Colorado Matters

By Colorado Public Radio

What's Colorado Matters about?

Hosted by Ryan Warner and Chandra Thomas Whitfield, CPR News' daily interview show focuses on the state's people, issues and ideas.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Colorado Matters episodes:

06.14.2024
June 14, 2024: State GOP at odds with itself; Colorado trailblazer makes Broadway debut
It’s not something any political party wants heading into an election but the Colorado Republican Party is embroiled in a very public leadership struggle, with a growing effort to oust state GOP chair Dave Williams. Then, the two people vying...
06.14.2024
The race to be Denver’s next District Attorney
For the first time since 2016, voters in Denver are choosing a new district attorney. With no Republican running, the race will effectively be decided in this month’s Democratic primary. The winner will be responsible for prosecuting all felony crimes in...
06.14.2024
Filipino American Community of Colorado celebrates culture and history with annual festival
"Resilience" is the theme of this weekend's Padayon Philippine Festival in Edgewater. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Filipino American Community of Colorado, one of the oldest Asian-American non-profits in the state.
06.13.2024
June 13, 2024: A COVID-19 checkup; What it means to be an active and engaged father
There's been a slight uptick of the COVID-19 virus in wastewater around the state. We've tapped an expert to ask why. What's the latest protocol for testing? And what about vaccines? Then, a plan to clean up fossil fuel combustion. Also, Father’s...
06.12.2024
June 12, 2024: Helping veterans find hope for their ‘next chapter’; Creating community through clothing
Of the suicides reported in El Paso County in 2021, roughly a third were military veterans. It prompted a pilot program called Next Chapter, a name carefully chosen to offer hope. The program has already expanded into Pueblo and Teller counties....
06.12.2024
A golfer’s education: Colorado Springs teacher tries to solve U.S. Open challenge
Colin Prater is a science teacher at Cheyenne Mountain High School in Colorado Springs, but he’s apparently really good at math as well, because recently he solved one of the most difficult equations in athletics…advancing from a field of 10,000...
06.11.2024
June 11, 2024: Marking a milestone of ideas for a better world; Harnessing the wind in Colorado
This month, the Aspen Ideas Festival marks 20 years of thought-provoking conversation, from students to celebrities to global leaders, exchanging ideas for a better world and human experience. Then, how high-dosage tutoring is helping students rebound from the pandemic learning gap. And...
06.11.2024
Aspen Ideas celebrates 20th milestone of thought-provoking conversation and inspiration
The Aspen Ideas Festival brings together change-makers -- from singers and scientists to students and Nobel Prize winners -- to share ideas about what's shaping our world: the opportunities, the challenges, and finding common ground.
06.10.2024
June 10, 2024: The primary race for the 4th congressional district; Real life inspires ‘Playing with Wildfire’
The stakes are especially high in three of Colorado's congressional districts, where traditionally Republican strongholds will be decided this election year. Today, Purplish looks at CD4. Then, why there's a slowdown on a key RTD light rail corridor. And, how wildfire and...
06.07.2024
June 7, 2024: Helping your garden grow in extreme heat and amidst pests aplenty; Biking the rails near Erie
Gardens are where many of us see the effects of weather and climate up-close. Today, tips on adaptation from Fatuma Emmad of FrontLine Farming in Denver. Then, the state patrol's newest crime-fighting tool, "The Grappler." Plus, you can now BIKE the rails...
06.06.2024
June 6, 2024: How technology could change farming amid worker shortages; 80 Something fights ageism and stereotypes
Colorado farmers can't find enough workers. Is technology like Artificial Intelligence the answer, and what are the trade-offs? Plus, incentives add up to buy or lease an EV. Then, "80 Something" is a vibrant new exhibit featuring artists over the...
06.05.2024
June 5, 2024: Predicting which babies are prone to food allergies; The debate over solitary confinement
