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

Colorado Springs Locals, Carly Ries and Lauren Ferrara
  • 5.0 (46)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Springs and Things, the podcast where two close friends spill the tea on all things Colorado Springs! From culture and community to hidden gems and neighborhood lore, we’ve got it covered. Join us as we sip our coffee (or maybe something stronger) and dive into the stories and secrets that make this city so unique. Whether you're a local or just passing through, our fun, light-hearted, and always entertaining take on the quirks, hot topics, and insider tips will keep you coming back for more. Discover what’s really happening in the Springs—beyond the mountains and parks!

  1. 4h ago

    We Talked Manitou Ghost Tours In A Haunted Museum...

    We sat down at the Manitou Springs Heritage Museum with museum president Manitou Mike Maio and Sam Driscoll of Theatre D'Art, the two people behind the Manitou Springs Ghost Tours. Mike tells the full Emma Crawford story (that you likely haven't heard), and Sam makes the case for Soapy Smith, the con man who sold bars of soap, and talks about playing Robert "Rattlesnake" James, the hairdresser who married and murdered five or six wives. And that's just scratching the surface of the stories they have! Also in here: the museum's own ghost, the tall, thin man who appears only in window reflections, and the gunshots that ring out on the west end of town at one in the morning. What?! Want to hear more? Don't miss the ghost tours! Tours run Friday and Saturday nights, October 2nd through 30th. Kids under 11 get in free.  Tickets at manitouspringsheritagecenter.org. Timestamps 02:19 Meet Manitou Mike Maio and Sam Driscoll04:43 Soapy Smith, the soap-selling con artist05:53 Why the tours use actors instead of guides08:19 The museum's own ghost10:42 The legend of Emma Crawford, told in full15:33 The arcade reflection and the 1 a.m. gunshots20:21 The homicidal hairdresser25:04 Tickets, timing and accessibilityLinks Tickets: manitouspringsheritagecenter.orgFacebook: Manitou Springs Heritage MuseumPicks of the week: Poor Richard's, Armadillo Ranch, Kinfolks, TownhouseShare this with the friend you want to bring on the tour with you, and leave us a five-star review on Apple or Spotify. It helps more locals find the show! We Love Our Sponsors! Vanguard Aesthetics: Skincare treatments with real, noticeable results.Core Collective: Our favorite spot for pilates! Use code SPRINGSANDTHINGS for 3 classes for $30.Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival: Join us October 16–18, 2026, in Colorado Springs for three days of documentary, narrative, short, and animated films that honor the drive, spirit, and diversity of women.

  2. Sep 15

    Pulled From the Vault: Unpacking the Colorado Springs Lore of Spencer and Julie Penrose

    Did a monkey bite really launch the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo? Did Spencer Penrose actually ride his horse into the Antlers Hotel lobby? And why is the Shrine of the Sun named after Will Rogers instead of the man who built it? In this episode of Springs and Things, host Carly Ries sits down with Sarah Woods, Vice President of Collections for El Pomar Foundation, to dig into the archives and separate Colorado Springs legend from fact. As the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo celebrates its 100th anniversary, Sarah pulls back the curtain on some of the wildest, most fascinating stories in our city's history and reveals what the primary source records actually say. This is one of our most information-packed episodes to date, covering everything from a mysterious box of 1940s newspaper-wrapped clothing to a crash car sitting in a museum exactly how it landed on Pikes Peak. In this episode, you'll learn: → The real reason Spencer Penrose's exotic animals were moved off the Broadmoor Golf Course, and yes, the monkey bite was real → How a 21-year-old Spencer Penrose wrote a Harvard thesis that still guides El Pomar Foundation's mission today → The story behind the Heritage Gallery's never-before-seen photographs, hats, and personal artifacts of Spencer and Julie Penrose → How Michèle Mouton became the only woman to earn the title King of the Mountain, and why she insists on keeping that title → The harrowing 2012 crash on Pikes Peak and what the wreckage reveals about safety, thin air, and the psychological demands of the race → Why Julie Penrose created the original El Pomar Carriage Museum in 1941, and how a newspaper clipping from the 1920s changed everything we thought we knew about its origins → The connection between Spencer Penrose's cancer diagnosis and the founding of the Penrose Cancer Center at Glockner Hospital → Why the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun bears that name, and how Spencer Penrose's promotional genius may have played a role → What Penrose Heritage Museum has planned for families, accessibility, and community programming Resources Mentioned:- Penrose Heritage Museum- El Pomar Foundation- United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum We Love Our Sponsors Vanguard Aesthetics: Skincare treatments with real, noticeable results.Core Collective: Our favorite spot for pilates! Use code SPRINGSANDTHINGS for 3 classes for $30. Subscribe to Springs and Things on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so you never miss an episode. If you loved this one, leave a five-star review and share it with a friend who loves Colorado Springs history and lore.

  3. Sep 8

    Feeling Isolated in Colorado Springs? We Just Might Have Your Fix...

    This week, Carly and Lauren welcome Kelly Bull, Executive Director of Hey Neighbor (formerly CONO, the Council of Neighbors & Organizations), for a conversation that's equal parts hilarious and heartfelt.  Kelly moved to Colorado Springs five years ago and experienced total isolation, until a scary morning made her realize how unsafe it is to not know your neighbors. What she did next turned zero phone numbers into a 30-person text chain, five neighborhood planting parties, and a block that now does dinners, cornhole tournaments, and driveway hot chocolate nights. In this episode: Three very different experiences of "neighboring" in Colorado SpringsThe morning a SWAT team changed how Kelly saw community foreverThe one simple trick to overcome shyness and meet your neighbors (hold something in your hand!)Free coffee through the Neighborhood Café program with Kangaroo Coffee150 Tables Across Colorado Springs and the Nominate a Neighbor programNeighborhood University (the free 12-week civic education program)How gardening brought out the Mayor, Governor Polis, and a whole lot of neighborsKelly's Pick of the Week: morning hikes up Cheyenne Cañon & Red RocksWhether you're brand new to your street or you've lived there an "awkward amount of time," this episode will inspire you to knock on that door. Learn more & register a table: heyneighbors.org Loving Springs and Things? Leave us a five-star review, share this episode with a neighbor, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. New episodes every week. WE LOVE OUR SPONSORSVanguard Aesthetics: Skincare treatments with real, noticeable results.Core Collective: Our favorite spot for pilates! Use code SPRINGSANDTHINGS for 3 classes for $30.Rocky Mountain Women's Film Festival: Join us October 16–18, 2026, in Colorado Springs for three days of documentary, narrative, short, and animated films that honor the drive, spirit, and diversity of women.

  4. Sep 1

    Your September Guide to Colorado Springs Is Finally Here

    This week, we're recording from the couch at Treehouse Cafe, kicking off our September picks for things to do around Colorado Springs, and let's just say the calendar is packed! We're genuinely excited about every single pick. In this episode: Why we love Treehouse Cafe (and the hidden strip-mall gems nearby: Bazinga Vintage Toys & Collectibles, Brush Crazy & Uptown Cheapskate)Jasmine Dillavou's poetry pop-up at Novus Mortem Collective (Sept 5)Labor Day Vintage Baseball at Rock Ledge Ranch (Sept 7)Colorado Short Circuit Film Festival at Ivywild (Sept 11–13)New Moon Sound Bath at Cave of the Winds (Sept 11)Parade of Homes for the Zillow-at-11pm crowd (Sept 11–27)Pawtoberfest at Union Printers Home, benefiting the Humane Society (Sept 12)Unity Metaphysical & Craft Festival (Sept 12)TEDx Manitou Springs at Cave of the Winds (Sept 13)EPIC Chamber Music Series at the Ent Center (starts Sept 18)Annual Powwow at Rock Ledge Ranch (Sept 19)Bristol Brewing Oktoberfest at Ivywild (Sept 25 21+ / Sept 26 family-friendly)Forest Bathing returns at Starsmore Discovery Center with guide Serena Vogel (Sept 26)Green Box Farm & Art Market (Sept 26)Gather Mountain Blooms Harvest Hootenanny (Sept 26)Bonus: Breckenridge Film Festival + Girls in STEM at KeystonePlus Movies Under the Stars on Saturdays all September and October at Bristol, a turtleneck chase that turned into a friendship, and Carly's ongoing campaign to convert Lauren into a Savannah Bananas superfan. Loved this episode? Please leave a 5-star review; it helps other locals find the show. Subscribe on Apple or Spotify, and share with a friend looking for things to do in September.

  5. Aug 25

    Not sure what activity your kid is into yet? This Colorado Springs list helps...

    Not every kid is a team sport kid, and that's totally okay. In this episode of Springs and Things, Carly and Lauren share their favorite kids' activities in Colorado Springs that fit a wide range of interests, from artsy to athletic and everything in between. In this episode: Fencing at Rocky Mountain Fencing with a three-time Olympic gold medalist coachYouth triathlons through USA Triathlon (the Colorado Springs Kids Triathlon is September 13!)Theater programs at the Academy of Children's Theater, including a stage combat "saber wars" classMusic programs at the Colorado Springs Conservatory (with a private lesson included)First Tee golf for beginnersRock climbing at City Rock (plus a restaurant, beer, and parent yoga)Homework help, tutoring, and business resources at Pikes Peak LibraryAnd that's just the beginning! There's still time to sign your kids up! Plus: a recap of Tessa's Pasta in the Park fundraiser, and this week's Picks of the Week: Newport in the Rockies and the Commonweal Art Festival over Labor Day weekend. Loving the show? Leave us a five-star review, share this episode with a fellow parent, and subscribe wherever you listen. Springs and Things is your local guide to life in Colorado Springs.

  6. Aug 18

    The Colorado Springs Arts Wave That's Only Getting Bigger

    Carly sits down with Joy Armstrong, curator of art at GOCA (the Galleries of Contemporary Art), and Matt Giles, general director at Theatreworks, both housed inside the Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS. Together they unpack why the Colorado Springs arts scene has shifted from safe and traditional to bold, risky, and genuinely alive. In this episode: How Colorado Springs arts and culture has transformed over the past 20 yearsGOCA's current exhibition, Simulacra, and why contemporary art doesn't have to be intimidatingThe Radiant Blue Marble collaborative film event (August 29th) bringing five organizations togetherTheatreworks' bold 51st season, opening with Sweeney Todd, plus Sweat, Private Lives, and What the Constitution Means to MeWhy every UCCS student gets a free ticket to every Theatreworks showHow the Ent Center is cultivating the next generation of arts loversWhy locals no longer need to drive to Denver for a great night outPlus, Joy and Matt share their Colorado Springs picks of the week: a downtown museum rewriting the stories it tells, and a coffee-shop crawl worth lacing up your shoes for. Whether you're an arts lover, a Springs local, or brand new to town, this one's a celebration of a creative community on a serious upswing. WE LOVE OUR SPONSORSVanguard Aesthetics: Skincare treatments with real, noticeable results.Core Collective: Our favorite spot for pilates! Use code SPRINGSANDTHINGS for 3 classes for $30. Enjoying the show? Leave a five-star review and share this episode with a friend you want to take to the Ent Center. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

  7. Aug 11

    Our Favorite Colorado Springs Farmers Market Finds (Vendors You Need to Know)

    Colorado Springs farmers markets are in full swing, and this week we're sharing our absolute favorite vendors from markets across the city! From Old Colorado City to Acacia Park to Meanwhile Block, we've been on a mission all summer to find the best local makers, and we're spilling all our finds. Whether you're a produce person, a skincare lover, or here for the local artisans, this episode is your guide to shopping local in the Springs. A few of the vendors mentioned in this episode:  Hoshi Matcha: The cutest matcha stand with tons of flavors (including cold foam)Humble Abode: Clean-ingredient fragrances and candlesHair Sparkles by Brittany: Long-lasting hair tinsel your kids will loveSoul Tides Herbal Hair Care: Plant-based hair syrup from a new local herbalistGreen Magick Apothecary: The Resplendent Rose Complexion Balm we're obsessed withFarm to Fork Colorado: The farmers market delivered to your front doorEllen's FlowersThe Gilded Whisk: Rosemary garlic sourdough, blueberry cinnamon rolls, and so much more!The Soft Life Baker: New course for launching a home bakeryPasta in the Park supporting TESSAWe Love Our SponsorsVanguard Aesthetics: Skincare treatments with real, noticeable results.Core Collective: Our favorite spot for pilates! Use code SPRINGSANDTHINGS for 3 classes for $30. If you loved this episode, leave us a five-star review and share it with a friend you want to bring to the farmers market. See you next week on Springs and Things!

  8. Aug 4

    Your August Bucket List for Colorado Springs (Before Summer's Gone)

    Carly and Lauren are back and this time from a table inside Provision Bakery downtown, with their can't-miss picks for August in Colorado Springs. From Sunday strolls through the Acacia Park Farmers Market to the last of Food Truck Tuesdays, they're rounding up everything worth doing before summer slips away. This month's lineup includes: Rocky Mountain Flower Fest at Venetucci Farm (Aug 8): flower crowns, line dancing & a booze barColorado's 150th (Sesquicentennial): history strolls downtown, family fun day at the Catamount InstituteSummer concerts at Hillside Gardens (and the best margarita in town)Tails, Tunes & Tastes: a 21+ full-moon night at the zooFull-moon sound baths & moonlit yoga soaks at Hotel Polaris and Sunwater SpaThunder from Down Under at the Pikes Peak CenterPasta in the Park: TESSA's annual fundraiser supporting survivors of domestic violence, where Lauren is a judgeGrab a coffee, get your calendar out, and let's make the most of August, Colorado Springs. Recorded at Provision Bakery + Cinchona, downtown Colorado Springs Email us: springsandthingspod@gmail.com Follow on Instagram: @springsandthingspod Leave a 5-star review & share with a friend you want to bring along!

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About

Welcome to Springs and Things, the podcast where two close friends spill the tea on all things Colorado Springs! From culture and community to hidden gems and neighborhood lore, we’ve got it covered. Join us as we sip our coffee (or maybe something stronger) and dive into the stories and secrets that make this city so unique. Whether you're a local or just passing through, our fun, light-hearted, and always entertaining take on the quirks, hot topics, and insider tips will keep you coming back for more. Discover what’s really happening in the Springs—beyond the mountains and parks!

Information

  • Creator
    Colorado Springs Locals, Carly Ries and Lauren Ferrara
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Colorado Springs Locals, Carly Ries and Lauren Ferrara

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