that makes them the best predictors for 2026’s biggest local stories. City Cast Denver host Bree Davies joins CEO David Plotz and the other 12 hosts from across the network to talk about the big changes coming to our cities, from political shifts to data centers.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenverOr Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverText 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 January 5th episode:
Multipass
University of Denver

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Your Guide to January in Denver (Plus, Our Top 7 Picks for the 2026 Stock Show) Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

Happy new year! We’re kicking off 2026 with our monthly guide to the best of Denver, with plenty of expert and hard-won tips and tricks for making the most of this Mile High life. City Cast producer Adrian González joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the coolest stuff going on this month. Plus, Paul’s got some personal tips for enjoying everything new at the Stock Show this year.

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.

Paul would like to clarify that Red Robin’s corporate headquarters is not technically in Denver, but in fact in Greenwood Village. Adrian recommends these kintsugi workshops:

Hoamsy Workshop hosted by pottery artist Alexis (two workshops in January)
Ceramics in the City (no workshops in January but they offer them often)
Kintsugi: Golden Mending at Breckenridge Ceramic Studio

For even more tips on how to make the most of January in Denver, check out our newsletter Hey Denver’s take on what to do this month.

If you enjoyed today's sponsored interview with Andy Cambron, the CEO of Multipass, learn more here. Check out upcoming events below:

Learn more about the other sponsors of this January 2nd episode:

Simply Eloped
Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off

We’re also powered by our members, who enjoy an ad-free version of the show. Find out more membership.citycast.fm about how to become a member of City Cast Denver.

Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here citycast.fm/advertise.

Got questions or comments about this episode? You can reach us at denver@citycast.fm

What Happened When a Conservative Talk Show Host Went to Anti-Trump Protests Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

Tens of thousands of Coloradans have protested at anti-Trump rallies this year, and while most of these gatherings have been peaceful, political violence has been on the rise. KNUS conservative radio host Jeff Hunt attended many of these demonstrations throughout 2025, where he recorded self-described “gotcha”-style videos. At an anti-ICE protest in June, he was kicked in the back while recording, on a day that also saw the arrests of 18 protesters. Host Bree Davies spoke with Jeff about his experience, how he approaches political debates, and the question of violence and safety in Denver. On the other side of a tumultuous year, we’re bringing back this conversation for a closer look at how national political tensions have played out in the Mile High.

You can find a rough transcript of this conversation here.

Check out Jeff Hunt’s protest videos for yourself:

Here’s the one from the conservative “March for Life”
This one is from the Bernie/AOC rally in March
This is the one he referenced featuring protesters warning others not to talk to him
And here’s the one where he gets kicked

Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm

Learn more about the sponsors of this December 30th episode:

⁠Simply Eloped⁠
⁠Cozy Earth⁠ - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Have Denverites Turned on Illegal Pete’s? Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

Did Illegal Pete’s bite off more than it could chew by opening three new locations last year? Were the restaurants just hit especially hard by COVID? Or is something else to blame for the way some Denverites have turned on the local restaurant chain? It all started earlier this year, when Reddit was ablaze with stories of food poisonings, cuts to worker benefits, and less-than-awesome queso. So, executive producer Paul Karolyi sat down with founder and CEO Pete Turner to see what he had to say about these claims. We’re revisiting this conversation today, plus some additional developments in the Illegal Pete’s saga — especially since the complaints haven’t stopped.

Paul mentioned the letter that Turner and some other downtown restaurant owners sent to Mayor Mike Johnston complaining about how slow downtown’s economic recovery has been. He also recommends this fun queso taste test that Westword’s food editor and friend of the show Molly Martin did last year.

What do you think about Illegal Pete’s? Have you noticed anything different this year? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm

Learn more about the sponsor of this December 29th episode:

Simply Eloped

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Your Mom’s House Seized, Anti-Palantir Protests, and More on the Toxic CEO Allegations Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

Anti-Palantir protesters gathered outside the AI surveillance giant’s new headquarters in Cherry Creek on Sunday, while the company’s billionaire CEO, Alex Karp, reportedly just bought a massive monastery outside Aspen. So, is Gov. Jared Polis having second thoughts about inviting Palantir to Colorado? Westword editor Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk through the latest on Palantir, as well as the news that Your Mom’s House wasn’t paying its taxes. Plus, we hear from a listener about the allegations of a toxic workplace at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and pick our biggest fails of the year.

Patty talked about this 2024 profile of Bowen Yang in The New Yorker.

What do you think is the biggest fail of the year? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Watch clips from the show on YouTube: youtube.com/@citycastdenver or Instagram @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver

Learn more about the sponsors of this December 23rd episode:

Simply Eloped
Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The Big Council Vote on a New Soccer Stadium Is Tonight! Here’s What You Need To Know Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

City Cast Denver listeners nominated Denver’s new NWSL franchise, Denver Summit FC, as one of the biggest wins of the year at our Denver-est Denver Awards last week, and the city is undeniably abuzz with excitement over the prospect of a professional womens soccer team. But how much public money should the City of Denver put up to support the team? City Council is voting tonight on the proposal to spend $50 million to buy land and build support infrastructure for a new stadium, so we’re revisiting a conversation host Bree Davies had earlier this year with one of the country’s foremost experts on the politics of stadiums, CU Denver’s own Dr. Geoff Propheter.

Denverite reported on the details of the community benefits agreement that Denver Summit FC reached with neighbors of the proposed stadium site.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm

What do you think about public funding to support a new soccer stadium? We want to hear from you! 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 December 22nd episode:

Simply Eloped

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Denver Goes Dark, Toxic CEO Allegations, and Slop Is Dead, Long Live Slop Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

More than 100,000 Coloradans were left without electricity this week as Xcel Energy preemptively shut down power lines to mitigate the risk of wildfire — just like they did last April. But the controversy is way different this time. Comedian and longtime friend of the show JD Lopez returns with producers Olivia Jewell Love and Paul Karolyi to parse the politics of power. Plus, we discuss Denverite’s investigation into allegations of toxic work culture at the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce, pick Denver’s Word of the Year 2025, and share our wins and fails of the week.

Paul mentioned the podcast he and JD host, “Hold on to Your Butts: A Podcast About Great Franchises that Uhhhhh Lost their Way.” He also talked about the “gonzo lawyer,” the decline of the “slop bowl,” the Broncos’ new anime connection, and this reddit thread he posted about Denver’s word of the year. Olivia talked about zebra mussels. JD sang “Colorado Christmas” by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

What do you think should be Denver’s word of the year? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Watch clips from the show on YouTube: youtube.com/@citycastdenver or Instagram @citycastdenver

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver

Learn more about the sponsors of this December 19th episode:

Denver Botanic Gardens
Foothills Animal Shelter
Elizabeth Martinez with PorchLight Real Estate - Do you have a question about Denver real estate? Submit your questions for Elizabeth Martinez HERE, and she might answer in next week’s segment.

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Denver’s Biggest Beefs of 2025 (and Who We Think Won) Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

Denverites were going at each other this year, with some juicy fights on and off social media. From politics to restaurants to pop culture, host Bree Davies sits down with producer Paul Karolyi and resident Denver gossip Adrian Felix to hash out the biggest beefs of 2025, and decide who came out on top.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.

Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver

Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm

What do you think was this year’s “Biggest Beef”? 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 December 18th episode:

Denver Health
Aura Frames - Use code CITYCAST for $35 off
Denver Botanic Gardens
Foothills Animal Shelter

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

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