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Episode ‘Your City Could Be Better’: A St. Paul Cell Phone Ban Teens Might Actually Like — Presented By City Cast Denver

‘Your City Could Be Better’: A St. Paul Cell Phone Ban Teens Might Actually Like — Presented By City Cast Denver

21 minOct 11, 2026

Another Denver school year has begun — how are cell phones being handled? In Minnesota, one high school is demonstrating that a strict no-phone school day can work, and they’ve got the (mostly) positive feedback to show for it. City Cast Twin Cities host Sean McPherson joins David to talk about how St. Paul Central High School is succeeding at enforcing a phone-free school environment, the surprising ways that some students approach it, and how these kinds of bans can even affect adults like Sean. Listeners, it’s that time again! Send us the dilemmas you’re facing living in a city, and we might debate them on our upcoming call-in show. Email us or submit using this Google Form . Mentioned on the show: Kids using public radio comment sections as ad hoc communication Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options .

A Cheesy New Ethics Complaint at DIA, CoCo Vote Veers Off Course, and Denver's Best PSL

30 minOct 9, 2026

It might not feel like it, but we are, actually, in the fall season! Contributor Michelle Jackson joins producer Olivia Jewell Love to chat about their favorite fall bevs (don’t worry, they come iced!) and talk shop about Olivia’s hunt for the best PSL in Denver . Then, DIA officials are facing a new ethics complaint about a lavish retirement party , complete with a $3,000 budget for sausage and cheese. City Cast Denver Neighbors will get to hear a special segment with recommendations for great meals under $30, so make sure you sign up right now to hear it! Olivia and Michelle round out the week with a round of wins and fails.  Welcome to Day 3 of our Fall Membership Campaign! We’ve got an ambitious goal of 200 new members, and we need your help. If you want that slick new dad hat and that warm feeling you get from supporting local journalism, now is the perfect time to sign up as a City Cast Denver Neighbor. It’s just $10 per month! Sign up today. Olivia mentioned the CoCo vote oopsie , and the opening of Reclectic over by Colorado Mills. Michelle brought up the allegations at Lutheran High .  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm . Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member ! What’s your favorite fall drink? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this October 9th episode: Denver Film Enjoy Illinois Xcel Energy Chalat Hatten and Banker Blue Sky Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

How This Election Could Change All Other Elections. Plus, ‘Love is Blind’: Where Are They Now?

37 minOct 8, 2026

It's election season, and those blue books are beefy this year! We’re going one by one through some of the thorniest ballot measures all month, and today creative producer Shane Franklin joins fellow producer Olivia Jewell Love to break down everything you need to know about Amendment 84 , the proposal for new voter ID requirements. Then, contributor Molly Smith joins Olivia to talk about her experience riding the bus in the new BRT lanes on Colfax and mark the one-year anniversary of “Love is Blind.” What are the reality stars up to now, and do they still hang out in the Mile High?  Welcome to Day 2 of our Fall Membership Campaign! We’ve got an ambitious goal of 200 new members, and we need your help. If you want that slick new dad hat and that warm feeling you get from supporting local journalism, now is the perfect time to sign up as a City Cast Denver Neighbor. It’s just $10 per month! Sign up today. Molly brought up our episode reacting to Love is Blind’s Denver season when it came out last year.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm . Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member ! Have you taken the bus in the new BRT lane? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this October 8th episode: Denver Film Enjoy Illinois Xcel Energy Chalat Hatten and Banker Blue Sky Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

What Would You Name Dick’s Sporting Goods Park? Plus, Casa Bonita’s Wishing Well and Local Comedy Drama

