Best KUNC Digital Podcasts (2025)

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Colorado mountain towns saw a dip in tourism this summer. Where did those visitors go? 9:14

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40m ago9:14

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After several years of record-setting numbers, Colorado's mountain towns are experiencing an unexpected summer slowdown in tourism. A drop in international visitors is a significant factor. This year, European visitors to mountain towns in Colorado and six other Western states are down 39 percent compared to 2024. Canadian visitors dropped 58 perce…

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We have nothing to fear from Colorado’s ‘demon’ bunnies (but keep your pet rabbit away from them) 9:14

3d ago9:14

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Demon rabbits. Frankenstein bunnies. Zombie cottontails. Phrases like those went viral this week after photos were published of rabbits near Fort Collins that appeared to have horns or tentacles on or around their heads. Wildlife officials say the unusual-looking rabbits aren't a cause for concern. The rabbits suffer from a relatively common virus …

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Why a secret weapon against climate change might be hiding in your shower or air conditioner 9:14

4d ago9:14

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The goo and gunk you find in your dishwasher, or in the drip tray underneath your refrigerator, could hold secrets to fighting climate change or reducing pollution. That’s according to James Henrickson, a research scientist from Colorado State University. He says your hot water heater, washing machine, and shower are similar to hot springs or volca…

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How a gecko’s ability to cling to surfaces could help CU scientists make stickier – and better – cancer treatments 9:14

5d ago9:14

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An innovative cancer therapy inspired by the gripping power of geckos might be on the horizon. Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder studied the microscopic structures on gecko toes that allow the tiny reptiles to climb walls and cling to slippery surfaces like windows. That work inspired the development of a new material that could help…

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The world’s largest wildlife overpass will soon span I-25. Here’s how it will help animals – and drivers 9:14

6d ago9:14

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The world’s largest wildlife overpass will soon be open for use in Colorado. Wildlife overpasses allow animals to safely cross over highways. And Western states are building more of them to cut down on the number of crashes between vehicles and animals. This new overpass is being constructed over a section of I-25 between Denver and Colorado Spring…

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Some students may have lost their ‘grit.’ Here’s how teachers and parents can help them get it back 9:14

7d ago9:14

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Colorado teachers say their students are missing something that helps determine their academic success. They call it grit. If a student who struggles with math studies hard and performs well on their math test, that’s grit. If they complete a homework assignment that was tough to finish, that's also grit. Erica Breunlin covers education for The Col…

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Inside one of Colorado’s first energy-smart homes, inspired by Jimmy Carter’s push for renewables 9:14

10d ago9:14

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After the death of President Jimmy Carter last December, many of the tributes mentioned his environmental legacy and push for energy-efficient development. And one unusual part of his plan was focused here in Colorado. Carter’s administration had backed the design of some experimental homes along the Front Range. They were warmed by the sun and fue…

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Cases of marijuana intoxication in dogs have grown in Colorado. Here’s how to protect your pets 9:14

11d ago9:14

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Colorado is known as a very dog-friendly state. A recent study by Colorado State University noted that if you’re a pet owner in this state, there’s an 80 percent chance that pet is a dog. Colorado is also known for being one of first states to legalize cannabis. But the high number of dog lovers plus the state’s long history of legal weed appear to…

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How Boulder's ‘Blue Envelope’ program aims to transform how people with disabilities interact with law enforcement 9:14

12d ago9:14

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For many people, being stopped by police can produce a wave of anxiety. But that sense of stress and uncertainty is even worse for people with conditions like autism spectrum disorder, hearing loss, Tourette’s syndrome, or dementia. Earlier this year, Boulder’s police department rolled out a new initiative called the Blue Envelope Program to help p…

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Some dinosaurs were dancing 100 million years ago. A scientist explains why a site in Colorado was so popular 9:14

13d ago9:14

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Scientists say they’ve identified a sort of massive dance floor that some dinosaurs used as part of their mating rituals millions of years ago. The area is at Dinosaur Ridge, an active paleontology site in Morrison that’s also open to the public. Researchers there found dozens of places where a dinosaur species called Magnoavipes would scrape patte…

