

Colorado Matters
Colorado Public Radio
Hosted by Ryan Warner and Chandra Thomas Whitfield, CPR News' daily interview show focuses on the state's people, issues and ideas.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 16, 2022 • 51min
Sept. 16, 2022: An hour of awe, thanks to ancient rock art
Colorado's cliffs, canyons and caves are blanketed with ancient Indigenous rock art, depicting people, animals and celestial events. In "Tracing Time," explorer and nature writer Craig Childs, of Norwood, Colorado, meditates on their meaning and mystery. Childs joined Ryan Warner at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction for our series "Turn The Page."

Sep 15, 2022 • 52min
Sept. 15, 2022: New COVID boosters are ready; Off-Center’s ‘Theater of the Mind’
The newest COVID-19 booster targets recent variants. How it works and when to get it. Then, Wheat Ridge parents say a plan to close three schools will hit vulnerable families the hardest. Plus, DCPA’s Off-Center offers “Theater of the Mind.” Also, Grand Junction’s thriving Hawaiian community. And, an Emmy shoutout for singer Dianne Reeves.

Sep 14, 2022 • 51min
Sept. 14, 2022: Common ground amid polarization; Will high-speed flight take off again?
A new survey about Americans' views of U.S. history reveals people may not be as polarized on certain issues as we might think like civil rights. Then, the possible return of supersonic commercial flight. And in ¿Quién Are We?, Brandon Vargas wants to perfectly replicate his grandmother's green chile recipe. There's just one catch: she never wrote it down.

Sep 13, 2022 • 52min
Sept. 13, 2022: Power play for state senate; Opera composer reflects civil rights
Election season is underway and the Colorado state senate race is one to watch. Republicans are hoping to flip key seats in competitive districts. Plus, deconstructing the powerful Latino vote in Colorado with a closer look at two high-stakes races. And, the fight for civil rights and the Black experience in America are reflected in the works of composer and pianist Mary D. Watkins, who grew up in Pueblo.

Sep 12, 2022 • 50min
Sept. 12, 2022: Creating police accountability in Boulder; A new era for the Denver Broncos
An all-volunteer panel is working to hold the Boulder Police Department accountable, but will it lead to real change? Then, the Denver Broncos kick off the regular season with great expectations, from new owners to a new quarterback. And, a new study maps the outlook for the massive Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica as it continues to melt in the face of climate change.

Sep 9, 2022 • 51min
Sept. 9, 2022: Investigating Indigenous boarding schools; Creating outdoor equity
The Western Slope’s Club 20 debates signal that the campaign season is in full swing. We talk about the issues that may drive this weekend's discussions. Then, the state's investigation into Indigenous boarding schools. Also, getting more young people of color to enjoy the outdoors.

Sep 8, 2022 • 50min
Sept. 8, 2022: Adam Frisch wants to overcome ‘angertainment’ and focus on issues
Democrat Adam Frisch is running against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s 3rd congressional district, He answers questions ranging from abortion access to energy independence, to stopping what he calls “angertainment.” Then, an update on Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ election security case.

Sep 7, 2022 • 50min
Sept. 7, 2022: Food banks reflect inflation’s impact; How climate change is changing wine
For a look at how inflation hits families on the Western Slope, we visit a food bank in Clifton near Grand Junction and meet the woman who makes sure volunteers treat people with dignity. Then, is the state on-track to release gray wolves on the Western Slope? And, wine-making in the face of climate change.

Sep 6, 2022 • 48min
Sept. 6, 2022: A long-anticipated home for Black culture at CU Boulder
The Center for African and African American Studies, or CAAAS (known as "the Cause" to its founder), creates a space that builds community, as well as respect and connection for Black students, staff and faculty at the University of Colorado Boulder. Then, the new film "This is Not Who We Are" explores the experiences of people of color in Boulder.

Sep 5, 2022 • 51min
Sept. 5, 2022: A labor of love – a day in the life of a restaurant
On this Labor Day, we re-share a day in the life of a restaurant; how one eatery in Englewood made it through the pandemic and the ongoing impact of inflation, the supply chain disruption, and staff shortages. Then, Colorado's free transit ride is over; will it make a difference when it comes to cleaning up the air and changing commuting habits? Plus a new vision for Denver's "sports mile."