Real Talk

What are some options for Coloradans beyond a traditional 4-year degree?

Colorado’s disability community has led national efforts to create a more accessible country. In the 1970s, advocates surrounded two buses in Denver and demanded the public agency equip the buses with wheelchair lifts. The demonstrations helped bring about the Americans with Disabilities Act. But today, people with disabilities and their advocates are still fighting for access in transportation an...

If you're in the middle class and in the market for a home, you might be stuck between a landscape rock and a hard place. That often means making too much to qualify for housing assistance but not enough to afford a home in much of the state. There's a shortage of starter homes, according to Peter Lifari, board chair of the Colorado Middle Income Housing Authority. So what can you do? Real estate...

It’s dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and Republican lawmakers and President Trump promise that plenty of good will come from the new federal tax-and-spening law. Some Coloradans weigh in on the challenges it'll bring across the state. You'll hear from Monica Buhlig of Food Bank of the Rockies on how changes to SNAP benefits will hit rural areas. Adrienne Mansanares, the CEO of Planned Paren...

More people are exploring Colorado’s outdoors and camping for the first time. For the state’s LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities, gathering in nature is not only rejuvenating, it's validating. A new study from The Dyrt says that since 2021, more than 25 million people have gone camping for the first time. CEO Kevin Long shares more details from that survey. You'll also hear from Amber Barnett with Color...

No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, your right to protest is a constitutional guarantee. But there are some limits to this freedom of expression. This week we’re exploring your right to assemble and shout your views publicly. You’ll hear from Robert Huffman with Rise Up Media; Derigan Silver, a professor in the University of Denver’s media studies department; and Jeff Roberts, who...

It’s not something anyone wants to think about, but it can happen to anyone. After you lose your job in Colorado, it takes about four to six weeks for unemployment insurance to begin, but the process may take much longer. That happened to Allan Lally of Englewood. He lost his job and it took him more than seven weeks to receive his first payment. He even reached out to his state representative Dem...

A potential new treatment for PTSD is showing promise: psilocybin therapy. Essentially the compounds promote something called ‘neuroplasticity,’ which Dr. Scott Thompson, a neuroscientist at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, says boils down to the brain’s “capacity for change.”  But one group who could benefit, veterans, may still not have access to treatment in Colorado, since federa...

June is Pride month, a time for the LGBTQ+ community to celebrate and remember the historic struggles they’ve faced. But even within this historically marginalized community, some perspectives are still fighting to be heard.  We talk with Lucinnia Majik, trans and racial equity program coordinator with Rocky Mountain Equality and Castro, the group’s education coordinator. Then, China Scroggins, di...

The Sundance Film Festival will bring thousands of people to the Flatirons and much of Metro Denver, too. Nicole Nicoletta, who runs Rocky Mountain Women’s Film based in Colorado Springs, says that’s a good thing. Millions in state funds are going to the festival, which is expected to grow in size during its time in Boulder, and at least one state lawmaker, Democrat Bob Marshall from Douglas Count...

On this episode of RealTalk we honor the service and sacrifices of our armed services members, sharing their stories of what this holiday means to them. Hope Szypulski is a retired Army nurse and the MSU Denver dean of the College of Health and Applied Sciences. Santasia Jovel is an MSU Denver social work student and Navy veteran. And Marine Corps veteran Zach Tidwell, along with Wounded Warrior P...

Mother’s Day is a celebration filled with love. But it’s also layered with loss, complexity and transformation. On this episode we explore the origins of Mother’s Day as a moment for peace. And Robin Sweet, a mom and therapist based in Castle Pines, explores the challenges of being a mom and why it’s ok to not always be “perfect.”  Then we hear from Cenece Dixon, who knows first-hand the hope and...

Recorded at History Colorado in Denver, this episode of RealTalk recognizes how AAPI communities shape the state. You’ll hear Joie Ha talk about the exhibit, “Where is Denver’s Chinatown? Stories Remembered, Reclaimed, Reimagined.” Also, Mimi Luong from Denver’s Far East Center talks about the Little Saigon Business District, and its recent honor as the first Asian-owned building in the city to ac...

Human trafficking happens all across Colorado, often in plain sight. From city streets to agricultural farms, victims come from all walks of life. According to the Colorado-based Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, victims are forced into exploitation through force, fraud and coercion. On this episode of RealTalk, Amanda Jordan of Covered Colorado and Amanda Finger of the Laboratory to Combat...

Once a thriving hub for Black culture, music, and business, Five Points faces challenges brought on by gentrification and development. The week’s episode features Norman Harris, executive director of the Five Points Improvement District, who discusses the economic and cultural impacts of neighborhood changes. Fathima Dickerson, co-owner of the legacy soul food spot Welton Street Café, shares her e...

Nearly 60 percent of formerly incarcerated people remain unemployed a year after release, according to numbers from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. This week’s episode explores how some are using their skills learned while incarcerated to start businesses, become counselors, and rewrite the narrative around second chances for justice-involved people in Colorado. Some advocates say the term “just...

With insurance premiums up an average of $818 since 2020, and non-renewals increasing in areas prone to wild fires, many Coloradans are struggling to find or keep coverage.  This week’s episode explores Colorado’s escalating home insurance crisis, featuring Kate Harris of the Colorado Insurance Division and Carole Walker from the Rocky Mountain Insurance Association, who discuss how climate change...

A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus reveals that many long COVID patients are shifting toward outpatient and specialist care rather than hospital visits, a change that could shape future treatment options. This week on Real Talk with Denver7 and CPR News, we look at the lasting impact of long COVID in Colorado. Denver7’s Oscar Contreras shares his personal struggle,...

Prices at the grocery store are ever increasing. And it’s not just eggs. From beef to coffee you’re paying more for the staples in your pantry.  This week on Real Talk with Denver 7 and CPR News we ask why?  Hear from Bill Scebbi, Executive Director of Colorado Egg Producers. He says the reason is not just inflation for the increase in egg prices, it’s also bird flu.  And the increase in costs is...

Black history in Colorado is rich, and it’s full of both celebration and strife. This week, we’re talking with three trailblazing Black women who share memorable life moments and their views on the importance of Black History Month.  Denver historian Terri Gentry’s family tree is a “who’s who” of Colorado Black history. Then, Denver’s first Black first lady and a prominent state representative, Wi...

Colorado homes may hold a silent, odorless and radioactive gas: radon. Seeping up through the ground, it can collect in homes unless properly mitigated. Many homeowners may not know about the dangers of radon, like Heidi Nafman-Onda. She’s a lung cancer survivor who started the White Ribbon Project after radon caused her cancer.  There are ways to test for radon and mitigate it, says Margaret Hort...

Corporate diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, including those at Meta, McDonald’s, Walmart and Target, are being scaled back. This week, Real Talk with Denver7 and CPR News examines the fallout from the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action ruling. Guests include legal expert Ciara Anderson, who discusses the potential workplace impact, while DEI consultant Selena Dunham shares strategie...

Greek letter organizations have long been a cornerstone of campus life, fostering leadership, service, and a sense of belonging among students. But how do these organizations stay relevant in a changing society? This week’s episode of Real Talk with Denver7 and CPR News examines the profound impact of Greek life, from historically Black fraternities and sororities to multicultural and inclusive or...

From housing, food, child care and transportation costs, the holidays can come with increased pressure for those already struggling to get by, particularly single mothers and parents living in Denver. This episode explores the challenges and support systems surrounding the holiday season for local communities with community leaders such as Erin Pulling from Food Bank of the Rockies, Chelsea Carver...

Unresolved crimes and disappearances leave many families longing for answers, while detectives work tirelessly to solve these mysteries. This week’s episode examines the challenges and advancements in cold case investigations, including the disappearance of 16-year-old Nicole Silvers, unsolved cases in Indigenous communities, and the role of genetic genealogy in solving decades-old mysteries. Jess...