City Cast Denver

What will 2025 yield for Denver? When it comes to new trends, spicy predictions, and future forecasts, there’s a lot on the horizon for the Mile High City. Will psychedelic-assisted therapy finally go mainstream? Are immersive art experiences played out? Will local politicians stop embarrassing themselves on Twitter? Host Bree Davies and producers Olivia Jewell Love and Paul Karolyi lay out what’s in — and what’s out — for Denver this year.Paul mentioned local journalist Scott Carney’s book about Wim Hof. Bree talked about Jonathan Shikes’ piece about the green-and-white license plates for The Denver Post. Get your tickets to HEYDAY now! We’re putting on an indoor fair with urban flair, like a classic county fair but with a very cool Denver twist. Join us on March 8 for classic carnival games, vintage arcade games, Denver-themed balloon art, and a full day of grandstand entertainment, featuring some of your favorite guests from the podcast. It’s family friendly, too, if you wanna bring your kids. Get those tickets now at www.heydaydenver.com.What do you think is IN or OUT in Denver in 2025? 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: 720-500-5418‬For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverSupport City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fmLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Animal welfare activists are making headlines by staging dramatic protests against foie gras in local restaurants, sparking a fierce debate. Meanwhile, gentrification on the West Side is influencing zoning changes and raising questions about community dynamics. Renters share their frustrations over climbing rents and opaque landlord practices, highlighting the challenges of an increasingly competitive housing market. The conversation weaves together ethics, community engagement, and the pressing issues of affordable housing in Denver.

Drew Hamrick, General Counsel and Senior VP of Government Affairs for the Apartment Association of Metro Denver, dives into Denver’s booming construction scene. He explains why rents aren’t dropping despite new apartment buildings and discusses the influence of rent-setting algorithms on pricing. The conversation also touches on how recent affordable housing ordinances have drastically affected permit applications for new developments. Drew shares insights on potential future rent increases and the evolving dynamics between landlords and tenants.

The new year is not yet a week old, and there are already tons of local stories to catch up on. Westword editor Patty Calhoun joins producer Paul Karolyi to speculate about Mayor Mike Johnston’s new hire to help shape the future of downtown, Bill Mosher, including his connections with the Colorado Convention Center scandal of 2018. They also preview the 2026 governor’s race now that AG Phil Weiser has thrown the first official hat into the ring, discuss the recent attack on a TV journalist in Grand Junction, and look back on former President Jimmy Carter’s fascinating legacy in Denver. And of course, our first round of wins and fails of 2025.Paul mentioned this piece by Colorado Politics reporter Marianne Goodland and the fate of Merf’s hot sauces. What do you think local journalists’ role in covering Trump 2.0? 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: 720-500-5418‬For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverSupport City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/DenverLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Welcome to the new year in Denver! From warming up with a coffee flight to a hot tip on a discount for electric snowblowers, we’ve got some great recommendations for how to make the most out of your January in the Mile High City. 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. Get your tickets to HEYDAY now! We’re putting on an indoor fair with urban flair, like a classic county fair but with a very cool Denver twist. Join us on March 8 for classic carnival games, vintage arcade games, Denver-themed balloon art, and a full day of grandstand entertainment, featuring some of your favorite guests from the podcast. It’s family friendly, too, if you wanna bring your kids. Get those tickets now at www.heydaydenver.com.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. And 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 Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Back in October, one of the Mile High’s most popular social media influencers, The Denver Foodie, found himself at the center of perhaps the biggest local scandal of the year. Restaurants claimed that he had ripped them off, while some of his fellow influencers came forward with allegations of content theft. At the height of uproar, host Bree Davies talked with 9News investigative reporter Jeremy Jojola, who dug into these allegations and even talked with the guy behind the account, Jonathan Davis, to get the full story. Now that the dust has settled, we’re bringing back this conversation for the insights it gives us into the local food media scene and how Denverites choose where to eat. We talked about Jeremy’s initial investigation and reporting on the alleged food influencer scam. Later that week, The Denver Foodie (@WhatsUpDenver303) released a video in response to the 9News piece. Bree also interviewed local creators Amanda Bittner (@TheAmandaBittner) and Ashley (@ColfaxThings) about the business of influencing in Denver.For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverWhat do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsor of this December 30th episode: PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $35 off your first deliveryLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Given how many people have flocked to Denver because of our proximity to the mountains, craft beer scene, or recreational marijuana, you’d think it’d be easier than ever for singles to connect. But maybe shared interests aren’t the problem; maybe it’s a question of shared goals? Or maybe the apps just aren’t as effective as we’d like to think they are? Westword’s Hannah Metzger and Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton from the Denver Post have both been reporting on dating in the Mile High, and earlier this year they joined host Bree Davies to share their insights into how people are — or aren’t — having luck finding partners. We’re revisiting this conversation today to dig into the pros and cons of Denver’s dating scene, whether or not the apps have become obsolete, and how the city’s stereotypes affect how we date.Hannah reported on our city’s dating scene being a “dumpster fire” and also recapped the Denver edition (and all-time least-successful season) of “Married at First Sight.” Megan interviewed the guys who took out a billboard looking for love for their single brother and wrote about how “Menver” has fizzled out; she also joined us in February to talk about dating stereotypes.Do you have a Denver dating horror story or meet-cute anecdote to share? Leave us a voicemail or shoot us a text at 720-500-5418 and you might hear it on the show!For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverLearn more about the sponsor of this December 26th episode: PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $35 off your first deliveryLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

When Donald Trump started talking about Aurora being “taken over” by gangs during the presidential campaign, many Denverites looked around and thought, “huh?” It’s always kind of awkward when someone or something in Colorado goes viral like that, and the Tren de Aragua moment was far from the first time a Colorado story went global. Whether for ridiculous or tragic reasons, these viral moments stick around in our collective memory … and maybe they also say something about who we are. So today, we’re revisiting a conversation host Bree Davies had earlier this year with politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval and local history aficionado David Gilbert about some of Colorado’s biggest viral moments ever.Watch the whole “Fresh Prince of Denv-Air” video if you dare!For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverWhat viral moments did we miss? We want to hear about the ones that made you laugh, cry, or shake your head in disbelief at the crazy things Coloradans are capable of! Seriously, we know there’s probably a ton more that we forgot. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsor of this December 23rd episode: PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $35 off your first deliveryLooking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

What better time than the holidays for another round of the age-old Denver debate of old vs. new? We’re looking back at the biggest stories of the week, from the Landmark Preservation Commission’s ruling on the fate of two rundown yet historic East Colfax mansions to the latest moves to block the construction of new gas stations in Lakewood and Denver. Stand-up comedian and returning guest JD Lopez joins producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love and brings a heaping helping of holiday hijinks to our last Friday news round-up of the year. And of course, we close it out with a special Xmas edition of our wins and fails of the week: The Naughty and Nice List. What’s the historic building you’d hit the streets to defend? 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: 720-500-5418‬How diverse were City Cast Denver’s guests this year? Paul discussed our 2024 diversity report, which we are proud to share every year. We are hiring! Are you a great writer who loves Denver? Or do you know such a person? We are looking for a temporary newsletter writer to be the voice of our newsletter Hey Denver. Here’s the link to apply: https://apply.workable.com/city-cast/j/FF0BF9E3A1/Paul referenced this story about Christmas lights in Castle Rock and the anonymous governors poll. Olivia talked about cows and Arvada’s toppled tree. JD talked about local comedian David Germain and the GoFundMe for his family. UPDATE: After we recorded this episode on Thursday morning, an ICE spokesperson said that 16 people have been arrested in connection with the armed home invasion and kidnapping at The Edge at Lowry apartments. "They are suspected of being members or associates of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua," the spokesperson said. "They will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings or hearings before an immigration judge."For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverSupport City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/DenverLearn more about the sponsors of this December 20th episode: Meow Wolf - Use code 4PACK at checkout when you purchase your tickets online. PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $35 off your first delivery Denver Health University of Denver Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

What really goes down inside the shadowy backroom where political deals are made? Nearly a third of our state lawmakers have been elected by small groups of party leaders known as “vacancy committees,” and typically all that wheeling and dealing plays out behind closed doors. So today, as about 110 Democrats in central Denver prepare to elect a replacement for State Sen. Chris Hansen, we’re taking you inside the proverbial shadowy backroom. Our newest politics correspondent Deep Singh Badhesha is on with producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the latest drama surrounding vacancy committees and share highlights, analysis, and predictions from the debate they moderated Tuesday night for the candidates running to replace Hansen in the SD31 vacancy election. Paul mentioned Monica VanBuskirk’s shoes, which were made by Nix & Ness. The Denver Democrats streamed the debate on YouTube, so if you want to watch and see for yourself what we’re talking about, you can find the video recording here. To hear from Hansen himself, he sat for an interview about his surprise resignation with Denver7 last month. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenverChat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenverSupport City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fmWhat do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬Learn more about the sponsors of this December 19th episode: Meow Wolf - Use code 4PACK at checkout when you purchase your tickets online. PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $35 off your first delivery Denver Health University of Denver Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise