City Cast Denver

We’re back with part two of our conversation covering all the congressional races happening across Colorado — Republican strategist Kelly Maher and Democratic strategist and co-host of the Get More Smarter podcast Ian Silverii join host Bree Davies to talk through the Democratic Socialist insurgency on the left, what the GOP’s strategy — or lack thereof — seems to be in the state’s more conservative districts, and more. Oh, and be sure to listen to yesterday’s episode with Kelly and Ian for the first half of this conversation!

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What role will Colorado play if the anticipated “blue wave” overtakes this election? It depends on which congressional district you’re looking at. Democratic strategist and host of the Get More Smarter podcast Ian Silverii and Republican strategist Kelly Maher join host Bree Davies this week to dig into the big congressional races happening across Colorado. From the Gabe Evans vs. Manny Rutinel showdown happening in the relatively new CD8 to questions surrounding Rep. Lauren Boebert’s ability to hang on to her CD4 seat in what used to be a guaranteed red district, the trio discuss what early turnout...

After years of construction, the new bus rapid transit lane is finally open on one stretch of East Colfax, creating dedicated space for the bus and less room for cars. Federal Boulevard is the next BRT project on the table, and it just received $50 million of the estimated $300 million it will need for build out. Westword editor emeritus Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies to discuss what this massive infrastructure project means for businesses along the corridor. Plus, they correct and clarify a few points from our episode breaking down the statewide ballot measures last week and discuss Tina...

Should your right to use natural gas — and for Xcel Energy to sell it — be put into the state’s constitution? Amendment 82 is asking voters just that. But the implications of this Advance Colorado-backed measure are unclear, and intriguingly the local oil and gas industry isn’t even coming out in support of the measure. Denver Post environmental reporter Noelle Phillips joins host Bree Davies to explain how this amendment could impact Colorado’s clean energy goals and what it could mean for you and your gas stove. Plus, Noelle talks about her Halloween decor involving skeletons playing corn hole!

How prepared is Denver to deal with the effects of climate change? In a recent report, Chicago was ranked as the most climate resilient city in the world — the only U.S. city to make it into the top 10. What’s Chicago doing right? City Cast Chicago host Jacoby Cochran is joining David this week to talk about how the city is adapting to face climate risks, its work in renewable energy, and other projects in the works.

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Is your ballot still sitting on the kitchen table, staring at you? Fear not! We’re here to help. Today, Denver Post city government reporter Elliott Wenzler joins host Bree Davies to hash out the local ballot issues Mile High City residents will be voting on – from the proposed foie gras ban to how City Council handles our yearly budget. As we do every Friday, Elliott and Bree also share their wins and fails of the week. Plus, if you’re a City Cast Denver Neighbor you get a sweet, sweet bonus segment just for members where we discuss how Bo...

This year the state printed its largest ballot information guide ever! That means voters are weighing in on a lot of issues – everything from dueling tax measures to transgender kids playing sports. We’re tackling as much of this monster ballot as we can, and today Westword editor emeritus Patty Calhoun and politics correspondent Adrian Felix join host Bree Davies to dig into the statewide measures specifically. We talk about what these ballot issues aim to do, who is supporting and opposing them, and what these decisions mean for the future.

Bree mentioned our episode with Dr. Paul...

President Donald Trump’s approval rating is at record low, and there are close elections happening across the country this November – could there be a blue wave on the horizon? Founder and editor-in-chief of The Lever David Sirota joins host Bree Davies to discuss how the fight over Colorado’s Congressional District 8 fits into the national narrative, how theGOP is heavily leaning on redistricting efforts, and what a staunch Republican endorsing Phil Weiser for governor says about the Democratic Party. 

Bree mentioned our episode with Dr. Paul Teske on the tax-related ballot issues Amendment 87, Proposition 136, and Proposition NN
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The 49th Denver Film Festival brings 129 films to screens across the city, but this one goes beyond the red carpet. In this sponsored bonus episode, Denver Film Festival Artistic Director Matthew Campbell joins host Bree Davies to talk about what DFF49 is really about: a labor-of-love curation process to pick a great mix from 2,000-plus submissions, a pay-what-you-can ticketing program that keeps the festival open to everyone, and a Colorado Spotlight line-up built to put homegrown filmmakers front and center. Matthew also hands out a few can’t-miss picks for date night, family outings, and solo cinephiles, and reflects on...

Colorado’s midterm election ballots are packed with big decisions for voters, including two competing taxation measures. Dr. Paul Teske, distinguished professor at CU Denver’s School of Public Affairs, joins host Bree Davies to parse out how Amendment 87 and Proposition 136 are different and what would happen if they both passed. They also discuss Proposition NN and Colorado’s school-funding conundrum, plus dig into TABOR and how the controversial 1992 constitutional amendment has, despite many attempts to dismantle it, stuck around for more than three decades.

Bree Mentioned past episodes with Colorado Times Recorder reporter Logan Davis about conser...

Ever since Mayor Mike Johnston was inaugurated in 2023, he’s made a priority of both keeping the Broncos in Denver, but also working with the team on a brand new stadium (that could host a Super Bowl or Beyonce). The City of Denver published a new small area plan last week, laying out a vision for development around the Broncos’ proposed site in Burnham Yard. Today, we are revisiting a conversation host Bree Davies had with BusinessDen’s Thomas Gounley and Justin Wingerter as they were just starting to uncover the story behind the push for a new Broncos stadiu...

How much ownership or responsibility do you feel as a resident of Denver? In Salt Lake City, people are being asked to “adopt a storm drain” to help keep city streets free of floods and trash — and to possibly slow the drying and pollution of the Great Salt Lake. City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta says it’s worth a shot. This week, she joins David to discuss how quick, periodic cleaning of a neighborhood sewer grate can be part of a much bigger solution.

Listeners, it’s that time again! Send us the dilemmas you’re facing li...

There are ten candidates in the running to fill the vacant at-large city council position. With less than three weeks until election day how are all the candidates setting themselves apart? Denver Post City Government reporter Elliott Wenzler joins Bree Davies to talk about two women in the race running for this short-term position that will be on ballots again next spring. Plus, they go beyond the headlines of some contentious city council votes involving deportation flights and AI chatbots and share their wins and fails of the week. Oh, and if you’re a City Cast Denver Neighbor yo...

Are politics creating a division in Denver’s dating scene? Or are lovers on opposite sides of the political spectrum just really good at navigating conflict? Food and dating contributor Sara Rosenthal talked to local couples therapists, and she tells host Bree Davies about the state of partisan love in the Mile High City. They also discuss some recent vegan restaurant openings and share personal recommendations for what to do this spooky season!

Bree mentioned the Broadway Halloween Parade’s great “know before you go” guide to the event this weekend. Sara recommended the Tracks Halloween Weekend festivit...

Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love are opening up the mailbag to hear from you, our dear listeners. We’re sharing your ideas for a new name for Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, what Colorado rules of thumb you live by, and a very specific listener recommendation for a Casa Bonita-like pizza experience in Colorado Springs. Plus, Olivia shares her top five most Denver halloween costume ideas to give you some inspiration!

Bree mentioned a list of the best local stores to find a great halloween costume, from City Cast Denver’s recent Keep It Local...

There’s a measure on this November’s ballot that would create a sales tax to support the proposed Front Range Passenger Rail, but around 800,000 ballots featuring 7A were sent out this week to Coloradans that don’t technically have a say in the matter. Now everyone is asking: Who messed up, and how will they fix it? City Cast producer Jason Paton has been reporting on the snafu in our newsletter, and he joins contributor Miriam Moreno and producer Olivia Jewell Love to break down the details. Then, the crew takes a tour of Republican gubernatorial candidate Victor Marx’s...

Another Denver school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no-phone school day can work, and they’ve got the (mostly) positive feedback to show for it. City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson joins David to talk about how St. Paul Central High School is succeeding at enforcing a phone-free school environment, the surprising ways that some students approach it, and how these kinds of bans can even affect adults like Sean.

Listeners, it’s that time again! Send us the dilemmas you’re facing l...

It might not feel like it, but we are, actually, in the fall season! Contributor Michelle Jackson joins producer Olivia Jewell Love to chat about their favorite fall bevs (don’t worry, they come iced!) and talk shop about Olivia’s hunt for the best PSL in Denver. Then, DIA officials are facing a new ethics complaint about a lavish retirement party, complete with a $3,000 budget for sausage and cheese. City Cast Denver Neighbors will get to hear a special segment with recommendations for great meals under $30, so make sure you sign up right now to hear it! Olivia and...

It's election season, and those blue books are beefy this year! We’re going one by one through some of the thorniest ballot measures all month, and today creative producer Shane Franklin joins fellow producer Olivia Jewell Love to break down everything you need to know about Amendment 84, the proposal for new voter ID requirements. Then, contributor Molly Smith joins Olivia to talk about her experience riding the bus in the new BRT lanes on Colfax and mark the one-year anniversary of “Love is Blind.” What are the reality stars up to now, and do they still hang out in the...

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park may not be long for this world – well, the name anyway. For the first time in the Colorado Rapids soccer stadium’s 20-year history, the team is looking at new sponsors and a potential moniker change. Comedian and Casa Bonita performer Joshua Emerson joins host Bree Davies to share his top five picks for renaming Dick’s. Plus, they dig into the controversy involving a big-name comedian, Sirius XM, and Denver’s comedy scene and talk about Joshua’s AI concerns about the seasonal Halloween and Dia de los Muertos decor at the pink palace.  

