Best A Lighter Look At What S The Matter Podcasts (2024)

1
Cities across the Front Range have a secret weapon to prevent wildfires: A herd of 300 goats 9:21

1h ago9:21

9:21

Two years ago, Jordan Sarazen lived a comfortable, perhaps even mundane life, working in an office as a financial planner. Then one day, he decided to make a change. He set out to fulfill a dream of managing a goat herd and renting their services to landowners. Today, Jordan and his wife Toni own 300 goats, and a company called Goat Bros. They trav…

1
How a $70 million deal in Northwest Colorado creates a blueprint for future coal plant closures 9:21

7h ago9:21

9:21

$70 million is the amount a utility company will pay to a community in Northwestern Colorado when it shuts down a coal plant that drives a large part of the local economy. Tri-State Energy plans to close its coal-fired power station, and all three coal mines, in Craig by 2028. The closure comes as Colorado moves to do away with coal-fired power and…

1
The 1955 bombing of a Denver flight has gone largely forgotten. A Colorado group wants a memorial 9:21

20m ago9:21

9:21

On November 1, 1955, a man planted a bomb aboard a United Airlines plane shortly before it departed from Denver. The plane exploded in midflight over beet fields in Weld County, killing all 44 people aboard. It was a mass murder that grabbed headlines across the country. And viewers saw footage of the trial on TV – which was unusual then. If you've…

1
Why a Boulder group wants to turn the city’s airport into an affordable neighborhood 9:21

5h ago9:21

9:21

Boulder, like many cities in Colorado, has an ongoing shortage of housing for the middle class – which means many people who work in Boulder can’t afford to live there. One local group is proposing an unconventional solution: They want to decommission Boulder’s municipal airport and turn that city-owned land into a neighborhood with around 2,000 ho…

1
Hop on board with the quirky history of the Fort Collins trolley 9:21

1d ago9:21

9:21

Summer in Northern Colorado means the return of an old-school mode of transportation -- in the form of a ride on the Fort Collins Trolley. Electric streetcars were once a common sight in the streets of Fort Collins, at least until the early 1950s, when car ownership rose and fewer people relied on public transportation. In the late 1970s, a group o…

1
Why more Colorado communities are prioritizing the night sky 9:21

2d ago9:21

9:21

Adjusting streetlamps and other exterior lights to allow the stars to shine more brilliantly – that's part of the process for becoming a certified Dark Sky community. More than 200 places in 22 countries around the world have this designation. Advocates say limiting light pollution helps preserve expansive views of the night sky, and helps nocturna…

1
Nervous about camping with kids? A Boulder writer shares how to avoid disaster 9:21

3d ago9:21

9:21

Colorado has some of the best camping in the country, and Coloradans love their weekends in the wilderness. But does a night in the outdoors become daunting when kids are in the picture? Boulder author Helen Olsson doesn’t think so. She just rereleased her book The Down and Dirty Guide to Camping with Kids. It’s full of unexpected tips on things li…

1
Why a CU Denver professor thinks the people who design our roads need a wake-up call 9:21

4d ago9:21

9:21

Not that long ago, some doctors would use lobotomies as a treatment for mental illness... or insomnia... or severe headaches. That wouldn’t happen now. But modern medicine has taken some weird, often tragic turns to get to where it is now. Author Wesley Marshall argues that there’s a similarity between the science behind our transportation systems …

1
For the owner of Estes Park's award-winning Taffy Shop, success means making memories 9:21

8d ago9:21

9:21

People who come to Estes Park marvel at the sights they see... Longs Peak on the horizon... the Stanley Hotel above town... herds of elk just about everywhere. And on Elkhorn Avenue in the heart of downtown, curious onlookers gather on the sidewalk to watch the hypnotic movements of the mechanical taffy puller in the window of The Taffy Shop. Now, …

1
Heading to your first rodeo? Here’s how to cowboy up with confidence 9:21

9d ago9:21

9:21

Rodeo is a popular sport all summer long across Colorado and the West. There are large events like the Greeley Stampede or Cheyenne Frontier Days in June and July. And lots of other towns have their own rodeos, from Estes Park to Granby to Steamboat Springs. Of course, anyone can buy a ticket and head to the rodeo – but what else should you know if…

1
For veterans with PTSD, Fourth of July can be difficult. But there are ways to help 9:21

10d ago9:21

9:21

For many veterans, Independence Day can be a hard day.   Celebrating America’s birthday typically comes with booming, colorful blasts of fireworks. We don’t talk about it a lot, but for veterans with PTSD, that can be a struggle. It can remind them of combat or other traumatic experiences from their time in the military.  “We often have veterans wh…

1
Boulder leaders think ‘embodied carbon’ is a key concept in fighting climate change. Here’s why 9:21

11d ago9:21

9:21

Limiting the carbon emissions of a new home or office, long before anyone lives or works in it -- that’s the goal of a key piece of Boulder’s new energy code that will take effect later this year. Typically, people looking to reduce the carbon footprint of their home might install a heat pump or add solar panels. But those improvements could take y…

1
Want a more drought-tolerant yard? Take these small steps first 9:21

15d ago9:21

9:21

There’s no getting around it: it’s really, really hot on Colorado’s Front Range right now. According to the National Weather Service, the Denver metro area typically sees about 45 days each summer when the temperature hits 90 degrees or hotter. And that’s when many homeowners wish for a more resilient lawn. Allisa Linfield is a horticulturist with …

1
The newest climbing route on Boulder’s Flatirons is the first to be installed by women 9:21

16d ago9:21

9:21

There are dozens of climbing routes on the famous Flatirons in Boulder. Until recently, all of the routes on those monumental rock formations were installed, or mapped out, by men. That changed recently when two female climbers collaborated to install a new route on a section of the Flatirons known as The Maiden formation. Lynn Hill and Sasha DiGiu…

1
Why one Colorado town might allow some LLCs to vote alongside residents 9:21

17d ago9:21

9:21

Who is allowed to vote in a resort town’s election when a large chunk of the town’s homeowners are not full-time residents? And how does it change the equation if many of the town’s homes are owned by private companies, rather than individuals? These are questions that periodically come up in resort areas like Aspen or Vail. And leaders in Mountain…

1
Using 3D printing to build homes could transform the housing business. A Greeley company wants to lead the way 9:21

18d ago9:21

9:21

You’ve probably seen 3D printing used to create objects out of plastic – things like toys or chess pieces. A company that recently moved its headquarters to Greeley thinks that one day your new home might be created with 3D printing. And they want Greeley to be a major global hub for this approach to construction. Alquist 3D was founded by Zack Man…

1
Denver PrideFest celebrates a milestone this weekend. Here’s a look back at 50 years of the celebration 9:21

28d ago9:21

9:21

Fifty years ago in June, a small group of friends and activists from the gay and lesbian community gathered in Denver's Cheesman Park to be together and celebrate their identity. It was the first iteration of what's now known as Denver PrideFest. The event has evolved over the years, growing during good times but also during times of adversity and …

1
Boulder Comedy Festival organizer brings together comics from different backgrounds 9:21

23d ago9:21

9:21

When she’s onstage, comedian Zoe Rogers talks about what she knows best: her kids. Her standup centers around her identity as a mom. She jokes about the difference between the proper mom etiquette she carefully displays to her children, and her internal monologue. Offstage, Zoe appreciates a standup routine that’s a genuine reflection of the comedi…

1
How a Boulder museum exhibit celebrates overlooked Black Coloradans 9:21

24d ago9:21

9:21

An exhibit at the Museum of Boulder illuminates the stories of Black Coloradans, highlighting their influence on the region's history and their impact on the future. Proclaiming Colorado's Black History centers on places like the once-bustling farming community of Dearfield; and notable people like businessman Barney Ford and philanthropist Julia G…