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President Trump said his immigration policy is focused on ‘the worst of the worst.’ Colorado ICE arrest data says otherwise 9:14

14d ago9:14

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Immigration arrests in Colorado have quadrupled since President Trump returned to office in January. Under Trump, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say they’re focused on deporting violent criminals who are in the U.S. illegally – what the President calls “the worst of the worst.” But in Colorado, that promise doesn't line up with who i…

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Who were the women that inspired the names of some of Colorado’s iconic landmarks? A new book explores their stories 9:14

17d ago9:14

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Colorado has an abundance of mountains named after famous men – think Long’s Peak, Mount Wilson, or Pikes Peak. Since childhood, Sarah Hahn Campbell has been fascinated by the people behind place names. But she discovered little to no information on peaks, lakes or trails named after women. So, in 2017, the Denver-based author and high school teach…

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Driving a semi on I-70 can be treacherous. This Colorado trucking school trains drivers for the challenges of mountain roads 9:14

18d ago9:14

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A drive through the mountains of Colorado comes with breathtaking views, occasional glimpses of wildlife – and plenty of steep, winding roads. Sometimes that becomes deadly, especially for truck drivers. Even in good weather, mountain highways like I-70 can be uniquely challenging for professional truck drivers. And there’s no specialized training …

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Why AI may soon be used to help judges and referees call professional sports 9:14

19d ago9:14

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A new kind of commentator made its debut during the snowboarding competition at this year’s Winter X Games in Aspen. It's called The Owl AI – and it’s powered by artificial intelligence. The Owl AI demonstrated its ability by predicting the snowboarding half-pipe podium lineup, announcing in a cool male voice: “Third place Ayumu Hirano. Second Yuto…

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Aspen groves help slow the spread of wildfire. Here’s what that means for mountain towns 9:14

20d ago9:14

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New research suggests planting aspen groves could slow the spread of wildfires in Colorado’s forests. It’s an idea that could help some mountain communities seeing increasing threats from wildfires. A recent study looked at data from more than 300 wildfires in Western states. It found that large aspen groves often slowed the spread of forest fires.…

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Win or lose, Colorado Rockies fans love their struggling team. That may be a problem 9:14

21d ago9:14

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The Colorado Rockies have some of the most loyal fans in all of baseball. And that might be part of their problem. The Rockies, as you may have heard, are having one of the worst seasons in Major League Baseball’s modern history. And yet the fans still show up – on average, about 30,000 of them attended each home game so far this season. It's been …

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What a veteran journalist learned from trying psychedelic therapy – and how it made his life better 9:14

24d ago9:14

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Colorado recently hit a milestone: The first licensed psychedelic therapy clinic opened in June after voters here said magic mushrooms should be legal. So lots of reporters have written about the licensing process, interviewed therapists, and written about whether psychedelic mushrooms have real value in helping people recover from trauma, PTSD or …

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Trails on many of Colorado’s tallest peaks are in bad shape. This team helps repair them for future hikers 9:14

25d ago9:14

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Trails on several of Colorado’s fourteeners are getting a facelift this summer. Mount Democrat, Mount Bierstadt, Mount Blue Sky, and Mount Shavano are some of Colorado’s most popular mountains for hikers, but some of the trails on them are in rough shape. A nonprofit called the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) is working this summer to update …

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Colorado’s dry, sunny climate can be tough on vegetable gardens. Here’s how to help yours thrive 9:14

26d ago9:14

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If you decided to plant a vegetable garden earlier this spring, you’re probably already enjoying some of those home-grown tomatoes, zucchini, or peppers. On the other hand, you may have decided that the potential benefits of growing your own food just aren’t worth the effort. Colorado’s intense climate, elevation and scarce rainfall make vegetable …

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Colorado schools have a teacher shortage. Could an unusual apprenticeship program help close the gap? 9:14

27d ago9:14

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Dozens of aspiring educators in Colorado are taking an unusual path to earn their teacher certificates. They’re doing apprenticeships in public schools as part of a state program that offers an alternative path to gaining a teacher’s license and bachelor’s degree. Proponents see the program as a partial solution to Colorado’s teacher shortage, whic…