The conservative nonprofit Advance Colorado brought a whopping eight initiatives to the ballot this year – that’s more than half of the 14 amendments and propositions voters will decide. But after a record turnout by Democrats in this summer’s primaries, why is this Republican-leaning organization banking so much on the midterms? Logan M. Davis, who wrote “The Muckraker Official Ballot Guide” for the Colorado Times Recorder, joins host Bree Davies to discuss what he believes is motivating Advance Colorado’s latest lawmaking moves.

Bree mentioned her conversation on drug use in prison with Lisa Raville from the Harm Reducti...

Denver Public Schools board member DJ Torres resigned last week, his reasoning being “too much of my time and energy have been consumed by internal conflict.” But this is just the latest issue for a leadership entity seemingly plagued with drama over the last half-decade, including recent allegations against Torres himself that he has missed too many crucial meetings. Politics correspondent Adrian Felix joins host Bree Davies to lay out this latest round of infighting and what it means for kids and teachers in the system. Plus, they talk about the chatbot who could be answering your 311 calls and the...

When Denver looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate flood mitigation into public housing. Inspired by places like Rotterdam, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with other groups to give Queens a state-of-the-art, climate-resilient amenity — in this case, a basketball court. David talks with Katy Burgio from NYCHA and Runit Chhaya of Grain Collective, one of the involved design firms, about the larger infrastructure the court is a part of and how it’s setting up NYC for cl...

Denverites already pay for trash pick-up, but what if that money went to a private company instead of the city? The city’s waste services are costing more cash than they bring in, and two city council members have proposed exploring privatizing the system. Green chile correspondent and democratic candidate for house district 5 Justine Sandoval joins host Bree Davies to dig into the trash cost dilemma and share their wins and fails of the week. Producer Shane Franklin shares the latest on PorchFest, a brand new festival happening in front yards across Baker this weekend, and if you’re a Ci...

A proposal to make sweeping changes to the zoning code was sent back to the drawing board by city council – signalling the end of a push by Denver planners to make it easier to build duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes citywide. Will the Mile High ever get closer to housing advocates’ dream of a denser, more affordable city? Denver Post city government reporter Elliott Wenzler and political correspondent Adrian Felix join host Bree Davies to talk about the density drama, plus dig into an ethics investigation of city attorney Miko Brown that is costing Denver more than $800,000 in legal fees. 

Fall is here — and we’re ready for the sweater weather, cozy vibes, and spiced everything! From finding the right craft meetup to enjoying Little Man Ice Cream’s autumnal ice cream flavors, host Bree Davies, producer Olivia Jewell Love, and audience development manager Grace Zahn share their picks for the best things to do, see, eat, drink, and enjoy all around the Mile High City and beyond this October.

Follow along with Olivia’s hunt for the best PSL in town over on the City Cast Denver Instagram! For more information or to RSVP for the Neal Cas...

The historically counter-cultural strip of 13th Avenue in Capitol Hill will be home to a concert venue once again! After all the drama and seizure of Your Mom’s House, the Poison Pit will usher in the next era of local music at 608 E. 13th Avenue this October. Westword editor emeritus Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies to talk about Denver’s newest independent venue, plus dig into why Glendale’s dreams of an Alamo Drafthouse and entertainment district have been dashed once again. Then, producer Olivia Jewell Love explains why Denverites will be voting on whether or not to for...

Ballots are hitting mailboxes soon and the campaign money is flowing. But where is it coming from and where is it going? In his investigation for the Colorado Times Recorder, reporter Logan M. Davis traces the cashflow funding conservative-backed initiatives and measures that Coloradans will be voting on this November. Earlier this year, host Bree Davies sat down with Logan to learn more about the billionaires, think tanks, and dark money groups involved in this complex network of financial and political power on the right in Colorado. 

This episode originally aired on May 4, 2026

For even m...

What’s a seemingly small project in Denver that’s made a big difference? In the Oregon suburb of Tualatin, a drinking water pipe has just been fitted with a seamless electrical turbine, so that an existing utility can now have a dual purpose. David is joined by Nic Westendorf, Tualatin’s deputy public works director, to talk about the power of thinking local, using existing tools, and looking ahead to a sustainable future to inform what we do today.

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

We’re...

What are the things you need to know to thrive in Denver? You know, like remembering to bring a jacket regardless of the weather – which may change at a moment’s notice! – or making sure to drink enough water during the workday, not just when you’re hiking. Today, host Bree Davies and producer Shane Franklin are joined by City Cast Denver regular Michelle Jackson to lay out their unwritten rules of making the most of your time in the Mile High City.

