Common Air

On this episode of Common Air, host Louise Snodgrass is joined by Kathryn Waggener, Executive Director, and Jared Reed, Marketing and Programs Manager of Durango Creative District. They dive into their organization, The Durango Creative District, and the work they do in supporting our community's arts and culture. Kathryn and Jared give us the background of the Durango Creative District and the fu...

Marissa Hunt, Co-Executive Director of Finance & Engagement and Chris Andrews, Co-Executive Director of Programs & Operations from Manna join us on Common Air this week to discuss their work and their upcoming Our Streets, Our Stories event. Marissa and Chris discuss the real challenges many in our community face today and how Manna responds with services and programs that support the whol...

In Southwest Colorado, wool is all around us. On this episode of Common Air, host Louise Snodgrass is joined by Ellen Sibelius Sibaylius and Kristen Mischker, both Board Members of the The Mountain and Valley Wool Association. Ellen and Kristen discuss the local fiber growers, the fiber artists, and their upcoming Fiber Arts Festival. The Mountain and Valley Association's Fiber Arts Festival is co...

What's the value of banking locally? On this episode of Common Air, Eric Guttormson, Senior Lending Officer of First Southwest Bank joins us to share the importance of depositing your money in a local bank, especially a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) like First Southwest Bank. Headquarted in Alamosa, Colorado First Southwest Bank has served rural Colorado for 120 years. Eric sh...

The cost of housing is a hot button issue across the country, and it's acutely felt right here in Southwest Colorado. The good news? Many regional organizations are already working together to implement solutions. On this episode of Common Air, Cody Minnich and Brian Devine from the City of Durango's Innovative Housing Solutions Division join host Louise Snodgrass for a realistic look at what's ha...

On August 4th, Angela Reynolds, Fairgrounds Manager with La Plata County, Angela Fountain, 4-H Youth Development Specialist with CSU Extension joined the show to talk all things La Plata County Fair. For over 70 years, the La Plata County Fair has stood as a valued institution, inspiring pride in all who take part. 4-H has been a vital part of the La Plata County Fair with the earliest record of t...

On this episode of Common Air, host Louise Snodgrass is joined by Emily Bell, Farmer Training Program Coordinator at Old Fort Lewis in Hesperus, Colorado. Nestled 16 miles southwest of Durango, the Old Fort at Hesperus is steeped in the history of the Southwest. Now, the Old Fort hosts Farmer Training Programs, a market garden feeding Fort Lewis Campus and the Community, and more. Emily dives into...

Common Air is back for Season 2! We’re kicking things off with Jennaye Derge from Bike Durango to talk all things bike safety, advocacy, and making everyday trips around town a little easier by bike. Since 2021, Bike Durango has been inspiring more people to hop on two wheels while advocating for safer streets and better connections throughout our community. Jennaye shares how education and commun...

Happy semiquincentennial! On this episode of Common Air, Susan Jones, collections manager at the Animas Museum joins us to dive more into the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of the Independence and the major moments happening in our region. 150 years ago Colorado become the 38th state, and right here in La Plata County, Animas City (now a part Durango, Colorado) become an incor...

With extra dry weather and fire-restrictions popping up across Southwestern Colorado, getting outside responsibly is important for visitors and locals alike. In this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass is joined by Jennie Green, Executive Director at Visit Pagosa. Jennie shares her tips and tricks for recreating safely, and expands on the role of tourism in our communities. Love it or hate it,...

The June primary is upon us! DYK, primary elections have the lowest turnout of any election? On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass is joined by La Plata County League of Women Voters Board Members, Wendy Pollack and Jan Phillips. Wendy and Jan discuss the importance of voting and getting involved with our democracy. Jan and Wendy also discuss the League of Women Voters history as well as...

Over the past 15 years, the Powerhouse has empowered kids of all ages to explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math. On this episode of Common Air, Sydnie Golden, Deputy Director of the Powerhouse, joins us to share more of their mission and impact across Southwest Colorado. Orginally a coal-fired steam-power AC generating plant, the Powerhouse has transformed into a welcoming space t...