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Why a new CU study raises doubts about the accuracy of labels on cannabis products 9:14

28d ago9:14

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When we shop for food, the labels on our groceries give us guideposts, such as how much fiber, protein or fat is in that loaf of bread or jar of peanut butter. But more than a decade after Colorado legalized recreational cannabis, the potency labeling on products at your local marijuana dispensary may be far less helpful – and less reliable. A new …

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How a unique network of volunteers monitors Colorado’s butterfly population – and why their findings are troubling 9:14

1M ago9:14

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The red admiral. The black swallowtail. And the beautiful, bright orange monarch. Each year a network of volunteers fans out across Colorado to see how many of these, and other butterfly species, they can find. Those observations help scientists understand the health of the state’s butterfly population. Our guest today says that work is vital becau…

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Many of the country’s most promising young orchestra musicians spend their summer in Breckenridge. Here’s why 9:14

1M ago9:14

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Since 1960, the National Repertory Orchestra has brought talented college-aged musicians to Colorado to practice the art of playing in an ensemble. Each season, about 80 young musicians are selected to join the NRO in Breckenridge. They spend eight weeks rehearsing and performing in Summit County. Many of them go on to pursue careers in professiona…

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Alpine rescue crews in Colorado are saving more people by helicopter this summer. It’s dangerous work 9:14

1M ago9:14

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A few weeks back, a pair of hikers found themselves stranded on a cliff atop Quandary Peak – 14,000 feet in elevation – in cold temperatures. A rescue crew had to respond by helicopter and lift them off the mountain. It was one of 10 helicopter hoists that Colorado search and rescue crews performed this year through the end of June. That’s a record…

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The U.S. Senate appears ready to vote on federal funding for public media. Sen. John Hickenlooper has some thoughts 9:14

1M ago9:14

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The U.S. Senate this week will likely vote on whether to rescind about $1.1 billion earmarked to support the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for the next two years. That money ultimately funds local stations like KUNC and The Colorado Sound, along with NPR and PBS. The GOP-controlled House of Representatives has already voted to kill the fundin…

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The ‘Balloon Boy’ incident captivated the nation. A new documentary revisits the story 9:14

1M ago9:14

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In October 2009, Colorado and the nation held its breath as we waited to learn the fate of a 6-year-old who was thought to be stuck inside a silver balloon floating across Northern Colorado. The Heene family was living in Fort Collins in 2009 when they made a giant helium filled balloon shaped like a saucer. They called police one afternoon to say …

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Tubing season is a highlight of summer in Steamboat Springs. Here’s why it’s likely to end early this year 9:14

1M ago9:14

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For a lot of people, July and early August in Steamboat Springs is all about tubing on the Yampa River. People rent a tube in downtown Steamboat, hop into the river just a few steps away and float past wildlife and hot springs. Some days, tourists in brightly colored tubes stretch from one side of the river to the other. But it’s very likely commer…

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Climate change could make Colorado lawns suffer. Here’s how to help yours adapt 9:13

1M ago9:13

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A warmer, drier future for Colorado has many people wondering about their lawns. Drought and heat turn lawns brown or kills them altogether. How can we sustain a lawn with less water and less mowing? And should we keep them at all? Tony Koski is a professor of horticulture and landscape architecture at Colorado State University. He teaches a class …

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Meet the CU researcher exploring how AI could help us reconnect with a dead loved one 9:14

1M ago9:14

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In 2025, chatbots are part of our everyday life. They pop up on your screen while you’re checking your bank account or making an online purchase. But a few years from now, it may be just as easy to have a conversation with a chatbot who recreates a dead loved one. That’s the idea behind a kind of technology called a generative ghost. Jed Brubaker i…

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The emerald ash borer is spreading across the Front Range. Here’s how to protect your trees 9:14

