Loving the Springs

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Candid observations about candidates for city council in the April 1 Colorado Springs election are shared by former city councilors Jill Gaebler and Jan Martin, with hosts Al Brody and Dave Gardner. Local voters will be making critical decisions about 6 of our 9 council positions. The city mailed ballots over a week ago. Marked ballots must be received by the city prior to 7 p.m. on April 1. We al...

Maréa Janae is a “sustainable wedding planner” focused on “celebrating love and bringing a community together” in ways that are light on the planet. A young outdoorswoman in love with Colorado Springs, Maréa is busy finding ways to eliminate the 400 to 600 pounds of landfill waste resulting from the average wedding – while creating beautiful and unique events. “I think that it is really cool to ge...

We continue highlighting key parts of Mayor Yemi’s Strategic Doing Action Items - infrastructure, housing solutions, economic vitality and community activation. Also, why you may want to attend the February 11 Colorado Springs City Council Meeting: we get an update on the City’s effort to adopt rules governing use of e-bikes in the city’s parks, trails and open spaces. Cory Sutela, executive direc...

Leveraging technology to improve public safety headlines Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi’s 2025 strategic plan. In the first of two parts, Al and Dave dissect the Mayor’s new Strategic Action Doing Items. Wildfire mitigation, evacuation planning, transportation and infill development also get some attention. Also: Golf carts instead of buses? Who benefits from the city’s strong-mayor form of governmen...

We learn about a unique up-and-coming nonprofit working to “navigate communities towards wellness,” plus Dave fact-checks Al on driving the speed limit (and loses). We’re joined in this spirited episode by Jennaya Colóns, executive director of Highroots Wellness & Consulting. She’s also a Physical Therapist Assistant, Certified Brain Injury Specialist, and outreach liaison at CommonSpirit...

Dave is on a crusade to tame the trend of more speeding, red-light running, and aggressive driving on our streets. Observing the speed limit and driving courteously will make our streets safer for other motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. It will also save gas (and money), and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Al debates Dave on the pros and cons of his plan to “normalize” driving civilly by rec...

Colorado Springs’ controversial e-bikes ordinance proposal is discussed with longtime trail advocates Kent and Ruth Obee. The proposal would define Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, powered by an electric motor, as "non-motorized use,” in order to “comply with” or “circumvent” (depending on your point of view) the voter-approved TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks) prohibition of motorized vehicles in TOPS-ac...

We celebrate the giving season by learning all about the annual Give Pikes Peak campaign, which launched November 1, from Victoria Norton. Victoria is executive director of Give Pikes Peak, which has raised over $18.5 million for local nonprofits since 2009. Also, Dave delivers alarming climate news, and in the ensuing discussion, Al stands up for people who eat regularly at all the fast-food hamb...

Get to know the Democratic candidate for U.S. House in Colorado District 5. In this casual conversation, we get into: Demographics – younger people moving here History of the position and the D/R split Rental rates in Colorado Springs vs Denver Pueblo and El Paso Counties shifting toward blue More younger voters tending to be unaffiliated Military spouses not getting much attention Importance of e...

Dylan Craddock with the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region fills us in on Arts Month happenings in October. The conversation in this episode ends up covering downtown art, murals, art on the street and public art maps, economic impact of arts nonprofits, the LART budget, the mayor, Pridefest, Veteran’s Day Parade, candidate forums, Colorado Springs City Council redistricting project, an...

We review both the good news and the challenges shared by Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade in his recent State of the City address. We also congratulate Mayor Yemi for shaking up the tradition of Springs mayors delivering State of the City addresses exclusively at high-dollar business lunches or breakfasts. Covered in this episode: self-licking ice cream cones, utility rate increase, potholes,...

A preview of the upcoming Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival, plus election forums, bus ridership, Patty Jewett Porchfest, Burning Man, and taking back our streets – from aggressive and speeding drivers. Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Executive Director Nicole Nicoletta joins Al and Dave to share details about the longest-running women’s film festival in North America. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Ro...

Recreational sports with local nonprofit UpaDowna are all discussed in this freewheeling conversation. Therapeutic recreation specialist Jacki Mueller shares a young person’s view of the local, active lifestyle. Jacki Mueller has worked with Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, UpaDowna, and Angletech Cycles. MENTIONED: Angletech Cycles. https://cycledifferent.com/ The Women’s...

Plug into what’s happening in the Pikes Peak region, learn about awesome people, places and happenings, and explore opportunities to make life here even better. Local gadflies Al Brody and Dave Gardner love our two springs – Colorado and Manitou, so they give them the mic in this twice-monthly podcast. Nothing's off the table – recreation, the arts, government, business, politics – if it touches y...