The Straight-Up 30

Water is one of the most critical and complex policy issues in Colorado, yet most people rarely think about how it actually works. In this episode, Ross Izard sits down with Casey Davenhill of the Colorado Watershed Assembly to break down the systems, history, and policies that govern how water is managed across the state.From the Dust Bowl to today’s drought concerns, the conversation explores how Colorado built a legal and collaborative framework around water, why watersheds shape decision-making, and how competing interests from agriculture to cities to recreation all intersect in one shared system.Because when it comes to water, everything is connected, and understanding that system is the first step to protecting it.What we cover: • What a watershed is and why it matters • How Colorado’s water system developed over time • The concept of “first in time, first in right” water law • Why water policy is so complex and stakeholder-driven • How organizations collaborate across regions and interests • The role of the Watershed Assembly and the Healthy Rivers FundAbout the guest:Casey Davenhill is the Executive Director of the Colorado Watershed Assembly, a statewide nonprofit that supports and connects watershed groups across Colorado. Her work focuses on collaboration, funding, and on-the-ground efforts to improve water quality, conservation, and long-term watershed health.Resources: • Colorado Watershed Assembly: https://www.coloradowater.org/ • Colorado Water Conservation Board: https://engagecwcb.org/ • The Colorado River: https://coloradoriver.com/ • South Platte Basin Roundtable: https://cwcb.colorado.gov/about-us/basin-roundtables/south-platte-basin-roundtableLeave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Reach out to the team at [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

Housing is one of the most talked-about issues in Colorado, but the reality on the ground is far more complex than most people realize. In this episode, Ross Izard sits down with Tony Lewis of the Donnell Kay Foundation to unpack what’s actually driving the affordable housing crisis, especially in rural communities.The conversation goes beyond headlines and legislation to explore the real bottlenecks slowing housing development, from financing gaps and workforce constraints to the limits of government-driven solutions. It also highlights an often overlooked truth: building new housing is only part of the solution. Preserving existing affordable housing may be just as critical.Because when it comes to housing, there isn’t a single fix, only a series of interconnected challenges that require new ways of thinking.What we cover: • Why affordable housing is so difficult to build, especially in rural areas • The gap between state funding and real-world project timelines • Why developers, not governments, ultimately build housing • The role of nonprofit developers and philanthropic capital • The limitations of policies like Proposition 123 • Why preserving existing affordable housing is just as important as building newAbout the guest:Tony Lewis is a longtime leader at the Donnell Kay Foundation, where he works at the intersection of policy, philanthropy, and systems change. With more than two decades of experience, he focuses on practical solutions across issue areas including housing, food systems, and education, with a particular emphasis on underserved and rural communities.Resources:• Donnell Kay Foundation: https://dkfoundation.org • Rural Homes Colorado: https://ruralhomescolorado.com/Leave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Reach out to the team at [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with Cortney Crouch and Rob Moulton of the Education Alliance of Colorado to explore how schools and parents can come together to influence education policy. What started as a small group of charter school leaders looking for better representation has grown into a statewide alliance supporting tens of thousands of students. The conversation breaks down how advocacy actually works, why parent voice matters, and how organizations like EAC are helping schools navigate an increasingly complex policy landscape.What we cover:What the Education Alliance of Colorado is and how it startedWhy schools formed an association to engage in policy and advocacyHow lobbying and grassroots parent engagement work togetherHow EAC supports schools before, during, and after legislation passesWhy empowering parents has become a key driver of policy impactAbout the guests: Cortney Crouch is Board Chair of the Education Alliance of Colorado and works with charter schools on finance and operations. Rob Moulton is a board member and longtime advocate for charter schools, with experience in school governance and legislative engagement. Together, they help lead EAC’s efforts to support schools and activate parent voices across Colorado.Resources:• Education Alliance of Colorado: edallianceco.orgLeave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

New data centers are rapidly expanding across the country, driven by the growth of AI and digital infrastructure.But behind that growth are real questions about energy use, water consumption, cost to consumers, and community impact.In this episode, Ross Izard sits down with Senator Cathy Kipp to break down one of the most complex policy debates of the Colorado legislative session. Two competing bills are shaping the conversation, one focused on incentives and economic growth, the other on guardrails, transparency, and long-term sustainability.Because when new industries move fast, policy has to catch up just as quickly.What we cover: • What data centers are and why demand is growing so quickly • The two competing bills at the Capitol and what each is trying to do • Concerns around energy use, water consumption, and grid expansion • Who should pay for infrastructure, companies or ratepayers • The debate over tax incentives and whether they actually deliver value • Community impacts, including environmental concerns and local opposition • The political challenge of balancing labor, environmental, and economic interests • What happens next as the legislative session moves toward a deadlineAbout the guest:Cathy Kipp is a Colorado State Senator representing Fort Collins and currently serves as Senate President Pro Tempore. She is the sponsor of Senate Bill 102, which focuses on establishing guardrails, transparency, and protections related to data center development in Colorado.Resources: • Colorado General Assembly: https://leg.colorado.gov/ • Senate Bill 102: http://www.leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-102 • House Bill 1030: http://www.leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1030Leave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

Most of us assume government funding is tracked, understood, and easy to follow. But when it comes to federal dollars flowing into states, especially through grants, the reality is far more complicated. In this episode, Ross Izard sits down with Steven Johnson of the Center for Practical Federalism to unpack how federal money moves, why transparency is so limited, and what it means for taxpayers, lawmakers, and communities. Because if we cannot see where money is going, it becomes nearly impossible to understand what government is actually doing or whether it is working.What we cover:• What federalism means and how power is split between federal and state governments • How federal funding and grants shape state decisions • Why it is so hard to track where federal money actually goes • The lack of transparency around billions in public funding • Why this issue has bipartisan support • How better transparency could improve accountability and decision-makingAbout the guest:Steven Johnson is a Fellow with the Center for Practical Federalism at the State Policy Network. A former Michigan state legislator, his work focuses on restoring the balance of power between federal and state governments and advancing practical solutions like federal grant transparency to improve accountability and decision-making.Resources: • Federalism Scorecard: federalismscorecard.com • State Policy Network: spn.orgLeave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with Roweena Naidoo, Vice President of Policy and Community Initiatives at Mile High United Way, to unpack the complex intersection of foster care, education, housing, and policy. The conversation goes beyond legislation to focus on what actually happens after a bill passes—and why implementation is often the hardest and most important part. From education access and housing stability to statewide programs like 211, this episode highlights how policy decisions directly impact some of Colorado’s most vulnerable young people and what it takes to turn good policy into real outcomes.What we cover:• What Mile High United Way does and how it operates within a broader national network• The realities facing foster youth, including low graduation rates and high risk of homelessness• Why stability in education (like staying in the same school) matters for foster youth outcomes• The gap between passing legislation and actually implementing it effectively• How policies like free college for former foster youth took years to fully reach students• The importance of cross-sector collaboration to address housing, education, and workforce challenges together• Current challenges including frozen housing vouchers, threats to 211 funding, and state budget pressuresAbout the guest:Roweena Naidoo is the Vice President of Policy and Community Initiatives at Mile High United Way. She leads the organization’s policy and advocacy work, community grantmaking, and major initiatives including Bridging the Gap (supporting youth aging out of foster care), community schools, and eviction prevention efforts. She works at the intersection of policy, community impact, and systems change to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations across Colorado.Resources:Mile High United Way: https://unitedwaydenver.org/211 Colorado (statewide resource line for support services): Dial 211Leave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard talks with Erik Billinger, Chief Development Officer at ACE Scholarships, about how private school scholarship programs work and why the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit could be a major shift for families across the country. They break down ACE’s role as a scholarship-granting organization, the difference between traditional fundraising and tax credit-supported giving, and the policy fight now unfolding in Colorado over how the new federal program could be implemented. The conversation also explores why school choice is about more than academics and how access to the right school can change outcomes for students.What we cover:• What ACE Scholarships does and how scholarship-granting organizations work• The difference between charitable giving and state tax credit scholarship programs• How the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit is designed to work• Why Colorado is becoming an early testing ground for how states regulate the program• The legal and policy tension between federal law, state law, and school participation• Why families choose different schools, including safety, values, and academic fitAbout the guest:Erik Billinger is the Chief Development Officer at ACE Scholarships, a national nonprofit that helps low-income families access private K-12 schools through scholarships. ACE has awarded nearly $400 million in scholarships and supported more than 121,000 students across 13 states.Resources:ACE Scholarships: acescholarships.orgEducation Freedom Tax Credit: educationfreedomtaxcredit.orgLeave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard talks with Garrett Royer, Political Director at Sierra Club Colorado, about what environmental policy looks like on the ground right now—at the Capitol and at the ballot box. They dig into two fast-moving issues shaping Colorado’s energy future: the rapid buildout of AI-driven data centers and the renewed fight over coal plant retirements. Garrett also explains how Sierra Club’s volunteer-powered model works, why elections (and primaries) matter for climate policy, and how everyday Coloradans can get involved.What we cover:• How Sierra Club Colorado’s volunteer-led advocacy model works• Data centers: energy demand, water impacts, and the policy gap• Coal plant retirements, federal intervention, and consumer cost transparency• Why environmental politics increasingly runs through primaries and statewide races• How to plug in, including Sierra Club Colorado’s Lobby Day (March 9)About the guest:Garrett Royer is the Political Director for Sierra Club Colorado, where he leads the organization’s legislative and electoral work. Before joining Sierra Club, Garrett spent years in LGBTQ advocacy and Colorado campaigns, including work with One Colorado and major statewide and local races.Resources:Sierra Club