City Cast Denver

City Cast Denver

Join Host Bree Davies and the City Cast Denver crew every weekday morning as we celebrate, explore, and challenge an ever-changing Denver. It’s the daily news podcast for all Denverites — whether you’ve been here for six months or six generations. We’ll break down the news you need (and want) to know with journalists and culture makers; activists and artists; neighbors and ne’er-do-wells — and John Elway, if he ever returns our calls. Learn more and subscribe to our newsletter at denver.citycast.fm.. Named Westword's Best Podcast of 2021, 2023

Episodes

February 27, 2026 51 mins
After bubbling up over the last few months, the debate over data centers in Denver boiled over this week. Mayor Mike Johnston imposed a moratorium on new ones being built, then a community meeting erupted in chants to halt construction on one going up in Elyria-Swansea. Our green chile correspondent Justine Sandoval was at the town hall, and she joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to get into it — plus, Douglas County ...
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A moratorium on new data centers. A replacement for Flock surveillance cameras. A reversal in the Alameda Ave. safety plan debate. These are all big issues in the city right now that Mayor Mike Johnston has recently seemed to change his mind about. So, what gives? Johnston sits down with host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to explain these big recent shifts — plus, what he thinks about one of his big campaign donors showing ...
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February 25, 2026 30 mins
Could downtown’s narrative finally be changing? From buying up the Pavilions to renovating Skyline Park, the city has been putting big money and energy toward making Denver’s urban core appealing again. Developers are following suit — real estate investor Asher Luzzatto recently announced plans to spend $300 million on renovating a whole city block, including the conversion of two aging office buildings into new housing, childcare ...
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With the primaries just around the corner in June, Senator Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser are hitting the gubernatorial campaign trail hard. This past weekend, the two leading Democratic candidates joined a forum — put on by Greater Denver Transit, the Denver Bicycle Lobby, and YIMBY Denver — to spar over their positions on everything from Peña Boulevard and rental assistance to allowing apartment buildings to ban ...
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Beau Jo’s is a bona fide Colorado institution, but the full origin story of “Colorado Style Pizza” has not been told until today. Producer Paul Karolyi has been obsessed with Beau Jo’s since moving here in 2015 and seeing Denverites put honey on their pizza crust. Finally, he completed a multi-year investigation of the honey-crust phenomenon and the true meaning of “Colorado Style Pizza” for the James Beard Award-winning podcast Th...
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Everyone’s talking about AI these days, including Denverites. And now, more data centers are popping up across the country, thanks in part to the AI revolution. But some cities are stemming the tide, including Madison, Wisconsin, who recently passed a one-year moratorium on new data center construction. City Cast CEO David Plotz feels strongly that this was the wrong choice! He’s sitting down with City Cast Madison podcast host Bia...
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AI tech giant Palantir moved its HQ from Denver to Miami this week, notifying the world via a single tweet. Was this abrupt relocation in response to ongoing protests outside its Denver office or Colorado’s first-in-the-nation AI bill or something else entirely? Political commentator Adrian Felix joins producer Paul Karolyi and host Bree Davies to dig into the controversial company’s departure, plus the uncertain future of Leven Su...
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Love it or hate it, TABOR — the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights — has an ongoing impact on how Colorado handles our taxes. Every few years, an initiative comes along to change this constitutional amendment — like this November, when voters could be deciding whether or not to raise taxes on the rich — but they generally fail. Could this be the one that breaks through? Host Bree Davies sits down with Paul Teske, distinguished professor at ...
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A new bill at the state legislature has got Denverites talking — is it time for Colorado to decriminalize prostitution? Poet Suzi Q. Smith joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to look at precedents in Maine and Nevada, and some of the arguments against. Plus, we saw some rumors that the fancy grocery chain Erewhon might be opening in RiNo, the mayor seems to be reconsidering Flock, and we all watched the newly Oscar-nom...
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Today we’re opening up the mailbag! Host Bree Davies and producers Olivia Jewell Love and Paul Karolyi hear from listeners about everything from security concerns on RTD buses and trains to mayoral candidate Lisa Calderón’s criticisms of Mayor Mike Johnston’s homelessness plan. Plus, Paul responds to some criticism about his recent comments on Rocky Flats, Bree gets a mall food court recommendation, and Olivia stans rise up!  Pa...
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All eyes have been on the Twin Cities lately, including Denverites’. Operation Metro Surge is reportedly ending in Minnesota, with the withdrawal of immigration agents expected over the next week. Over the last two months, though, residents of the Twin Cities have organized a range of local collective action efforts including protests, mutual aid, and monitoring ICE — and they’ve done it quickly. In this inaugural episode of “Your ...
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For the first time in 26 years, the Underground Music Showcase will not be taking over South Broadway this summer — but when it moves to RiNo, would the fest lose its cool factor? And will it still be a showcase of local acts or become something more corporate? Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love talk through the what-ifs with Shawn King, drummer of DeVotchka, who headlined the first UMS in 2001 and closed out last yea...
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Thanks to multiple bond packages, the Sloan’s Lake Boathouse is getting a $7 million makeover and the lake itself is set to receive $5 million in ecological restoration.  But will that be enough to save it? For years, Sloan’s Lake has struggled with low water levels, leading to a toxic algae bloom that threatens the ecological future and public use of this popular body of water. We’re revisiting this conversation from last year wit...
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From gaining Michelin star status to collecting a bounty of James Beard Awards, Denver’s culinary profile keeps rising. But beyond decorated chefs, all star meals, and international media attention lies a low-key secret to the Mile High’s dining out success — a well-designed restaurant. Award winning architect Kevin Nguyen grew up in Aurora and has been the mind behind the look and feel of spots like Brutø, The Wolf's Tailor, Hey K...
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2025 was potentially the final year of the Underground Music Showcase — ticket sales were down, money was tight, and the future of the fest was uncertain. But the RiNo Business Improvement District stepped in, Youth On Record sold its share, and now the fest will live in RiNo. Host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love discuss this new era and potential vibe shift for the 25 year-old event, plus dig into new legislation being...
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Lisa Calderón thinks Denver is in trouble, and she wants to save it. Last week, the activist and professor of criminal justice announced a bid for mayor in 2027 — her third time running for the position. Lisa sits down with host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about how she would balance the city’s budget issues, what she believes Mayor Johnston has gotten wrong about housing and homelessness, and why she thinks there...
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Denverites want more affordable housing, but can they agree on how to make it happen? A couple members of YIMBY Denver have a proposal to “upzone” broad swaths of the city to allow more duplexes and triplexes, and their proposal could hit our ballots in November. So, what will Denver decide? RTD Board Director Chris Nicholson joins host Bree Davies and producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the future of housing density, the big fight...
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February 5, 2026 27 mins
It’s a fact: Denver is a coffee town. Whether it’s beloved local chains or third wave cafes, the Mile High City abounds with cozy coffee shops offering all sorts of different experiences. Entrepreneur, content creator, and coffee shop aficionado Michelle Jackson joined host Bree Davies and producer Olivia Jewell Love last September to talk about the local spots that bring the ambiance, offer creative drink choices, and capture what...
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RTD is struggling right now. Denver’s public transit provider is facing low ridership numbers (even relative to peer cities) and a massive projected budget deficit — and that’s without even mentioning the paltry 83% bus on-time percentage. So what should be done? Governor Jared Polis and the legislature brought together a committee of experts last year to do months of research, debate, and come to a proposal that might just help ge...
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What makes Denver Denver? Better yet, who defines us as a city? Thinking back on the last quarter century, there have been many politicians, personalities, and people with plenty of money to throw around who have shaped the image, built environment, and ethos of the Mile High City. Producer Paul Karolyi presents his list of the “21 Most Influential Denverites of the 21st Century” to host Bree Davies and Westword editor Patty Calhou...
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