Springs and Things: Your Insider's Guide to Colorado Springs Culture & Community

Colorado Springs parents...this episode is a must-listen. Carly sits down with Chris Aaby of Generation Wild / Great Outdoors Colorado and Maury Peterson of The Catamount Institute to talk about what’s really happening with kids and screen time, why unstructured outdoor play matters more than ever, and how getting outside impacts everything from mood and resilience to creativity and confidence. Th...

If you’ve ever saved a home photo on Instagram and thought, “Love this…but why doesn’t it work in my house?”... this episode explains exactly why. On this week’s Springs and Things, we sit down with Elisha Niebuhr, CEO of Modern Interior Company , to unpack what actually works in Colorado Springs homes, and what we should probably stop copying from New York, Austin, and Pinterest altogether. Elish...

We’re throwing it back to our very first episode of Springs & Things, with an updated Pick of the Week for today. In this re-release, we reintroduce ourselves and share how this podcast came to life, why Colorado Springs deserves its own hype girls, and what listeners can expect from the show. From growing up here versus moving here, to leaving, exploring the country, and choosing to come back...

We’re bringing back one of those episodes that still makes us smile. This conversation with Bonnie Goff is full of heart, laughter, and the kind of holiday traditions that remind you why this season feels special in the first place. From creative family rituals to uniquely Colorado Springs ways of celebrating, it’s cozy, funny, and packed with ideas you’ll want to borrow. If you’re looking for an...

What if the best gifts this year aren’t things, but experiences you’ll actually remember? In this episode of Springs & Things, Carly and Lauren swap their favorite local finds, meaningful experiences, and sneaky-good gift ideas that go way beyond candles and socks.  From adorable local jewelry and art you’ll obsess over, to food tours, scavenger hunts, spa-level skincare, and a Penrose Room di...

Colorado Springs is glowing this time of year, and this week on Springs & Things we’re diving straight into the moments that make the season feel downright magical.  From unexpected tears at local theater, to first-time traditions like the Christkindlmarket, to skating downtown and cozy nights at the Broadmoor, we’re rounding up the holiday experiences that remind you why you love living here....

It’s Giving Tuesday, and we’re sharing the Colorado Springs nonprofits that make our community stronger, safer, and a whole lot more connected. From organizations keeping families safe, to programs teaching kids confidence and personal safety, to the foster community getting wrapped in love, to the hospital caring for thousands of local children, to the cycling advocates who help us enjoy the outd...

We invited Megan Thomas back on the show for the third time to settle the real Colorado Springs debates: beans or no beans, potatoes as hero or filler, handheld vs smothered, and whether french fries belong anywhere near your breakfast.  Megan walks us through her wildly popular Breakfast Burrito Series, shouting out spots like Azada, Luna Market, Roll Up, Tacos El Amigo and more, while sharing wh...

What happens when a luxury hotel just outside of the Air Force Academy is packed with Easter eggs, hidden nods, and “if you know, you know” details that locals walk right past every day? You get Hotel Polaris , one of the coolest spots in Colorado Springs. This week, Kevin Barosso, Director of Sales & Marketing, reveals the biggest misconception about the property, why locals absolutely should...

What started with 60 pedal bikes has become one of the most heart-warming success stories in Colorado Springs. PikeRide isn’t just about e-bikes. It’s about connection . In this episode, Carly sits down with Tara McCarthy from PikeRide to talk about how the city’s bike-share program has exploded across Colorado Springs and Manitou, growing from a visitor amenity into a life-changing community serv...

After more than two decades on your TV screen, Andy Koen is now behind one of Colorado Springs’ biggest community projects: Veterans Week . We’re talking parade secrets, Purple Heart history, and what it really takes to honor the 95,000 service members who call the Pikes Peak region home. PLUS, Lauren and Andy couldn't help but share some past newsroom stories...so get ready for some entertainment...

In this special anniversary episode, Carly and Lauren take you back to where it all began, wandering the streets of downtown Colorado Springs, visiting murals, statues, and memories that made Springs & Things what it is today. From doomscrolling sculptures to baby-and-wolf murals, the duo explores the city’s vibrant Art on the Streets installations while reflecting on their favorite moments fr...

In this fun and entertaining episode, we chat with Jeremiah Houck, the Assistant Director of the Bemis School of Art at Colorado College , to talk about what makes the Springs’ art scene so special, why everyone is artistic (yes, even you), and why giving away your creations might just be the most rewarding part of the process. Plus, you’ll hear stories of no-hands pottery competitions, how to get...

A new era of music is beginning in Colorado Springs, and everyone’s talking about it. Carly sat down with Chloé Dufresne , the Colorado Springs Philharmonic’s new music director, just before her debut performance in the Springs, to talk about her inspiring journey from France to the foot of Pikes Peak. Hear how she’s bringing fresh energy, bold ideas, and female representation to the podium, what...

It’s officially Arts Month in Colorado Springs, and there’s no better time to dive headfirst into our city’s creative scene! In this episode of Springs and Things , Carly and Lauren sit down with Jonathan Toman from the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPR) to talk about 12 years of celebrating local arts, this year’s “Open Your World with the Arts” theme, and the brand-new Arts Month P...

The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival is back October 17–19 at Colorado College , and trust us, this is not your average weekend at the movies. Think three days of powerful storytelling, laughter, goosebumps, and conversations that stick with you long after the credits roll. From river rafting adventures to thought-provoking documentaries, every film has one thing in common: a woman behind the...

TheatreWorks has kicked off its 50th season with an unforgettable, immersive production of Cabaret . Director and local theater legend, Scott Levy, joined Carly to share why this staging feels different from any you’ve seen before, how the Dusty Loo Bon Vivant Theater transforms into 1929 Berlin, and why the show’s timeless question, “What would you do?”, still hits hard today. From ensemble magic...

This week, we’re stepping out of our usual light-and-fluffy lane to talk about grief and one organization that is addressing it right here in the Pikes Peak region. Carly sat down with Sarah Lee, Program Director at Voices of Grief , to talk about why grief isn’t a timeline or a checklist, how Colorado Springs neighbors and circles can become healing spaces, what to say (and not say) to someone hu...

Carly and Lauren are lacing up for COS Fit & Well Week (September 19-26), where Colorado Springs’ most inspiring local studios open their doors with can’t-miss classes and experiences at a discounted rate. From cross-fit to hot yoga to spin sessions that feel like therapy, and more, this episode is part wellness inspo and part laugh-out-loud storytelling. If you’ve ever thought about mixing up...

Step inside the UCCS Galleries of Contemporary Art with us as we sit down with curator Joy Armstrong to explore Justice of the Piece . This powerful exhibit brings together international female and non-binary muralists who use massive floor-to-ceiling works to spark conversations around equity, resistance, and activism. From New York’s graffiti godmother to Detroit’s voice for pay equity, these ar...

Imagine a marketplace built by women, for women — one that celebrates local businesses, the military, and community connection, all while honoring an incredible legacy. In this episode, we sit down with Brittany McNeal, the visionary behind HERplace , and Angelique McDonald of Gaggle Society Photo Booth Co ., to talk about how this one-of-a-kind Colorado Springs event is creating a table where eve...

Carly has lived in Colorado Springs most of her life and has never been to Labor Day Lift Off —until now. To get her prepped, we brought back insider Lauren DeMarco from Colorado Springs Sports Corp , who shares the stories you won’t hear in the news. We’re talking balloons dipping into Prospect Lake at sunrise, pilots crisscrossing the sky while chase vans scramble to find where they’ll land, the...

This summer in Colorado Springs, two organizations— Braver Angels and Reclaiming Civility —are joining forces to turn down the heat on our most heated conversations.  In this episode, Lori Leander and Eric Brody share how they’re creating spaces where people can engage on tough topics, like gun control and the First Amendment, without the shouting matches, walkouts, or social media meltdowns.  Fro...

A re-release of one of our most popular episodes! Colorado Springs is changing, and in all the best ways. In this episode, we chat with community powerhouse, Lauren Ripko of Studio Q Events , about the people, places, and passion projects making the Springs cooler than ever. From alley dance parties to city-shaping events, she’s helping build a more connected, creative Colorado Springs—and we’re h...

Think rodeo is just bull riding and cowboy hats? Think again. In this episode, we sat down with Jay Dial, CEO of Pioneer Rodeo and professional rodeo announcer, to learn what really goes on behind the chaps and bucking broncs. From rodeo myths and animal care truths to rodeo superstitions and demolition derbies, Jay walks us through the grit, grace, and glorious chaos of putting on one of Colorado...