Hear about the Caucus Process from Ken Davis, Chair of the El Paso County Republican Party about party process over the coming months. He chats with Shelly Roehrs, your host, on Making Democracy Work.

Donate Today! League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region: https://lwvppr.org/

Candidate Forums: http://vote411.org/

El Paso County Republican Party - https://www.gopelpaso.com/

Making Democracy Work asks questions and provides information to help voters and community members be more active and engaged citizens. Join us as we look for better ways to make democracy work.

This podcast is produced by the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region (LWVPPR). The mission of the League of Women Voters is: Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. LWVPPR members actively promote voter and civic education for the public and themselves. Learn more at https://lwvppr.org/

Making Democracy Work is one of many Studio 809 Podcasts, building community in the Pikes Peak Region. Find your new favorite local podcast at https://studio809podcasts.com

Don't miss an episode, follow Making Democracy Work wherever you get your podcasts.

Hear from Conner Roderick, Chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party’s Permanent Organization about party happenings and process over the coming months. He chats with Shelly Roehrs, your host, on Making Democracy Work.

Donate Today! League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region

Candidate Forums: http://vote411.org/

El Paso County Democratic Party: https://epcodemparty.org/

Making Democracy Work asks questions and provides information to help voters and community members be more active and engaged citizens. Join us as we look for better ways to make democracy work.

This podcast is produced by the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region (LWVPPR). The mission of the League of Women Voters is: Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy. LWVPPR members actively promote voter and civic education for the public and themselves. Learn more at https://lwvppr.org/

Making Democracy Work is one of many Studio 809 Podcasts, building community in the Pikes Peak Region. Find your new favorite local podcast at https://studio809podcasts.com

Don't miss an episode, follow Making Democracy Work wherever you get your podcasts.

17-year-old Yolanda Renee King shares her experiences, hopes and dreams with Pikes Peak Women. She sat down with us in a hotel lobby in downtown Colorado Springs on the eve of Martin Luther King Day 2026, where Yolanda was scheduled to be the keynote speaker. She is the only grandchild in the MLK legacy.

Think about this. She is taking charge with her generation to lead the way on equity, climate change, education and ending gun violence. At 15, she wrote a children's book and last year started a nonprofit focused on taking action and getting engaged in community change and leadership.

Pikes Peak Woman Melissa Marts shares this interview with another 17-year-old, Eve Walker, daughter of Pikes Peak Woman Deb Walker, to ensure these young voices are sharing their hopes and dreams for a united future. We want to thank the Pikes Peak Diversity Council and newly organized MLK Legacy Preservation Society for help in this momentous opportunity.

MORE:

We Dream a World: Carrying the Light from My Grandparents – Yolanda Renee King’s book

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/124932718-we-dream-a-world

Realize the Dream - Nonprofit founded by Yolanda and her parents

https://www.realizethedream.org/

Meet Martin Luther King Jr.'s Only Grandchild Yolanda Renee King! All About the Young Activist (and Why She Still Feels His ‘Presence’ Despite Never Meeting) – People Magazine story

https://people.com/all-about-martin-luther-king-jr-granddaughter-8763562

We’ve got another great episode coming to you soon! Be sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss an episode. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Reach out to us on Facebook, comment at this episode’s webpage, or send an email to let us know what you thought of today’s episode.

Pikes Peak Women on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PikesPeakWomen/

Pikes Peak Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pikes_peak_women/

Email: [email protected]

Elevating Pikes Peak Women is produced by Pikes Peak Women. Our mission is to provide a platform where women in the Pikes Peak region can become engaged and discuss civic issues about which they care deeply.

We’ve provided platforms to address healthcare reform, pay equity, community innovation, and investment, along with facilitating the meaningful contribution of women at all levels of business, government, and community. Issues may include women’s health and safety, challenges with career and family, or the actions of politicians for or against women’s rights. While such issues may be emotionally charged, we expect and maintain civility among all.

