Springs and Things: Your Insider's Guide to Colorado Springs Culture & Community

After more than two decades on your TV screen, Andy Koen is now behind one of Colorado Springs’ biggest community projects: Veterans Week.

We’re talking parade secrets, Purple Heart history, and what it really takes to honor the 95,000 service members who call the Pikes Peak region home.

PLUS, Lauren and Andy couldn't help but share some past newsroom stories...so get ready for some entertainment!

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Purple Heart Exhibit on Friday, Nov. 7 at the Fine Arts Center
• In Their Honor Veterans Day Parade returns for 2025 on Saturday, Nov. 8
• Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony and Observance on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at Memorial Park

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Hybrid AI Creatures at Bemis School of Art
• Rising Tide Colorado Springs

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Core Collective

Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

Why Wait Stories

Why Wait Stories captures the moments that matter, transforming personal legacies, business journeys, and nonprofit missions into beautifully crafted films. With a gift for storytelling and a heart for connection, Lauren preserves memories and messages before they fade, ensuring they inspire for generations to come.

In this special anniversary episode, Carly and Lauren take you back to where it all began, wandering the streets of downtown Colorado Springs, visiting murals, statues, and memories that made Springs & Things what it is today.

From doomscrolling sculptures to baby-and-wolf murals, the duo explores the city’s vibrant Art on the Streets installations while reflecting on their favorite moments from year one.

Tune in for laughter, nostalgia, and a peek at what’s next as they toast to year two of friendship, community, and all things Colorado Springs.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Rocky Mountain Women's Film
• Auric Gallery
• Toodles Tearoom
• Rutledge's
• MacKenzie's Chop House
• Cheyenne Mountain Resort
• Colorado Springs Pioneer's Museum
• Fiona
• Night Ramen
• The British Pantry and Tea Room
• The Penrose Room
• The Golden Bee

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• The Brit Pub
• Totem

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS
October is Arts Month in the Pikes Peak region, and there’s no better place to celebrate than the Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS! This season, the lineup is bursting with creativity, from the Artist Series bringing world-class performances like jazz innovator Mr. Sun reimagining Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker, to the swing of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Great American Crooners, and the breathtaking American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. Theatreworks keeps the excitement rolling with The Importance of Being Earnest this November and December, and the Galleries of Contemporary Art showcase Nina Elder’s newest exhibition, plus the dazzling House of GOCA: Stardust runway event this February. Dive into the theatre, the galleries, and the stage all season long at the Ent Center for the Arts. Explore the full lineup and grab your tickets at entarts.org.

Core Collective
Core Collective is where Pilates meets community, and where sore muscles somehow feel like a badge of honor. It isn’t your typical workout spot. Core Collective has the nicest instructors, killer playlists, and a vibe that makes you actually want to show up. Whether you’re brand-new to Pilates or already rocking the reformer like a pro, Core Collective in downtown Colorado Springs is the place to find your strength, your balance, and maybe even your people. AND if you enter the code SPRINGSANDTHINGS at checkout, you can get 3 classes for just $30 ($10/class)!

In this fun and entertaining episode, we chat with Jeremiah Houck, the Assistant Director of the Bemis School of Art at Colorado College, to talk about what makes the Springs’ art scene so special, why everyone is artistic (yes, even you), and why giving away your creations might just be the most rewarding part of the process.

Plus, you’ll hear stories of no-hands pottery competitions, how to get your hands dirty even if you don't consider yourself artsy, and so much more.

If you’ve ever said “I’m not artistic,” this episode will change your mind, and maybe even inspire you to try something new.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Arts Month in Colorado Springs
• The Penrose Room at The Broadmoor
• Clayfest

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Gather Mountain Blooms
• Fool House: The Ultimate 90s Party

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS
October is Arts Month in the Pikes Peak region, and there’s no better place to celebrate than the Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS! This season, the lineup is bursting with creativity, from the Artist Series bringing world-class performances like jazz innovator Mr. Sun reimagining Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker, to the swing of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Great American Crooners, and the breathtaking American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. Theatreworks keeps the excitement rolling with The Importance of Being Earnest this November and December, and the Galleries of Contemporary Art showcase Nina Elder’s newest exhibition—plus the dazzling House of GOCA: Stardust runway event this February. Dive into the theatre, the galleries, and the stage all season long at the Ent Center for the Arts. Explore the full lineup and grab your tickets at entarts.org.

Core Collective
Core Collective is where Pilates meets community, and where sore muscles somehow feel like a badge of honor. It isn’t your typical workout spot. Core Collective has the nicest instructors, killer playlists, and a vibe that makes you actually want to show up. Whether you’re brand-new to Pilates or already rocking the reformer like a pro, Core Collective in downtown Colorado Springs is the place to find your strength, your balance, and maybe even your people. AND if you enter the code SPRINGSANDTHINGS at checkout, you can get 3 classes for just $30 ($10/class)!

