City Cast Denver

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Inside Denver’s Biggest Debates: Nuclear Power at DIA, More Lanes for Peña Blvd, and Mayor Mike ‘Icing Out Council’ Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

Earlier this month Denver voters approved the Vibrant Denver bond, saying yes to some ambitious city projects -- like the ⁠Denver American Indian Cultural Embassy⁠, which will be built in Montbello. City council also recently approved a study to look at ⁠potentially widening Peña Boulevard⁠ and Mayor Johnston and Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington announced plans to look at ⁠bringing nuclear power⁠ to the airport. These projects are going down in Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore’s District 11, and she’s got a lot to say about it. Gilmore joins host Bree Davies to dig into these city plans, plus share why she thinks ⁠the mayor’s layoffs⁠ are having lasting effects on the trust those workers put into local government.

Bree mentioned a recent episode we aired about ⁠AI Data Centers⁠, and the Denver Post editorial board’s ⁠comments on Gilmore and the city layoffs⁠.

Oh, and be sure to grab a ticket to our first-ever The Denver-est Denver Awards, presented by our friends at Denver Health!You’re cordially invited to attend a fancy holiday party slash formal awards show celebrating the very best of Denver on Dec. 18 at The Oriental Theater. City Cast Denver Neighbors will have received a discount code in the inbox, but everyone can ⁠buy tickets now!⁠ And we need your help picking the winners, too! ⁠Nominate your faves⁠ in our six big categories!

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? 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 November 17th episode:

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

Polis Takes On Car Insurance, Arts Over Sports, and a Lauren Boebert Win? Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

Colorado has some of the highest car insurance rates in the country. Governor Polis has promised to address the issue by installing more cameras at intersections and increasing sobriety checkpoints — but the biggest contributing factor to high premiums? The weather. Then, the Colorado Business Committee For the Arts released a study exploring the economic impacts of the state’s cultural sector. But what does a $3.1 billion dollar impact say about the state of Denver’s working artists? Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love are joined by artist and educator R. Alan Brooks to dig into the high costs of car ownership, the economics of art, a potential win for Lauren Boebert, DougCo’s last attempt at a trans student athlete ban, and more wins and fails of the week.

There are still a few seats left to catch R. Alan Brooks’ film premiere, “Always, Most of the Time,” at the Lighthouse Writers Workshop tonight!

Bree talked about her Uncle Ed’s art show tonight at CORE Art Space and Re:Vision firing unionized promotoras. Olivia mentioned the Douglas County School Board’s final attempts at banning trans student athletes and Representative Lauren Boebert’s demands to release the Epstein files. Alan discussed the ongoing Colfax BRT road construction woes.

What do you think? 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 November 13th episode:

Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Denver Botanic Gardens
Curious Theatre

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

Pete's University Cafe Closed This Weekend. What is Denver Without Diners? Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

On November 9, Pete’s University Park Cafe served up its last heaping plates of chicken fried steak and souvlaki and eggs, marking the end for yet another beloved diner. With its closure, Denver not only lost an affordable eatery, but a gathering place and community space that served the Mile High for 30 years. So, what is Denver without its diners? Last year host Bree Davies sat down with her friend, poet and educator Suzi Q. Smith, to talk about these losses and discuss the deep feelings Suzi explores in her ⁠Denverse Magazine essay “Toast World: Where Have All the Diners Gone?”⁠

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

If you enjoyed the interview with Dr. Eric Doringer from Blue Sky CBD, ⁠learn more here.⁠ Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER to receive 30% off.

Learn more about the sponsors of this November 13 episode:

⁠Babbel⁠ - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
⁠Denver Botanic Gardens⁠
⁠Curious Theatre⁠

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

Are Aurora Voters Over ‘Council Chaos and Felony Weirdness’? Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

This off-year election saw big wins for democrats across the country, including in Aurora. Most notably, ⁠GOP rabble rouser Danielle Jurinsky⁠ lost her at-large seat as Aurora city council moved more to the left with the 7-4 conservative majority becoming a 6-4 progressive majority. But Aurora Sentinel editor and publisher Dave Perry says the political picture of Colorado’s third largest city is more nuanced than just this recent swing. He joins host Bree Davies to dig into what he’s seen in his 30 years covering the state’s most diverse municipality, and what it means for Aurora to have a now left-leaning council and a lifelong republican for mayor.

Bree and Dave discussed his piece on Jurinsky’s ouster and ⁠Aurora’s “council chaos and felony weirdness”⁠, along with unseated council member Steve Sundberg’s ⁠sexual harassment allegations⁠ and ⁠the racist commercials⁠ he made for his sports bar.

Oh, and be sure to grab a ticket to our first-ever The Denver-est Denver Awards! You’re cordially invited to attend a fancy holiday party slash formal awards show celebrating the very best of Denver on Dec. 18 at The Oriental Theater. City Cast Denver Neighbors will have received a discount code in the inbox, but everyone can ⁠buy tickets now!⁠ And we need your help picking the winners, too! ⁠Nominate your faves⁠ in our six big categories!

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? 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 November 12th episode:

⁠Babbel⁠ - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
⁠Denver Botanic Gardens⁠
⁠Curious Theatre⁠

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

Will Your Flight Get Canceled? Plus, No ‘Road Diet’ For Alameda and Green Chile Authenticity Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

As the government shutdown rolls on, the Federal Aviation Administration has instructed airports across the country to cut hundreds of flights to help with staffing shortages. Denver International Airport, however, is trying something unique to support the air traffic controllers and TSA agents working without pay. Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love look into this novel approach, plus discuss the proposed infrastructure improvements along Alameda that some neighbors in West Wash Park put the brakes on, and respond to a listener’s thoughts on our ownership of green chile.

Bree talked about crossing guard Amy Kenreich and her celebrity crossing guard day. She also mentioned our show with Dan Pashman from The Sporkful on Denver’s claims to food fame; you can hear producer Paul Karolyi’s episode of The Sporkful on Colorado-Style Pizza.

Oh, and be sure to grab a ticket to our first-ever The Denver-est Denver Awards! You’re cordially invited to attend a fancy holiday party slash formal awards show celebrating the very best of Denver on Dec. 18 at The Oriental Theater. City Cast Denver Neighbors can expect a discount code in the inbox later today, but everyone can buy tickets now! And we need your help picking the winners, too! Nominate your faves in our six big categories!

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? 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:

Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Denver Botanic Gardens
Curious Theatre
Cozy Earth - use code COZYDENVER for 40% off best-selling temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more

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

Green Chile, Jolly Ranchers, and… the Cheeseburger? Colorado’s Claims to Food Fame Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

Yes, we Denverites love our green chile, but that fiery green-ish, orange-ish stew is hardly known at all in the rest of the country. Instead, we’re known for things like the Denver omelet and, oddly, the cheeseburger. So it’s time to set the record straight. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi invited the host of the James Beard Award-winning podcast The Sporkful, Dan Pashman, to talk through some of Colorado’s greatest claims to food fame (and some we wish we could forget).

Go follow The Sporkful wherever you get your podcasts to hear the episode Paul produced about his six-year quest to uncover the truth of “Colorado-style pizza,” and check out Dan’s Instagram to see him taste-test Beau Jo’s for the first time.

What do you think is Colorado’s greatest claim to food fame? Is there anything we left out? 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.

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 November 10th episode:

Babbel - Get up to 55% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST
Denver Botanic Gardens
Curious Theatre

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

Can Local Dems Build on This Momentum? Plus, Palantir’s Cherry Creek Era and Pay-To-Play Politics Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

Democrats celebrated victories across the country on Tuesday, but the story of the election here in Denver is a little more complicated. So now that the dust has settled, what do the results tell us about how Denverites are feeling about the big questions facing our city — affordability, density, safety, crime? Content creator and House District 5 candidate Rayna Kingston (aka, @raynakingdenver) joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the big picture. Plus, Denver’s fastest growing company, Palantir, is moving from downtown to Cherry Creek, but their new HQ has already been vandalized? And as always, our wins and fails of the week.

Presenting… The Denver-est Denver Awards! You’re cordially invited to attend a fancy holiday party slash formal awards show celebrating the very best of Denver on Dec. 18 at The Oriental Theater. City Cast Denver Neighbors can expect a discount code in the inbox later today, but everyone can buy tickets now! And we need your help picking the winners, too! Nominate your faves in our six big categories right now!

Paul talked about influencer payola, Clerk and Recorder Paul López, our past episode on why Palantir moved to Denver, and Mondoweiss’ interview with a local anti-Palantir activist. Bree mentioned the failed effort to form a GID in Cherry Creek, the Chili’s on South Monaco, and Aurora city councilmember Danielle Jurinsky.

What do you think Palantir moving to Cherry Creek? 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 November 7th episode:

Blue Sky CBD - Use promo code CITY CAST DENVER to receive 30% off.
Denver Film
Multipass
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

Does Art Still Matter to RiNo? Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

Twenty years ago, the big question facing the industrial area along the South Platte River north of downtown was what to call it. Now, as many lifelong Denverites are still getting used to “RiNo,” the city’s most famous arts district is at another inflection point. The artists who made the area cool are mostly gone, and the business owners have been disagreeing over the future. So as the RiNo Art District is celebrating its 20th anniversary this weekend, host Bree Davies sits down with the organization’s new executive director, Daisy Fodness-McGowan, to swap stories of warehouse raves in the 90s and talk about the future of art in RiNo.

What do you think about RiNo’s new direction? 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

If you enjoyed the interview with Dr. Eric Doringer from Blue Sky CBD, learn more here. Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER to receive 30% off.

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

Blue Sky CBD - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER to receive 30% off.
Denver Film
Multipass

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

How Denver Voted on the Mayor’s Bond, the Flavored Tobacco Ban, and More Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

Mayor Mike Johnston celebrated victory on Tuesday night as Denver voters approved his Vibrant Denver bond proposal by wide margins. But not everyone was smiling as the results rolled in. Host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi break down the numbers from election night — from the flavored tobacco ban to city council at-large election reform — and talk about what it says about where Denver is headed. Plus, we take a look at some surprising results from across the metro area and the country.

What do you think about the results of the election? 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.

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 November 5th episode:

Blue Sky CBD - Use promo code CITY CAST DENVER to receive 30% off.
Denver Film
Multipass

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

Who’s Influencing Local Politics? Plus, Civic Center’s $50M Remodel and Olive Garden Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

It’s election day! Last-minute voters are mulling over the mayor’s Vibrant Denver bond proposal, the flavored tobacco ban, and more — but where are they getting their information on these important issues? Westword editor Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about politics influencers and the changing norms on social media, including an interesting post about our interview with gubernatorial hopeful Senator Michael Bennet. Plus, we discuss the potential $50 million remodel of Civic Center Park and Patty answers our new favorite question: If Denver was a house…

We talked about this post from Sen. Michael Bennet on X.com featuring a clip from our interview with him last week, and Bennet’s recently announced opposition to the Nexstar/TEGNA merger. We also discussed Denverite’s coverage of the influencers being paid to promote the Vibrant Denver bond. Patty plugged her event at the Denver Press Club this Thursday: “Consider the Alternative: Open Mic.

What do you think about construction? Is it a sign of progress or a nuisance we should postpone? 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 November 4th episode:

Blue Sky CBD - Use promo code CITY CAST DENVER to receive 30% off.
Denver Film
Multipass
Cozy Earth - use code COZYDENVER for 40% off best-selling temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more

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

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