Real Talk

Murals create a patchwork of color on walls across Colorado. From Denver to Fort Collins and everywhere in between, many of these artworks are symbols of power, of struggle and of healing. This week on Real Talk, we meet the subject of a mural in Denver’s gentrifying Five Points who explains why she’s honored to be represented larger than life on a wall, and what that means for uplifting Black voi...

Love is in the air! And in an ever-changing social landscape, finding love (or not) is evolving. This week we focus on the resurging art of matchmaking, where someone helps you find love away from the dating apps. Then, a CU professor says there’s a growing part of the population who doesn’t want to find a forever partner. How he’s changing the conversation about being “forever solo.” And finding...

Denver’s Five Points Neighborhood is significant for the city’s Black community. From the Rossonian Hotel to Sonny Lawson Park, each street is filled with history. This week, we explore how Five Points became a thriving Black neighborhood with everything the community needed to thrive and to feel safe from outside oppression. Our guests include librarians from the Blair-Caldwell African American R...

Many veterans who step up to fight for our freedom, return home to face a slew of struggles — from mental health to homelessness. On this episode of Real Talk with Denver 7 and CPR News, we’re exploring why veterans experience these once off the battlefield and how nonprofits are stepping up to fill a gap between what the federal government can provide and what veterans need. Our guests include: M...

Living paycheck to paycheck isn’t enough for many Coloradans. Sometimes when times get tough having extra cash is vital. Cash assistance programs are hard to come by, but the state and local governments are trying to change that with help from businesses and community groups. Our guests include Rebecca Balu from Colorado’s Office of Economic Stability, Katherine Gold, CEO of Goldbug Clothing, and...

While Colorado was never a slave-state, becoming a part of the Union after the Civil War, the shadow of slavery was ever present. From the entrenched KKK in state and local politics, the practice of redlining and the inequities of having property - systemic racism is something the state is still grappling with today. So, what’s to be done? Our guests include Jameka Lewis, Branch Supervisor at the...

Skiing Colorado’s world-class slopes is a favorite pastime for so many people. But enjoying the snowy terrain may be more difficult for some. This week’s Real Talk with Denver 7 and CPR News explores a topic we’ve covered before: Making our state’s great outdoors more accessible. We dive deeper into options for folks who are neurodivergent or have physical limitations, from discounted ski passes t...

Teens face a lot of pressures these days, from homework to TikTok. Each has its own challenges. So, what to do? This week we explore some of those pressures, and how teachers and school districts are creating spaces to help — from lesson plans that integrate mental health into the classroom to entire centers focused on helping those in distress, while giving them a steady school experience. Plus,...

For those with autism in Colorado, specialized and compassionate care is vital. However, many of the centers tasked with that care are choosing to leave the state. The reason? Funding from the federal government isn’t keeping pace with their services. That’s left so many searching for other alternatives. This week on Real Talk with Denver 7 and CPR News, how families are coping, tips for finding s...

For some, a hungry stomach is more than just an inconvenience. It’s constant and unyielding. As more people struggle to find food, groups across the state are trying to help. But in many places the growing need is outpacing the resources that are available. Hear from those struggling to get food into the hands of those who need it most and what you can do to help. Real Talk airs on CPR News and KR...

Indigenous people have many ways of demonstrating and celebrating their history, culture and spirituality. For many whose families and tribes have been on these lands for hundreds of years, these customs are sacred. One even inspired a new state law. This week, a recent high school graduate shares what it meant to be able to wear Native American regalia during their graduation ceremony. And we hea...

You may have noticed your streets changing with new paint and white posts around dangerous intersections. It’s part of Denver’s plan called Vision Zero. The goal? Eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. But despite this push to make roads safer, Denver streets are deadlier than ever. This week, we hear from families who’ve lost loved ones on the road, along with policy and lawmakers...

A new FBI report says Colorado had a record number of hate crimes documented last year. That’s not surprising for those groups affected the most by attacks targeting a victim's culture, race, sexual orientation or religion. And many of these crimes go unreported, according to some Coloradans who are advocating for acceptance and peace across cultures. Plus, how you can help those most impacted. Re...

Every kid deserves a safe space to call home. But for some who face certain hardships, foster care may be the safest space until it’s OK to return home. But with thousands of kids and teens in foster care across the state, the need for foster parents is high. This week on Real Talk with Denver 7 and CPR News, a look at how Denver County is working to find families to foster at-risk kids. And one n...

Heat islands, treeless neighborhoods, and how Denver developers are dealing with climate change – while helping their bottom line. Denver is a bustling city filled with tall buildings and expansive roads, but it also has something else – a lot of heat. The reason is a lack of trees, especially in underserved neighborhoods. The growing days Colorado sees extreme heat are having a detrimental effect...

For 31 days in October, the impacts of breast cancer are brought to the forefront of the National Conversation. But the real conversation lasts much longer for patients, survivors, and their loved ones. It’s particularly stark for communities of color. Around 242,000 people are diagnosed every year with Breast Cancer – the second most common in the United States. And it’s not just women, 2,800 men...

More scrutiny than ever is being cast on policing around the nation, and the officers’ very existence is increasingly controversial. Many believe police abuse their power with little repercussion. Now, some Colorado police departments are working on policies that will reconnect police with their communities, including by increasing the amount of time officers are out in the communities and neighbo...

Libraries are places with a wealth of information -- but who decides which information is available? We're having a real talk about Colorado's public libraries, from the push to ban what's on the shelves to how librarians are evolving to serve everyone in the community. Real Talk airs on CPR News and KRCC on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. and Mondays at 6:30 p.m. The TV show airs on Denver7 on Saturdays at...

Thousands of migrants continue to make their way to Denver – in hopes of building a new life, and finding work. But bureaucratic red tape is making it pretty difficult for them to enter the workforce. This week on Real Talk – what Denver is doing to meet the immediate and long-term needs of migrants heading to the Mile High City. Real Talk airs on CPR News and KRCC on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. and Mond...

In the 1960s and 70s Colorado’s Chicano rights movement was focused on lifting up voices of the oppressed and marginalized.  For many - El Movimiento - the movement has been going on since 1848 and the Treaty of Guadalupe. But for others, much of chicano history is unknown - from murals around Denver being whitewashed, to unsolved car bombings in 1970s Boulder. This week on Real Talk, we explore t...

In Denver, the majority of historical places slated for preservation pertain to white history. With so many stories making up Colorado’s rich history — some say not enough is being done to protect the historic spaces of people of color. This week on Real Talk we’re discussing historic designations, and how they’re helping us remember every Denverite’s history. Real Talk airs on CPR News and KRCC o...

The fight for equal pay has been going on for decades. But even with new laws signed in Colorado, equal pay for equal work still seems far out of reach. We’re having a real talk about solutions to close the pay gap, and how the pandemic made the problem worse. Real Talk airs on CPR News and KRCC on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. and Mondays at 6:30 p.m. The TV show airs on Denver7 on Saturdays at 5:30 a.m....

Inequities in maternal healthcare are taking a big toll on women of color. Doctors say it’s not uncommon for them to hear a Black pregnant person say they were scared to die. Experts say it’s no easy fix. They say racism exists, it’s an implicit bias. This week, we have a real talk about maternal health for women of color, the resources available for you, and the contributing factors to Colorado’s...

Thousands of people are considered homeless in the Denver metro area. And finding a solution to the city’s growing homelessness crisis has been elusive so far. But Denver’s new mayor Mike Johnston says he has a plan. This week on Real Talk we dive deep into his ambitious goal to house 1,000 people by the end of the year. And hear from those on-the-ground combating the crisis every day. Real Talk a...

Our heritage is vital for understanding our culture, and sharing our stories. But sometimes, those stories - especially for adoptees - create challenges. With an extra layer of identity and of loss, as well as feelings of abandonment and even for some kids, trauma. This week we have a real talk about adoptions in Colorado, what the process looks like in our state, and the different challenges, and...