City Cast Denver

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Denver at the Oscars, CO's Lagging Film Incentives, and the Local Theater Landscape Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

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

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

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Hey Girl Friday

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What if Denver Was Nuclear-Powered Again? Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

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

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

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Mayoral Madness: James Walsh on Worker Power, Harm Reduction and UBI Mar 05, 2023

Show notes

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:

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 denver@citycast.fm.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

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

Mayoral Madness: Kelly Brough on e-Scooters, STAR, and the Downtown Dilemma Mar 04, 2023

Show notes

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:

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 denver@citycast.fm.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

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

Is Denver That Great for Gen Z? Plus, 303 Day and an Elusive 'Dream House' Mar 03, 2023

Show notes

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

Or Instagram: @citycastdenver

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11 Essential Rules for Surviving Denver Mar 02, 2023

Show notes

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: denver@citycast.fm.

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

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

Why Your Xcel Bill is So Dang High Mar 01, 2023

Show notes

Xcel Energy posted $1.7 billion in profits in 2022, yet many Coloradans have seen their energy bills double and in some cases triple this winter. From difficulties accessing payment-assistance programs to frustrations with the arduous process of converting to solar energy, Coloradans are fed up with their power utility. So is this what living with a monopoly feels like? Today host Bree Davies sits down with Xcel Energy Colorado president Robert Kenney to hear how he’s balancing the needs to keep his customers warm, his shareholders happy, and our planet safe from climate catastrophe.

If you or someone you know is struggling with high energy bills this winter, Robert recommended sharing this link to resources and programs Xcel offers. Robert also recently wrote an op-ed for The Denver Post laying out ways Xcel is helping customers burdened by big bills.

Bree also mentioned this recent story from Sam Brasch at CPR about Xcel Energy’s support for a nonprofit that’s been defending natural gas and pushing against the green energy transition, Coloradans for Energy Access.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

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

New Gun Laws at the Capitol, Toxic Train Concerns, and How Pollinators Could Shape Future Development Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

After months of research and planning, Colorado Democrats introduced a big package of gun reform laws last week that tackle everything from an increased age limit for gun purchases to the expansion of red flag laws — and this is just the beginning. Meanwhile in the Mile High, the recent toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, has Denverites wondering if something similar and equally dangerous could happen here and what politicians are doing about it. Plus, what two years into Colorado’s wage transparency laws reveal about our job market and how butterflies, bees, and other bugs could positively impact new development. Host Bree Davies is joined by producer Erin O’Toole to break down these topics and discuss Denver’s newest sloth resident and why a Star Wars-inspired name could perfect for the cute baby mammal.

Bree mentioned a previous conversation with legislators about gun control: Why Rep. Sullivan Thinks His Colleagues Won’t Talk About Guns. And she referenced a Denver Gazette article on red flag laws and the Club Q shooting, Colorado Sun reporter Tamara Chuang’s excellent, ongoing reporting on jobs and the economy in Colorado, and she discussed with Erin Axios Denver's recent coverage of the Butterfly Pavilion's call for more pollinator-friendly development.

Want to name Denver’s newest baby sloth? The Denver Zoo wants your vote!

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

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

Why Sen. Michael Bennet Wants to Take Your TikTok Away Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

The City and County of Denver recently joined cities across the country in banning TikTok from all government devices — meaning city employees cannot download the app on any publicly owned phones. As concerns mount about the Chinese-owned app’s access to Americans’ data, Colorado Senator Michael Bennet has called on Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their stores entirely — meaning no more boutique fashion shows, no more local food adventures, no more pedestrian advocacy, no more access to an inclusive workout coach, and that's just some of the great local accounts we follow. Senator Bennet joins host Bree Davies to explain why he’s so concerned about TikTok and what he’d tell the Denverites who love it.

For more, you can follow Senator Bennet on Twitter @senatorbennet, or read a variety of statements he’s made and legislation he’s proposed on the issues posed by TikTok and social media generally:

1. Sen. Bennet’s letter requesting Apple and Google remove TikTok from their app stores

2. Sen. Bennet’s statement after his meeting with the TikTok CEO

3. Sen. Bennet’s Digital Platform Commission Act

And if you’re upset about the prospect of missing out on all the TikTok recipe videos, don’t worry! Sen. Bennet gave us his favorite tofu recipe. You can find that and more local stories that matter in our newsletter Hey Denver. Subscribe now by texting “Denver” to 66866.

We’re hiring! City Cast Denver is looking for an audio producer to join our team. If you live in Denver, love local news and culture, and you know your way around a DAW, check out the full listing and apply by March 10.

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:

JCC presents the Jewish Film Festival (March 11-19)

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

Mayoral Madness: Mike Johnston on Rent Control, the Police, and Peña Boulevard Feb 26, 2023

Show notes

Mike Johnston served in the state senate for eight years, ran for governor and the U.S. Senate, and most recently was president and CEO of Gary Community Ventures — and he wants to be mayor. He sits down with host Bree Davies to talk about his plan to end homelessness in Denver during his first term, his stance on rent control, and the proposal to widen Peña Boulevard.

We are inviting all 17 candidates for interviews before Election Day on April 4. So far, we've talked to:

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 denver@citycast.fm.

For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866

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

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