Do you know how many parks Denver has? Residents of Salt Lake County have wondered about their parks for years — that is, until City Cast Salt Lake host Ali Vallarta set out to catalog them all. Over the course of two years, she visited all 511 parks in the county, seeking to record their amenities (e.g., bathrooms, playgrounds), write helpful summaries, and track down the people in charge. The resulting map has already become a valuable tool for locals, who now not only know who to call when trash cans are overflowing: they can also find outdoor spaces that meet their needs.

Mentioned on the show:

• Every Park SLC - The First-Ever Guide to Every Park in Salt Lake County (City Cast Salt Lake)

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Can Victor Marx conduct exorcisms over the phone? The ordained minister and front-runner in the GOP primary for governor says so, and made national news when HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver picked up 9News’ debate between Marx, State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, and State Rep. Scott Bottoms. Journalist Kyle Clark joins host Bree Davies and politics contributor Adrian Felix to dig into that unhinged Republican rodeo Kyle and colleague Marshall Zelinger moderated, plus discuss CD8 primary candidate Manny Rutinel’s sudden switch on fracking and veganism, and of course our wins and fails of the week. 

Plus, if you’re a City Cast Denver Neighbor, you get a special bonus segment where the trio discusses Bow Mar’s dystopian dream of building a wall around the tiny town and what it says about humanity.

Come see us at Denver Bike Fest, this Saturday, June 13, from 3-9 p.m. at York Street Yards!

Bree mentioned her interview with reporter Logan Davis about Advance Colorado, scooter accidents and kids, and DIY venue, The D.M.V. Kyle talked about the tornado false alarm and Tina Peters’ appearance at “Freedom Fest.” Adrian discussed DPD’s proposal to replace discipline with training, the return of City Park Jazz, and Kyle’s Word of Thanks fundraising for the City Park Bandstand. 

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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Denver Bike Fest
• Energy Outreach Colorado
• Vail Wine Classic
• Regional Air Quality Council
  

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Michael Bennet has represented Colorado in congress since 2009. Now, the U.S. senator is running for governor – and is in the midst of a heated democratic primary against fellow candidate, Attorney General Phil Weiser. Last fall, Bennet sat down with host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about everything from housing affordability and rent algorithms to pushing back against Trump. Just a note: we reached out to Bennet’s campaign, but were not able to get an interview ahead of this month's primaries. For more on Bennet, listen to our past episode with local historian Phil Goodstein, who shared more of the the senator’s backstory.

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What are you thinking about this year’s governor’s race? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Denver Bike Fest
• Energy Outreach Colorado
• Vail Wine Classic
• Regional Air Quality Council
  

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Governor Jared Polis is serving his final term and the Democratic primary race to replace him is heated. Attorney General Phil Weiser joins host Bree Davies to discuss his run for the highest office in the state and dig into everything from his position on highway expansions and zoning reform to where he stands on felonies for drug possession and data center moratoriums. Plus, they talk about Weiser’s opponent Senator Michael Bennet and his claims that the AG has accepted corporate money. 

Be sure to tune in to the podcast tomorrow to hear our interview with Sen. Bennet.

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Ballots are in the mail! Which primary race are you watching? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Denver Bike Fest
• Energy Outreach Colorado
• Vail Wine Classic
• Regional Air Quality Council
  

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Host Bree Davies and Producer Olivia Jewell Love are opening up the City Cast Denver mailbag to hear listeners’ thoughts on everything from our interviews with Rep. Diana DeGett’s primary challengers to the pedestrian walkways coming to DIA’s underground tunnels and how friendships blossom in the Red Rocks parking lots. Plus, Bree and Olivia answer the question of the summer: Underground Music Showcase or Blucifer’s First Rodeo?

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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:

• Denver Bike Fest
• Energy Outreach Colorado
• Vail Wine Classic
• Regional Air Quality Council
• Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

When it comes to numbers, the story of drug-related overdose deaths in America is simple. They increased slowly and steadily through the early Trump years until a big jump during the pandemic. But that’s where Colorado is diverging. The Denver Post recently reported on preliminary numbers from the CDPHE that show overdose deaths increasing here in 2025, when most of the rest of the country was declining. Harm Reduction Action Center’s Executive Director, Lisa Raville, joins host Bree Davies to talk about why.

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What do you think about the harm reduction approach Raville espouses? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 8th episode:

• Denver Bike Fest

• Energy Outreach Colorado

• Vail Wine Classic

• Regional Air Quality Council

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Denver recycles some of its water, but not as much as Las Vegas, where the water there stays in the city. How else could a desert city possibly have enough water for its year-round tourists, a metro area population of over 2 million, and all those pools? The process just might be grosser than you think. With innovative recycling, strict lawn rules, and infrastructure to monitor it all, Vegas has become a global leader in water reuse. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with ⁠⁠City Cast Las Vegas⁠⁠ podcast host Jesse Merrick to learn how the city makes do with what it has and how its practices could save other cities’ water supplies. Plus, are any Las Vegans actually going to the casinos?

Mentioned on the show:

• ⁠⁠"Reality Check - There are Big Fines If You Don’t Change Your Watering Clock"⁠⁠ (Southern Nevada Water Authority)

• ⁠⁠"Federal Regulators Cut Lake Mead Water. Can Vegas Handle It?"⁠⁠ (City Cast Las Vegas)

Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? ⁠⁠Email David now! ⁠⁠

We’re also on Instagram: ⁠⁠@yourcitycouldbebetter⁠⁠

Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? ⁠⁠Check out our options⁠⁠.

The Colfax staple Charlie’s got into trouble this week after a video posted to social media showed six little turtles “racing” on the legacy gay bar’s patio. So, was it a case of animal cruelty, a misunderstanding or something else? Denver Post city government reporter Elliott Wenzler joins host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love to dissect the turtle debacle – plus Councilmember Sarah Parady’s decision to step down and what the future holds for Denver City Council, and of course our wins and fails of the week.  

There’s more: In a special Neighbors-only bonus segment, the crew discuss Elliott’s reporting on a new program from the City of Denver that hopes to bribe folks to get out of their cars and walk, bike, or scoot instead. Not a member yet? Join the City Cast Denver neighborhood and get access to this segment!

Bree mentioned dog attacks on mail carriers and the campus abortion medication access bill. Olivia discussed the mosquito season ahead and a wage theft case at Atomic Cowboy. Elliott talked about a new baby animal at the Denver Zoo (whose name you can help pick!) and a mother charged with murder. 

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What do you think will happen with Denver City Council after the next at-large race? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 5th episode:

• Denver Art Museum
• Energy Outreach Colorado
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• Vail Wine Classic
  

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Diana DeGette has been representing Denver in congress since 1997, winning reelection 14 times in nearly 30 years on the job. The 1st Congressional District is comfortably blue, but two challengers have lit a fire in this race that is getting a lot of attention. Today, host Bree Davies sits down with Wanda James – a CU Regent, former navy officer, and the country’s first Black dispensary owner – to learn more about what James sees for Colorado’s future if she’s elected. Please check out our conversation with challenger Melat Kiros earlier in the week and note that we did invite Representative DeGette for an interview but she was not available. 

James discussed images from the “Tea on THC” campaign that the Colorado School of Public Health published in December 2024.

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What do you think about Wanda James’ campaign for Congress? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 4th episode:

• Denver Art Museum
• Energy Outreach Colorado
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• Vail Wine Classic
  

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Could Denver see a new face in congress in 2026? Diana DeGette has held the 1st Congressional District seat for nearly thirty years, handily winning reelection 14 times since 1997. But this year, she’s facing two challengers. We invited all three candidates for interviews to discuss how they want to represent Colorado under Trump. For this first conversation host Bree Davies is joined by Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros, a former lawyer and barista who could be one of only a handful of Gen Zers in the U.S. House of Representatives if elected. Representative DeGette declined our invitation, but stay tuned for our conversation with candidate Wanda James tomorrow. 

Kiros discussed the MIT Living Wage calculator.

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What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 3rd episode:

• Denver Art Museum
• Energy Outreach Colorado
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• Vail Wine Classic
  

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Last week the City of Englewood shared a video about the work they are doing to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. But the municipality was swiftly chastised online for creating said video using AI – and causing carbon dioxide emissions. Westword Editor in Chief Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies to talk about the the potential for city governments to erode trust by using AI, plus the latest on the newBroncos stadium development, and what it means when a politician turns down an interview with a local media outlet (ahem, like City Cast Denver).

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What do you think about the City of Englewood’s use of AI? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418

Learn more about the sponsors of this June 2nd episode:

• Denver Art Museum
• Energy Outreach Colorado
• Denver Botanic Gardens
• Vail Wine Classic
• Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off

Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise