City Cast Denver

Join Host Bree Davies and the City Cast Denver crew every weekday morning as we celebrate, explore, and challenge an ever-changing Denver. It’s the daily news podcast for all Denverites — whether you’ve been here for six months or six generations. We’ll break down the news you need (and want) to know with journalists and culture makers; activists and artists; neighbors and ne’er-do-wells — and John Elway, if he ever returns our calls. Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at denver.citycast.fm.. Named Westword's Best Podcast of 2021, 2023

  1. 17h ago

    Inside Alma Fonda Fina: How Johnny and Kasie Curiel Are Beating the Odds As Many Restaurants Close

    After racking up two Michelin stars and opening six restaurants in less than three years, Johnny and Kasie Curiel are the Denver restaurant industry’s biggest success story. So how, at a time when so many other restaurateurs are struggling, closing, or calling for minimum wage reform, did they pull this off? And how long can it last? Producer Paul Karolyi sits down with the married co-owners of Fonda Fina Hospitality to talk about how they met, how their company was inspired by a national restaurant chain, and why they “literally put their lives on the line to follow their dreams,” as their friend and fellow chef Michael Diaz de Leon put it to the Denver Post. Plus, their favorite local spots to try today! Paul referenced his interview with Chef Michael Diaz de Leon from back in March 2024, when he had just stepped away from the restaurant where he earned a Michelin star. Also mentioned in this episode are Molino Chido, Diaz de Leon’s new taco spot at Stanley Marketplate; El Tule; Heretik; Hillstone; Cherry Creek Grill; and  Panadería el Alamo.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm What do you think is the secret to Johnny and Kasie Curiel’s success? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Did you enjoy this interview with Elizabeth Martinez from Compass Real Estate? Learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 24th episode: Energy Outreach Colorado Vail Wine Classic Denver Health Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

    44 min
  2. 17h ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: The Oprah Podcast

    Introducing Domestic Violence Crisis Now Impacts 1 in 2 Women, with Oprah and author Rachel Louise Snyder from The Oprah Podcast. Follow the show: The Oprah Podcast When Oprah first addressed the topic of domestic violence back in 1986, one out of four women in the United States was impacted by domestic violence. Today, that number has escalated to one out of two women who will experience sexual violence, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. In this episode Oprah talks with journalist, writer and professor Rachel Louise Snyder. She is the author of the award-winning bestseller, No Visible Bruises, where she explores the domestic violence epidemic and how to combat it. She explains why domestic violence is becoming more prevalent, why a better term for it is “intimate partner terrorism,” the signs to look out for and what steps women can take to protect themselves and their families. Oprah and Rachel are joined by Susan, a former Oprah Show guest, who endured 17 years of physical and emotional abuse by her former husband - some of which her husband forced her then 13-year-old son to record on video. Also, in the fatal Ohio home invasion that grabbed headlines, the sister and brother-in-law of married couple Spencer and Monique Tepe join to talk about how Monique had experienced years of threatening behavior and emotional abuse from her surgeon ex-husband before he killed them both in their home in December 2025. BUY THE BOOK! https://www.amazon.com/No-Visible-Bruises-Domestic-Violence/ 00:00:00 - Welcome Rachel Louise Snyder, author of “No Visible Bruises” 00:03:40 - Types of domestic violence 00:06:45 - Domestic violence vs. intimate terrorism 00:12:20 - The question: Why do you stay 00:14:57 - Seeing the signs 00:17:33 - Last act before homicide 00:19:00 - Rachel’s observation of abusive men 00:20:30 - Violence and addiction 00:24:24 - Susan’s story from The Oprah Winfrey Show 00:28:20 - Survivor Susan joins 00:35:20 - Susan’s son Dazmann joins 00:42:00 - Susan’s message to other women 00:43:10 - A DV tragedy rocked couple’s life 00:49:45 - What couple wants others to know 00:51:10 - Rachel’s personal connection to DV NEED HELP? If you or someone you know needs support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available for anonymous, confidential help 24/7. Call 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) or visit the website below. https://www.thehotline.org/ Follow Oprah Winfrey on Social: https://www.instagram.com/oprahpodcast/ https://www.facebook.com/oprahwinfrey/ Listen to the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tEVrfNp92a7lbjDe6GMLI https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-oprah-podcast/id1782960381 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. 1d ago

    Zombies Are Attacking Denver! Where Do You Go? Who Do You Team Up With?

    It’s officially summer in the Mile High City, and for many Denverites that means it’s time to high-tail it to the nearest shady spot on the bank of a mountain creek. But what if instead of escaping our day-to-day lives, we Denverites were escaping a horde of bloodthirsty zombies? Would that shady spot offer good defenses? Provisions? And what about the long-term chances for survival? Denver Business Journal reporter Catie Cheshire joined producers Paul Karolyi and Olivia Jewell Love last year to swap notes and talk through our survival strategies for a zombie apocalypse in Denver.  This episode first aired on Aug. 6, 2025. We discuss Catie’s report on Coors Field for Westword as the inspiration for this episode, and Paul mentioned Catie’s excellent recent report on the business leaders asking whether now is the time to demolish office buildings downtown. Olivia talked about Ark Tactical in Lakewood. Paul discussed nuclear missile silos.  Who brought the best survival plan — Catie, Olivia or Paul? Also, we want to know who you’d team up with. Or are you going it alone somewhere else entirely? We want to hear from you! Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm If you enjoyed today's interview with Tess Rowser, the Marketing Manager of the Water Lantern Festival, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 23rd episode: Energy Outreach Colorado Vail Wine Classic Denver Health 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

    32 min
  4. 2d ago

    Denver State Senate Candidates Beef over Dark Money, Data Centers, and RTD's Budget

    While there’s been plenty of coverage of the gubernatorial, congressional, and U.S. Senate primaries, smaller but equally important battles are also being fought in Denver – like the race to represent Colorado Senate District 34 (a seat currently held by Julie Gonzales). Two Democrats are vying to represent the downtown and northwest Denver district: Andrés Carrera and Chela Garcia Irlando. They engaged in a heated forum last week on stage at Su Teatro, with our producer Paul Karolyi moderating. With the primary election just eight days away, we’re sharing this live recording of Carrera and Garcia Irlando, who fiercely debated everything from data centers and the city’s handling of the migrant crisis to RTD’s budget issues and the role of dark money in this very race. A quick clarification on the “dark money” exchange: After the forum, Conservation Colorado Victory Fund reached out to let us know that they had reported spending on the mailers Paul mentioned, but that the secretary of state’s office had not yet updated its database at the time of the forum. For more, the Colorado Sun reported last Thursday a breakdown of all the spending from groups that don’t disclose their donors in support of candidates in state legislature races, including SD34.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm Would you vote for Chela or Andrés? We want to hear from you! 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 22nd episode: Energy Outreach Colorado Vail Wine Classic Denver health Central City Opera Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

    1h 24m
  5. 6d ago

    New Rules for City Council Lobbyists, Primary Ballot Conspiracies, and Winning Wontons

    This week Denver City Council passed new lobbying rules aimed at increasing transparency and tracking who lobbyists work for, how much they are being paid, and what issues they are advocating for. The new ordinance also requires former elected officials and city appointees to take a break between leaving office and becoming a lobbyist. Denver Post city hall reporter Elliott Wenzler joins host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love to talk about what really goes down at the City and County Building, plus discuss the latest election fraud conspiracy theory involving colored envelopes, and as always, wins and fails of the week!  Plus, if you’re a City Cast Denver neighbor, you get a special bonus segment where the gals share the who, what, where, when of their ultimate World Cup watch party! Bree talked about Bow Mar officially becoming a gated community and this year’s Bonfils-Stanton Social Impact Awards. Olivia discussed the trout saved from the Antero Reservoir and the lack of a craft store at DIA. Elliot talked about chef Penelope Wong’s James Beard Award. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm 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 18th  episode: Energy Outreach Colorado Central City Opera Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

    38 min
  6. Jun 17

    Why Some Cherry Creek Trail Art Got 'The Landlord Special.' Plus, Downtown's Perception Problem and Our Summer Concert Picks

    What makes a piece of public art “legitimate”? Denverite recently profiled artist Tom Dorsa, an appliance repairman by day who also installs his own artwork when and where he likes. “27 PACKETS OF TACO BELL DIABLO SAUCE” was a fixture on the Cherry Creek Trail – set amongst 48 other city-approved pieces – for more than two years before it was covered up. Podcast host and regular guest Michelle Jackson joins host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love to dig into the idea of sanctioned vs. unsanctioned art in public spaces. They also discuss how personal perceptions of the state of downtown can overshadow the actual experience of being there, plus the trio shares their can’t-miss concerts for the summer season!  Bree mentioned the Amyl and the Sniffers show tonight at Red Rocks, as well as Sierra Ferrell’s appearance in August. Olivia talked about concert pianist Yuja Wang’s concert at Chautauqua Auditorium in July. Michelle discussed the free Flobots show on the 4th of July at Levitt Pavilion.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm 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 If you enjoyed this interview with Kelsey Simpkins, the Communications and Programs Manager at the Regional Air Quality Council, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this June 17th  episode: Central City Opera Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

    40 min
  7. Jun 16

    Why Three Venues Cancelled on The Kiros/Piker Rally, a Conservative's Tour of Downtown, and Juneteenth Expands

    Over the weekend, a rally featuring congressional candidate Melat Kiros and leftist political pundit Hasan Piker was booted from three locations before settling on the steps of the Capitol. By the time the gathering kicked off Sunday afternoon, Piker had dropped out and Kiros accused her challenger, incumbent Diana DeGette, of sabotaging the rally. So, what really happened? Westword editor-in-chief Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies to talk through what we heard from both campaigns, plus discuss Juneteenth’s celebration expanding and Patty’s tour of Denver’s alleged “Mad Max-esque” downtown with conservative talk show duo Jeff and Bill.    Bree also mentioned the Wall Street Journal’s story and the Colorado Sun’s reporting on the state of downtown. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm 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 16th  episode: Energy Outreach Colorado 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

    33 min
4.2
out of 5
504 Ratings

About

Join Host Bree Davies and the City Cast Denver crew every weekday morning as we celebrate, explore, and challenge an ever-changing Denver. It’s the daily news podcast for all Denverites — whether you’ve been here for six months or six generations. We’ll break down the news you need (and want) to know with journalists and culture makers; activists and artists; neighbors and ne’er-do-wells — and John Elway, if he ever returns our calls. Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at denver.citycast.fm.. Named Westword's Best Podcast of 2021, 2023

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