1M ago9:14

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A tiny, green insect that bores under the bark of ash trees is spreading in Colorado. The emerald ash borer has been making its way around the Front Range for the last decade. It damages ash trees and often kills them. And this year it’s been spotted in Denver. Ash trees make up about one in every six trees in the urban forests along the Front Rang…

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The new podcast ‘Senseless’ looks at life after a mass shooting in Boulder 9:14

1M ago9:14

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How does a community heal from the shock and grief of a mass shooting? And how can people who have lost loved ones find a way to move forward? That’s the subject of a new podcast called Senseless. In it, journalist Erika Mahoney explores the aftermath of the mass shooting at a Boulder King Soopers grocery store in 2021. And it’s a deeply personal s…

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Why a plan to use federal land to ease housing shortages could be controversial – or well-received – in Western communities 9:14

2M ago9:14

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In the months ahead, leaders across the West will wrestle with a proposal to use federal land as a remedy for housing shortages. You may remember that a few weeks ago, Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah wanted to sell off thousands of government-owned acres in Western states, including some parts of Colorado. That plan died when some key Republican s…

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How NREL scientists developed solar panels that help grow bigger, tastier crops 9:14

2M ago9:14

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A solar panel that collects energy from the sun – while also helping farmers grow bigger, tastier tomatoes and other crops. A team of scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden (NREL) say that’s exactly what they’ve developed. And this new type of solar panel could lead to better produce and more widespread solar power generat…

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Loud fireworks can make Independence Day tough for veterans with PTSD. Here’s how to help 9:14

2M ago9:14

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For a lot of veterans, Independence Day can be a hard day.   Celebrating America’s birthday typically comes with loud, colorful blasts of fireworks. We don’t talk about it a lot, but for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, that can be a struggle. It can remind veterans of combat or other traumatic experiences from their time in the milita…

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How Detour’s new piece at Denver International Airport made colorful art out of used luggage 9:14

2M ago9:14

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Travelers making their way through Denver International Airport this summer may notice a colorful, distinctive new art exhibit. The project, called “It’s Not What You Take, It’s What You Bring Back,” was created from 183 pieces of used luggage, suspended over a walkway in Concourse B. They’re painted in the vibrant colors of the Colorado sky – turq…

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‘We sort of insert ourselves:’ Why this Colorado artist paints cell phone photos into iconic images 9:14

2M ago9:14

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Like a lot of people nowadays, Colorado artist Rick Dallago is very invested in selfies. But Rick, who’s a painter, thinks about selfies differently than someone who just snaps a quick self-portrait with their phone. Rick paints key moments in history and then paints a cell phone into the image. In one painting, a man takes a selfie in front of the…

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How to survive an encounter with an aggressive moose 9:14

2M ago9:14

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A few weeks back, Colorado saw three moose attacks on people in just three days. The incidents were reported in the Coloradoan. The attacks left three people injured. One of the incidents led to a cow moose being shot in self-defense, and her calf being euthanized. So, as more people head out to hike in the state’s moose territory this summer, we w…

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Hundreds of birds and other animals strike planes at DIA each year. Here’s how airport officials manage the problem 9:14

2M ago9:14

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Back in April, a commercial flight carrying 159 people had a major scare as it took off from Denver International Airport: The United Airlines flight struck an animal, which crippled one of the plane’s engines and forced the crew to make an emergency landing. As it turns out, the threat to aircraft from birds, rabbits and other animals is something…

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The number of satellites circling the Earth is increasing. A unique summit at CU looks at why that might be a problem 9:14

2M ago9:14

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The vast space around earth is getting a little crowded. There are nearly 10,000 satellites in Earth’s low orbit, the space just outside our planet’s atmosphere. And space companies plan to launch tens of thousands more in coming years. That could led to problems like interruptions to communications from satellites that monitor the weather. Or we c…

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A ‘groundbreaking’ law boosted voter turnout in Colorado’s jails. Here’s why it made a difference 9:14

2M ago9:14

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Last year, Colorado lawmakers passed an unusual law. It directed every county in the state to set up in-person voting for incarcerated people in jails, many of whom are awaiting trial and haven’t been convicted of a crime. The new law is the first of its kind in the nation. It's an effort to support voting rights for a population that is often cons…

