Colorado Soul Stories

Andy Carlson is one of those happy people whose positivity is contagious. He is a proud Northsider who truly loves and cares for his community. He shares this joy through his music. His love of the jam circle and the old-timey method of using one microphone with various musicians taking turns inspired him to found the "dad-grass" band, The Highland Ramblers. Their fun version of bluegrass and well-composed originals made them a sta...

Do you know about the preferred location for the new Bronco stadium? It has been proposed at Burnham Yards, off of 8th Ave. and I-25 and just west of the Santa Fe Arts District. And did you know that this plot of land actually holds some very important and unique pieces of Denver history? Tune into this episode to hear the thoughtful conversation with the CEO of Historic Denver, John Deffenbaugh.

John has an infectious passion for ...

Her name might not be familiar to you, but it should be. Jane Parnell is a mountaineer, writer and environmental activist. Inspired by family trips to the Colorado mountains every summer as a kid, Parnell could see her home-state of Kansas from Long's Peak back in the 1970's. Setting roots here in 1968 as one of the few women students at Colorado College, she lived, fittingly on the edge of a mountain in an historic house in Manito...

Join Mama Jill and her friends at the Sunnyside Music Festival, recorded Sept. 13, 2025. Bear with the Mama as she battles portable mics in the wind with the background noise of the festival. Despite that challenge, these were live-on-the-spot interviews, very organic and real! First off is an interview with the proprietors of West Side Books from North Denver near 32nd and Lowell. They are one of our long-standing authentic, indep...

She's unearthing sweaters, observing the warm hues of the turning leaves and contemplating the transformational tendencies of this season, just days after, yet another, school shooting in Colorado.

Your host Mama Jill reflects on autumn with bittersweet memories. She reiterates her "mission" for the podcast, to share the joyful soul of Colorado through the unique perspectives of its special people and places. Yet she shares there i...

Mama Jill takes time to interview her grown son, Gray Carstens. In part one, Gray shares the struggles he experienced after high school striving to figure out that ominous question: "What do I want to do with my life?" 

He labels his path as non-linear; entering film school right out of high school, then becoming disillusioned with that idea. He travels down varied roads for a few years, not sure if a degree is in the cards for him...

Coleman Smith is an internationally known fiddle player who captivates listeners with his sublime cross-genre style of playing his violin, which has been in-hand since he chose the instrument at the age of three.  When he met his partner, Robin Vega, they became a dynamic couple, with Vega helping to stretch the reach of Smith's talents to share with music students all over the Arkansas River Valley and well beyond through the Cole...

As Mama Jill and Teague continue their conversation, they touch on Teague's small town, midwestern upbringing and how that influenced his proclivities to write. He shares his journey towards figuring out what to do with his life as a young adult, where his skills with writing kept floating to the top of each career move; from stints in the corporate world to discovering the joys of teaching and how a particular goat supplied a solu...

Mama Jill has a meaty conversation with Denver writer, Teague Bohlen. Teague teaches writing at the University of Colorado in Denver, is a regular writer for Denver's arts and culture newspaper, Westword and is a well-known author. His first novel, The Pull of the Earth, won the Colorado Book Award in 2007. His latest book is a companion to the popular podcast of the same name, Escaping Denver, fictionalizing the myths about the un...

Mama Jill interviews the front woman of her favorite Colorado band, Heavy Diamond Ring. Join the conversation as they go in-depth, reflecting on how Sarah's upbringing influenced her career in music and how the landscape of Colorado continues to provide inspiration for the band's reflective song-writing. Meeting in Kittridge on the cusp of the release of their new album, Sarah shares how the band came together so organically and th...

In this thrilling episode of Colorado Soul Stories, join us as Jojo Elmquist recounts a wild night in Westcliff during the late 1980s. Discover how an ordinary evening at a local bar spirals into a surprising encounter with cowboys, guns, and a strict sheriff who enforces his own brand of justice. Experience the vibrant spirit and tight-knit community of a small Colorado town as JoJo navigates through unexpected predicaments with h...

Welcome to Colorado Soul Stories, a podcast dedicated to telling the tales of creative individuals who have shaped the essence of Colorado. Join your host, Mama Jill, as she travels to Westcliffe, Colorado, to meet Andy Mast, an inspiring artist with Amish roots. Discover Andy's journey from the Amish farmlands of Illinois to becoming a renowned artist in Colorado and the world. Through personal trials and unwavering determination,...

In this episode of Colorado Soul Stories, long-time Colorado resident and host Mama Jill takes us on a journey with Ana Maria Vasquez, a multi-sensory intuitive who communicates with animals and nature. Recorded in the serene environment of Nathrop, Colorado, Ana Maria shares her transformative life journey from losing everything in the 2008 recession to discovering her unique connection with nature and her role as an animal commun...

Do you have a story to tell that you've never really told anyone because it was traumatic, devastating or humiliating? These stories can eat away at us sometimes if they don't come out. eXposed Storytelling gives folks an accepting place to do this and it is intense! Join Mama Jill for an enlightening conversation with founder Josie Nixon and peer, Cooper Braun. More info about each podcast can be found here: https://www.jillcarste...

Cipriano Ortega is a longtime Northsider in Denver with deep roots. During this episode we discuss his newly released album, LoLo House as well as all of his creative activity.

We have discussions on home and how the changes in Colorado have affected us. You'll be treated to a performance of one of his new songs from his album, playing his custom-built ...