We are committed to the deliberate recruitment and support of women in leadership positions and actively work on issues that make a difference. Pikes Peak Women is an independent organization, coordinated by volunteer effort.

What if ten weekends could change the way you see your land, your home, and your future?

Host Ally Richardson interviews three recent graduates of the 2025 Permaculture Design Certification Course where they share the moments that surprised them, the skills that reshaped their thinking, and the unexpected community they found along the way. Before you hire a landscaper, hear what a PDC can unlock. Step into your power and shape the land for good!

Mentioned in this episode:

2026 Permaculture Design Course

Register here: https://www.pikespeakpermaculture.org/2025-permaculture-design-course/

Pikes Peak Permaculture’s PDC follows the Permaculture Institute of North America curriculum and meets the 72 hour certification standard. The course emphasizes ethics, principles, whole systems thinking, and collaborative site design.

The program runs 10 weekends from February to August across Southern Colorado, with a few regional field trips. Lunches are prepared by students on rotation, with snacks provided. Children may attend with prior discussion.

Work trade options and financial aid are available. Few spots left, so sign-up today!

This episode was produced by Pikes Peak Permaculture, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to teaching the ethics and principles of permaculture design in Southern Colorado. Permaculture is all about working with nature rather than against, to regenerate land, water, and food systems, and build resilient communities for generations to come. Learn more about their work with schools, organizations, and community members at https://www.pikespeakpermaculture.org/

The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region.

Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future https://peakallianceco.org/

Pikes Peak Permaculture https://www.pikespeakpermaculture.org/

GrowthBusters https://www.growthbusters.org

Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode.

A new recovery program called Step Springs helps men in a state of desperation end their cycle of addiction, take back control of their lives, and transition to a safe and sober living environment. There, they can become productive, contributing members of their families and our community. Step Springs CEO Meghan Shay shares details with our host, Beth Roalstad, CEO of Homeward Pikes Peak.

For More Information:

Step Springs: https://stepsprings.org/

a Place for everyone is produced by Homeward Pikes Peak and hosted by Executive Director Beth Roalstad. We empower individuals and families to access stable housing, increase mental health, increase recovery and achieve economic stability. Learn more at http://homewardpp.org/. You can reach us at (719) 473-5557. Street Outreach, housing, and clinical services are provided.

Our beloved Trails and Open Space Coalition is sure to be up to something you didn’t already know. Executive Director Glenn Carlson shares his vision, what TOSC has been up to since he took the reins, and exciting news about a new web tool that will help us all enjoy our trails, parks and open spaces that much more.

We also get tips for trail etiquette when mud is the order of the day. Great news that TOSC is looking into bringing Starlight Spectacular back to life – but reimagined. Plus, Heila Ershadi, managing editor of the Pikes Peak Bulletin, shares an interesting story about a proposed new luxury hotel and what the Mill Street neighborhood is trying to do to avoid the gentrification shuffle.

LINKS:

Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC): https://trailsandopenspaces.org/

Colorado Springs Parks Assessment and Master Plan: https://coloradosprings.gov/ParkSystemMasterPlan

Downtown neighborhood seeks dialogue with Norwood Development – Pikes Peak Bulletin story: https://pikespeakbulletin.org/news/downtown-neighborhood-seeks-dialogue-with-norwood-development/

MENTIONED:

Susan Davies

Mesa Ridge High School

Widefield

Colorado College

Arrow Electronics

Running for Colorado Springs City Council

The Legacy Loop

Allen Beauchamp

Botanic garden

Denver Botanic Garden

Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum

Garden of the Gods Foundation

Garden of the Gods Dog Park

Pikes Peak

Blodgett Open Space

Pikeview Quarry

Timberline TrailCraft

Loving the Springs celebrates the best of Colorado Springs and elevates the rest.

Plug into what’s happening in the Pikes Peak region, learn about awesome people, places and happenings, and explore opportunities to make life here even better. Longtime Springs booster Carrie Simison co-hosts with local gadflies Al Brody and Dave Gardner. All three love our two springs – Colorado and Manitou, so they give them the mic in this twice-monthly podcast. Nothing’s off the table – recreation, the arts, government, business, politics – if it touches your life, they’ll talk about it. We’ll invite the movers and shakers, conspiracy theorists, NIMBYs, YIMBYs, yaysayers and naysayers to join them.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and give us feedback and suggestions via comments at https://studio809podcasts.com/loving-the-springs or lovingthespringspodcast at gmail.com

Most business owners don’t lose sleep because they hate numbers. They lose sleep because they are terrified of what those numbers might reveal if the IRS ever comes knocking. Behind the unfiled returns, unopened IRS letters, and messy books is a constant, exhausting fear: “What if I’m in trouble and I don’t even know it yet?”​

In this episode of the Tax Answers Advisor, Enrolled Agent and Certified Tax Representation Consultant Marcelino Dodge sits down with CPA Laura Zarate of Athena CPAs to talk about a different way forward: building clean systems and proactive tax strategies so you can stop looking over your shoulder and finally look ahead. Together they show how “boring” consistent accounting, intentional decisions, and year‑round planning can turn chaos into clarity and fear into confidence.​

You’ll hear how reactive habits—ignoring IRS notices, mixing business and personal money, relying on shoebox receipts, waiting until April to think about taxes—quietly build penalties, interest, and anxiety, even when no one is sending you letters yet. You’ll also discover what a truly clean system looks like, why documentation matters so much in an audit, and how separating your business and personal finances protects not just your deductions but your entire entity.​

Marcelino and Laura walk through real‑life scenarios: missed S corporation elections, owners who never took reasonable payroll, people who bought expensive vehicles “for the write‑off” and ended up with a cash problem instead of a tax solution. They unpack how simple timing and structure decisions—like how you sell a business, when you take income, and how you compensate yourself—can save thousands when you plan ahead instead of cleaning up after the fact.​

Most importantly, this conversation speaks to the business owner who feels ashamed, behind, or afraid to reach out because “it’s already such a mess.” You’ll hear why it is absolutely possible to clean up the past and build better systems for the future at the same time, and how showing real change can make the IRS or state far more willing to work with you.​

The problem this show solves

This show exists for the business owner who:

1. Has unfiled tax returns, IRS or state letters, or a tax bill they don’t understand.​
2. Is trying to DIY their books and taxes while running a company, and feels constantly unsure if anything is actually right.​
3. Has grown from “side hustle” money to real revenue but never adjusted their entity, payroll, or planning.​
4. Lies awake wondering, “What if I get audited? What if I can’t fix this?”​

Through this podcast, Marcelino helps you:

1. Move from fear, avoidance, and reaction into proactive planning, clear systems, and predictable tax outcomes.​
2. Replace shame with informed action by explaining what went wrong, what can still be fixed, and what to do next.​
3. Keep more of what you earn legally, while getting compliant and protecting your business and family.​

If today’s episode hits a nerve—if you see your own situation in these stories—it’s a signal, not a sentence. You don’t have to fight the IRS or face your books alone.​

Take the next step

When you’re ready to stop letting the IRS dictate your future, visit taxreliefcall.com to schedule a confidential conversation with Marcelino. As an Enrolled Agent and Certified Tax Representation Consultant, he can step in, deal with the IRS on your behalf, and help you build the clean systems and proactive strategies that let you finally breathe again.​

Many women care about Colorado Springs but hesitate to step into leadership roles. In this episode, Sarah Jack talks about her path into civic engagement, what motivated her to get involved in public policy, and how she learned to lead without waiting for permission or perfection. Her story speaks to anyone who has ever wondered whether their voice truly matters in local democracy.

We’ve got another great episode coming to you soon! Be sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss an episode. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Reach out to us on Facebook, comment at this episode’s webpage, or send an email to let us know what you thought of today’s episode.

Pikes Peak Women on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PikesPeakWomen/

Pikes Peak Women on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pikes_peak_women/

Email: [email protected]

Elevating Pikes Peak Women is produced by Pikes Peak Women. Our mission is to provide a platform where women in the Pikes Peak region can become engaged and discuss civic issues about which they care deeply.

We’ve provided platforms to address healthcare reform, pay equity, community innovation, and investment, along with facilitating the meaningful contribution of women at all levels of business, government, and community. Issues may include women’s health and safety, challenges with career and family, or the actions of politicians for or against women’s rights. While such issues may be emotionally charged, we expect and maintain civility among all.

We are committed to the deliberate recruitment and support of women in leadership positions and actively work on issues that make a difference. Pikes Peak Women is an independent organization, coordinated by volunteer effort.

ERC helps cut wasted energy consumption through energy-efficient home upgrades, now available to all households in their 27-county service area, regardless of income level. Upgrades are free to income-qualifying households. ERC collectively saves $300,000 in utility bills each year by upgrading about 2,000 homes. Energy Resource Center Director of Programs Mike Mazzola fills us in on what ERC can do for you.

LINKS:

Sustainability & Resiliency Info and Networking Survey: https://forms.gle/aJCcs4Lv9ZAVk6E69

Energy Resource Center: https://erc-co.org

Colorado Energy Savings Navigator: https://puc.colorado.gov/energy-savings

The following environment/sustainability organizations in the Pikes Peak region collaborate to produce the Peak Environment podcast about environmental stewardship, sustainable living and enlightened public policy in the Pikes Peak Region.

Peak Alliance for a Sustainable Future https://peakallianceco.org/

Pikes Peak Permaculture https://www.pikespeakpermaculture.org/

GrowthBusters https://www.growthbusters.org

Keep up with all the organizations and events making our area a better place to live. Follow on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss an episode.

Spoken word artist, idealist, and entrepreneurial cheerleader Judy Pearring shares some of her poetry and explains the vibe we love at The Next Us. The Next Us is home to Studio 809 Podcasts’ community podcast studio, as well as a family of extraordinary entrepreneurs. “We’re all the weirdos,” she tells us, and she means it with affection and respect. We also find out Carrie is a “recovering poet,” and Al wants to take one of Judy’s poems to Burning Man.

LINKS:

The Next Us: https://thenextus.spaces.nexudus.com

Clean & Safe Pilot Program - episode 23 of a Place for everyone: https://studio809podcasts.com/clean-and-safe/

Studio 809 Podcasts: https://studio809podcasts.com/

Get Involved. Get Engaged. - Episode 61 of Elevating Pikes Peak Women: https://studio809podcasts.com/get-involved-get-engaged/

MENTIONED:

One Million Cups

First Fridays

AI

TEDx

Open Mic Night at Rico’s

Downtown Colorado Springs

Sara Vaas and Dizzie Charlie’s Live Jazz

Acacia Park Bandshell Renovation Project

Eleven Mile Canyon

The “Manitou River”

The Clean & Safe Program

Homeward Pikes Peak

Pat Rigdon

Beth Roalstad

Mary Lou Makepeace

Melissa Marts

Brenda Morrison

Marcy Morrison

Burning Man

Cottonwood Center for the Arts

Loving the Springs celebrates the best of Colorado Springs and elevates the rest.

Plug into what’s happening in the Pikes Peak region, learn about awesome people, places and happenings, and explore opportunities to make life here even better. Longtime Springs booster Carrie Simison co-hosts with local gadflies Al Brody and Dave Gardner. All three love our two springs – Colorado and Manitou, so they give them the mic in this twice-monthly podcast. Nothing’s off the table – recreation, the arts, government, business, politics – if it touches your life, they’ll talk about it. We’ll invite the movers and shakers, conspiracy theorists, NIMBYs, YIMBYs, yaysayers and naysayers to join them.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and give us feedback and suggestions via comments at https://studio809podcasts.com/loving-the-springs or lovingthespringspodcast at gmail.com