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Leadville’s massive ‘ice palace’ was an engineering feat. A new book explores how it came together 9:14

2M ago9:14

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In 1895, Leadville city leaders faced a dilemma. The silver mining industry had made the town quite wealthy. But then the silver market crashed, and the city's fortunes cratered right along with it. Residents were leaving in droves to seek better opportunities. So, city leaders came up with an unusual idea to draw tourists to Leadville, entice peop…

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Art, music and theatre programs are dwindling in Colorado classrooms. But some schools offer glimmers of hope 15:14

2M ago15:14

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Many students in Colorado schools don’t have much of a chance to act onstage, play an instrument or hone their craft at painting. Arts programs in most public schools have been cut severely due to tight budgets and to make room for classes that help schools get higher scores on standardized tests. So a team of KUNC reporters recently wondered: What…

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How Colorado shed the 'Hate State' label in a legal fight that went before the U.S. Supreme Court 9:14

2M ago9:14

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More than three decades ago Colorado was known as the Hate State. In 1992 Colorado voters passed Amendment 2, which banned anti-discrimination laws meant to protect gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. But the Amendment never went into effect because there was immediate backlash. It was challenged again and again for being unconstitutional, bringing it a…

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How growing up in Colorado influenced Oscar-winning actor Hattie McDaniel’s career 9:14

2M ago9:14

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Hattie McDaniel was the first African American to win an Oscar. The actor won for her role as Mammy in the film “Gone with the Wind.” And McDaniel spent much of her childhood in Colorado: A plaque marks her family’s former home in Fort Collins. Growing up, she attended public schools in Denver. McDaniel was in her 40s when she won the best supporti…

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Why a CU researcher thinks a vaccine against weight gain could be on the horizon 9:14

2M ago9:14

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A vaccine against weight gain may be a reality soon, thanks to new research from the University of Colorado Boulder. The study focuses on a strain of bacteria that prevents obesity by reducing inflammation. Chris Lowry is a professor of integrative physiology and CU and led the research. His study found that he could prevent mice from becoming over…

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Lincoln Hills was an important mountain resort for Black Americans. A new History Colorado exhibit revisits it 9:14

2M ago9:14

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Summer heat in Colorado has many people dreaming about escaping to the cool air of the mountains. But for Black Americans in the 1920s and 30s, segregation and discrimination severely restricted where they could travel and take a vacation. Which is why, in 1922, Lincoln Hills emerged as a mountain resort created by and for African Americans. It sit…

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Colorado’s landfills are a major source of methane emissions. Here’s how regulators hope to change that 9:14

2M ago9:14

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If you've ever walked near a landfill, or driven by one on a warm summer day with your windows down, you know there's a certain smell it puts out. But Colorado's landfills also produce massive amounts of methane, emitting as much dirty air as driving a million cars for a year. Landfills are the third-largest source of methane emissions in Colorado,…

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Why signs asking national parks visitors to report ‘negative’ historic information are causing concern 9:14

2M ago9:14

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Colorado has 13 sites that are part of the National Park System. And visitors may notice some striking new signs posted in the parks when they visit this summer. The U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service, is requiring the posting of signs that ask visitors to identify and report “any signs or other information th…

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Vegetables that ripen whenever you’re ready to eat them? Scientists at CSU want to make it a reality 9:14

2M ago9:14

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Imagine being able to control exactly when the plants in your vegetable garden will ripen. New research out of Colorado State University could make that concept a reality. Researchers there have been working to create what they call “genetic toggle switches” embedded in the DNA of plants. The researchers plug synthetic DNA into a plant’s genetic ma…

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A complex cleanup of ‘forever’ chemicals at DIA recently ended. Now what happens to the leftover waste? 9:14

2M ago9:14

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More than 82 million people passed through Denver International Airport last year – and almost none of them noticed the very complicated cleanup project happening right under their noses. Airport officials spent $3 million dollars cleaning up toxic chemicals left over from the firefighting foam the airport used on its runways in the past. The foam …