Best KUNC Digital Podcasts (2025)

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What a veteran journalist learned from trying psychedelic therapy – and how it made his life better 10:22

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1h ago10:22

10:22

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 10:22

22h ago10:22

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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 10:22

2d ago10:22

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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? 10:22

3d ago10:22

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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 10:22

4d ago10:22

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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 10:22

7d ago10:22

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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 10:22

11d ago10:22

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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 10:22

12d ago10:22

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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 10:22

10d ago10:22

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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 10:22

12d ago10:22

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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 10:22

14d ago10:22

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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 10:22

15d ago10:22

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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 10:22

16d ago10:22

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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 10:22

17d ago10:22

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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 10:22

18d ago10:22

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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 10:22

21d ago10:22

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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 10:22

24d ago10:22

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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 10:22

23d ago10:22

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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 10:22

24d ago10:22

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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 10:22

25d ago10:22

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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 10:22

28d ago10:22

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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 10:22

29d ago10:22

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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 10:22

1M ago10:22

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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 10:22

1M ago10:22

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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 10:22

1M ago10:22

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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 16:23

1M ago16:23

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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 10:22

1M ago10:22

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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 10:22

1M ago10:22

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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 10:22

1M ago10:22

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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 10:22

1M ago10:22

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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 10:22

1M ago10:22

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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 10:22

1M ago10:22

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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 10:22

1M ago10:22

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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? 10:22

2M ago10:22

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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 …

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This Boulder County clerk made history when she issued a marriage license to a gay couple 50 years ago 10:22

2M ago10:22

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Fifty years ago, two men came to the Boulder County courthouse, seeking a license to get married. Marriage equality was not the law of the land in 1975. But Clela Rorex, the newly elected Boulder County clerk, could find nothing in Colorado state law that would prevent her from issuing a marriage license to a same-sex couple. So, she did. And she i…

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How transporting renewable electricity by train could help Colorado hit its clean energy goals 10:22

2M ago10:22

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Colorado has ambitious goals around renewable energy. Gov. Jared Polis is aiming for 100 percent of the energy in the state to come from renewable sources by the year 2040. But there’s an obstacle: Colorado doesn’t have enough power lines to deliver all that renewable energy from where it’s produced – often in rural parts of the state – to where it…

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The Stanley Hotel is a Colorado icon. An unusual alliance could help the hotel thrive in the years ahead 10:22

2M ago10:22

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The Stanley Hotel is a cultural landmark of Estes Park. It was built in the early 1900s, and soon became a popular Colorado getaway for wealthy vacationers. But it's perhaps most well-known as the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining. Today, the hotel caters to horror fans with ghost tours, while visitors who prefer a calmer vacation enjoy wa…

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Sen. John Hickenlooper: Speeding up wildfire prevention work could help a “tinderbox situation” in the West 10:22

2M ago10:22

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Colorado has been impacted severely by wildfires in recent years. And, as climate change continues to intensify, the threat is growing. Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, recently co-sponsored a sweeping new bill to expand, and speed up, wildfire prevention efforts across the country. It’s called the Fix Our Forests Act. It calls for more…

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How an unusual CSU program helps restore bison herds across the American West 10:22

2M ago10:22

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A small herd of bison roams the Soapstone Prairie north of Fort Collins. The herd offers a glimpse of what Colorado’s high plains looked like 200 years ago. These bison are unique for a few reasons. First, they’re descendants of the herd at Yellowstone National Park. Second, while most bison today carry some cattle DNA, this herd has nearly pure bi…

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ACLU lawyers say camping is so central to Colorado’s culture that ‘camping bans’ should be illegal. Will a judge agree? 10:22

2M ago10:22

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A unique legal argument caught our attention recently here at In The NoCo. It’s about rules banning people experiencing homelessness from sleeping in public places in Boulder. The recent court filing by the ACLU of Colorado argues that camping is so fundamental to the culture and history of Colorado that cities should not be allowed to punish peopl…

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Afraid of flying? These tips from an MSU Denver psychologist can help get you off the ground 10:22

2M ago10:22

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Commercial airline travel is one of the safest ways to get around. In 2024, around five billion passengers worldwide flew on 40 million flights, according to the International Air Transport Association. In that year there was less than one aircraft-related accident for every million flights in the air. In other words, the odds are in your favor whe…

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Growing your own Palisade peach tree is harder than it sounds. Here’s how to give it your best shot 10:22

2M ago10:22

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Picture this: It’s a warm summer evening. You’ve got burgers and sweet corn roasting on the grill. And for dessert, homemade cobbler with fresh peaches – picked right off your very own peach tree. If you live along the Front Range, you might think the only place you can get sweet, juicy Palisade peaches is at your local farmer's market. But it is p…

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A Denver Art Museum exhibit helps visitors confront tough emotions – with help from cuddly, crocheted monsters 10:22

2M ago10:22

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Fear. Anxiety. Shame. And a horde of colorful, crocheted monsters. It’s all part of a new exhibit at the Denver Art Museum that asks visitors to confront some uncomfortable emotions. Denver artist Sadie Young has created cuddly and soft monsters with vivid colors and big eyes. And they’re all crocheted out of thousands of yards of yarn. Some are la…

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The goo under your fridge or air conditioner just might help fight climate change. Here’s why 10:22

2M ago10:22

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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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Latina mothers deal with high rates of postpartum depression. This unusual CU program uses peer support to help them 10:22

2M ago10:22

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The effects of post-partum depression or anxiety can be debilitating. Research shows one in five mothers experience post-partum mental health challenges after childbirth. And that number is even higher for Latina mothers living in the United States. Nearly half of them experience post-partum mental health issues. But organizers of a unique research…

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Drought continues to plague the Colorado River basin. Could cloud seeding be a helpful solution? 10:22

2M ago10:22

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Manipulating the clouds to make it rain or snow sounds like something straight out of science fiction. But in reality, the technology behind cloud seeding is decades old, going back to the 1940s. The science of cloud seeding got some new attention recently after lawmakers ordered the Government Accountability Office to look into the technology as w…

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Rock climbing without ropes comes with risks and rewards. This climber set out to crunch the numbers 10:22

2M ago10:22

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A few weeks back, Boulder Reporting Lab published an unusual article. The writer, Simon Testa, told his story using data and statistics to wrestle with the risk associated with a type of rock climbing called scrambling. Simon lives in Boulder, and scrambling is his favorite hobby. He even wrote a scrambling guidebook. He climbs up huge rock walls w…

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What would federal funding cuts mean for local public media stations like KUNC? 10:22

2M ago10:22

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It's a precarious moment for public media. The Trump administration has declared it wants to end federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting – which supports stations that carry programs from NPR and PBS. If you’re wondering where all of that leaves a local station like KUNC or The Colorado Sound, we’re actually trying to figure tha…

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The Colorado Rockies are struggling more than ever. Why do plenty of fans still show up to Coors Field? 10:22

2M ago10:22

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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 are off to their worst start of any team in Major League Baseball’s modern history. And yet the fans still show up. It's been the story of the Rockies for years: The team struggles. The fans keep coming. And the steady tick…

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It’s miller moth time again. An expert explains why they’re cooler than you think 10:22

2M ago10:22

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Each spring, the Front Range endures miller moth season. Even in relatively mild years, the tiny, winged visitors enter our homes, annoy us and even frighten us. But they’re also fascinating. So, we talked with Karim Gharbi – an insect expert and horticulture specialist with Colorado State University Extension – to unpack the mysteries of the mille…