Flowing from the Colorado's San Juan Mountains to the San Juan River in New Mexico, the Animas River has shaped people, wildlife, and our landscape from time immemorial. On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass is joined by Willis Wood, Boardmember of Animas Rivers Days and avid kayaker to discuss today's community surrounding the Animas River and the impacts this river has on our lives. Si...

The ground beneath us and the mountains that surround us tell a story that is billions of years old. On this episode, Louise Snodgrass is joined by Jonathan Lovekin, Senior Engineering Geologist, and Lesley Sebol, Hydrogeologist with the Colorado Geological Survey. Together, they go deep in the science of rocks, landscapes, soil, and groundwater -- and what those things reveal about Southwest Colo...

Seeing a piece of Durango in space is closer than you think! Juleah Kaliski, Marketing Specialist, and Jack Castello, Manufacturing Engineer with Agile Space Industries join us for this episode of Common Air. Agile Space Industries is a Durango, Colorado-based aerospace company specializing in the in-house design, 3D printing, and hot-fire testing of hypergolic rocket engines and thrusters for sat...

Getting in the dirt and tending a garden nourishes our lives in more ways than one. Marissa Hunt, Co-executive director, and Brooke Frazer, Garden Manager join us on this episode of Common Air to dive into the story, purpose, and impact of Manna's unique garden space. As one of the few food access facilities in the country with an onsite garden, Manna uses the garden to grow over 2,000lbs of fresh...

The night sky holds a long, shared history of people looking up and finding inspiration in the stars and planets. Protecting that experience takes work and impacts us more than you might expect. On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass is joined by Weylin Ryan, Board Member of DarkSky Colorado and Town Manager of Ignacio, Colorado. DarkSky Colorado is working across the state to reduce ligh...

You turn on the tap, and the water flows. But who and what gets it there? Carolyn Cummins of the Four Corners Water Center and Laura Rieck of the City of Durango about the essential role water operators play in keeping communities safe and functioning—and the growing gap in this workforce as many experienced operators near retirement and fewer people enter the field. The conversation explores the...

Spring is for the birds! On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass speaks with Lisa Wilk and Stephen Tarnowski of the Durango Bird Club. The Durango Bird Club brings together people of all experience levels to encourage appreciation, foster enjoyment, and share knowledge of birds and their habitats through regular meetups, field trips, workshops, and seasonal bird counts. Nearly 96 million A...

On this episode of Common Air, Louise Snodgrass speaks with Heather Erb of Earth Day Durango about what’s happening across the community in celebration of Earth Day. With events building throughout the month and a full day of activities at Buckley Park on Saturday, April 18, Earth Day Durango brings together local organizations, families, students, and residents around the shared theme of “Acting...

An informed community is a healthy community - and radio plays a big role in that. On this episode of Common Air, we’re turning the mic back on the station that hosts the show: KDUR Durango. Louise Snodgrass speaks with Jon Lynch, Program Director at KDUR, about his journey into radio and what has kept him in it over the years. The conversation explores what makes KDUR unique in the media landscap...

Chance Parker, Public Health Student at Fort Lewis College and Annie Lawson, Program Navigator for the Healthcare Workforce Pipeline join us for this week's episode of Common Air. Chance and Annie highlight the growing need for behavioral health professionals in Southwest Colorado. Together, they explore how workforce gaps impact community wellbeing and what it takes to build a stronger, more acce...

On this episode of Common Air , Louise Snodgrass speaks with Nina Lundstrom, Executive Director of Maria’s Literary Foundation about the power of books to build connection, curiosity, and community. Born out of Durango’s beloved Maria’s Bookshop, the foundation works to expand access to books and storytelling across the Four Corners through free literary programs, book donations, Golden Bookmarks,...

Rural America has stories worth telling. On this episode of Common Air , Louise Snodgrass speaks with Ilana Newman, a Visual Editor and Multimedia Correspondent for the Daily Yonder , a national publication that provides news, commentary, and analysis about and for rural America. Together, they discuss what makes rural life unique and why sharing these experiences with a national audience helps de...

A name that means “journey” tells a story long before the first dish is served. On this episode of Common Air, Chef Safari shares the path that led him from Matsangoni, Kenya, to Durango, Colorado. Trained at Kenya Utalii College and seasoned by a global culinary career spanning Europe and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Chef Safari now calls Southwest Colorado home where he operates Chef Safari’s A...