Bree mentioned Patty Calhoun’s Westword story on Denver’s history with Christmas lights, the misspell...

Sundance Film Festival’s Colorado debut is just months away, but there are plenty of homegrown film fests happening this fall and winter. Denver Post arts and entertainment reporter John Wenzel joins host Bree Davies to talk about his recent guide to navigating the fest landscape and how to enjoy the screenings, parties, and more. Plus, they speculate on EDM artist GRiZ’s motives behind performing two free shows for fans this weekend after his Red Rocks concerts earlier this month sold out immediately, and John and Bree share their must-go shows this fall in Denver.

For even...

Ball Arena is set to get a $135 million makeover, complete with more escalators and a giant LED screen outside for fans to watch the action. Editor and founder of The Lever David Sirota joins host Bree Davies to talk about why Ball Arena’s owner Stan Kroenke is spending millions to update the lobby of his arena and what, if anything, it means for the fan experience. Plus, they discuss the complete melting away of St. Mary’s Glacier and the impacts of climate change on Colorado’s tourism economy. 

For even more news from around the city, s...

A grocery store or a bar? This is the question at the center of the future of The Holly, a shopping center in Northeast Park Hill. The generational gathering place for Denver’s Black community is currently embroiled in a fight between a landlord and tenants – and it’s exposing a deeper conversation about who a proposed remodel of The Holly is for. Green chile correspondent (and current candidate for House District 5) Justine Sandoval joins host Bree Davies and brand new City Cast Denver creative producer Shane Franklin to talk about why revamping a strip mall is stirring so many e...

Green chile is a staple of Colorado cuisine – both the pepper itself and the spicy, soupy stew used to smother everything from burritos and french fries to eggs and hamburgers. For decades, Denverites have been flocking to The Original Chubby’s Burger Drive In for their version of the versatile dish, and there is perhaps no version as hotly contested as Chubby’s. Our resident green chile correspondent (and current candidate for House District 5) Justine Sandoval sits down with host Bree Davies to regale her with the tale of how Chubby’s came to be and the Cordova family’s dramatic...

Would Denver be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and depression recorded near newly transformed, “greened” neighborhood lots. But how did they do it? David talks with City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri and special guest Matt Rader, president of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, about how Philly prioritized revitalizing its abandoned outdoor space, the ways that having a nonprofit partner has made all the difference, and what still needs to be done.

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The Mercury Cafe is back! Again! This time around, the buyers are asking the community what they want from this legendary space before moving into it. Can a cultural icon be preserved while also evolving with the times? City government reporter Elliott Wenzler joins host Bree Davies to peer into the crystal ball to see the Merc’s future, plus they discuss Mayor Mike Johnston’s optimistic city budget for 2027 and share their wins and fails of the week. Oh, and if you’re a City Cast Denver Neighbor you get a special segment just for members where Elliott and Br...

Denver chefs and restaurateurs celebrated this week when both the Michelin Guide announced its 2026 winners and the New York Times dropped its 50 best restaurants in America list! In no surprise to local foodies, culinary superstars Johnny and Kasie Curiel’s latest spot, Milpero, nabbed accolades from both. Our coffee shop connoisseur and downtown champ Michelle Jackson joins host Bree Davies to talk about Denver’s ever-evolving food scene, plus they discuss whether or not the Mile High City is still a place that conventions, conferences, and expos see as a viable location, and why it’s so important to know w...

A new poll out this week says Coloradans have strong feelings about AI and data centers, offering an interesting look at how age, political affiliation, and gender play into the topic. Editor and founder of The Lever David Sirota joins host Bree Davies to discuss the latest poll from local nonpartisan research group Magellan Strategies Plus, they share their feelings on how AI use is impacting their own lives – from work-related research projects and travel plans to what role they think the technology should play at their kids’ schools. 

Bree mentioned a post about how schools use surve...

Thirty-six years after the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Mesa Verde National Park is returning more than 4,000 objects and remains of family members to their rightful Native American communities. So, what took so long? Westword Editor Emeritus Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies to talk about these repatriation moves and what it means in the bigger picture of how Colorado honors its Native history. Plus, they discuss Alterra’s move to the old Denver Post building, the brawl that got the Nativ Hotel and Gatsby’s Social shut down, and how much they wish the...

While office vacancies remain high downtown, one developer thinks this excess of commercial real estate could be better used as housing. Asher Luzzatto has bought multiple office towers in Denver over the last year with the help of a $63 million loan through the Denver Downtown Development Authority. But will Denverites be clamoring to move into converted aging office buildings? Luzzatto sits down with host Bree Davies to explain why he’s taking such a big financial gamble on a city he just moved to.

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