Colorado: https://sierraclubco.orgSierra Club Colorado Lobby Day (March 9): Details and sign-up via the websiteLeave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show—it helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with Papa M. Dia, Founder and President of the African Leadership Group (ALG), to talk about the immigrant experience beyond the headlines. Papa shares his journey from Senegal to the United States, what it meant to start over at 28 years old, and how that experience led him to build ALG. The conversation explores how community-based organizations help immigrants stabilize, integrate, build wealth, and ultimately step into civic leadership and policy advocacy.What we cover:• Papa’s journey from Senegal to Colorado and starting over in a new country• Why ALG focuses on social, educational, and economic impact• How direct service evolves into leadership, advocacy, and policy engagement• ALG programs including language support, legal clinics, youth leadership, business development, and homeownership• What’s next for ALG, including coalition building and national expansionAbout the guest:Papa M. Dia is the Founder and President of the African Leadership Group (ALG), a Colorado-based nonprofit focused on advancing the professional, economic, and civic integration of the African diaspora. Through leadership development, entrepreneurship support, and community advocacy, ALG works to ensure African immigrant families thrive and have a voice in the broader civic process.Resources:African Leadership Group: https://usalg.orgLeave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard talks with Derek Okubo, former Executive Director of Denver’s Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships, about why community engagement is essential to effective local government. Derek shares how Denver’s approach to human rights and community partnership has deep historical roots, what it looked like to lead the agency under Mayor Michael Hancock from 2011 to 2023, and why the best solutions come from doing work with communities, not for them. The conversation also highlights how community-led efforts shaped real policy outcomes in Denver and why preserving history, including the story of Amache, matters for civic progress today.What we cover:Why community engagement matters in local governmentHow Denver’s human rights and community partnerships work in practiceWhy communities are diverse and not one-size-fits-allExamples of community-led solutions, including Denver Days and COVID vaccination outreachPreserving history through Amache and why it matters todayHow community voices can drive local ordinances and real policy changeAbout the guest:Derek Okubo served from 2011 to 2023 as Executive Director of Denver’s Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships, overseeing community-focused offices, advisory commissions, and citywide partnerships. He continues to serve the community through multiple boards and Japanese American civic organizations, including efforts connected to Amache and Japanese American history, now a National Historic Site.Leave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard talks with Sami Davis, Vice President of State Affairs at Sewald Hanfling, about what lobbying actually is and what lobbyists really do day to day during the legislative session. They break down the role lobbyists play in turning policy ideas into statutory change, how the work happens inside and outside the Capitol, and why lobbying in Colorado is far more regulated than most people assume. The episode also explores who hires lobbyists, how smaller organizations and rural communities can have a voice at the Capitol, and why waiting until a crisis hits is the worst time to start.What we cover:• What lobbyists actually do and why the role is misunderstood• How lobbying works day to day at the Capitol• The rules and ethics that govern lobbying in Colorado• Who hires lobbyists and why representation matters• Why engaging early beats waiting for a crisisAbout the guest:Sami Davis is the Vice President of State Affairs at Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs, where she represents clients at the Colorado Capitol during the legislative session and helps translate organizational priorities into effective policy strategy and action.Leave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with Jake Fogelman, Policy Director at the Independence Institute, to break down what “policy” actually is and how it differs from politics. They explain how public policy shows up in daily life, where laws and regulations live, and what policy professionals really do between elections. The conversation also offers a concrete example of policy work in action through Colorado’s clean energy definitions and the effort to include nuclear energy.What we cover:• What “policy” means, and how it differs from politics• How laws and regulations shape daily life• What policy work looks like behind the scenes, from bill language to rulemaking• A real example of micro policy change through Colorado’s clean energy definition• What Independence Institute is tracking in the 2026 session, including TABOR, the budget, and energy targetsAbout the guest:Jake Fogelman is the Policy Director at the Independence Institute, a Denver-based free market think tank. His work focuses on state policy issues, including energy and fiscal policy, and translating technical policy details into public-facing insights.Resources mentioned:• Independence Institute: thinkfreedom.org• IITV on YouTube• PowerGab (energy podcast): powergab.org• Complete ColoradoLeave a review and stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In the first episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard introduces the podcast and its purpose: helping people make sense of the most pressing policy issues so they can be better informed and more engaged. This episode sets the tone for the show and explains why engagement matters and why policy is not something to tune out.What we cover:• Why the Straight-Up 30 exists• How policy affects people’s daily lives• Why being informed leads to better engagement• What listeners can expect from future episodesAbout the host:Ross Izard is the host of The Straight-Up 30 and brings years of experience breaking down complex policy issues into clear, human-centered conversations.Leave a review & stay in touch:If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected] facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.