Best A Lighter Look At What Podcasts (2024)

1
A CSU professor’s Juneteenth bike ride offers a unique historic perspective 9:20

3h ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

2h ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

43m ago9:20

9:20

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
It's more than just making tea! We meet an Art Department Assistant 46:52

3h ago46:52

46:52

The role of Art Department Assistant is a common entry point into the film industry, so we decided to meet one to find out more about it. This week, we chat with Ant Hall about her route into film & TV. From army-crawling through mud on the set of 'Masters of the Air,' to working for Tim Burton on the upcoming 'Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,' Ant shares…

1
Some key Colorado River decision makers got together in Boulder last week. There was plenty of disagreement 9:20

3d ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

4d ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

1d ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

2d ago9:20

9:20

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
Laura catches up with a hugely experienced Senior Art Director 45:54

7d ago45:54

45:54

This week, Laura has a catch up with the Senior Art Director she worked with on 'Marvel's Secret Invasion,' the hugely experienced Su Whitaker, who has also worked on MASSIVE films like 'The Dark Knight Rises,' 'Les Misérables,' 'Paddington,' and 'The Fifth Element.' Su tells us about her long and varied career, and gives her advice to anyone looki…

1
A CU researcher finds a troubling link between youth diabetes and Alzheimer’s 8:53

10d ago8:53

8:53

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 9:20

7d ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

8d ago9:20

9:20

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? 9:20

9d ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

10d ago9:20

9:20

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
Sustainability in film: how the industry is going green 46:36

11d ago46:36

46:36

We're joined this week by our first guest of the season; Sustainability Coordinator Brendan Duffy. Brendan tells us how he works with BAFTA's Albert initiative to minimise a film productions' carbon footprint, and how new technologies, alternative fuels and innovative use of materials are all helping to reduce waste in the industry. Listen out for …

1
Craving less meat on Memorial Day? Try some of these meatless suggestions 9:20

14d ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

15d ago9:20

9:20

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? 9:20

16d ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

17d ago9:20

9:20

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
We're back! Reintroductions and general catch up 32:13

18d ago32:13

32:13

The podcast returns for season 3, so this week Steve and Laura decide to reintroduce themselves and have a general catch-up about what's been going on in the world of film & TV while we've been away. As well as chatting about what they've each been up to, they also discuss Bridgerton, Baby Reindeer, Fallout and Dune: Part Two. You can also hear a p…

1
To mow or not to mow? What science says about early season lawn care 9:20

27d ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

22d ago9:20

9:20

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? 9:20

23d ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

24d ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

1M ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

1M ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

1M ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

1M ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

1M ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

1M ago9:20

9:20

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? 8:38

1M ago8:38

8:38

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
Bordering on crossing the line 51:34

1M ago51:34

51:34

In the final, extended, episode of the series, Sam and James look at the latest news of the Rwanda policy and what’s behind it - from the effect on the ground to betting on polling. Migration expert Lou Calvey gives her view and author Jonn Elledge joins to tell us all about his latest book on borders. This is a public episode. If you would like to…

1
First came the wolves. Is wolf tourism next for Colorado? 9:20

1M ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

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 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

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…

1
‘My life, my future, my community:’ Boulder Valley students on taking climate action 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

Anxiety about climate change is hitting the youngest of us hard. And if you’re too young to vote, it may feel like there’s nothing you can do to change what your future looks like. But students in the Boulder Valley School District proved otherwise this past school year. A group of high school students successfully campaigned for the school board t…

1
Climate adaptation is essential for our future - but we can't ignore lessons from the past 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

Longmont author and journalist Stephen Robert Miller is fascinated by climate disaster stories. He says they’re often teachable moments. “There’s so much to be learned from looking in the past — environmental histories and histories of instances of when people have tried to control nature and ultimately it's failed,” Miller said. In his new book, “…

1
Fancy drinks in fun spaces: How mocktails are changing NoCo’s nightlife 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

While Colorado is known for having breweries on every corner, there's a new trend in town: cocktails - without the alcohol. The popularity of non-alcoholic drinks is soaring – especially among young adults – and more bars and restaurants are starting to feature creative mocktails on their menus. Currently, Colorado has only a few completely sober s…

1
The ‘paradise paradox’ affecting Colorado’s mountain residents 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

Colorado is one of the healthiest states in the nation when it comes to physical fitness. Perhaps that’s no surprise given how much there is to do in the outdoors. But when it comes to mental health, Colorado ranks in the bottom half of states, according to a 2023 report by Mental Health America. While there are a few reasons for this poor ranking,…

1
'Chicken pimping' helps at-risk youth grow sustainable career prospects 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

Today we’re listening back to a conversation with aquaponic chicken farmer Sean Short of Blooming Health Farms, located in Greeley, Colorado. And just what is aquaponic chicken farming? Short says the farm uses aquaponics, “a fancy way of saying that we have some fish, and we use the fish water to grow plants.” In other words, aquaponics combines f…

1
'The stories are there, and they're worth telling:' NPR's Lori Lizarraga on her journalism journey 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

A career in journalism wasn’t the plan for NPR’s Lori Lizarraga – at least, not until the day she found herself in the wrong classroom at Southern Methodist University. Lizarraga says she “stepped into Narnia” when she walked into the studio where journalism students were broadcasting the school’s daily newscast. The Latina journalist has been tell…

1
'Colorado Proud' isn't just a food label. It's a way of life 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

It's spring… and a handful of Northern Colorado farmers markets are opening up for what's likely to be a busy season – at least, if the last few years are any indication. We've come to expect throngs of eager shoppers waiting in long lines to buy western slope peaches by the crate, boxes of Olathe sweet corn, Pueblo chiles, and other locally grown …

1
Fifty percent of people can't be wrong 42:24

2M ago42:24

42:24

In the middle of two scandals (not theirs) Sam and James look at what worries the parties in an election year and how they monitor success - through political polls. Expert input from Ben Walker, co-founder of Britain Elects, help us understand what’s up, what’s down and how we can tell. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this w…

1
Wildfire risk part of new reality for Northern Colorado homeowners 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

The risk of wildfire is a reality that is beginning to define life in Northern Colorado. This last weekend, tens of thousands of people in Boulder County were left suddenly without power for days when Xcel shut it off in anticipation of high winds and potential loose lines. Today we’re listening back to an interview covering a 2023 report from the …

1
From 'ramshackle' beginnings to true community journalism: CU professor traces NPR's roots in new book 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

Have you ever wondered how NPR came to be? It certainly didn’t happen overnight. The history of National Public Radio is long and convoluted, starting in the early twentieth century with university-housed stations scattered across rural areas. These stations broadcast things like cooking lessons, and how to use indoor plumbing. But with the Communi…

1
Science says these are the best tomatoes to grow in Northern Colorado 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

Northern Colorado’s unique weather patterns can be a challenge for backyard gardeners. The climate is dry; the growing season is hot and short. And of course, we’re no strangers to wind and hail events. But new research out of Colorado State University can help gardeners choose crop varieties that thrive in those conditions. KUNC's rural and small …

1
How an 1878 eclipse over the Rockies set the stage for modern-day celestial tourism 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

On Monday, April 8 a total solar eclipse will darken the skies over 13 states, from Texas up to Maine. While Colorado is not in the path of totality, in which the moon completely covers the sun, our region will experience a partial solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse over the U.S. is relatively rare – the last one occurred in August 2017. And citi…

1
WHN Bonus Episode: New local news 31:44

2M ago31:44

31:44

Three pioneers of modern local journalism talk to WHN’s James O’Malley about their experiences in Birmingham, Edinburgh and Medway, comparing notes on their neighbourhoods, the work they do and why relevant, accessible and convenient local news matters. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access…

1
‘Mountain Dreamers’ gives immigrants a voice in Summit County 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

Immigrants are the backbone of a lot of mountain communities in Colorado. That’s because many work in service industry jobs that keep these towns thriving. But for immigrants in these places, certain disparities are more pronounced, like access to transportation. In one part of Summit County, this particular issue had become dangerous in the snowy …

1
From AI to fading sunshine laws: "A difficult year" for Colorado's local media 9:20

2M ago9:20

9:20

It’s no secret there’s a crisis of shrinking local news across the U.S. And we know that in places where local news evaporates, democracy takes a hit. Government corruption tends to increase when powerful entities realize there's less media scrutiny on what they're doing. "This year has been particularly difficult for the local media news business,…

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