Colorado researchers say they can predict which babies are prone to food allergies, using a simple skin test. We'll hear about this new test and novel treatments to prevent allergies as babies grow up. Then, people with Long COVID share essays about their experiences as...
06.04.2024
June 4, 2024: Major medical trial in Colorado on potential benefits of psilocybin after decades of barriers
When people with cancer are facing the prospect of death, anxiety can consume their precious days. A medical trial in Colorado aims to change that with a drug that was once forbidden. CPR's Andrew Kenney explores how researchers are reopening...
06.03.2024
June 3, 2024: The issues voters tell us are most important this election; Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle?
As primary ballots are mailed this week, Purplish has the first results from our Voter Voices survey, in which Colorado voters prioritize the issues most important to them. Take part in the survey here. Then, Colorado Wonders why Oklahoma has...
05.31.2024
May 31, 2024: Political polarization ‘calcifies’ in 2024; Summer outlook is warmer and drier
Political polarization in the U.S. has only been reinforced with the conviction of Donald Trump. We talk with Stephen Hawkins, research director for More In Common, a global non-profit that fights what Hawkins now calls ossification or calcification. Then, Denver7...
05.31.2024
Get ready for a warmer and drier summer
Hot and dry are the operative words when it comes to the weather outlook. We get perspective on the summer ahead -- and the recent severe weather -- with Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson. He joins us regularly to talk...
05.31.2024
In six years, the US has gone from political polarization to ‘ossification’
The term "political polarization" no longer captures the state of partisanship in the US, according to Stephen Hawkins. The research director for More In Common is now using the words "ossification" and "calcification." And yet on some issues, there is...
05.30.2024
May 30, 2024: Selling plasma for income; Local stars return to Colorado with U.S. Women’s Soccer
When money's tight, some people sell their plasma. People can get up to $200 per donation. We'll explore the ethical implications with a CU-Boulder professor who studied who donates and why. Then, 50 years ago this week, six young Chicano activists were killed in...
05.29.2024
May 29, 2024: Lightning Safety 101; Meet a ‘spellebrity’
Lightning killed a rancher in northern Colorado, and 34 head of cattle. With summer storm season fast-approaching, we discuss lightning safety, outside and at home. Then, Colorado will regulate funeral homes after a series of disturbing cases. Later, a very special rose reveals...
05.29.2024
It’s lightning season in Colorado. Here’s how to stay safe
Lightning awareness isn't just about the great outdoors — it's also important in cities and even indoor.
05.28.2024
May 28, 2024: ‘After Action,’ a veteran fights a different battle; Reexamining the path of an 18th century explorer
She fought terrorists around the world as an analyst for the Army. But after being exposed to hazardous chemicals during her service, Elba Barr is now engaged in a different battle: to get health care and benefits from the U.S. government...
05.28.2024
‘After Action,’ Colorado Springs veteran still fighting battles
During her time in the military, Elba Barr grew accustomed to fighting — still, some battles have nonetheless been rather unexpected.
05.27.2024
May 27, 2024: On Memorial Day, stories of heroism, bravery, and reflection
On Memorial Day, stories of Coloradans who served in extraordinary conditions. Then, a piece of the U.S.S. Arizona, in Aurora, preserves the memories of Coloradans killed at Pearl Harbor. And, how fallen U.S. service members came to be buried in American cemeteries...
05.24.2024
May 24, 2024: Where did Latinos sit on the bus during segregation? History professor, actress weigh in on DCPA play
A new play that immerses the audience in elaborate, layered soundscapes at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts asks the question, "Where Did We Sit on the Bus?" for Latino Americans during a time of segregation. Actress Satya Chavez...
05.23.2024
May 23, 2024: Pioneering ballerinas mark their place in history; Cleo Parker Robinson celebrates a dream come true
Today we talk with Karlya Shelton-Benjamin, one of “The Swans of Harlem,” a Denver native featured in a new book about these pioneering ballerinas and their effort to make sure their history is not overlooked or forgotten. Then, Denver's iconic Cleo Parker...
05.22.2024
May 22, 2024: Needle exchanges under scrutiny; What will it take to bring back wolverines?
Free syringe exchange programs are now outlawed in Pueblo. The city council passed the ban last week. We'll talk about what's changed and why the debate is ongoing. Then, a new state law allows wolverines to be reintroduced to Colorado,...
05.21.2024
May 21, 2024: The impact ADUs could have on housing; Colorado’s ‘Swan of Harlem’
Colorado's putting a lot of stock into the idea of ADUs, Accessory Dwelling Units, to help ease the housing crunch. We'll talk about the potential impact and how similar programs are working in other states. Then, Denver native Karlya Shelton-Benjamin...
05.21.2024
Denver’s ‘Swan of Harlem’ on breaking barriers and reclaiming history
They're known as the Swans of Harlem and they've performed for the Queen of England, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, at the White House, and beyond. Karlya Shelton-Benjamin, a Denver native, was among them, and she's featured in a new book...
05.21.2024
The potential impact of Accessory Dwelling Units across Colorado
Colorado's putting a lot of stock into the idea of ADUs, Accessory Dwelling Units, to help ease the housing crunch. Governor Jared Polis signed a new law earlier this month that helps homeowners build them.
05.20.2024
May 20, 2024: DiStefano on evolution of higher education; Remembering a pedestrian safety champion
He's spent 50 years at the University of Colorado Boulder, including the last 15 as chancellor. Now Phil DiStefano is stepping down. He discusses how to add more value to a liberal arts degree, the challenges facing higher education, and the importance of what he...
05.17.2024
May 17, 2024: Closed for a month, what’s next for the Blue Mesa Bridge; Forecasting space weather
Daily life has been disrupted in Gunnison by the ongoing closure of an important bridge, from high school athletics, to timber, to health care. What might a fix look like? And what's the timeline? Then, geomagnetic storms test Boulder's Space Weather Prediction...
05.16.2024
May 16, 2024: Investigating dishonest officers; Colorado’s changing needs as the population ages
It's a state law that's supposed to weed out police officers and sheriff's deputies who are dishonest. But is it working? We'll discuss the results of a special investigation through the Colorado News Collaborative. Then, as Colorado gets older, what...
05.15.2024
May 15, 2024: Gov. Polis on new housing options, transit, and property taxes
In a warehouse in north Denver, students of all ages are learning the construction trades. The Build Strong Academy served as something of a backdrop to a bill signing– legislation that lets folks up and down the Front Range build...
05.14.2024
May 14, 2024: How Colorado law shapes advanced care planning; Former Broncos players help children cope with grief
Did you know that If you're critically ill and can't make decisions for yourself, your family can't automatically step into help? We'll talk through what to know for our series, Aging Matters on Colorado Matters. Then, Colorado Wonders, where was the...
05.14.2024
‘You don’t avoid grief; you have to move through it.’ Judi’s House helps families navigate unspeakable loss
Grief wasn't a topic that came up very often in their NFL locker rooms, but Brian Griese and Terrell Davis both have experience with loss. Recently the former Denver Broncos teammates got together to discuss their journeys as part of...
05.13.2024
May 13, 2024: Deaf leader champions new era for school; Assessing the Broncos’ rookies
The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind now has a superintendent who's deaf. Then, Broncos football asseses potential starting quarterbacks.
05.13.2024
Rookie Bo Nix takes first steps in attempt to solve Broncos’ quarterback woes
The Denver Broncos have gone through more than dozen quarterbacks --with very little success to show for it -- since Peyton Manning retired eight years ago. But one of the Hall of Famer's teammates, offensive tackle Ryan Harris, thinks the...
05.10.2024
In Denver, a merger of museums. One big, one small
The Kirkland Museum, named for artist Vance Kirland who suspended himself above giant canvases, is merging with the Denver Art Museum. DAM's director Christoph Heinrich tells Ryan Warner what the deal means for art lovers and, more specifically, members.
05.10.2024
May 10, 2024: Blood medics poised to save lives; A merger worthy of a museum
In Colorado Springs, they're equipping first responders with whole blood that can be transfused on the scene of an accident, an attack, or a medical emergency. Then, what a merger means for the Denver Art Museum and the Kirkland Museum....
05.10.2024
These goats have a job: Lawn care and fire mitigation
At Goat Mowers, the workforce mostly has four legs and horns. The business, based in Calhan, Colorado, harnesses the hunger of goats to care for lawns and fire-prone landscapes. We meet owner Kimberly Jones and a goat named What What.
05.09.2024
‘I just couldn’t wrap my mind around people who were so willing to help.’ Colorado non-profit helps single moms steer the course
For many people, having a safe and reliable car is more than just a want; it’s a critical need, and one that can determine whether we can get to work, […]
05.09.2024
May 9, 2024: Wrapping up the 2024 legislative session; Helping single moms get back on the road
From lowering property taxes to changing gun policy, we'll break down the hits and misses as state lawmakers wrap up the legislative session. Then, when the vehicle you depend on requires costly repairs, getting it fixed can be a total...
05.08.2024
May 8, 2024: What’s next as legal cannabis marks 10 years; The call of a ‘stravage’
Legal recreational cannabis sold in Colorado for the first time ten years ago. Now, marijuana is on the verge of another turning point. We'll take stock and look ahead with two guests who watched the industry -- and regulation-- grow up in Colorado. Then, the...
05.08.2024
Ten years after the first sale of legal recreational cannabis in Colorado, the federal government considers big changes
Last week, the Biden Administration proposed reclassifying cannabis as a less-dangerous drug. We discuss the federal government’s move to ease restrictions on marijuana as well as Colorado's decade-old cannabis law with Ricardo Baca, the first-ever cannabis editor of the Denver...
05.07.2024
May 7, 2024: Living with Long COVID; A new plan to lower property taxes
An estimated 200,000 people in Colorado have Long COVID. We speak with two of them today about their lives 4 years after diagnosis. Then, what a proposed plan at the state capitol could mean for property taxes. Later, healing the...
05.07.2024
Long Haulers want their voices heard
There are still many mysteries about Long COVID, but what is clear, is that about 200,000 Coloradans have the condition. A recent book called "The Long COVID Reader," edited by Mary Ladd, features essays and poems by long-haulers, including two from Colorado.
05.06.2024
May 6, 2024: Does the legislature’s drinking culture go too far?
State lawmakers say social drinking can relieve stress and promote camaraderie – but what's the trade-off? Then, the reason the legislature killed a proposal to limit access to public records for some people. Also, students advocate for technology to keep...
05.03.2024
May 3, 2024: Student journalist on campus protests; A new plan to fund public transit
As antiwar protests continue on college campuses, we get perspective from a student journalist. Then, Colorado's bishop for the United Methodist Church talks about the decision to allow gay clergy. Also, the state appears ready to expand public transit funding,...
05.02.2024
May 2, 2024: One woman’s journey with Alzheimer’s; Diversifying health care with ‘Black Men in White Coats’
Former University of Denver chancellor Rebecca Chopp says she was lucky her doctor diagnosed her Alzheimer’s early.
05.01.2024
May 1, 2024: Feds rethink pot; The promise of a 71-mile trail through Metro Denver
We consider the possible impacts as the Drug Enforcement Administration considers reclassifying cannabis to a Schedule III substance. Then, Colorado sounds the alarm over congenital syphilis.

What's Colorado Matters about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Colorado Matters episodes:

June 14, 2024: State GOP at odds with itself; Colorado trailblazer makes Broadway debut

The race to be Denver’s next District Attorney

Filipino American Community of Colorado celebrates culture and history with annual festival

June 13, 2024: A COVID-19 checkup; What it means to be an active and engaged father

June 12, 2024: Helping veterans find hope for their ‘next chapter’; Creating community through clothing

A golfer’s education: Colorado Springs teacher tries to solve U.S. Open challenge

June 11, 2024: Marking a milestone of ideas for a better world; Harnessing the wind in Colorado

Aspen Ideas celebrates 20th milestone of thought-provoking conversation and inspiration

June 10, 2024: The primary race for the 4th congressional district; Real life inspires ‘Playing with Wildfire’

June 7, 2024: Helping your garden grow in extreme heat and amidst pests aplenty; Biking the rails near Erie

June 6, 2024: How technology could change farming amid worker shortages; 80 Something fights ageism and stereotypes

June 5, 2024: Predicting which babies are prone to food allergies; The debate over solitary confinement

June 4, 2024: Major medical trial in Colorado on potential benefits of psilocybin after decades of barriers

June 3, 2024: The issues voters tell us are most important this election; Why does Oklahoma have a panhandle?

May 31, 2024: Political polarization ‘calcifies’ in 2024; Summer outlook is warmer and drier

Get ready for a warmer and drier summer

In six years, the US has gone from political polarization to ‘ossification’

May 30, 2024: Selling plasma for income; Local stars return to Colorado with U.S. Women’s Soccer

May 29, 2024: Lightning Safety 101; Meet a ‘spellebrity’

It’s lightning season in Colorado. Here’s how to stay safe

May 28, 2024: ‘After Action,’ a veteran fights a different battle; Reexamining the path of an 18th century explorer

‘After Action,’ Colorado Springs veteran still fighting battles

May 27, 2024: On Memorial Day, stories of heroism, bravery, and reflection

May 24, 2024: Where did Latinos sit on the bus during segregation? History professor, actress weigh in on DCPA play

May 23, 2024: Pioneering ballerinas mark their place in history; Cleo Parker Robinson celebrates a dream come true

May 22, 2024: Needle exchanges under scrutiny; What will it take to bring back wolverines?

May 21, 2024: The impact ADUs could have on housing; Colorado’s ‘Swan of Harlem’

Denver’s ‘Swan of Harlem’ on breaking barriers and reclaiming history

The potential impact of Accessory Dwelling Units across Colorado

May 20, 2024: DiStefano on evolution of higher education; Remembering a pedestrian safety champion

May 17, 2024: Closed for a month, what’s next for the Blue Mesa Bridge; Forecasting space weather

May 16, 2024: Investigating dishonest officers; Colorado’s changing needs as the population ages

May 15, 2024: Gov. Polis on new housing options, transit, and property taxes

May 14, 2024: How Colorado law shapes advanced care planning; Former Broncos players help children cope with grief

‘You don’t avoid grief; you have to move through it.’ Judi’s House helps families navigate unspeakable loss

May 13, 2024: Deaf leader champions new era for school; Assessing the Broncos’ rookies

Rookie Bo Nix takes first steps in attempt to solve Broncos’ quarterback woes

In Denver, a merger of museums. One big, one small

May 10, 2024: Blood medics poised to save lives; A merger worthy of a museum

These goats have a job: Lawn care and fire mitigation

‘I just couldn’t wrap my mind around people who were so willing to help.’ Colorado non-profit helps single moms steer the course

May 9, 2024: Wrapping up the 2024 legislative session; Helping single moms get back on the road

May 8, 2024: What’s next as legal cannabis marks 10 years; The call of a ‘stravage’

Ten years after the first sale of legal recreational cannabis in Colorado, the federal government considers big changes

May 7, 2024: Living with Long COVID; A new plan to lower property taxes

Long Haulers want their voices heard

May 6, 2024: Does the legislature’s drinking culture go too far?

May 3, 2024: Student journalist on campus protests; A new plan to fund public transit

May 2, 2024: One woman’s journey with Alzheimer’s; Diversifying health care with ‘Black Men in White Coats’

May 1, 2024: Feds rethink pot; The promise of a 71-mile trail through Metro Denver

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