30 minOct 7, 2026

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park may not be long for this world – well, the name anyway. For the first time in the Colorado Rapids soccer stadium’s 20-year history, the team is looking at new sponsors and a potential moniker change . Comedian and Casa Bonita performer Joshua Emerson joins host Bree Davies to share his top five picks for renaming Dick’s. Plus, they dig into the controversy involving a big-name comedian, Sirius XM, and Denver’s comedy scene and talk about Joshua’s AI concerns about the seasonal Halloween and Dia de los Muertos decor at the pink palace.   It’s time for our Fall Membership Campaign! If you want that slick new dad hat and that warm feeling you get from supporting local journalism, now is the perfect time to sign up as a City Cast Denver Neighbor. It’s just $10 per month! Sign up today. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm . Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member ! What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this October 7th episode: Denver Film Enjoy Illinois Xcel Energy Chalat Hatten and Banker Blue Sky Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Harsher Fentanyl Penalties, Voter ID Requirements, and More of the Conservative Agenda on Colorado Ballots

30 minOct 6, 2026

The conservative nonprofit Advance Colorado brought a whopping eight initiatives to the ballot this year – that’s more than half of the 14 amendments and propositions voters will decide. But after a record turnout by Democrats in this summer’s primaries, why is this Republican-leaning organization banking so much on the midterms? Logan M. Davis, who wrote “The Muckraker Official Ballot Guide” for the Colorado Times Recorder, joins host Bree Davies to discuss what he believes is motivating Advance Colorado’s latest lawmaking moves. Bree mentioned her conversation on drug use in prison with Lisa Raville from the Harm Reduction Action Center and Logan’s last appearance on the show where he talked about his investigation into Advance Colorado .  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm . Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member ! What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 If you enjoyed this interview with Enjoy Illinois, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this October 6th episode: Denver Film Enjoy Illinois Xcel Energy Chalat Hatten and Banker Blue Sky Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

The DPS Board’s Half-Decade of Drama, Meet Your Soulmate, and Will a Chatbot Replace Denver's 311 Operators?

35 minOct 5, 2026

Denver Public Schools board member DJ Torres resigned last week , his reasoning being “too much of my time and energy have been consumed by internal conflict.” But this is just the latest issue for a leadership entity seemingly plagued with drama over the last half-decade , including recent allegations against Torres himself that he has missed too many crucial meetings. Politics correspondent Adrian Felix joins host Bree Davies to lay out this latest round of infighting and what it means for kids and teachers in the system. Plus, they talk about the chatbot who could be answering your 311 calls and the photobooth promising to help you find your soulmate .  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm . Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member ! What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this October 5 episode: Denver Film Enjoy Illinois Xcel Energy Chalat Hatten and Banker Blue Sky Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

‘Your City Could Be Better’: This Basketball Court Is Saving Residents From Floods — Presented By City Cast Denver

20 minOct 4, 2026

When Denver looks for inspiration for the future, does it look to the Netherlands? That’s what designers and officials in New York City did in order to integrate flood mitigation into public housing. Inspired by places like Rotterdam, the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) collaborated with other groups to give Queens a state-of-the-art, climate-resilient amenity — in this case, a basketball court. David talks with Katy Burgio from NYCHA and Runit Chhaya of Grain Collective, one of the involved design firms, about the larger infrastructure the court is a part of and how it’s setting up NYC for climate resilience. Mentioned on the show: Water Square and its creative facilitators: https://www.dezeen.com/2025/11/25/grain-collective-basketball-courts-flood-prevention/   Rotterdam’s own “water square”: https://landezine.com/water-square-benthemplein-by-de-urbanisten/   Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!  We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options .

Privatizing the Trash, Drones Delivering Pasta, and How to PorchFest

27 minOct 2, 2026

Denverites already pay for trash pick-up, but what if that money went to a private company instead of the city? The city’s waste services are costing more cash than they bring in, and two city council members have proposed exploring privatizing the system . Green chile correspondent and democratic candidate for house district 5 Justine Sandoval joins host Bree Davies to dig into the trash cost dilemma and share their wins and fails of the week. Producer Shane Franklin shares the latest on PorchFest , a brand new festival happening in front yards across Baker this weekend, and if you’re a City Cast Denver Neighbor, you’ll also get a bonus segment on delivery drones potentially coming to a Denver suburb near you .   Check out Shane’s article on navigating this weekend’s PorchFest . Bree talked about the Lakewood student suing his charter school over racial bullying and Dave Herrera returning as Westword’s music editor . Justine mentioned the melting of St. Mary’s Glacier and Nikola Jokić re-signing with the Nuggets . For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm . Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member ! Do you live in the metro area and pay for private trash pick-up? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this October 2nd episode: Denver Film Enjoy Illinois Xcel Energy Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Will Denver Ever Say Yes to the Duplex? Plus, the Ethics Investigation Costing the City $800,000

30 minOct 1, 2026

A proposal to make sweeping changes to the zoning code was sent back to the drawing board by city council – signalling the end of a push by Denver planners to make it easier to build duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes citywide. Will the Mile High ever get closer to housing advocates’ dream of a denser, more affordable city? Denver Post city government reporter Elliott Wenzler and political correspondent Adrian Felix join host Bree Davies to talk about the density drama, plus dig into an ethics investigation of city attorney Miko Brown that is costing Denver more than $800,000 in legal fees .  Elliott shouted out Brian Maass at CBS Colorado, who has been covering the ethics investigation from the beginning . Bree mentioned a poll from the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project and Housing Forward Colorado showing Denverites’ support of housing density, and the episode we did on the poll results . For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm . Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member ! What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise   Learn more about the sponsors of this October 1st episode: Denver Film Enjoy Illinois Xcel Energy

Your Guide to October 2026 in Denver

30 minSep 30, 2026

Fall is here — and we’re ready for the sweater weather, cozy vibes, and spiced everything! From finding the right craft meetup to enjoying Little Man Ice Cream’s autumnal ice cream flavors , host Bree Davies, producer Olivia Jewell Love, and audience development manager Grace Zahn share their picks for the best things to do, see, eat, drink, and enjoy all around the Mile High City and beyond this October. Follow along with Olivia’s hunt for the best PSL in town over on the City Cast Denver Instagram! For more information or to RSVP for the Neal Cassady panel, check out History Colorado’s website . For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm . Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member ! What’s your fave thing to do when fall hits? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 If you enjoyed this interview with Evan Baker, a partner at Chalat Hatten Baker, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 30th episode: Denver Film Enjoy Illinois Xcel Energy Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Glendale’s Failed Nightlife Promises, New Live Music Venue in Cap Hill, and Duck Liver on the Ballot

27 minSep 29, 2026

The historically counter-cultural strip of 13th Avenue in Capitol Hill will be home to a concert venue once again! After all the drama and seizure of Your Mom’s House , the Poison Pit will usher in the next era of local music at 608 E. 13th Avenue this October. Westword editor emeritus Patty Calhoun joins host Bree Davies to talk about Denver’s newest independent venue, plus dig into why Glendale’s dreams of an Alamo Drafthouse and entertainment district have been dashed once again. Then, producer Olivia Jewell Love explains why Denverites will be voting on whether or not to force feed ducks in this first installment of our 2026 ballot explainer series! Bree and Patty talked about Westword’s 50th Anniversary shindig , some previous coverage on the Glendale nightlife saga and the rug store eminent domain case . Olivia mentioned the foie gras “terrorism” situation last year. For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm . Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member ! What do you think should happen with neverending Glendale’s nightlife plans? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 Learn more about the sponsors of this September 29th episode: Denver Film Enjoy Illinois Xcel Energy Cozy Earth - Use code COZYDENVER for up to 20% off Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise

Who Is Funding This Year’s Conservative-Backed Ballot Initiatives?

41 minSep 28, 2026

Ballots are hitting mailboxes soon and the campaign money is flowing. But where is it coming from and where is it going? In his investigation for the Colorado Times Recorder, reporter Logan M. Davis traces the cashflow funding conservative-backed initiatives and measures that Coloradans will be voting on this November . Earlier this year, host Bree Davies sat down with Logan to learn more about the billionaires, think tanks, and dark money groups involved in this complex network of financial and political power on the right in Colorado.  This episode originally aired on May 4, 2026 For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter at denver.citycast.fm . Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on Reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member ! What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418 If you enjoyed this interview with Terri Reifsteck, VP of Destination Branding & Development at Experience Champaign-Urbana, learn more here. Learn more about the sponsors of this September 28th episode: Denver Film Enjoy Illinois Xcel Energy Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise