Studio 809 Community Podcast Network

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...

How does behavioral health contribute to homelessness, and how does Homeward Pikes Peak help people facing this obstacle? Homelessness is quite complex – often multiple contributing factors such as the cost of living, the cost of housing in our community, and then the complexities of broken family relationships, compounded by mental health and substance misuse by people. When someone has...

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...

Life can change in an instant, and when it does, it can often feel like you’re facing it alone. Hear from an incredibly inspiring community leader who has dedicated her life to supporting others who have faced challenges similar to her own. Rebecca Shields is a true example of resilience and service. She lives by the powerful belief that life isn’t about what you can get from others, but what you...

Ever stopped to wonder what’s in the air you breathe? From invisible pollutants to visible smog, air quality affects us all—whether we realize it or not. Host Ally Richardson from Pikes Peak Permaculture sits down with activist and Peak Environment cohost Konrad Schlarbaum, alongside Pikes Peak Area Council of Government’s Air Quality Outreach Specialist Kenzie Courtney, to discuss air quality in...

What do 68 monitoring sites and over $1.3 million annual investment in data collection tell us about Fountain Creek? Colorado Springs Utilities water quality expert Annie Berlemann provides some answers. She is Fountain Creek Watershed Project Manager for the utility. Fountain Creek is one of Colorado’s most closely monitored and ecologically diverse waterways—spanning urban neighborhoods, rural l...

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...

Spring is here, and it’s the perfect time to revitalize your space with sustainability in mind! Join Ally Richardson and Aaron Shaha, local permaculturists who dive into Zone 0, sharing their journey, expert insights, and practical resources for greener living in the Pikes Peak region. This episode covers essential topics like energy efficiency, water conservation, food production, waste reduction...

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...

A panel discussion with Fountain Creek Watershed District Executive Director Alli Schuch and Jim O’Donnell, author of Fountain Creek: Big Lessons from a Little River, followed by a dynamic community conversation. Alli provides an overview of watershed basics and shares insights on the current state of Fountain Creek. She highlights future opportunities and challenges facing the watershed. Jim dive...

Looking for a place where you can stay active, learn new skills, and connect with others in the community? The Senior Center is the perfect destination. Tom Lathrop, the passionate Operations Director at the Senior Center, is dedicated to creating engaging opportunities for seniors. Tom details the exciting new senior center opening in August 2025 (the current temporary location is within the Pike...

Get to know a local non-profit whose mission is to make bicycling in the Pikes Peak region better for people of all ages and abilities. Cory Sutela sits in for Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort’s Torie Giffin as host. He’s joined by three key volunteers for Bike Colorado Springs. The organization works with the city traffic engineering and advocates to improve safety and bike infrastructure. They also...

Silver Key offers an array of senior services, including meals, a food pantry, activity centers, behavioral health, companionship, and transportation. Jason DeaBueno, a Colorado Springs native who has been with Silver Key since 1982 and now serves as its President and CEO, offers insight into Silver Key’s history and the essential programs it provides for seniors. He and host Cynthia Margiotta dis...

Hear from candidates running to represent District 6 on Colorado Springs City Council in this forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region and Citizens Project. It was held on March 18, 2025 at the CSPD Stetson Hills Subdivision Community Room. All Colorado Springs City Council District 6 candidates were invited. Representatives from LWVPPR and Citizens Project moderated. &n...

Hear from candidates running to represent District 5 on Colorado Springs City Council in this forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region and NAACP-Colorado Springs. It was held on March 13, 2025 at Temple Beit Torah. All Colorado Springs City Council District 5 candidates were invited. Representatives from LWVPPR and NAACP-Colorado Springs moderated.   Candidates Pres...

Hear from candidates running to represent District 1 on Colorado Springs City Council in this forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region and College of Public Service at UCCS. It was held on March 5, 2025 at Helen Keller Elementary School. All Colorado Springs City Council District 1 candidates were invited. Representatives from LWVPPR and UCCS College of Public Service mo...

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...

Hear from candidates running to represent District 4 on Colorado Springs City Council in this forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region and RISE Southeast. It was held on March 4, 2025 at Stompin' Groundz coffee and community café. All Colorado Springs City Council District 4 candidates were invited. Representatives from LWVPPR and RISE Southeast moderated.  Candidat...

A group of citizens volunteer their time to make cycling, walking, and other non-auto conveyance safer, easier and even more fun – in Manitou and across the region. Learn about PaCMan: Ped and Cycle Manitou Springs, from three key volunteers, Luke Prince, Cris Grow and Karl Stang. Cory Sutela subs as host for Torie Giffin. He’s executive director of Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates. The group discus...

Get an update on exciting Great Outdoors Colorado investments and work statewide, from Christopher Aaby, the Generation Wild Program Officer with GOCO. Great Outdoors Colorado invests a portion of the Colorado Lottery proceeds through competitive grants open to local governments and land trusts in Colorado. GOCO just released their 2024 annual report available here:  https://www.goco.org/annu...

Hear from candidates running to represent District 3 on Colorado Springs City Council in this forum hosted by the League of Women Voters of the Pikes Peak Region & Hillside Advisory Team.  The event was held at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at Hillside Community Center.  The League is non-partisan and does not endorse, support or oppose candidates or political parties. We w...

The Place offers housing, a drop-in center, and supportive services for youth up to age 24 years old. CEO Becky Treece shares details about The Place. Their mission is to empower Colorado youth to break the cycle of homelessness and forge supportive relationships and have self-sufficient, successful lives. The Place website - https://theplacecos.org/    Telephone - (719) 338-9257 a Place...