Studio 809 Community Podcast Network

Shonie Rowe , founder and owner of ALL N ONE Dance Company , discusses the transformative impact of dance in our community with host Teiona Dantzler. They explore the organization's journey, its commitment to youth development, and how dance creates opportunities for confidence, belonging, mentorship, and personal growth. Shonie shares the inspiration behind ALL N ONE Dance Company, stories of liv...

Promoting confidence, independence, as well as mental and physical health by teaching kids how to safely ride a bike. Local non-profit Kids on Bikes, introduces kids to cycling through summer camps and earn-a-bike programs in the Pikes Peak region. Daniel and Aspen from Kids on Bikes discuss the positive impact of cycling for children, families, and the Colorado Springs community. They celebrate 1...

We’re featuring the unique contributions of Coloradans aging well in – and for – their community. Ask yourself, and the people in their life, the questions we ask Don: Describe your childhood home, using all five senses. Describe a difficult time you had in your life, who and what helped? If money were no object, describe something you would do! Don Kovaleski serves on the Pikes Peak Area Agency o...

Venetucci Farm is a community treasure celebrating its 90th anniversary. Get the scoop on annual pumpkin giveaways, a flower farm, and much more making community happen in the aftermath of the PFAS water contamination disaster. Sam Clark, Executive Director of the Pikes Peak Real Estate Foundation, and Nikki McComsey, owner of Gather Mountain Blooms share the history and legacy, current happenings...

What do cycling and community change have in common? According to Beth Roalstad, they both bring people together, build trust, and create opportunities to change lives. A Co-Branded Episode with Pedal The Springs, Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Co-Hosts: Torie Giffin, Owner, Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort & Beth Roalstad, CEO & Social Worker, Homeward Pikes Peak As a longtime social worker, Be...

Women’s Cycling & Homeward Pikes Peak What do cycling and community change have in common? According to Beth Roalstad, they both bring people together, build trust, and create opportunities to change lives. My longtime friend Beth Roalstad, CEO of Homeward Pikes Peak, talks about two of her greatest passions: cycling and building stronger communities. We discuss how Beth discovered cycling, wh...

Our city banned graywater at a time when water is our limiting factor, and this year it’s impossible to ignore. What is graywater? It is the gently used water from laundry, bathroom sinks, and showers that can be reused to nourish landscapes instead of being sent straight to the sewer. Host Ally Richardson and Joe Petsche explore what it means to live in step with nature’s boundaries and why Color...

Passenger rail service is coming to Colorado’s front range in 2029, Colorado Springs by 2032. Get details in this conversation with Sal Pace, General Manager of the Front Range Passenger Rail District. The district has secured funding to provide initial service between Fort Collins and Denver. Phase 2 will extend service to Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Pace shares the history of the district and a...

Bicycling improves our physical and mental health, and helps us be more connected. Conversations recorded live on Bike to Work Day during the final hour of our live stream from the Studio 809 Podcasts breakfast station at The Next Us on June 24, 2026. Included: an excellent conversation with PikeRide CEO Tara McCarthy about how bicycling is “human scale.” “ Today's world is so fast and so overwhel...

Greg Cobble, owner of Manitou E-Bikes, talks with host Torie Giffin about helping people get back on bikes through the power of e-bikes. They discuss how to choose the right e-bike, battery care, e-bike classes, where you can ride, beginner lessons, test rides, rentals, and available rebates of up to $225. Also hear about Manitou E-Bikes’ support of the Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb, including the...

Learn about some of the other Studio 809 podcasts, and discover what both Manitou and Colorado Springs are doing to aid mobility – in this continuation of a conversation recorded live on Bike to Work Day. This is from the second hour of our live stream from the Studio 809 Podcasts breakfast station at The Next Us on June 24, 2026. We hear from several guests (see chapters) LINKS: Video Replay of S...

July is a Disaster Preparedness Month and sadly we see fires around our state and nation. Fortunately, our local fire department is proactively seeking out a multitude of pre-existing conditions for residents and planning for how to better address unique needs during a disaster. “Disasters exacerbate our pre-existing conditions,” says Daiko Abe, Senior Fire and Life Safety Educator with the Colora...

Bicycling fans share their reasons for riding, we explore “complete streets,” and we discuss safety and infrastructure issues for bicyclists and pedestrians – in this conversation recorded live on Bike to Work Day. This is from the first hour of our live stream from the Studio 809 Podcasts breakfast station at The Next Us on June 24, 2026. See the video live stream replay here We'll share hours 2...

A crucial conversation about navigating the complex challenges of homelessness, building community trust, and changing perceptions in the Pikes Peak region. Two prominent leaders driving local, grassroots solutions in Colorado Springs take this deep dive: Kristy Milligan , CEO of Westside CARES Beth Roalstad , CEO of Homeward Pikes Peak They share frontline insights on serving at-risk and unhoused...

Project Taurus is a proposed data center near Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Multiple community groups have filed appeals to the city’s administrative approval of the project. Where to from here? Ciara and Riss from 350 Colorado Springs discuss. In a time of alternative facts as well as the ability to buy credibility and manipulate human behavior, how do we go about fighting extractive, e...

Our state of Colorado is recognized for many things, mountains, plains, thunder, snow, floods, fires, restoration. This year, 2026, we are celebrating our 150th anniversary as a state along with America’s 250th anniversary. One of the unique stories is knowing just how resilient, and also giving, our residents are. Erin Hannan with the El Pomar Foundation shares about their collaboration with othe...

In 2020, amid nationwide protests over police violence and the lingering shadow of the De'Von Bailey case, a 19-year-old shot in the back by Colorado Springs police in 2018, the city created the Law Enforcement Transparency and Advisory Commission, known as LETAC. It was supposed to give residents a meaningful voice in how their police department operated. Six years later, the commission voted to...

As strength and nutrition coaches, Dante and Ren help people reconnect with their bodies through intentional movement, strength, mindfulness, and outdoor adventure. We sit down with Dante Liberato and Ren Thorpe of The Den Somatics in Manitou Springs. From MMA fighters and endurance athletes to people from all walks of life, they take a holistic approach to health and performance that challenges t...

Chances are listeners know someone with dementia, struggle with it themselves, or are concerned they will experience memory and motor loss in the future. The Alzheimer's Association is a go-to source for not just Alzheimer's but also learning about all dementias. It is helpful to know there are differences in dementia and there are actions we can take to help ourselves diminish the chances of gett...

How or if this community institution might change largely depends on what makes Joe and Sarah tick. REALLY get to know them in this no-holds-barred conversation. Poor Richard’s changed hands in April, 2026 after 50+ years in the hands of Richard Skorman and Patricia Seator. Sarah Gibeau Cole says they don’t feel like Poor Richard’s belongs to them; they feel like they are stewards. Do NOT miss the...

What does it take to become a Paralympic gold medalist? For Team USA Paralympic hand cyclist Kate Brim, the answer goes far beyond training and racing. Host: Torie Giffin, Owner Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort Guest: Kate Brim, Paralympic hand cyclist for team USA In this inspiring episode of Pedal The Springs, Kate shares her remarkable journey from a spinal cord injury at age 19 to standing atop th...

Everyone knows about MLK Day, Earth Day, Veterans Day but who has heard about World Elder Abuse Awareness Day? It is estimated that 1 in 10 older adults is a victim of abuse and over the past years even more seniors have fallen victim to fraud scams. Geropsychologist Dr. Sheri Gibson and Long Term Care Ombudsman Lori McGinnis have supported seniors through terrible tragedies, and they still contin...

Need to know where to take items like metals and electronics? Look to Colorado Industrial Recycling and ITAD Electronics for your needs. These businesses help make our region more sustainable and resilient by recycling challenging items. Want your business to be more resilient? Check out the Colorado Green Business Network! They offer free information and assistance to help your business to reduce...

The Street Outreach team from Homeward Pikes Peak discuss the daily realities of engaging with unhoused individuals in the Pikes Peak region. Steve Wayant, LCSW and Haley Crist, MSW student share how they build trust, navigate systemic barriers, and help people transition from the streets into stable housing. Hosted by Beth Roalstad, Executive Director of Homeward Pikes Peak. LINKS: Street Outreac...

Epic rides, unforgettable stories, and a look inside one of Colorado Springs’ most iconic outdoor adventure companies. Outback Jake and the Flying Scotsman from Adventures Out West talk biking adventures around the Pikes Peak region and the story behind the longtime local family business. Founded in 1973 by native Coloradans Bruce and Patty Wellens and now run by their son Greg Wellens since 2003,...