Common Air

Happy semiquincentennial! On this episode of Common Air, Susan Jones, collections manager at the Animas Museum joins us to dive more into the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of the Independence and the major moments happening in our region. 150 years ago Colorado become the 38th state, and right here in La Plata County, Animas City (now a part Durango, Colorado) become an incor...

With extra dry weather and fire-restrictions popping up across Southwestern Colorado, getting outside responsibly is important for visitors and locals alike. In this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass is joined by Jennie Green, Executive Director at Visit Pagosa. Jennie shares her tips and tricks for recreating safely, and expands on the role of tourism in our communities. Love it or hate it,...

The June primary is upon us! DYK, primary elections have the lowest turnout of any election? On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass is joined by La Plata County League of Women Voters Board Members, Wendy Pollack and Jan Phillips. Wendy and Jan discuss the importance of voting and getting involved with our democracy. Jan and Wendy also discuss the League of Women Voters history as well as...

Over the past 15 years, the Powerhouse has empowered kids of all ages to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math. On this episode of Common Air, Sydnie Golden, Deputy Director of the Powerhouse, joins us to share more of their mission and impact across Southwest Colorado. Orginally a coal-fired steam-power AC generating plant, the Powerhouse has transformed into a welcoming space t...

Flowing from the Colorado's San Juan Mountains to the San Juan River in New Mexico, the Animas River has shaped people, wildlife, and our landscape from time immemorial. On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass is joined by Willis Wood, Boardmember of Animas Rivers Days and avid kayaker to discuss today's community surrounding the Animas River and the impacts this river has on our lives. Si...

The ground beneath us and the mountains that surround us tell a story that is billions of years old. On this episode, Louise Snodgrass is joined by Jonathan Lovekin, Senior Engineering Geologist, and Lesley Sebol, Hydrogeologist with the Colorado Geological Survey. Together, they go deep in the science of rocks, landscapes, soil, and groundwater -- and what those things reveal about Southwest Colo...

Seeing a piece of Durango in space is closer than you think! Juleah Kaliski, Marketing Specialist, and Jack Castello, Manufacturing Engineer with Agile Space Industries join us for this episode of Common Air. Agile Space Industries is a Durango, Colorado-based aerospace company specializing in the in-house design, 3D printing, and hot-fire testing of hypergolic rocket engines and thrusters for sat...

Getting in the dirt and tending a garden nourishes our lives in more ways than one. Marissa Hunt, Co-executive director, and Brooke Frazer, Garden Manager join us on this episode of Common Air to dive into the story, purpose, and impact of Manna's unique garden space. As one of the few food access facilities in the country with an onsite garden, Manna uses the garden to grow over 2,000lbs of fresh...

The night sky holds a long, shared history of people looking up and finding inspiration in the stars and planets. Protecting that experience takes work and impacts us more than you might expect. On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass is joined by Weylin Ryan, Board Member of DarkSky Colorado and Town Manager of Ignacio, Colorado. DarkSky Colorado is working across the state to reduce ligh...

You turn on the tap, and the water flows. But who and what gets it there? Carolyn Cummins of the Four Corners Water Center and Laura Rieck of the City of Durango about the essential role water operators play in keeping communities safe and functioning—and the growing gap in this workforce as many experienced operators near retirement and fewer people enter the field. The conversation explores the...

Spring is for the birds! On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass speaks with Lisa Wilk and Stephen Tarnowski of the Durango Bird Club. The Durango Bird Club brings together people of all experience levels to encourage appreciation, foster enjoyment, and share knowledge of birds and their habitats through regular meetups, field trips, workshops, and seasonal bird counts. Nearly 96 million A...

On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass speaks with Heather Erb of Earth Day Durango about what’s happening across the community in celebration of Earth Day. With events building throughout the month and a full day of activities at Buckley Park on Saturday, April 18, Earth Day Durango brings together local organizations, families, students, and residents around the shared theme of “Acting...

An informed community is a healthy community - and radio plays a big role in that. On this episode of Common Air, we’re turning the mic back on the station that hosts the show: KDUR Durango. Louise Snodgrass speaks with Jon Lynch, Program Director at KDUR, about his journey into radio and what has kept him in it over the years. The conversation explores what makes KDUR unique in the media landscap...

Chance Parker, Public Health Student at Fort Lewis College and Annie Lawson, Program Navigator for the Healthcare Workforce Pipeline join us for this week's episode of Common Air. Chance and Annie highlight the growing need for behavioral health professionals in Southwest Colorado. Together, they explore how workforce gaps impact community wellbeing and what it takes to build a stronger, more acce...

On this episode of Common Air , Louise Snodgrass speaks with Nina Lundstrom, Executive Director of Maria’s Literary Foundation about the power of books to build connection, curiosity, and community. Born out of Durango’s beloved Maria’s Bookshop, the foundation works to expand access to books and storytelling across the Four Corners through free literary programs, book donations, Golden Bookmarks,...

Rural America has stories worth telling. On this episode of Common Air , Louise Snodgrass speaks with Ilana Newman, a Visual Editor and Multimedia Correspondent for the Daily Yonder , a national publication that provides news, commentary, and analysis about and for rural America. Together, they discuss what makes rural life unique and why sharing these experiences with a national audience helps de...

A name that means “journey” tells a story long before the first dish is served. On this episode of Common Air, Chef Safari shares the path that led him from Matsangoni, Kenya, to Durango, Colorado. Trained at Kenya Utalii College and seasoned by a global culinary career spanning Europe and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Chef Safari now calls Southwest Colorado home where he operates Chef Safari’s A...

On this episode of Common Air , Susan Jones, Collections Manager at the Animas Museum, joins Louise Snodgrass to explore how La Plata County’s past connects to Colorado’s 150th anniversary in 2026. From the Domínguez-Escalante Expedition to the layered histories of the Ancient Pueblos, Ute peoples, Spanish settlers, and later communities, the Animas Museum is hosting a new exhibit "Crossroads: 177...

Fifteen years ago, the Grub Hub was a small food shelf. Today, it stands at the center of student well-being at Fort Lewis College. On this episode of Common Air , Stella Zhu, Basic Needs Coordinator and Associate Director of Student Well-being at Fort Lewis College, and Critter Golden, Development Officer with the FLC Office of Advancement, join Louise Snodgrass to highlight the 15th anniversary...

Pam Moore, Executive Director of HomesFund, joins Louise Snodgrass on this episode of Common Air to talk candidly about housing affordability in Southwest Colorado. Louise and Pam discuss the gap between local incomes and home prices, offering clear context around Area Median Income, homeownership, and rental costs across the region. Pam shares how HomesFund helps bridge that gap through homebuyer...

On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass sits down with Susan Hakanson, Executive Director of the Durango Adult Education Center, to talk about why adult education matters for our entire community. They discuss how DAEC supports adults through GED and English language programs that open doors to better jobs, continued education, and greater stability. The conversation also focuses on DAEC’s...

On this episode of Common Air , Louise Snodgrass is joined by Elijah Smith, President of Fort Lewis College the Black Student Union, along with Malia Mischke, Vice President of the Black Student Union. They discuss how the Black Student Union and Black Student Resource Center shape student culture, foster leadership, and build a stronger sense of belonging on campus. The conversation also reflects...

In this episode of Common Air , Louise Snodgrass sits down with Jeff Dupont, CEO of the Durango Chamber of Commerce, to talk about how the Chamber supports local businesses through education, advocacy, and meaningful connection across the region. The conversation reflects on what it looks like when businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders show up for one another, and why collaboration matters...

"There must be something in the water." Southwest Colorado is a hot bed of entrepreneurship. Why? In this episode of Common Air , Heather Otter of Southwest Colorado Accelerator Program for Entrepreneurs (SCAPE) and Turner Wyatt of SmallCapital join the conversation to offer a look into the entrepreneurial spirit of the region and the role small, local businesses play in supporting community wellb...

In this episode of Common Air , Louise Snodgrass is joined by Dr. Tapati Dutta, Chair of the Public Health Department at Fort Lewis College, to talk about her background and current research focused on language, community, and health. Dr. Dutta shares how her work translating the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) began during COVID and led to a deeper realization about the...