RSS Amplifier

Podcast

Colorado Matters

Hosted by Ryan Warner and Chandra Thomas Whitfield, CPR News' daily interview show focuses on the state's people, issues and ideas.

cpr.orgSource feed ↗10 episodes

Live Last read · last published · next check

Written by

Latest episodes

Saves to your Listen queue, to pick up on another day or another device.

August 18, 2026: Could rye help farmers weather the drought?; State law targets rideshare safety

The San Luis Valley grows many of Colorado’s potatoes, barley and wheat. But there's another crop that could help farmers weather the drought. We'll explore the Rye Resurgence Project. Then, rideshare companies have new rules they have to follow in Colorado to keep riders safe. We get context from Purplish. Plus, answering a Colorado Wonders question about what drew Nicola Tesla to the state in…

Play

August 17, 2026: Victor Marx and a divided state GOP; Converting a coal mine into a solar farm

Republicans in Colorado are divided over their gubernatorial nominee Victor Marx and over the party's general direction. Then, did White House officials brainstorm ways to punish Colorado? Also, Molson Coors reimagines its coal mine in Keenesburg as a solar farm. Then, the urgent effort to save Bent's Old Fort in the San Luis Valley. And we re-share radio poems with David Rothman.

Play

August 14, 2026: History Colorado marks the state's 150th with a nod to the Women's Bank of Denver

Not that long ago, women seeking a loan or line of credit faced invasive questions from bankers: "Are you planning on having children?" "What type of birth control are you using?" "Where's your husband?" Against that backdrop, in the 1970s, The Women's Bank of Denver was founded, changing financial lives for generations. Their story is now showcased at History Colorado to celebrate the…

Play

August 13, 2026: New state historian; Next chapter for neighborhood of proposed Broncos; Mark Stevens' latest thriller

Nicki Gonzales, Colorado’s new state historian has deep roots in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. It’s one reason she’s forged an expertise in the history of the American West. Particularly interested in race relations and social and political movements, Gonzales has plans for what she hopes to accomplish during her year-long tenure. Then, the neighborhood next to where the Denver…

Play

August 12, 2026: A protest that helped launch a movement

You can draw a line between a protest in Denver and the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A half century later, the fight for access continues. Today we share some of that history with NPR's podcast, "The Sunday Story," hosted by Ayesha Rascoe with guests Joseph Shapiro from NPR and CPR's Stephanie Wolf, and we look ahead at the current challenges. Then, the world premiere of a play…

Play

August 11, 2026: Why kids are more susceptible than ever before to porn and what parents need to know

Research finds that kids are exposed to online pornography more often, and at younger ages, than ever before, thanks to technology and social media. The effects are often damaging, negatively shaping how they understand relationships, consent, and even their own bodies. We speak with Craig Knippenberg, a licensed clinical social worker, family therapist and author about the trend and what parents…

Play

August 10, 2026: Creating a sustainable golf course that's wildlife, pollinator and plant-friendly

When it comes to wildlife and water use, golf courses have room for improvement. Today, a one-of-a-kind partnership between golfers and the botanic gardens. Then, the town of Kremmling has pulled itself out of a water crisis, for now. And on her album "Appalachia," a Ouray singer-songwriter contrasts her hometown mountains with her adopted Rockies.

Play

August 7, 2026: Investigating law enforcement's hiring practices; A sense of place in the San Luis Valley

A sheriff's office is under federal scrutiny for its hiring practices; the effects could ripple across the state. Then, filmmaker Rick Vigil is preserving the oral history of people who call the San Luis Valley home. Also, what to know about staying safe from lightning. And singer/songwriter Isaac Slade returns to Colorado to wish his home state a happy 150th.

Play

August 6, 2026: Colorado's political history filled with firsts amid attempted setbacks; Colorado River water plan

Since it became a state 150 years ago, Colorado's political identity has always been hard to pin down. You might say... it's purplish! But it's also been a leader in things like women's suffrage and civil rights. We explore some of that history today with Purplish. Then, the Colorado River makes life possible for some 40 million people from here to Southern California, but making sure there's…

Play

August 5, 2026: At age 97, Roy Romer says he's humbled as he reflects on Colorado, state of politics today

Colorado just tuned 150. Roy Romer jokes he's been alive for most of that time. The former three-term governor is 97 and just donated his papers to Metropolitan State University of Denver. We ask him to look back, and to look forward, along with MSUD's provost and historian Matt Makley. Then, an Aurora Police Officer is indicted in the shooting death of a Black man during a traffic stop. CPR's Ava…

Play