2025 was potentially the final year of the Underground Music Showcase — ticket sales were down, money was tight, and the future of the fest was uncertain. But the RiNo Business Improvement District stepped in, Youth On Record sold its share, and now the fest will live in RiNo. Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love discuss this new era and potential vibe shift for the 25 year-old event, plus dig into new legislation being proposed that could impact big booze manufacturers, and hear from listeners about their not-so-great RTD experiences. 

Bree mentioned this amazing list coffee shops from City Cast Denver listeners Nate and Marie Evans!

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Lisa Calderón thinks Denver is in trouble, and she wants to save it. Last week, the activist and professor of criminal justice announced a bid for mayor in 2027 — her third time running for the position. Lisa sits down with host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about how she would balance the city’s budget issues, what she believes Mayor Johnston has gotten wrong about housing and homelessness, and why she thinks there’s more to the renaming of the 16th Street Mall than just a pricy rebrand.

Learn more about ⁠Lisa’s campaign⁠ here. 

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Who do you think should run for mayor of Denver in 2027? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

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Denverites want more affordable housing, but can they agree on how to make it happen? A couple members of YIMBY Denver have a proposal to “upzone” broad swaths of the city to allow more duplexes and triplexes, and their proposal could hit our ballots in November. So, what will Denver decide? RTD Board Director Chris Nicholson joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the future of housing density, the big fight over possible RTD reform at the state legislature (Chris already picked his side), and all our wins and fails of the week.

Paul talked about new signage at Rocky Flats, Davon Williams, and Denver Community Planning and Development’s “Unlocking Housing Choices” project. Bree discussed the transportation policies of gubernatorial candidates Phil Weiser and Michael Bennet, as well as Leo Tanguma’s new exhibit, the latest twist with Your Mom’s House, and our episode earlier this week with two of the people proposing a radical RTD reform.

If you’re as curious as we are to hear more from Bennet and Weiser on transportation, YIMBY Denver is hosting a forum with both candidates on Feb. 21.  

What do you think about housing density? Should Denver upzone single-family home lots? 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

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It’s a fact: Denver is a coffee town. Whether it’s beloved local chains or third wave cafes, the Mile High City abounds with cozy coffee shops offering all sorts of different experiences. Entrepreneur, content creator, and coffee shop aficionado Michelle Jackson joined host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love last September to talk about the local spots that bring the ambiance, offer creative drink choices, and capture what it means to be the best at the coffee game in the Mile High City. We’re revisiting that classic episode today.

For a true coffee nerd’s take, check out listeners Nate and Marie Evans’ breakdown of their favorite spots. Bree mentioned the lawsuit local baristas had filed against Starbucks corporate’s dress code. Michelle mentioned Weathervane’s “grandma-core” cabins that you can rent in Clear Creek County. She also mentioned the podcast she hosts for Colorado CarShare, “How You Got There.”

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What’s your favorite coffee shop in Denver? 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

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RTD is struggling right now. Denver’s public transit provider is facing low ridership numbers (even relative to peer cities) and a massive projected budget deficit — and that’s without even mentioning the paltry 83% bus on-time percentage. So what should be done? Governor Jared Polis and the legislature brought together a committee of experts last year to do months of research, debate, and come to a proposal that might just help get you home on time. Producer Paul Karolyi sits down with the chair of the committee, founding partner of CRL Associates Maria Garcia Berry, and the vice chair, Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition’s transportation advocate Jaime Lewis, to get into the details. 

For more background, Paul spoke with RTD’s CEO and GM, Debra Johnson, back in December. 

What do you think about this proposal to reform RTD? 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

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What makes Denver Denver? Better yet, who defines us as a city? Thinking back on the last quarter century, there have been many politicians, personalities, and people with plenty of money to throw around who have shaped the image, built environment, and ethos of the Mile High City. Producer Paul Karolyi presents his list of the “21 Most Influential Denverites of the 21st Century” to host Bree Davies and Westword editor Patty Calhoun, and the trio dig in and debate — Who deserves a higher spot? Who should be number one? Who got snubbed?

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Who do you think got left out? Who would you have in the top 10? 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

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It’s February! The season of love. But in this month’s guide to Denver, we’re going beyond flowers and chocolate. Newsletter editor Peyton Garcia and producer Olivia Jewell Love join host Bree Davies to share the best things to do, see, drink, eat, and explore in and around the Mile High City this month, with some fun twists on the traditional romantic gestures — from a “herstorical” take on Henry VIII at the theater to date night at a food court that’s worth a drive. 

Bree mentioned a mini-documentary on the Citadel Mall in Colorado Springs. 

If you're new here, welcome! We’ve put together a starter pack for you, with episodes and articles to welcome you to the City Cast Denver community. 

For even more tips on how to make the most of December in Denver, check out our newsletter Hey Denver’s take on what to do this month. 

If you enjoyed today's sponsored interview with Andy Cambron, the CEO of Multipass, learn more here. Check out their upcoming events below!

City Cast Denver is made possible by our awesome sponsors, like Arvada Center, South by Southwest, and Multipass. 

If you enjoyed today's interview with Andy Cambron, the CEO of Multipass, learn more here.

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Many local small business are closing their doors today joining a national strike against President Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota and the killing of Alex Pretti last Saturday — and others are offering special promotions and discounts. Comedian power couple Jacob Rupp and Miriam Moreno join host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the “F--- ICE Latte” moment. Plus, an open carry protest in Castle Rock was planned and abruptly cancelled — why? And we talk about Mayor Mike Johnston’s new goals for 2026, his biggest political liabilities going into a likely re-election campaign, and our wins and fails of the week.

Come see us tonight at Jacob and Miriam’s comedy show! There are still tickets available for “Good Night Denver” at Dude IDK Studios at 8pm. Get yours here!

Bree talked about Dr. Daddio and West Side Books’ new era. Jacob talked about Nikola Jokić’s injury, Duke’s Good Sandwiches and Burgers, and Adam Cayton-Holland’s movie at Sundance. Paul mentioned DougCo’s new public comment policy, Johnston’s latest move to resist Trump, the role of surveillance cameras in the Leetsdale fire investigation, and Sueños Cantina. Miriam discussed Legal Night at Centro San Juan Diego. 

What do you think is the most effective form of protest? 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

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One of Denver’s more conservative south suburbs is abuzz with debate over an unlikely subject — “Shrek: The Musical.” When performers in Parker incorporated a pride flag into the musical, some members of the audience complained, and officials with the Town of Parker shared their concerns with actors. But is that censorship? And more importantly, how would Lord Farquaad handle this? Comedian and co-mastermind of Dyketopia Kate McLachlan joins host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love to dissect the controversy and debate: Is Shrek actually a gay icon?

Do you think Shrek is a gay icon? 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

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The president seems to have changed his mind. While the crackdown in Minneapolis is changing course, many Denverites are still debating the best way to fight back. CU Regent and small business owner Wanda James is challenging Denver’s longtime representative in Congress, Diana DeGette, because she’s got a different approach. She joins host Bree Davies to talk about the latest on the immigration crackdown, Trump’s threats to invoke the Insurrection Act, and dig into the buzzword of the moment — affordability. Plus, Wanda’s campaign for Congress. 

What do you think about these new ideas on affordability? 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

Bree and Wanda discussed these three new affordability bills Democrats are pushing at the state legislature this session. To hear one of the other candidates challenging Diana DeGette, here’s our episode with Melat Kiros from last month, and here’s our most recent episode with DeGette herself, recorded in 2024 when Democrats were debating whether or not then president Joe Biden should step aside. 

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