1
How new technology could give rescuers an edge when searching for missing hikers 9:21

25d ago9:21

9:21

In Colorado, about 3,000 people go missing each year, according to the state's Search and Rescue Association. And when someone goes missing in the backcountry, every hour counts. Cold, dehydration and exposure to the elements make a person's survival less likely as time ticks by. Rescuers also deal with rugged mountains, steep canyons, dense tree c…

1
A CSU professor’s Juneteenth bike ride offers a unique historic perspective 9:21

29d ago9:21

9:21

Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last of the enslaved people in our country learned of their freedom. It has been a federal holiday since 2021 – and a state holiday since 2022 – observed on June 19. People celebrate Juneteenth in different ways. Some head to music festivals – like this long-running celebration in Denver’s Five Point…

1
How an unusual program helps military veterans process their trauma by making films 9:21

1M ago9:21

9:21

The Patton Veterans Project is a three-day film workshop designed to give veterans, who may be suffering from PTSD or depression, a communal space to process their trauma. Vets who participate learn a “narrative therapy” approach to dealing with emotional trauma. At the end of three days, these vets walk away having made a short film about their pe…

1
Women hold a fraction of music industry jobs. A new program seeks to change that 9:21

1M ago9:21

9:21

If you listen to music at all in 2024 it’s clear that female artists are a dominant force. From Taylor Swift to Beyonce, Dolly Parton to Billie Eilish, women are some of the top-selling artists in the business. But behind the scenes? It’s a different story. Statistics show only a small fraction of people in the music industry are women – not on the…

1
Some key Colorado River decision makers got together in Boulder last week. There was plenty of disagreement 9:21

1M ago9:21

9:21

The future of the Colorado River is in the hands of seven people who represent the states that use its water. And right now, they can’t agree on a set of new rules to share the shrinking supply - despite a quickly approaching deadline. Those negotiations typically happen behind closed doors, rather than in a public setting. But last week, represent…

1
How pets and their owners are getting extra help from Colorado animal shelters 9:21

1M ago9:21

9:21

Pets give us companionship and keep us healthier. They can give us a reason just to get out of bed in the morning. Unfortunately, some people have had a difficult time being able to keep their pets in recent years. The cost of housing is up. Inflation makes it harder to afford veterinary care, pet food and other supplies. Eviction moratoriums and f…

1
Why an artist is celebrating the memory of six Chicano activists killed 50 years ago in Boulder 9:21

1M ago9:21

9:21

Fifty years ago, in 1974, a pair of car bombings in Boulder killed six people. Five of the six were University of Colorado students and alumni who had been part of a Chicano student activist group on campus called UMAS. Their names were Una Jaakola,Reyes Martínez, Neva Romero, Florencio Granado, Heriberto Terán and Francisco Dougherty. They were kn…

1
He wanted to create a community of foragers. Now he teaches others how to find wild food 9:21

1M ago9:21

9:21

When we see weeds start to pop up in the yard or the garden, the first instinct for many of us is to figure out how to get rid of them. But here's the thing: Many plants we might regard as ugly or invasive are, in fact, edible. Orion Aon learned this in his early years growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He would go on camping trips with family and…

1
A CU researcher finds a troubling link between youth diabetes and Alzheimer’s 8:54

2M ago8:54

8:54

There is a deeper link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease than doctors may have previously understood. New research at the University of Colorado could point the way to changing how, and when, doctors screen for Alzheimers. Dr Allison Shapiro, assistant professor of Pediatric Endocrinology at CU’s Anschutz Medical Campus, led a study that loo…

1
The sugar beet workers who helped shape Colorado 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

The sugar beet industry began in Colorado right around 1900. Today it's only a small part of the state's economy, but through the early part of the 20th century, beets were the most significant agricultural product grown here. They were so important to the economy that people referred to sugar beets as 'white gold.' During this time, thousands of H…

