Politics is Personal with Leslie + Cole

This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist cover everything from basketball to ballot measures to one of Colorado's most precious resources: water.The episode kicks off with a conversation about the New York Knicks, sports fandom, and why major cultural moments often become part of our political conversations. Then Leslie and Cole dive into the debate surrounding transgender-related ballot initiatives in Colorado, exploring the arguments, concerns, and values driving the discussion from different perspectives.Finally, they unpack Colorado's ongoing water challenges—from conservation and growth to the difficult decisions facing communities across the West. What happens when politics, population growth, agriculture, and climate pressures all compete for the same resource?As always, Politics is Personal isn't about winning arguments. It's about having the conversations many people are having around their own dinner tables—with curiosity, respect, and a willingness to listen.

This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist cover everything from basketball to ballot measures to one of Colorado's most precious resources: water.The episode kicks off with a conversation about the New York Knicks, sports fandom, and why major cultural moments often become part of our political conversations. Then Leslie and Cole dive into the debate surrounding transgender-related ballot initiatives in Colorado, exploring the arguments, concerns, and values driving the discussion from different perspectives.Finally, they unpack Colorado's ongoing water challenges—from conservation and growth to the difficult decisions facing communities across the West. What happens when politics, population growth, agriculture, and climate pressures all compete for the same resource?As always, Politics is Personal isn't about winning arguments. It's about having the conversations many people are having around their own dinner tables—with curiosity, respect, and a willingness to listen.

This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist dive into Pride Month by exploring the facts and nuances in the Pategonia v. Pattie Gonia lawsuit, and discussing the ongoing hate towards the LGBTQIA community. As always, Leslie and Cole bring very different perspectives to the table, unpacking how social media, public image, and culture wars continue to shape the way Americans experience politics. The conversation moves between funny, thoughtful, and uncomfortable in the way only real friends with opposing viewpoints can manage.Later in the episode, take a road trip to Molino Chido at the Stanley Marketplace, where Michael Diaz de Leon shares his love of wine, his personal back story and the price of limes. From pop culture to public policy, Politics is Personal is about bringing politics back to the dinner table—where disagreement doesn’t end the conversation.FollowApple PodcastsSpotifyOvercastRSS Feed 

This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist tackle the stories shaping conversations across Colorado—from the latest primary election battles to Governor Jared Polis and his evolving role on the national political stage.

This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist tackle the stories shaping conversations across Colorado—from the latest primary election battles to Governor Jared Polis and his evolving role on the national political stage.Joining the conversation is longtime Colorado political analyst Eric Sondermann. Together, they break down the winners, losers, and unexpected storylines emerging from Colorado's political landscape, discuss what voters should be watching, and explore how the state's unique political culture continues to influence national conversations.Of course, it wouldn't be Politics is Personal without a few detours. Leslie and Cole also weigh in on hockey, TSA frustrations, and the everyday experiences that remind us politics doesn't happen in a vacuum—it happens in airports, arenas, and communities across the country.From election strategy to travel headaches, this episode brings politics back to the dinner table with thoughtful conversation, a little disagreement, and plenty of Colorado perspective.

This episode contains a trigger warning, topics such as self harm, human trafficking, abuse, will be addressed. Leslie and Cole sit down with Kelly Dore founder of Sierra Cares to talk about human trafficking, and the Epstein Files. Then Cole and Leslie share their thoughts on wars abroad and at home this Memorial Day Weekend.

In this episode of Politics is Personal with Leslie and Cole, we connect the dots between immigration policy, the rise and visibility of the WNBA, and the quiet power of gerrymandering in shaping political representation. From who gets to cross borders, to who gets center court, to who draws the lines that define our votes, we unpack how systems of power show up in everyday life and why none of these conversations exist in isolation.

This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist dive into the strange intersection of politics, culture, and identity—from the spectacle of the Met Gala to the conversation around Trump’s proposed national fitness initiative and what it reveals about modern political messaging.As always, Leslie and Cole bring very different perspectives to the table, unpacking how social media, public image, and culture wars continue to shape the way Americans experience politics. The conversation moves between funny, thoughtful, and uncomfortable in the way only real friends with opposing viewpoints can manage.Later in the episode, former Colorado House Speaker Terrance Carroll joins the show for a deeper conversation about the Voting Rights Act, the evolving fight over voter access, and what democracy looks like in an era of growing polarization and distrust.From pop culture to public policy, Politics is Personal is about bringing politics back to the dinner table—where disagreement doesn’t end the conversation.

This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist cover everything from the Met Gala to Trump’s proposed national fitness initiative—and what all of it says about culture, politics, and America right now.Then, former Colorado House Speaker Terrance Carroll joins the conversation to break down the history and continued importance of the Voting Rights Act, voter access, and where the national conversation around democracy stands today.Politics, culture, disagreement, and the conversations we’re still willing to have.

Ft Leslie Herod, Cole Wist, Tony KovaleskiIn this pilot, Leslie and Cole kick things off by catching up on life after the Capitol—what they’ve been working on, what’s changed, and what’s stayed the same. From there, they scroll through what’s showing up in their social feeds, unpacking the stories, narratives, and noise shaping how we all see politics today.Then, they sit down with Tony Kovaleski  for a conversation on media, mergers, and what it all means for trust, accountability, and political journalism.To close it out, Leslie and Cole get personal—sharing what’s currently bugging them in politics, where they agree, and where they don’t."Agree to disagree lets go get a drink" -Leslie