City Cast Denver

One of our infamous spring blizzards could still be on the horizon — but for now the weather in Denver is gorgeous! It’s a great time to pump up those tires, grease up that chain, and hop on your bike. Whether you’re exploring a new part of the city, navigating an unfamiliar route, or swerving around potholes, biking in Denver can be kinda of hairy. So we’re revisiting a great chat host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi had with a person who knows Denver by bike as well as anyone — veteran bike courier Matt Sanchez. Matt shares the best and worst places to ride your bike 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/CityCastDenverSupport City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fmWhat do you think? Do you have a favorite bike trail or path? What do you think Denver’s bike infrastructure is missing? 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 episode: 5280 Magazine Bookshop.org - Use code CITYCAST to get 15% off your next order Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spring is here, and the Mile High has no shortage of arts events to fill your calendar. From provocative museum exhibitions and twilight art tours to festivals big and small, there are so many ways to enjoy the creativity of this city! Host Bree Davies sits down with radio host and venue owner Bruce Trujillo and City Cast Denver regular Joshua Emerson to share our top picks for arts happenings in Denver and across Colorado this spring.Check out all the happenings at Bruce’s new venue, Manos Sagrados, in Aurora. Find out about Joshua’s upcoming shows and support his trip to Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer!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’s your favorite thing that secretly lights up at night? We want to know where to walk in the spring twilight! 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 March 26th episode: 5280 Magazine Bookshop.org - Use code CITYCAST to get 15% off your next order Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) spoke to a massive crowd when their “fight oligarchy” tour stopped in Civic Center Park on Friday. Sanders claims it was the “largest rally” he’s ever had, but just how many folks were there? Host Bree Davies and Producer Paul Karolyi were at the park and dug into all the conflicting claims. Then we open up the City Cast Denver mailbag for some burning hot takes, including a spicy one from a Denver representative who is co-sponsoring the tipped minimum wage bill and a passionate defense of Illegal Pete’s CEO Pete Turner.Rep. Alex Valdez was responding to comments that Councilperson Sarah Parady made on our show last week. Don’t miss our interview with Pete Turner if you haven’t heard it yet! The band Paul struggled to pronounce is named Xiuhtezcatl. Here’s the New York Times article he mentioned about the controversy around the name “Illegal Pete’s.” Did you go to the rally? What did you think of it? The City Cast Denver Hotline is always open — give us a call or shoot us a text: 720-500-5418 and tell us what you’re thinking. 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.fmLearn more about the sponsors of this March 25th episode: 5280 Magazine Bookshop.org - Use code CITYCAST to get 15% off your next order Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Maass, an investigative reporter at CBS Colorado, dives into the turmoil within the Denver Fire Department. He reveals that a staggering 64% of firefighters lack confidence in their chief, Desmond Fulton, while Mayor Mike Johnston dismisses their concerns. Maass discusses the controversies around comp time mismanagement and the growing dissatisfaction with transparency in leadership. The podcast also highlights the rising tensions over diversity initiatives and the upcoming critical negotiations between the fire union and the city.

It was a big week for rallies and protests — supporters of detained immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra took to the streets, union workers gathered at the Capitol, and Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are slated for a big rally in Civic Center Park this evening. Will Denver Dems show up to “fight oligarchy”? Our politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joins producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies to dig into the local Democratic divide, plus the implications of a brand new stadium at the site of the old Gates Rubber Plant, the uncertain future of Glendale’s long-awaited entertainment district, and more wins and fails of the week. Paul talked about Denver Bike Fest (April 26, City Park), the latest Glendale lawsuit, the Denver Post’s congressional vote tracker, the CSU vegetable bracket, and the Denver Gazette’s history of Gates Rubber Plant. Bree mentioned the money raised by black license plates and the Westwood Rec Center. Justine talked about Denver’s FEMA money and un-banned books. The song you heard at the end of this episode is “Oligarch Slank” by Rubedo. What do you think about the plans for the NWSL stadium? 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/DenverLearn more about the sponsors of this March 21st episode: Denver Health Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For almost 30 years, Illegal Pete’s has been a local darling. While Chipotle went global, Pete’s Mission-style burritos came with killer queso and great margs — and they supported local artists and community groups, too. But over the last couple years, something has changed. People are swapping stories of food poisonings, cuts to worker benefits, and less-than-awesome queso. So what happened? Producer Paul Karolyi put that big question to Illegal Pete’s founder and CEO Pete Turner, because he’s got some explaining to do. Paul mentioned Denver Gazette’s reporting on the letter that Turner and some other downtown restaurant owners sent to Mayor Mike Johnston complaining about how slow downtown’s economic recovery has been. He also recommends this fun queso taste test that Westword’s food editor and friend of the show Molly Martin did a few months ago. What do you think about Illegal Pete’s? Do you love it more than ever? Have you had bad experiences? 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.fmLearn more about the sponsors of this March 20th episode: Denver Health Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While on lunch break from her job at Target, ICE officers detained local immigration rights activist Jeanette Vizguerra on Monday afternoon, immediately drawing the country’s attention to Denver. Back during the first Trump administration in 2017, Vizguerra first captured national attention when she took sanctuary in Denver churches to avoid deportation. She was even named to Time Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World of 2017. Activist and former state representative Tim Hernández returns to talk with host Bree Davies about Vizguerra’s precarious situation, what local politicians are saying about this case, and what it all means for bigger immigration fights to come.Tim mentioned Gov. Polis’s State of the State, the arrest of Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, and his own work on a law he helped pass to allow state identification to be issued to undocumented Coloradans. He also talked about a Rally in support of Vizguerra happening today on Auraria Campus as well as a GoFundMe to help her family with legal assistance. Here’s the rest of the 9News clip we shared during the show. Denver7’s Brandon Richard shared Gov. Polis’s full statement on Vizguerra’s detention on X. What do you think about the detention of Jeanette Vizguerra? 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.fmLearn more about the sponsors of this March 19th episode: Denver Health Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Democrats in Washington are divided over how best to resist the new Trump administration, so we’re looking today at how local liberals are doing it. Some are vandalizing Tesla dealerships. Some are filling the rooms at our congressional delegation’s town halls. And some are looking forward to the big Bernie/AOC rally at Civic Center Park this Friday. Progressive champion and at-large councilwoman Sarah Parady joins producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the latest action and all the other big stories of the week — from a setback for the tipped minimum wage bill and the latest intrigue on the planned BRT on Federal, to the debates over widening Peña Blvd. and the defunct Park Hill Golf Course. Sarah mentioned some ethical, sustainable poop bags. Paul talked about the national push for One Fair Wage.Where do you stand on the Trump resistance question? Of everything liberal Denverites are trying, what do you think is the most effective way to push back? 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.fmLearn more about the sponsors of this March 18th episode: Denver Health Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to green energy, Colorado Governor Jared Polis likes solar and wind. He’s open to nuclear. But he’s ALL IN on geothermal, and his allies in the state legislature are pushing a measure this session to accelerate geothermal drilling across the state. So what does that mean for our many beloved hot springs? Colorado Sun reporter Parker Yamasaki has been hearing from hot springs operators across the state who are worried, and her colleague Tracy Ross has been reporting on the state’s most promising geothermal project at Mt. Princeton. They join producer Paul Karolyi to talk about whether there’s enough hot water to go around. Paul talked about the case studies in Iceland and Japan. Would you give up your favorite hot spring for cheaper electricity? 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.fmLearn more about the sponsors of this March 17th episode: Denver Health Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the South Park guys bought Casa Bonita, their credo was simple: Change Nothing, Improve Everything. Now another iconic Denver institution is changing hands — this time The Mercury Cafe — and the new operators are promising the same. But they’re changing the name to The Pearl, so what else is in store for the 50-year-old bastion of alternative culture and community? Denverite neighborhoods reporter Paolo Zialcita joins producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love to talk about what’s next. Plus, we discuss Paolo’s reporting on why so many local pharmacies are struggling and share our wins and fails of the week. Do you think Denver has a dog poop problem? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418You’re invited! Regular guest Joshua Emerson stars in a new short film premiering at The Holiday Theater on March 25, and Paul will be moderating a discussion afterwards with Joshua and the filmmaker, Gabriel Fermin. Tickets are cheap! Get yours today. Paul talked about Cracker Barrel, Meati, and this great episode of The Journal podcast on Walgreens. Olivia mentioned a sunglasses heist. Paolo talked about paid parking at Cherry Creek Mall. We also mentioned the reality TV show “Love is Blind” coming to Denver for its ninth season.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 March 14th episode: Arvada Center Visit Port Aransas 5280 Magazine Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices