Politics is Personal with Leslie + Cole

politics is personal
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Politics is Personal is a weekly video and audio podcast hosted by former Colorado legislators Leslie Herod and Cole Wist. Built on a real friendship forged through years of legislative work, the show brings together a Black queer Democrat from Denver and a straight white former Republican from rural Colorado to have the kinds of honest, complicated conversations that feel increasingly rare in American politics. Rooted in the “Colorado Way,” the podcast offers a grounded, relatable approach to national conversations. Designed for the “exhausted majority,” Politics is Personal invites listeners back into political dialogue with curiosity, respect, and the belief that real conversation is still possible.

  1. 3d ago

    EP 19: Mail Ballots, Lesbians, and Family Values

    Congress is a mess. What's going on this week in Colorado, Washington, and beyond.

    EP 19: Mail Ballots, Lesbians, and Family Values

  2. Sep 13

    Motherhood, Addiction, and Democracy w/ Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen

    Leslie Herod is back in the studio with Cole Wist — and there is a LOT to talk about. First, Leslie and Cole break down what’s taking over their feeds: influencer etiquette at the U.S. Open, the explosion of AI “slop,” Donald Trump’s latest online distractions, and what those distractions may be keeping Americans from talking about. They also reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, how divided the country has become, and what national unity looks like today. Then, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen joins the show for a deeply personal conversation about her journey from community organizer to the United States Congress. Brittany opens up about growing up with a mother struggling with opioid addiction, becoming the first person in her family to graduate from high school and college, and how those experiences shaped her work on addiction, fentanyl, treatment and recovery policy. The conversation gets into one of the biggest questions facing Colorado: do we address addiction through treatment — or incarceration? Leslie, Cole and Brittany also tackle the growing political debate over working moms and stay-at-home moms, the realities of raising children while serving in public office, and why Brittany bringing her newborn onto the floor of Congress became such a powerful moment for women across the country. Plus: Are Colorado’s mail ballots safe? What should voters be watching heading into the midterms? And what could a Democratic majority in Congress actually mean for the final two years of the Trump administration? Brittany leaves us with a message worth remembering: “Democracy is a team sport.” And in this week’s What’s Bugging Us, college football is back — but has NIL and the transfer portal changed college sports for the worse? Leslie, who helped pass one of the nation’s early NIL laws in Colorado, weighs in on what’s working, what isn’t, and what may need to change. This is politics, policy and lived experience — because politics is personal. 👍 LIKE this episode 💬 COMMENT with your take 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for new episodes 📲 SHARE it with someone who should be part of the conversation Politics is Personal with Leslie Herod & Cole Wist Politics is personal, so keep talking.

    Motherhood, Addiction, and Democracy w/ Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen

  3. Aug 30

    (re)Introducing Leslie + Cole

    Why we chose each other.

  4. Aug 23

    EP 16: Abortion, Choice, and the Catholic Church

    Leslie and Cole discuss a hot topic -- abortion.

    EP 16: Abortion, Choice, and the Catholic Church

  5. Aug 16

    Guns, Mental Health. Right and Left.

    Politics is Personal with Leslie + Cole

  6. Aug 9

    EP 14: Max Miller Controversy, Colorado Political Tropes, and Denver DA John Walsh

    In this episode of Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist unpack the latest national political headlines and Colorado state news before hosting a detailed conversation with Denver District Attorney John Walsh. Key Topics Discussed: Congressional Conduct & Accountability: Discussing recent allegations involving U.S. Representative Max Miller, how political parties handle candidate misconduct, and the standard expected of public leaders.Statewide Campaign Dynamics: Addressing recent campaign material targeting Phil Weiser and examining the impact of anti-Semitic tropes in political messaging.Voter Shifts & Democratic Primaries: Analyzing the factors influencing Black and working-class voters following recent primary results.Interview with Denver DA John Walsh:The intersection of mental health, substance use, and criminal justice.The operational impact of digital evidence and body-worn cameras on prosecution.Approaches to tackling youth violence and community prevention programs.What’s Bugging Us: Guest contributor Max Haynes weighs in on why voter education and civic participation matter now more than ever.Civic Engagement & Personal Reflections: A discussion on youth involvement in politics, term limits, and a personal tribute to the late Monsignor Ken Leone.Episode Links & Resources: Follow Politics is Personal on your favorite podcast app.Leave a review and share your thoughts in the comment section!

    EP 14: Max Miller Controversy, Colorado Political Tropes, and Denver DA John Walsh

  7. Aug 2

    EP 13 Bridges on Bridges & Fauci's Odyssey

    In this Episode of Politics is Personal, Leslie and Cole talk all things IMAX 70mm unhoused camps under 1-25. They talk with Senator Jeff Bridges about the Treasurer race and if Victor Marx's Govener race was funded without any secrets. Tune in Sunday August 2 To find out more!

    EP 13 Bridges on Bridges & Fauci's Odyssey

  8. Season 1, Episode 13 Trailer

    PREVIEW EP 13: Bridges on Bridges & Fauci's Odyssey

    In this Episode of Politics is Personal, Leslie and Cole talk all things IMAX 70mm unhoused camps under 1-25. They talk with Senator Jeff Bridges about the Treasurer race and if Victor Marx's Govener race was funded without any secrets. Tune in Sunday August 2 To find out more!

    PREVIEW EP 13: Bridges on Bridges & Fauci's Odyssey
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About

Politics is Personal is a weekly video and audio podcast hosted by former Colorado legislators Leslie Herod and Cole Wist. Built on a real friendship forged through years of legislative work, the show brings together a Black queer Democrat from Denver and a straight white former Republican from rural Colorado to have the kinds of honest, complicated conversations that feel increasingly rare in American politics. Rooted in the “Colorado Way,” the podcast offers a grounded, relatable approach to national conversations. Designed for the “exhausted majority,” Politics is Personal invites listeners back into political dialogue with curiosity, respect, and the belief that real conversation is still possible.

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