The Daily Sun-Up

Author Wayne Hicks discusses Did All My Friends Have Fun at Play? , his oral history of the beloved children’s television program “Romper Room.” Hicks shares the stories of the teachers who hosted the show and helped make it a childhood institution for generations of viewers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross talks about how the Colorado ranching community is adjusting to the latest Trump administration moves affecting the beef industry and one ranchers approach in Boulder County. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Ingold and Michael Booth offer insights into a key upcoming court date in a battle between Children's Hospital and parents of transgender children, and a report highlighting how important clean energy jobs have become on the Eastern Plains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Colorado Sun arts and culture reporter Parker Yamasaki catches up with Amy Redford to talk about the humble beginnings of the now world-famous Sundance Film Festival, which moves to Boulder in January, and her father Robert Redford’s connection to Boulder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Colorado Sun reporter Parker Yamasaki gives her take on the recent North South bike race, a self-supported 643-mile race that started Aug. 28 in Fort Collins and ends when the last finisher rides into Trinidad. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Chris Vanjonack sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss creating his speculative short story collection "Out of Body". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Sun reporter Jennifer Brown interviews Publisher Larry Ryckman about the Sun's upcoming 8th birthday and our future plans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today Colorado Sun Public Policy Editor, Justin George, and reporter Colleen Slevin are talking about a story that reframes how we think about the state and its history before it became a top destination for craft beer drinkers and mountain bikers. What many might now know is that towns such as Estes Park and Fruita carry histories of racism and discrimination, pasts that a group of researchers have been digging up for the Legislature. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross talks about how the growth in northern Colorado spurred a push to create a chamber of commerce in the once sleepy town of Timnath and also team with nearby Severance and other area communities. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/29/rural-chamber-of-commerce-timnath-severence/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has covered the evolution of lift ticket pricing for decades and today he breaks down three antitrust lawsuits filed in Denver against the ski industry’s four largest players, arguing the operators conspired to inflate lift ticket prices. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/27/antitrust-lawsuit-targeting-resort-operators/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G. Brown, director of the Colorado Music Experience, sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss Harry Tuft, Dolly Parton and Colorado music history. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Colorado Sun's rural reporter Tracy Ross talks with rangeland conservationist and wolf advocate Matt Barnes about the new film documentary In the Company of Wolves, some interesting evidence he's seen around using cattle to fend off wolves, and how he thinks Colorado's wolf reintroduction is going, coming on three years after Colorado Parks and Wildlife brought the first 10 wolves from Oregon to the state. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today reporters John Ingold and Mike Booth have tips for keeping you safe around bears, as well as an update on a tuberculosis investigation at the immigration detention center. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/19/geo-group-lawsuit-tuberculosis/ https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/20/geo-group-immigrant-detention-center-public-health/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang gives us her first-person account of riding in a new driverless Waymo vehicle, which will be available to the general public soon in the downtown Denver area. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/21/waymo-cars-denver-map-laws-autonomous/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Colorado Sun water reporter Shannon Mullane breaks down a new federal plan on how to share Colorado River water over the next two years as the states continue to remain at loggerheads over a bigger long-term plan. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/21/colorado-river-water-restrictions-cuts-federal-management-plan/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joins us to discuss his new book, Borderlands: My Fight for an Inclusive America . Salazar reflects on his life, career and the experiences that shaped his vision for a more inclusive country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Colorado Sun education reporter Erica Breunlin has the results from the annual Colorado Measures of Academic Success assessment and breaks down this year’s data and what it means for educators, administrators, parents and students across Colorado. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/19/colorado-students-cmas-psat-sat-results-standardized-testing/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Justin George, public policy editor for The Colorado Sun, sits down with Colorado Sun political reporter Colleen Slevin to discuss why Colorado’s citizen-initiative process — designed more than a century ago to give voters a check on powerful interests — is increasingly shaped by special interest groups with money. We also discuss just how successful ballot initiatives are. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down the upcoming increases to minimum wage next year in Colorado and select cities, including Denver and Boulder, which have their own rate. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/15/colorado-minimum-wage-2027-impact-data/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Sun freelance reporter Betsy Welch discusses the uptick in bear activity this summer in Colorado’s high country, and how town and wildlife officials are addressing the increased interactions. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/14/feeding-bears-illegal-colorado-penalties/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.