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City Cast Denver

by City Cast

Join Host Bree Davies and the City Cast Denver crew every weekday morning as we celebrate, explore, and challenge an ever-changing Denver. It’s the daily news podcast for all Denverites — whether you’ve been here for six months or six generations. We’ll break down the news you need (and want) to know with journalists and culture makers; activists and artists; neighbors and ne’er-do-wells — and John Elway, if he ever returns our calls. Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at denver.citycast.fm.. Named Westword's Best Podcast of 2021, 2023

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Oct 16, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. ‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Salt Lakers are Adopting Storm Drains — Presented By City Cast Denver

    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...

  2. City Council’s Controversial Votes, a Crowded Race on a Crowded Ballot, and Green Chile Season!

    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...

  3. The Politics of Swiping Left or Right, Spooky Season Recs, and the Rise of Vegan Restaurants

    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...

  4. What's the Denver-est Halloween Costume of 2026? Plus, Your Takes on Compost, Pizza, and Denver's Unwritten Rules

    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...

  5. CoCo Ballot Blame Game, Victor Marx's Scandal Streak, and the Viral Punch at DIA

    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…

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  6. ‘Your City Could Be Better’: A St. Paul Cell Phone Ban Teens Might Actually Like — Presented By City Cast Denver

    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…

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  7. A Cheesy New Ethics Complaint at DIA, CoCo Vote Veers Off Course, and Denver's Best PSL

    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...

  8. How This Election Could Change All Other Elections. Plus, ‘Love is Blind’: Where Are They Now?

    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...

  9. What Would You Name Dick’s Sporting Goods Park? Plus, Casa Bonita’s Wishing Well and Local Comedy Drama

    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…

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  10. Harsher Fentanyl Penalties, Voter ID Requirements, and More of the Conservative Agenda on Colorado Ballots

    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…

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  11. The DPS Board’s Half-Decade of Drama, Meet Your Soulmate, and Will a Chatbot Replace Denver's 311 Operators?

    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...

  12. ‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast Denver

    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...

  13. Privatizing the Trash, Drones Delivering Pasta, and How to PorchFest

    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...

  14. Will Denver Ever Say Yes to the Duplex? Plus, the Ethics Investigation Costing the City $800,000

    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...

  15. Your Guide to October 2026 in Denver

    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…

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  16. Glendale’s Failed Nightlife Promises, New Live Music Venue in Cap Hill, and Duck Liver on the Ballot

    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…

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  17. Who Is Funding This Year’s Conservative-Backed Ballot Initiatives?

    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...

  18. ‘Your City Could Be Better’: How One Oregon City is Lowering Energy Costs — Presented By City Cast Denver

    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...

  19. The Unwritten Rules of Surviving and Thriving in Denver

    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...

  20. It's Film Fest Season! Plus, Red Rocks Ticket Troubles and Our Concert Recs

    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...

  21. A Local Landmark Melts Away, Ball Arena’s New $135M Lobby, and Vegetarian Hot Dogs

    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…

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  22. A New Owner Bought Park Hill's Most Notorious Strip Mall. Is Gentrification Coming Next?

    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…

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  23. The Spicy Story Behind One of Denver's Most Famous Green Chiles

    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...

  24. ‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Philly Is Reducing Violence With Parks — Presented By City Cast Denver

    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...

  25. Could City Workers Get A Raise? Plus, New Buyers for The Mercury Cafe and Another Bear Attack

    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...

  26. Denver’s Shining Star Chefs, Burrito Haters, and Is Downtown a Convention Destination?

    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...

  27. Young Coloradans Really Dislike AI and More Takeaways From a New Poll

    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...

  28. Downtown's Ups and Downs, Liquor License Losers, and Mesa Verde's Massive Repatriation

    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…

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  29. Will Denverites Move Downtown For This Developer's Utopian Dream?

    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...

  30. ‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Las Vegas Is Handling Record-Breaking Heat — Presented By City Cast Denver

    It may not feel like it right now, but extreme heat is coming for Denver, and Las Vegas might have the answers you need. An already sizzling city, Vegas has continued to experience record-breaking heat in recent years, essentially forcing it to lead the charge in protecting residents from...