1
A tribute to baseball legend Jackie Robinson was destroyed. A Loveland foundry is recreating it 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

It was a shocking crime. In January, thieves in Wichita, Kansas allegedly stole and destroyed a bronze statue of Jackie Robinson, the trailblazing baseball player and civil rights hero. Only the statue's bronze shoes were left behind. The statue had stood near ballfields used by League 42 – a youth baseball league named after the number on Robinson…

1
Can a CU insect expert warn the U.S. about a honeybee crisis before it’s too late? 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

A tiny parasite is an emerging threat to honeybees globally. And a scientist at the University of Colorado is sounding the alarm. Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an entomologist, someone who studies insects. Dr. Sammy, as he is also known, is assistant professor of entomology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado Boulder and talks about scien…

1
Miller moths fascinate and frighten us each spring. We asked an expert why 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

Each spring, the Front Range endures miller moth season. Even in relatively mild years like this one, the tiny winged visitors enter our homes, annoy us and even frighten us. But they’re also fascinating. So we asked Karim Gharbi – an insect expert and horticulture specialist with Colorado State University Extension – to help us unpack the mysterie…

1
Craving less meat on Memorial Day? Try some of these meatless suggestions 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

For many of us, Memorial Day is the first day of the year we get to fire up the grill. We make hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks - all foods that taste good with a bit of a char and that added smoky flavor. They’re also all meats. So what if you want a plant-based Memorial Day cookout, but you don’t want that frozen veggie patty from the grocery store? …

1
New to gardening? Find your green thumb by starting small 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

The phrase "gardening season" may bring a few images to mind: large beds of colorful wildflowers… rows of neatly staked tomato plants… big bags of mulch stacked up against the side of the house. Or perhaps your mental image of gardening looks a little more modest. As in, potted herbs growing on a windowsill. That's the case for KUNC digital produce…

1
Why are Dark Sky communities spreading across Colorado? 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

Adjusting street lamps and other exterior lights to allow the stars to shine more brilliantly – that's part of the process for becoming a certified Dark Sky community. More than 200 places in 22 countries around the world have this designation. Advocates say limiting light pollution helps preserve expansive views of the night sky, and helps nocturn…

1
Artist Danielle SeeWalker on her canceled Vail residency 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

Danielle SeeWalker is a Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta artist living and working in Denver. Her work incorporates traditional Native American materials and themes. This past January, SeeWalker was approached and offered a residency by the town of Vail. The residency would have included SeeWalker creating a public mural. However, on May 9, town officials backed …

1
To mow or not to mow? What science says about early season lawn care 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

One of the most definitive signs that spring has arrived is the sound of lawnmowers filling the neighborhood. But this month, that rumble may be a little quieter than usual. That's because of a recent trend in yard care called "No Mow May." The idea is simple: wait until June to mow to allow flowers like dandelions and clover to grow and support be…

1
Why the historic Black community of Dearfield continues to fascinate 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

Just off Highway 34 outside of Greeley sits a ghost town dotted with a couple of deteriorating buildings and a sign. In the early 1900s, this area was home to Dearfield. The thriving agricultural community founded by O.T. Jackson was Colorado’s largest Black homesteading site. At its peak there were around 300 residents, and Dearfield boasted a num…

1
Can UNC’s future medical school help fix Colorado’s doctor shortage? 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

Patients in Colorado feel the brunt of a growing healthcare crisis every day. Most Colorado counties have a shortage of primary care doctors and other healthcare workers – and that has an outsized impact on low-income and rural communities. And that shortage is projected to get even worse as physicians near retirement age. About a third of doctors …

1
How education funding defined the recent legislative session for Colorado lawmakers 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

Access to a great education – and finding a way to pay for it – was a common thread running through some of the most notable bills Colorado lawmakers introduced at the state capitol in recent months. The 2024 legislative session wrapped up last week with lots of new laws on the books, including one that offers two years of free community college to…