A new era of music is beginning in Colorado Springs, and everyone’s talking about it. Carly sat down with Chloé Dufresne, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic’s new music director, just before her debut performance in the Springs, to talk about her inspiring journey from France to the foot of Pikes Peak. Hear how she’s bringing fresh energy, bold ideas, and female representation to the podium, what it feels like to command an orchestra in front of a live audience, and why the mountains are already shaping her creative vision.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS
October is Arts Month in the Pikes Peak region, and there’s no better place to celebrate than the Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS! This season, the lineup is bursting with creativity, from the Artist Series bringing world-class performances like jazz innovator Mr. Sun reimagining Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker, to the swing of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Great American Crooners, and the breathtaking American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. Theatreworks keeps the excitement rolling with The Importance of Being Earnest this November and December, and the Galleries of Contemporary Art showcase Nina Elder’s newest exhibition—plus the dazzling House of GOCA: Stardust runway event this February. Dive into the theatre, the galleries, and the stage all season long at the Ent Center for the Arts. Explore the full lineup and grab your tickets at entarts.org.

Core Collective
Core Collective is where Pilates meets community, and where sore muscles somehow feel like a badge of honor. It isn’t your typical workout spot. Core Collective has the nicest instructors, killer playlists, and a vibe that makes you actually want to show up. Whether you’re brand-new to Pilates or already rocking the reformer like a pro, Core Collective in downtown Colorado Springs is the place to find your strength, your balance, and maybe even your people. AND if you enter the code SPRINGSANDTHINGS at checkout, you can get 3 classes for just $30 ($10/class)!

It’s officially Arts Month in Colorado Springs, and there’s no better time to dive headfirst into our city’s creative scene! In this episode of Springs and Things, Carly and Lauren sit down with Jonathan Toman from the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPR) to talk about 12 years of celebrating local arts, this year’s “Open Your World with the Arts” theme, and the brand-new Arts Month Passport that turns exploring the arts into a citywide adventure.

From opera at the Air Force Academy to immersive dance in cemeteries (yes, really), they cover how art shows up in unexpected places, why you don’t have to be “artsy” to enjoy it, and how creativity connects us all. Grab a drink, open your world, and join us for a fun, inspiring conversation that’ll make you want to fill your October with color, music, and meaning.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• VisitCOS Crafts & Drafts Passport
• Pikes Peak Center
• Peak Radar
• Chamber Orchestra of the Springs
• Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
• Colorado Springs Philharmonic
• Colorado Springs Pioneer's Museum

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Nana's Dim Sum and Dumplings
• Axe and the Oak Distillery
• Fountain Valley School Open House

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Ent Center for the Arts
It’s Arts Month in Colorado Springs, and the Ent Center for the Arts is spotlighting Cabaret at Theatreworks! Step inside the Kit Kat Klub for music, freedom, and a story that dances on the edge of history. Performances end October 12! Love it? Turn your Cabaret ticket into a full-season subscription by October 31 and catch The Importance of Being Earnest, Romeo and Juliet, and more from Theatreworks’ 50th Birthday Season.

Core Collective
Core Collective is where Pilates meets community, and where sore muscles somehow feel like a badge of honor. It isn’t your typical workout spot. Core Collective has the nicest instructors, killer playlists, and a vibe that makes you actually want to show up. Whether you’re brand-new to Pilates or already rocking the reformer like a pro, Core Collective in downtown Colorado Springs is the place to find your strength, your balance, and maybe even your people. AND if you enter the code SPRINGSANDTHINGS at checkout, you can get 3 classes for just $30 ($10/class)!

The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival is back October 17–19 at Colorado College, and trust us, this is not your average weekend at the movies. Think three days of powerful storytelling, laughter, goosebumps, and conversations that stick with you long after the credits roll. From river rafting adventures to thought-provoking documentaries, every film has one thing in common: a woman behind the lens.

In this episode, we sit down with Executive Director Nicole Nicoletta for a sneak peek at the longest-running women’s film festival in North America. She shares insider tips for planning your perfect festival day, the must-see films everyone will be buzzing about, and why this event has become a cultural cornerstone in Colorado Springs. Whether you’re a film buff or a casual moviegoer, there’s something here for everyone.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Featured Films
• Icons
• Shugas
• Festival In The Community

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Folk 'N' Flannel Festival and Fundraiser by UpaDowna
• Arts Month in Colorado Springs

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Core Collective

Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

Why Wait Stories

Why Wait Stories captures the moments that matter, transforming personal legacies, business journeys, and nonprofit missions into beautifully crafted films. With a gift for storytelling and a heart for connection, Lauren preserves memories and messages before they fade, ensuring they inspire for generations to come.

