Best KUNC Digital Podcasts (2025)

1
The Stanley Hotel is a Colorado icon. An unusual alliance could help the hotel thrive in the years ahead 9:14

1h ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
Sen. John Hickenlooper: Speeding up wildfire prevention work could help a “tinderbox situation” in the West 9:14

2h ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
How an unusual CSU program helps restore bison herds across the American West 9:14

24m ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
ACLU lawyers say camping is so central to Colorado’s culture that ‘camping bans’ should be illegal. Will a judge agree? 9:14

5d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
Afraid of flying? These tips from an MSU Denver psychologist can help get you off the ground 9:14

1d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
Growing your own Palisade peach tree is harder than it sounds. Here’s how to give it your best shot 9:14

9d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
A Denver Art Museum exhibit helps visitors confront tough emotions – with help from cuddly, crocheted monsters 9:14

5d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
The goo under your fridge or air conditioner just might help fight climate change. Here’s why 9:14

6d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
Latina mothers deal with high rates of postpartum depression. This unusual CU program uses peer support to help them 9:14

10d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
Drought continues to plague the Colorado River basin. Could cloud seeding be a helpful solution? 9:14

8d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
Rock climbing without ropes comes with risks and rewards. This climber set out to crunch the numbers 9:14

11d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
What would federal funding cuts mean for local public media stations like KUNC? 9:14

13d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
The Colorado Rockies are struggling more than ever. Why do plenty of fans still show up to Coors Field? 9:14

14d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
It’s miller moth time again. An expert explains why they’re cooler than you think 9:14

14d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
Colorado has a strong bicycling culture. So why have high-profile bike races struggled here? 9:14

15d ago9:14

9:14

Colorado’s mountain passes and great weather make it a destination for competitive cyclists. But the history of professional cycling races in Colorado is a rocky one. Races like the Colorado Classic, the Coors Classic, and The USA Pro Cycling Challenge have all come and gone over the years. So, we were intrigued when an events company recently anno…

1
These women inspired the names of some of Colorado’s biggest landmarks. A new book uncovers their stories 9:14

23d ago9:14

9:14

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…

1
Self-care shouldn’t be self-centered, a Boulder compassion researcher argues in his new book 9:13

19d ago9:13

9:13

There’s a lot of content these days about self-care: how to stay mentally and physically balanced when work, family or other stresses grind you down. We often see social media influencers posting about bubble baths, the perfect tea, or the best skin care routine. But a new book argues that self-care isn’t simply about focusing on ourselves. Rather,…

1
Why ‘No Mow May’ might be a bad strategy for a healthy lawn in Colorado 9:14

20d ago9:14

9:14

You know spring is here when the sound of lawn mowers fills your neighborhood. But some folks think mowing isn’t a great idea this time of year. There’s been a trend in yard care called No Mow May – as in, don’t mow your lawn until June. The concept started in the U.K. in 2019. The idea is to protect pollinators like bees and butterflies by letting…

1
Ready to dust off your bicycle for a springtime ride? We asked a bike maintenance expert for advice 9:14

26d ago9:14

9:14

Colorado is home to lots of people who are passionate about bicycling. They ride during all seasons. Our host, Erin O’Toole, however, is more of a casual bike rider, with her bicycle spending many of the colder months cooped up in the garage. This means it often needs some maintenance before going on that first cruise of the year. So today we’re ta…

1
Why a program that helped farmers and ranchers avoid mental health crises is on hold 9:14

22d ago9:14

9:14

For the past seven years if you were a Colorado farmer who was struggling and felt overwhelmed, you had a place to turn for help. The AgWell program offered mental health support to farmers and ranchers in several Western states. It gave them stress management tools and support from their peers. That’s important because farmers statistically strugg…

1
An unusual book of art is headed to the moon. This Colorado artist helped create it 9:14

25d ago9:14

9:14

An artist in Lakewood who specializes in creating tiny books and illustrations received an unusual offer recently. An art gallery reached out to Evan Lorenzen and asked for his help in creating a book of original art – no bigger than your thumbnail – to be placed on the moon. The Moon Gallery, based in Amsterdam, works to send cultural artifacts in…

1
How Colorado’s small outdoor businesses are coping with pressure from Trump’s threatened tariffs 9:14

26d ago9:14

9:14

When people speculate about fallout from President Trump's threatened tariffs, they often talk about how tariffs on steel could drive up car prices, or how tariffs on some food products or imported wines will drive up prices at the store. But tariffs are hitting some small outdoor recreation businesses in Colorado especially hard. Think about the p…

1
Why cannabis holds real promise as a treatment for cancer, according to a sweeping new study 9:14

27d ago9:14

9:14

A new study suggests that researchers should take a closer look at cannabis as a treatment for cancer and its symptoms. The team behind the study says the results suggest the federal government should remove restrictions on that research. An organization called Cancer Playbook, which is based in Evergreen, paid for the study. Cancer Playbook’s head…

1
How a team of CSU engineering students designed an innovative new prosthetic foot 9:14

28d ago9:14

9:14

An innovative new prosthetic foot dreamed up by students at Colorado State University could offer new options to amputees and other people with limb differences. The team behind it calls it the “Goldilocks foot” because it serves as a middle option. It’s more comfortable than cheaper prosthetics but costs less than prosthetics built for running and…

1
A Berthoud writer’s horror novel highlights the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women 9:14

29d ago9:14

9:14

Writer Cassondra Windwalker’s new horror novel uses fiction to highlight a real-life crisis that often goes ignored. Ghost Girls and Rabbits touches on the thousands of unsolved cases of Indigenous American and Alaska Native women who were missing or murdered. More than 4,000 cases fit that description, according to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affair…

1
Building data centers in Colorado: Do the economic benefits outweigh the environmental costs? 9:14

1M ago9:14

9:14

In 2025, artificial intelligence gives us personalized shopping recommendations. It writes emails for us. And all those quick tasks require lightning-fast computing and huge amounts of data. Which is why tech companies like Microsoft and Amazon are building massive data centers around the country. Some state lawmakers have proposed incentives for c…

1
Inside a unique program that lets high school students shape Colorado state law 9:14

1M ago9:14

9:14

Some of Colorado’s state laws share an unusual origin story. One set aside money to help foster kids attend college. Another provides free menstrual products in schools. A third law funded an awareness program to prevent eating disorders. All of these are laws that were designed and proposed by high school students, who actually drafted the languag…

1
Why a Boulder doctor who specialized in abortions later in pregnancy has closed his clinic after 50 years 9:14

1M ago9:14

9:14

A clinic in Boulder that was one of only a handful in the country to provide abortions in later pregnancy has closed. Dr. Warren Hern, who operated Boulder Abortion Clinic for 50 years, announced earlier this month that he was retiring and that the clinic would stop scheduling patients. The closure means one less clinic in Colorado at a time when m…

1
A CU professor got a grant to teach kids about artificial intelligence. Then the National Science Foundation abruptly killed it 9:14

1M ago9:14

9:14

Casey Fiesler had an intriguing idea for a research project. Casey teaches information science and technology at the University of Colorado. And she wanted to create social media content that would help young people understand how artificial intelligence works. The National Science Foundation, or NSF, liked Casey's proposal too — so much that they …

1
Fatal crashes involving pedestrians are rare in Boulder even as they increase statewide. Here’s why 9:14

1M ago9:14

9:14

Fatal traffic accidents involving pedestrians are on the rise in Colorado. In 2023, the most recent year for which data is available,135 pedestrians died in Colorado traffic accidents. That’s more than twice as many pedestrians as died in traffic crashes a decade earlier, according to a story from the Colorado Sun. But the number of pedestrian deat…

1
Fasting three days per week may be the best diet strategy for weight loss, a new CU study says 9:14

1M ago9:14

9:14

If you've tried a slew of dieting routines with minimal success – think the Keto Diet, Caveman Diet, or South Beach Diet – a new study says you might have better luck fasting a few days per week. University of Colorado researchers recently found that participants who fasted three days each week were more successful at losing weight than participant…

1
Finding a new home for millions of pounds of industrial waste is big business for this Colorado company 9:14

1M ago9:14

9:14

Recycled wooden barrels. Used steel beams. Reclaimed railroad ties. These are the kinds of things you can find at repurposedMATERIALS in Lafayette. The company acquires discarded industrial materials and products and resells them instead of sending them to a landfill. Damon Carson founded the business in 2011 after running two trash companies. The …

1
Want to plant water-efficient landscaping but worried your HOA won’t like it? State law is on your side 9:15

1M ago9:15

9:15

A growing number of home gardeners are turning to drought-tolerant plantings – think native plants like yucca, milkweed, or yarrow. For years, many homeowners’ associations in Colorado didn’t make it easy to install xeric landscaping or water-saving tools like rain barrels. But homeowners, state law is on your side. In recent years, Colorado legisl…

1
The elusive Mountain Plover draws hundreds of bird lovers to a Colorado festival each spring. Here’s why 9:14

1M ago9:14

9:14

Mountain Plovers are a celebrated bird species in parts of Colorado. But if you’ve never seen one, you’re in the majority. Mountain Plovers nest on Colorado’s eastern plains and are sometimes referred to as the “prairie ghost” because their sandy-colored plumage makes them hard to spot. The annual Mountain Plover Festival in Karval – which begins t…

1
As measles cases increase across the country, can Colorado doctors prevent an outbreak here? 9:14

1M ago9:14

9:14

Colorado health officials are watching with concern as measles cases increase around the country. Outbreaks of the highly contagious disease are on the rise in two dozen states. Most of the country’s 800 cases so far are in Texas. But the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has confirmed three cases in our state so far – and offici…

1
Paying to sleep in a parking lot? For some Summit County workers, it’s the best housing option 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

Housing costs in Colorado’s mountain resort towns are so high that many workers can’t afford an apartment or room in the towns where they do their jobs. In Summit County, dozens of workers opt for an unusual solution. They pay $75 a month for a pass that lets them sleep in their car in a parking lot in Frisco. The nonprofit Unsheltered In Summit ru…

1
How a retired educator is helping Colorado school leaders prepare for potential immigration raids 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

Leaders in Colorado are grappling with how to respond to the Trump administration's immigration policies that might affect students. State lawmakers last week gave initial approval to a bill that would limit cooperation between federal immigration officials and public schools. And for months now, education leaders have been gathering advice on how …

1
Friendships are essential to our well-being. Here's how to foster stronger ones, according to a CSU researcher 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

Friendships are an essential part of our well-being. Mental health experts say that loneliness is an epidemic that harms mental health and even physical health. So, if you want to build better friendships – and strengthen the ones you already have – you might be wondering how to go about it. Fortunately, there’s a bona fide “friendship expert” at C…

1
After a daring ski stunt turned deadly, this former Olympian created a unique safety class to prevent similar tragedies 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

A lot of young skiers and snowboarders nowadays want to break into an especially daring form of competition called freeskiing. It’s all about performing jumps and other stunts on camera, often in the backcountry. Freeskiers build huge followings on social media and win endorsement deals. But breaking into this sport is dangerous. Last week marked o…

1
Nuclear power is now considered clean energy in Colorado under a new law. Here's why 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

Nuclear energy is now clean energy in Colorado. That’s according to a new law recently signed by Gov. Jared Polis. The law adds nuclear power to a list of clean energies like wind and solar. Colorado leaders have set a goal of using only clean energy to power the state by 2040. The law didn’t pass without pushback from critics who point out that nu…

1
Cuddle therapy changed her life. Now she’s a professional cuddler – and part of a growing field 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

There are many types of mental health therapy you can access these days: talk therapy, art therapy, even music therapy. Jen Ikuta leads sessions in what's called cuddle therapy. It’s a growing field. Jen works with clients who want to learn to be more comfortable with another person’s touch. Many of her clients have experienced physical trauma, and…

1
Converting high-rise office space to dorm style living could ease Denver’s housing crunch. Here’s how 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

Researchers have proposed a plan to transform empty high-rise office spaces into living spaces to reduce the housing shortage in the Denver metro area. Denver is one of many American cities with a tight housing market and a glut of unused office space. A recent study by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the architecture firm Gensler calls for convertin…

1
Egg prices are still high. A Colorado professor says avian flu is only part of the problem 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

Egg prices in Colorado and across the nation remain stubbornly high. If you’ve been grocery shopping lately, it won't come as a surprise that the cost of eggs shot up 40 percent over the last year. Some experts have blamed outbreaks of avian flu, which forced farmers to cull millions of chickens and turkeys across the country. And while that is cer…

1
You had questions about growing native Colorado plants in your yard. We found answers, with help from the CSU Extension 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

A few weeks back we talked about how many Coloradans are planting native plants in their yards. And about how native plants are hardier, use less water, and can support bees and other pollinators in our ecosystem. We also invited you and other listeners to share your questions about native plants. And you sent us loads of responses. In this episode…

1
Sick of I-70 mountain traffic? A retired train conductor says placing semi trucks on railroad cars is the solution 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

If you spend time in the mountains, you’re probably familiar with sitting in traffic on I-70. That congestion is annoying – and costly. Colorado officials estimate the state lost nearly $320 million in revenue last year from delays on I-70. Some leaders in mountain towns blame these losses on semis that cause accidents or hold up traffic. So one ve…

1
This technology could make Colorado’s roads safer for bicyclists – but is it reliable? 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

The trial of a driver accused of hitting and killing a promising young competitive cyclist has made headlines in recent days. Seventeen-year-old Magnus White was struck and killed in 2023 while riding his bike on Highway 119 between Boulder and Longmont. Today we’re sharing a conversation about technology that might prevent similar tragedies. Magnu…

1
A Fort Collins runner’s extraordinary career gets a fresh look in a new documentary 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

An extraordinary Colorado athlete gets some much-deserved recognition. Libby James, a runner from Fort Collins, has a slew of accomplishments under her belt. She’s run 10 marathons – including Boston, Tokyo and Pikes Peak. She’s the most dominant female runner in the history of the Bolder Boulder 10k, having finished in the top 20 for her age group…

1
How Longmont’s GoodLove Foods found its niche in the crowded gluten-free food business 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

Gluten free foods are everywhere nowadays. They’re designed for people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance – people who get sick if they eat gluten, which is a kind of wheat protein. But our guest today thinks many of those products miss the mark. So, she did something about it. Chennelle Diong and her husband, Justin Beaver – both of whom h…

1
As Colorado begins to license psychedelic therapy centers, here’s a look at how the treatment works 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

Coloradans who struggle with anxiety or depression will soon have access to a different kind of treatment option. At the start of 2025, a new law took effect that opened the door to psychedelic-assisted therapy offered by licensed treatment centers in Colorado. State officials had projected April as the date these centers could begin offering thera…

1
Why a state lawmaker wants to make it easier to open charter schools in some districts 9:14

2M ago9:14

9:14

Some state lawmakers in Denver are using the term “education deserts” to sound the alarm around underperforming schools. It refers to a ZIP code where at least two-thirds of the students attend a school with subpar math and reading scores. One estimate says about 123,000 public school students in Colorado fall into this category. Some Democratic la…

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KUNC Digital Podcasts

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