  31. Anti-Trans Hysteria Coming to Your Ballots, Victor Marx's AI Fail, and No Comedy Fest This Year

    Ballots will be in the mail in less than a month, and there are a lot of initiatives for voters to consider – including Proposition 134, which aims to ban trans athletes’ participation in girls’ sports, and Proposition 135, which would ban doctors from performing any surgery on a child quote “for...

  32. Who's Ready for Another Mayor's Race? Plus, a DPS Phone Ban Mega-Mailbag

    Mayor Mike Johnston officially rolled out his campaign for reelection earlier this week with a big party at Town Hall Collaborative and an interview with Kyle Clark on 9News. Considering this race is half a year and an election away, political commentator Adrian Felix and host Bree Davies discuss...

  33. 10 Years in Prison for Manipulating More Than a Thousand DNA Investigations

    After pleading guilty to four felonies in June, a Jefferson County judge sentenced former Colorado Bureau of Investigation scientist Yvonne “Missy” Woods to 10 years in prison this week. Woods was accused of deleting, omitting, and falsifying data related to DNA investigations in more than 1,000...

  34. The Aurora Report: New Data Center Regulations, a Massive 'Teen Takeover,' and City Council Hijinx

    What’s up in Aurora lately? Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman has been taking a new and low-key approach to homelessness; data center regulations are on the table, teens are taking over shopping centers, and one person is going “BYO gavel” at City Council meetings! Aurora Sentinel reporter (and former…

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  35. ‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Nashville Is Beating Flock — Presented By City Cast Denver

    Do you know what kind of surveillance technology is being used in Denver? In Nashville, the city government has blocked numerous measures to install and use it. From license plate readers to drone cameras, the technology is routinely rejected by the Metro Council and mayor, and locals are…

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  36. De-Gooping Sloan's Lake, Going Viral in Denver, and Water Narcs: Data Center Edition

    Denver is finally getting serious about saving Sloan’s Lake, with Mayor Johnston announcing Wednesday a new $50 million proposal to dredge the lake and protect it for future generations. Contributor and Sloan’s Lake neighbor Sara Rosenthal joins producer Olivia Jewell Love to talk about what the...

  37. Previewing Friday’s Anti-ICE Walkout, a Creepy New Meme, and 'Governor for a Day'

    With school starting and phone bans going in effect, kids in Colorado already have a lot on their plates this fall. Over 160 schools across the state are participating in a walkout on Friday to protest ICE activities at schools across the country. Regular contributor Adrian Felix joins producer...

  38. Will a Lawn-Watering Ban Make a Dent? Plus, In-N-Out's Latest Traffic Jam and Waymos Unleashed!

    Starting October 1st, Denverites are officially banned from watering their lawns, despite threats of fines and restrictions already being in place. But what about the state’s other big water users? Comedian, Casa Bonita performer, and regular City Cast contributor Joshua Emerson joins host Bree...

  39. Your Guide to September 2026 in Denver

    Summer is lingering and there’s still plenty of time to enjoy all that the Mile High City has to offer. So, how do you squeeze the last moments out of these warm days and nights? Our green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval, who happens to also be the Democratic candidate for Colorado’s House...

  40. More than 60% of Denverites Want Denser Housing. Why Is It Still a Big Fight?

    How can Denver solve the housing affordability problem? A new poll from the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project and Housing Forward Colorado says more than 60% of Denverites think higher density in their neighborhoods (like more duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes) could be the answer. The poll...

  41. ‘Your City Could Be Better’: Why Is Pittsburgh’s Airport the Gold Standard? — Presented By City Cast Denver

    The Denver airport definitely has a lot going for it, but what it doesn’t have is its own electrical grid, like Pittsburgh’s does. For the past few years, Pittsburgh International Airport has been generating on-site electricity, more than it needs even at peak operation, to fortify itself against...

  42. Is DSA’s Mayoral Endorsement Too Early? Plus, the Broncos' Parking Lot Problems and Dolly in Denver

    This week Denver DSA officially endorsed current District 8 council member Shontel Lewis for mayor – a race voters won’t be deciding until next April. A new poll shows Lewis is far from a household name – is DSA making a big bet early in the season? Denver Post city government reporter Elliott...

  43. Will You Be Paying the Bill For Data Centers? Xcel Energy Has a Plan

    New data centers are popping up across the country, including right here in Colorado. Many communities have concerns, including how much energy they will use and what kind of pressure they put on the grid. Xcel Energy has proposed charging these companies for any new infrastructure that could be...

  44. Is Denver Done With ADUs? Plus, AI Slop is Spreading and Expired Tags Beware!

    Denver’s $200 million budget shortfall is impacting everything from city services to road repairs to our parks system – and the latest casualty could be housing, with the city’s ADU program losing a quarter million dollars. Green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval joins host Bree Davies to...

  45. Hot Pockets for Art, a Thrift Store Flip, and Polis' ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ Vibe

    Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love are opening the City Cast Denver mailbag to hear from you, our dear listeners. They discuss what the transition from thrift store to thrift outlet means for the ARC on West Alameda, hear listener opinions on Governor Polis’ opinions, talk about the...

  46. What Does RiNo’s Next Chapter Look Like?

    RiNo is on the precipice of getting a second grocery store, but Sprouts Farmers Market can’t move into the former Blue Moon property without some financial help. Specifically, $500,000 from the RiNo Business Improvement District to help the developer bring the project closer to completion. RiNo…

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  47. ‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Portland Made Its River Cool — Presented By City Cast Denver

    How often are you out in nature in Denver? It’s not always easy to know which natural resources are clean and safe to use in an urban setting, and city rivers get a particularly bad rap. It’s true that cities have had eras of sewage mishandling and high boat traffic — but many have also cleaned…

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  48. The Best Songs that Sound Like Denver

    What does Denver sound like? Many musicians have put their hearts and souls into writing songs about the Mile High City, but which tracks stand out? Denver Post entertainment reporter John Wenzel and local rappers Nelo and Wayne Watts – the artists behind their own ode to D-Town “Next Stop…

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  49. Does Your Bartender Secretly Hate You? Plus, How to Not Get Killed By a Bear

    Multiple bear spottings around the Denver metro have got some conspiracy theories swirling online; is the drought really the reason bears are wandering down into suburban areas, or could there be other factors at play? Contributor Joshua Emerson joins producer Olivia Jewell Love to do some bear...

  50. Can You Help Fix RTD? Plus, Another Round of 'Did That Age Well?' Denver Edition

    Did the brewery scene in Denver age well? What about the whole scooter situation? Molly Smith, host of the “Did That Age Well?” podcast, joins producer Olivia Jewell Love to decide once and for all … has Denver aged well? Then, RTD created a new ambassadors program with opportunities for local...

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Join Host Bree Davies and the City Cast Denver crew every weekday morning as we celebrate, explore, and challenge an ever-changing Denver. It’s the daily news podcast for all Denverites — whether you’ve been here for six months or six generations. We’ll break down the news you need (and want) to know with journalists and culture makers; activists and artists; neighbors and ne’er-do-wells — and John Elway, if he ever returns our calls. Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at denver.citycast.fm..

Named Westword's Best Podcast of 2021, 2023

HOSTED BY

City Cast

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does City Cast Denver have?

City Cast Denver currently has 1000 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is City Cast Denver about?

Join Host Bree Davies and the City Cast Denver crew every weekday morning as we celebrate, explore, and challenge an ever-changing Denver. It’s the daily news podcast for all Denverites — whether you’ve been here for six months or six generations. We’ll break down the news you need (and want) to...

How often does City Cast Denver release new episodes?

City Cast Denver releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 1000 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.

Where can I listen to City Cast Denver?

You can listen to City Cast Denver on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts City Cast Denver?

City Cast Denver is created and hosted by City Cast.
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