TheatreWorks has kicked off its 50th season with an unforgettable, immersive production of Cabaret. Director and local theater legend, Scott Levy, joined Carly to share why this staging feels different from any you’ve seen before, how the Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater transforms into 1929 Berlin, and why the show’s timeless question, “What would you do?”, still hits hard today. From ensemble magic to iconic roles reimagined, this is one conversation that proves live theater has never been more urgent, or more electric, in Colorado Springs.

Get your tickets here.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Green Box Arts
• Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics

PICK OF THE WEEK

• Buffalo Grass Music Festival

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Core Collective

Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

Why Wait Stories

Why Wait Stories captures the moments that matter, transforming personal legacies, business journeys, and nonprofit missions into beautifully crafted films. With a gift for storytelling and a heart for connection, Lauren preserves memories and messages before they fade, ensuring they inspire for generations to come.

This week, we’re stepping out of our usual light-and-fluffy lane to talk about grief and one organization that is addressing it right here in the Pikes Peak region. Carly sat down with Sarah Lee, Program Director at Voices of Grief, to talk about why grief isn’t a timeline or a checklist, how Colorado Springs neighbors and circles can become healing spaces, what to say (and not say) to someone hurting, and simple first steps if you feel alone.

We also share details on a hope-filled, sing-together event with “vocal activist” Melanie DeMore coming to town. If you’re grieving, love someone who is, or want to learn more about the topic, this is for you.

Quick note: We’re podcast hosts, not mental health professionals. This episode shares experiences and local resources; it isn’t medical advice. If you’re really struggling or this conversation raises concerns about your safety or wellbeing, call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) to connect with a trained counselor, or reach out to a trusted healthcare provider or therapist.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Dr. Alan Wolfelt
• What's Your Grief?
• Healing with David Kessler
• Melanie DeMore Concert

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• HERplace
• Latin Social

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Core Collective

Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

Why Wait Stories

Why Wait Stories captures the moments that matter, transforming personal legacies, business journeys, and nonprofit missions into beautifully crafted films. With a gift for storytelling and a heart for connection, Lauren preserves memories and messages before they fade, ensuring they inspire for generations to come.

Carly and Lauren are lacing up for COS Fit & Well Week (September 19-26), where Colorado Springs’ most inspiring local studios open their doors with can’t-miss classes and experiences at a discounted rate. From cross-fit to hot yoga to spin sessions that feel like therapy, and more, this episode is part wellness inspo and part laugh-out-loud storytelling. If you’ve ever thought about mixing up your routine, or just want to hear what happens when two friends push each other into new fitness adventures, you’ll love this one.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Pikes Peak Ascent
• Crossfit Hellkite
• 4 Points Fitness
• One Body Fitness Studio
• Cycology Studio
• Kineofit
• Fit Body and Pole
• Core Collective
• Hot Asana
• Flylife Fitness
• Colorado Salt Cave and Wellness Center
• Samantha Rose Wellness
• Natura Bodywork Collective
• Julie Myers Yoga and Ayurveda

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Sober Soiree for Homeward Pikes Peak
• Six-Feet Under Horror Fest

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Core Collective

Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

Why Wait Stories

Why Wait Stories captures the moments that matter, transforming personal legacies, business journeys, and nonprofit missions into beautifully crafted films. With a gift for storytelling and a heart for connection, Lauren preserves memories and messages before they fade, ensuring they inspire for generations to come.

Step inside the UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art with us as we sit down with curator Joy Armstrong to explore Justice of the Piece. This powerful exhibit brings together international female and non-binary muralists who use massive floor-to-ceiling works to spark conversations around equity, resistance, and activism.

From New York’s graffiti godmother to Detroit’s voice for pay equity, these artists prove that walls can talk and what they’re saying might just change the way you see the world. 

Plus, we’ve got details on how you can catch the exhibit before it closes and even dance among the murals at a special “Ladies Night” party.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Patrick Shearn
• Bemis School of Art
• Colorado Springs Pioneer's Museum
• Lady Pink
• Sydney G. James
• Grow Love
• "Ladies" Night Dance Party

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Crafts and Cornhole for Kids Crossing
• Concrete Couch Volunteer Opportunities

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Core Collective

Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

Why Wait Stories

Why Wait Stories captures the moments that matter, transforming personal legacies, business journeys, and nonprofit missions into beautifully crafted films. With a gift for storytelling and a heart for connection, Lauren preserves memories and messages before they fade, ensuring they inspire for generations to come.