1
Take a trip through the hidden history of the Fort Collins Trolley 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

Springtime in Northern Colorado means the return of a quintessential summer pastime. The Fort Collins Trolley resumed service last weekend. This season marks 40 years since the restored trolley began once again to take passengers on a leisurely journey along Mountain Avenue into Old Town. The electric streetcars were once a common sight in the stre…

1
An affordable housing complex built just for educators takes shape in Eagle County 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

A shortage of affordable housing – and a shortage of teachers – recently forced leaders in Eagle County to try an ambitious new project. They’ve taken the unusual step of becoming a builder and landlord for some of the school staff on their payroll. Miller Flats is a 37 unit housing complex built exclusively for school staff in Edwards. Last year r…

1
Colorado River users face a big deadline to come up with new rules. Here’s where things stand 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

Last summer was brutal for the Colorado River - low water levels underscored the rising threats from a changing climate. Now, we're waiting on next moves from state and federal governments ahead of a quickly approaching 2026 deadline. Several states have proposed new ways to divvy up water from the river, which serves about 40 million people in the…

1
The new president of Colorado Mountain College looks to the future 9:21

2M ago9:21

9:21

Colorado Mountain College isn't your typical higher education institution. Ski and snowboard repair, avalanche technician, ski area operator, and fly fishing guide are among the many career pathways that CMC offers. The school serves roughly 12,000 students across 11 campuses in mountain communities like Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs and Leadvill…

1
With May the Fourth approaching, this Colorado science fiction author is a Force in her own right 9:21

3M ago9:21

9:21

The Force is strong with Colorado. For starters, there's Gov. Jared Polis, who regularly invokes Star Wars and other sci-fi stories in press conferences and state of the state addresses. Then there's the fact that the first-ever Star Wars Celebration - the largest gathering for fans of the franchise - was held in Denver in 1999. And a recent survey…

1
Colorado’s first incarcerated professor is now a free man. He still plans to teach students in prison 9:21

3M ago9:21

9:21

Back in January we learned about a man whose life took a huge turn. David Carillo had been serving a life sentence for his involvement in a murder that happened in 1993. While incarcerated, he began taking classes, and earned a degree. He continued studying, until he became one of the first professors in the country to teach from behind prison wall…

1
What's on the minds of younger voters ahead of the 2024 election? 8:39

3M ago8:39

8:39

It’s a presidential election year. And in the months leading up to November 5, 2024, we’re focusing our coverage around the issues people in our community, including younger voters, say they care about most. To better understand what's most important to college students and other young voters, we're working with student reporters at Front Range Com…

1
First came the wolves. Is wolf tourism next for Colorado? 9:21

3M ago9:21

9:21

Tourists choose to take vacations in Colorado for numerous reasons – like our breathtaking mountains and the chance to hurtle down them on skis or snowboards. There's lots of hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting – even cannabis tourism. But what about wolf-watching? Since ten wolves from Oregon were released on the Western Slope last December, there…

1
"Something people are innately drawn to:" Celebrating National Poetry Month with Wolverine Farm 9:21

3M ago9:21

9:21

We're closing out this week by commemorating National Poetry Month. And who better to celebrate with than Todd Simmons, founder and director of Wolverine Farm Publishing in Fort Collins? In 2002, Simmons left his job in the field of social science to focus full-time on literature and poetry. "I think creative expression, and the ability to communic…

1
“Knowledge alone is really not enough:” Fostering ‘climate hope’ as a way toward climate action 9:21

3M ago9:21

9:21

As human interaction with our planet has evolved over time, so has the human emotional experience of living on Earth. Perhaps it’s no surprise that, as we become more aware of the climate crisis affecting the planet, our emotions tend toward cynicism and sadness. Charlotte Lin, the sustainability coordinator for the mountain town of Avon, thinks ho…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

A Lighter Look At What S The Matter Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide