City Cast Denver

Local vape shop owners say that the flavored tobacco ban Mayor Johnston signed into law last year represents an existential threat to their businesses and a major blow to the City of Denver’s sales tax revenues. But will that be enough to convince Denver voters to repeal the ban this November? Producer Paul Karolyi sits down with two local vape shop owners — Kristen Hensel of Rusty’s Vape and Smoke Shop and Philip Guerin of Myxed Up Creations — to talk about how kids get access to vapes, the Zyn plant being built in Aurora, and what the flavored tobacco ban means for their businesses. Paul talked about the Geek Bar website, this CU Anschutz report on Denver’s flavored tobacco ban, the surge in nitrous oxide, aka “whippets,” in Denver, and Gov. Jared Polis’ position on a statewide flavored tobacco ban, which he said he opposed in 2022. He also cited reporting on the repeal campaign’s 17,000 signatures and $328,000 raised. We’ve reached out to the Food & Drug Administration for comment on Phil’s claim of regular attempted busts at his shop and haven’t heard back.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think about repealing the flavored tobacco ban? 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 August 27th episode: KUVO Jazz Wise Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

What’s more offensive to Denverites: The fact that a new business opening in Cherry Creek North calls itself a “bodega” or the fact that it’s owned by an apparent Trump supporter? When Town Pump Provisions opened on Third Avenue earlier this month, social media sleuths dug up some info that led to calls of a boycott. So producers Olivia Jewell Love and Paul Karolyi are talking about the politics of local boycotts. Plus, a Republican state representative resigned after he was outed for starting a cyberbullying campaign against a Democrat colleague. And finally, we hear from a city worker who was laid off and more comments from listeners.  Olivia mentioned this post on X about Rep. Katie Stewart. Paul mentioned the Monfort family’s various political contributions over the years.  What do you think about boycotting a local Trump supporter-owned business? 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: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm Learn more about the sponsors of this August 26th episode: KUVO Jazz Cozy Earth - use code COZYDENVER for 40% off best-selling temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more Wise Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, Denverites have been talking a lot about Israel and its retaliation on Gaza. College students are now under federal investigation for a Gaza solidarity protest. Local courts are deciding if the Boulder attacker was guilty of a hate crime. A wave of antisemitism has put our Jewish neighbors at risk. And Colorado voters will soon weigh the merits of Democratic candidates who speak openly about ending U.S. support for Israel. So producer Paul Karolyi is speaking with Brandon Rattiner, the senior director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, about the investigation, the changing local politics around Israel, and what it has all meant for Colorado’s Jewish community. Brandon mentioned a photo of a child in Gaza that appeared on the front page of the New York Times. We recommend reading the whole article on people starving in Gaza, including the editor’s note Brandon was referencing about that specific child’s pre-existing condition. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think about how the changing local politics around Israel’s attack on Gaza? 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: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this August 25th episode: KUVO Jazz Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

City councilmembers are angry at him. The clerk and recorder is accusing him of “cowardice.” Former supporters are abandoning him. But what will the average Denver voter think about how Mayor Mike Johnston handled laying off 169 workers this week? Denver Post city hall reporter Elliott Wenzler and our politics and green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval join producer Paul Karolyi to talk about “The Hunger Games,” as some city employees described the layoffs. Plus, we respond to Defector’s take on ‘Why Denver Sucks’ and all our wins and fails of the week. Paul talked about Flock cameras, Playa Bowls, and his conversation with at-large City Councilmember Sarah Parady earlier this week. Justine talked about an emu and DPS’ heat day. Elliott discussed the big local TV merger and the Denver Zoo lion cam that she read about in Hey Denver. Some City Council members are hosting a webinar for city workers this Sunday at 4pm. You can RSVP here.  Do you think the Defector roasts of Denver were too harsh? Or on point? 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: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Watch clips from the show on YouTube: youtube.com/@citycastdenver or Instagram @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver Learn more about the sponsors of this August 22nd episode: Arvada Center Denver Health Elizabeth Martinez with PorchLight Real Estate - Do you have a question about Denver real estate? Submit your questions for Elizabeth Martinez HERE, and she might answer in next week’s segment. Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Ever since the election in November, Democrats across the country have been scrambling to figure out what went wrong, so they can rally and try to take back control of Congress in 2026. One candidate who has emerged, at least in terms of his impressive early fundraising numbers, is Commerce City’s own Manny Rutinel, a fresh face even in the Colorado Capitol, where he has served only two sessions as a state representative. So, as Rutinel and the rest of the legislature return to Denver today for a special legislative session, he joins producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the state’s budget priorities, possible tweaks to his controversial AI law, immigration, food trucks, veganism, and his campaign to win back Congressional District 8 from Republican Gabe Evans.  Rutinel has reportedly raised $1.6 million for his campaign so far, as of the second quarter of this year. For more on Evans’ and the other Democrats’ fundraising, Axios Denver has the details.  What do you think about Manny Rutinel’s chances in CD8? Would you like to hear from the other candidates hoping to unseat Republican Gabe Evans? 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: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm If you enjoyed the sponsored interview with Dr. Jessica Apted, Medical Director of Sploot, learn more here. Learn more about the other sponsors of this August 21st episode: Arvada Center Denver Health Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Ever since Mayor Mike Johnston announced a $250 million budget shortfall and the possibility of layoffs, city workers have been nervously preparing for “The Purge” or “The Hunger Games.” We now know that 171 workers are losing their jobs this week and 800 more positions will be eliminated, but we don’t know how that’s going to affect city services. City Council member at-large Sarah Parady joins producer Paul Karolyi to discuss the biggest city layoffs in 15 years. Plus, a bunch of other hot-button issues facing council, from Salvation Army’s cancelled contracts for homeless services to the mayor’s big push for more AI.   Paul mentioned the New York Times reporting on Uber’s sexual assault data. Sarah talked about the Colorado Drivers Coop and the comic Questionable Content. What do you think about the way the mayor is handling these layoffs?? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm Learn more about the sponsors of this August 20th episode: Arvada Center Denver Health Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

President Trump is calling on Democrat-run cities to watch closely as he attempts to take control of Washington, D.C. So we’re talking about one of the policies he’s pushing and some new data on how harsher penalties for fentanyl possession have been impacting overdose deaths in Colorado. Producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love discuss the shifting politics around public safety and addiction. Plus, some hilarious and insightful listener comments about Gov. Jared Polis’ online antics and animal sounds on 16th St., and the best ways to survive a zombie apocalypse in Denver.  Paul mentioned Denverite’s reporting on the city layoffs happening this week and Dr. Joshua Barocas’s study on the fentanyl felonization bill. Here’s the sound art on 16th St. that a listener told us about. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think about harm reduction and the 2022 fentanyl law? 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: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this August 19th episode: Arvada Center Denver Health Cozy Earth - use code COZYDENVER for 40% off best-selling temperature-regulating sheets, apparel, and more Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Have you tried a pickle pizza? What about one topped with peaches and prosciutto? And is the hot honey trend past its sell-by date? There’s a lot of hype around a new spot on Santa Fe, but is the best pizza in Denver actually in Longmont? Cookbook author and hot take slinger Allyson Reedy returns to the podcast to talk about all the latest pizza news, from buzzy openings to trendy topping combos we’ve been loving all across the Front Range. We want to hear your hot pizza takes! Text us or leave a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey—it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card – and City Cast City swag. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm If you enjoyed this interview with Denver Trivia League's Julio Trujilo, learn more here. Learn more about the other sponsors of this August 18th episode: Arvada Center Denver Health Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

After Rep. Jason Crow was turned away from the ICE detention center in Aurora a few weeks ago, he and Colorado’s three other Democratic members of the House were ⁠finally granted access⁠ this week for a tour. So what did they see? And what does it have to do with the new detention center ICE ⁠wants to open⁠ north of the city? With Trump taking unprecedented control of the police in DC, State Sen. Julie Gonzales and our politics contributor Deep Singh Badhesha join producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the Democrats’ resistance strategy here in Denver. Plus, a ⁠controversial proposal⁠ to build a nuclear reactor at DIA was delayed, and all our wins and fails of the week. Paul talked about “⁠Whip-Its⁠” and ⁠DIRT⁠. Julie mentioned the ⁠wildfires raging⁠ on the Western Slope. Deep talked about ⁠City Council’s votes on voting⁠ and ⁠the Savannah Bananas at Coors Field⁠.  We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at⁠ citycast.fm/survey⁠ — it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City swag. What do you think about a nuclear reactor at DIA? Is that a good idea? Or a total nightmare? 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: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at ⁠denver.citycast.fm⁠. Watch the Friday show on YouTube: ⁠youtube.com/@citycastdenver⁠ Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@citycastdenver⁠ Chat with other listeners on reddit: ⁠r/CityCastDenver⁠ Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: ⁠membership.citycast.fm/Denver⁠ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: ⁠Arvada Center⁠ ⁠Babbel⁠ - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST ⁠Rocky Mountain PBS⁠ ⁠Elizabeth Martinez with PorchLight Real Estate⁠ - Do you have a question about Denver real estate? Submit your questions for Elizabeth Martinez ⁠HERE⁠, and she might answer in next week’s segment. Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at⁠ citycast.fm/advertise⁠

The average Denverite probably isn’t walking around thinking about the special legislative session next week or debating specific line items of the Vibrant Denver bond with their friends. So what’s really on their minds?  Producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love walked up and down 16th St. for a few hours earlier this week to talk to Denverites about what’s most important to them — everything from the mayor’s work on homelessness and bringing life back downtown, to the sorely missed Mellow Mushroom and what local billionaire Stan Kroenke eats for lunch. Thanks to everyone who talked to us!  We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey — it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast City swag. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 If you enjoyed this interview with Dr. Jessica Apted, the Medical Director of Sploot, learn more here. Learn more about the other sponsors of this August 14th episode: Arvada Center Babbel - Get up to 60% off at Babbel.com/CITYCAST Rocky Mountain PBS Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise