Studio 809 Community Podcast Network

A small but mighty organization is doing critical advocacy and organizing work of low-income residents who are renters in our community. Host Beth Roalstad sits down with Max Kronstadt and Will Smith of the COS Pro Housing Partnership. Through their efforts, tenants are using their voice to organize for better living conditions and for vital community services. The group uses grassroots organ...

Divorce is hard enough—don’t let tax issues make it harder. In this special episode of Tax Answer Advisor , Marcelino Dodge sits down with Patrick Wanzer, CPA, CTRC, author, and co-founder of Breakthrough Tax Resolution, for a deep dive into the complex intersection of taxes and divorce. Whether you’re overwhelmed by unfiled returns, surprised by a tax bill caused by your ex, or tangled in financi...

Stuck on how to grow food in our region of Southern Colorado? Don’t know where to start? Feeling overwhelmed? Or shoot, do you just want to pick good local food up?  Peak Environment Cohost Ally Richardson joins Kristie Taylor at Vermijo Community Garden to talk about how the garden is transforming more than just the landscape. It’s sparking a movement, cultivating connections, and nourishing...

Are you looking for ways to make your home safer or get support with housing costs? Brothers Redevelopment has been serving the Colorado Springs community for years, offering a variety of programs to help residents make essential home improvements. Jason McCullough, Director of Home Modification and Repair Programs at Brothers Redevelopment, shares insights into the organization’s mission, and the...

As the Colorado Springs Independent morphed, and ultimately disappeared from the local news media scene, the longtime Manitou Springs newspaper has been expanding its coverage and distribution throughout the Pikes Peak region. We invited the publisher and the editor to spill the tea on what’s happening with the Pikes Peak Bulletin. Lyn Harwell, President and Publisher, and Heila Ershadi, Managing...

What can we expect in the future for both public and automobile transportation in the Pikes Peak Region? We hear from the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments (PPACG) and Mountain Metro (Colorado Springs’ bus system). John Liosatos, Transportation Director of Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, discusses the recently adopted 2050 Long Range Transportation Plan for the Pikes Peak Region as we...

Interim Executive Director Steph Vigil updates us on changes at nonprofit Citizens Project and previews the organization’s upcoming community breakfast. The Creating Community Breakfast is an annual event hosted by Citizens Project, a nonprofit organization in Colorado Springs dedicated to promoting equity, inclusion, and justice through civic engagement . This gathering serves as a platform to br...

Bicycle racing isn’t just an elite or extreme sport, and this local club is making it fun and accessible. Nao Nozawa and Terry Lott fill us in. Terry Lyons fills in as host for Tori Giffin. The conversation covers everything from a brief history of COS Racing, advice for beginning racers, and a rundown of 2025 sponsors, to COS Racing's goals for future community involvement and talent development....

Pikes Peak Housing Network’s mission is to foster innovative and collaborative solutions that advance housing affordability, access and production in the Pikes Peak Region. Executive Director Jill Gaebler shares data and details about her work. Jill is a former member of the Colorado Springs City Council where she served two terms. Prior to that, Jill worked for Greccio Housing and...

Bike to Work Day June 25 is an especially fun way to discover that bicycling to get around the Pikes Peak Region is a joy. Sharing the details are Kerry Childress, City of Colorado Springs’ multimodal transportation planner, and Karole Campbell of Madwoman Marketing Strategies. We also get a report from Carrie Simison on last weekend’s “Pride Fest” and No Kings protest. LINKS: 2025 City of Colorad...

Discover how accessibility can transform lives. Jeneen Phillips of Next Day Access discusses mobility and accessibility solutions that help older adults and individuals with disabilities to live safely and independently. Jeneen shares an overview of the services they offer, including wheelchair ramps, stair lifts, grab bars, and bathroom safety modification. She also discusses how impactful these...

Richard Skorman joins us for an elaborate trip down memory lane, as he recounts the history of the Poor Richard’s family of businesses on the north end of downtown Colorado Springs. We couldn’t help but include some exploration of Richard’s political career and activism. While he is the face and name of Poor Richard’s Restaurant, Rico’s Café and Wine Bar, Poor Richard’s Books & Gifts, and Litt...

The state of housing affordability and attainability in Colorado Springs, and what the Pikes Peak Housing Network is doing to improve it. “Colorado Springs and El Paso County aren't building enough homes that typical buyers can afford, while smaller houses and other types of housing options are needed to make housing more attainable for many people, including young adults… and seniors….” That’s th...

Twelve new pieces of public art hit the streets of Downtown Colorado Springs for 2025-2026 – launching June 6. Learn more about the art and how this program turns our city into a yearlong outdoor gallery. Downtown Ventures Executive Director Michelle Winchell regales the gang with details and fun tales – like the great Humpty Dumpty Heist, and the story behind Adaman Alley. Get details on the June...

How does behavioral health contribute to homelessness, and how does Homeward Pikes Peak help people facing this obstacle? Homelessness is quite complex – often multiple contributing factors such as the cost of living, the cost of housing in our community, and then the complexities of broken family relationships, compounded by mental health and substance misuse by people. When someone has...

Get to know a funny, inspirational champion for people recovering from trauma or other setbacks. Joi Towner suffered a stroke at age 31, beginning a journey that inspired her to help others. After 6 weeks in the hospital, she went on to establish a nonprofit foundation, develop a comedy routine, launch a podcast and write a book. “You’re not handicapped, you’re handi-capable,” she tells us. She pr...

We reflect on the changes the Colorado Springs Independent has gone through in recent years, especially it’s sale in April to Dirk Hobbs’ Colorado Media Group. We also assess the state of local news media in general, and its future. At the Table: Carrie Simison, co-host of this podcast, who worked for the Indy for 20 years, most recently as publisher. Dave Gardner, co-host of this podcast, who wor...

Every Monday, folks experiencing houselessness are treated like valuable human beings, served a food truck hot lunch and provided supplies to make living on the street a little easier. Meet the local hero who makes this happen (with help), Tracey Porter, and learn about the nonprofit she founded, Food Trucks Against Homelessness. Tracey, several volunteers, and a food truck, feed about 85 people i...

Life can change in an instant, and when it does, it can often feel like you’re facing it alone. Hear from an incredibly inspiring community leader who has dedicated her life to supporting others who have faced challenges similar to her own. Rebecca Shields is a true example of resilience and service. She lives by the powerful belief that life isn’t about what you can get from others, but what you...

Ever stopped to wonder what’s in the air you breathe? From invisible pollutants to visible smog, air quality affects us all—whether we realize it or not. Host Ally Richardson from Pikes Peak Permaculture sits down with activist and Peak Environment cohost Konrad Schlarbaum, alongside Pikes Peak Area Council of Government’s Air Quality Outreach Specialist Kenzie Courtney, to discuss air quality in...

What do 68 monitoring sites and over $1.3 million annual investment in data collection tell us about Fountain Creek? Colorado Springs Utilities water quality expert Annie Berlemann provides some answers. She is Fountain Creek Watershed Project Manager for the utility. Fountain Creek is one of Colorado’s most closely monitored and ecologically diverse waterways—spanning urban neighborhoods, rural l...

Ensuring that downtown Colorado Springs is a safe, welcoming, and prosperous destination is the goal of the Experience Downtown Master Plan, being updated this year. Downtown Partnership COO Chelsea Gondeck shares details with us, and tells us how we can provide input. Community participation is critical. This lively conversation touches on downtown’s valued features, as well as challenges and opp...

Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to revitalize your space with sustainability in mind! Join Ally Richardson and Aaron Shaha, local permaculturists who dive into Zone 0, sharing their journey, expert insights, and practical resources for greener living in the Pikes Peak region. This episode covers essential topics like energy efficiency, water conservation, food production, waste reduction...

A popular and pleasant rite of Spring in the Pikes Peak region is the MeadowGrass Music Festival on Memorial Day Weekend. Music director Steve Harris and Rocky Mountain Highway Music Collaborative Executive Director Jessica Barney preview some of the artists we’ll hear this year, as they share all the details for anyone considering music under the sun, moon and stars May 23-25, 2025 in the Black F...

If you’re over 50 and living in the Springs, the chances are good you have wheels on your recliner. We discuss the many opportunities for an active lifestyle with Rhonda Wray, managing editor of Beacon Senior News. To inquire about joining us as a co-host, send an email to lovingthespringspodcast at gmail.com Mentioned in This Episode: Beacon Senior News: https://www.beaconseniornews.com/ Monarch...