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Guest: Adrian Varney Proceeds Manager This marks the eighth year the Colorado Lottery has celebrated Conservation Month, highlighting the incredible outdoor spaces and experiences made possible through lottery players and the many partners who help bring these projects to life. The Colorado Lottery is unique in that it directs 100% of its proceeds toward protecting and enhancing Colorado’s outdoor resources. Last year, through the Starburst Awards program, the Lottery recognized a brand-new school and returned $181 million to Colorado communities. On average, 20 to 21 cents of every dollar spent on Scratch tickets goes back to the state, with even higher returns from games like Powerball. the ColoradoLottery.com

Guest: Amira Watters Executive Director Spay Today is a nonprofit, low-cost veterinary clinic in Lakewood dedicated to helping Denver-area pet owners access affordable care. The clinic specializes in spay and neuter surgeries for dogs, cats, and rabbits, performs about 30 surgeries each day, and also offers vaccinations and microchipping. By preventing unwanted litters, Spay Today helps address pet overpopulation, crowded shelters, and animal homelessness. Through its Spay It Forward Program, the organization provides reduced-cost or free services to ensure every pet owner can access the care their animals need. https://spay.today/

Guest: Tim Taravella Executive Director October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Sense of Security is helping Colorado families affected by breast cancer by providing up to $500 per month for six months to help cover essential non-medical expenses such as housing, utilities, and groceries. Since 2000, the organization has assisted more than 2,600 families, but there are currently 176 women and their families on the waitlist for support. To raise awareness and funds, Sense of Security will host Splash of Pink on October 16 at Mile High Station and Pickle Pink, a pickleball tournament, on October 25 at Chicken N Pickle in Thornton. With one in seven Coloradans expected to face breast cancer during their lifetime, these events help provide critical support to families navigating the challenges of a diagnosis and treatment. Senseofsecurity.org

Guest: Christina Amparon City of Aurora Youth Violence Prevention Program During the afternoon of Sunday, August 30, over 500 teens descended upon the King Soopers store and the Burger King restaurant in the Aurora Hoffman Heights Shopping Center. It took over 70 police to quell the vandalizing and ripping off of merchandise. These “teen takeovers” have also happened in Chicago and Detroit. This program covers what can be done to end them here.

Guest: Marissa Volpe Associate State Director for Livable & Diverse Communities AARP is the nation's largest nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping people age with dignity and on their own terms. As Colorado's population continues to age, AARP provides a wide range of resources focused on caregiving, financial security, technology skills, workforce readiness, and combating ageism. Across the state, AARP offers educational classes, community meetups, and programs such as Movies for Grownups. The organization also supports age-friendly communities by promoting initiatives that improve digital literacy, pedestrian safety, public transportation accessibility, and overall community livability for older adults. aarp.org

Guest: Gabriel Guillaume Executive Director Second Wind Fund works to prevent youth suicide by removing financial and social barriers to mental health treatment. The organization partners with approximately 300 therapists across Colorado who specialize in suicide prevention and connects them with at-risk youth referred by parents, schools, faith-based groups, and other community organizations. Serving 44 of Colorado's 64 counties, Second Wind Fund provides in-person therapy and supports between 600 and 800 young people each year. With Colorado consistently ranking among the states with the highest suicide rates, the need for these services remains critical. In 2025 alone, 65 Colorado youth died by suicide, including 25 children between the ages of 10 and 14. thesecondwindfund.org

Guest: Pearlanne Zelarney Co-Dir. Communications There is no higher civic responsibility than voting, with Sept. 16 being National Voter Registration Day. With 800 League Chapters in all 50 states, the League of Women Voters is working feverishly to get Denver and Colorado ready for the forthcoming mid-term elections. From registration to non-candidate ballot insights the League is getting the word out. https://www.lwv.org/local-leagues/lwv-denver

Guest: Charles Gilford Chief Executive Officer Inner City Health is a community-based healthcare center that provides medical, dental, and behavioral health services to patients across more than 30 ZIP codes in the Denver metro area. Serving a multigenerational patient base, the organization is committed to delivering high-quality, affordable primary care and provides approximately $1 million in uncompensated care each year. Their annual fundraising event, Jazzed, will take place on September 18 with this year’s theme, “Harmony of Healing.” The event will feature a performance by Hazel Miller, a silent auction, and catering by Spice of Life. JazzInnerCityHealth.org.

Guest: Maria Chavez Board President Front Range German Shepherd Rescue was founded by a former German Shepherd show-line breeder who recognized the need for breed-specific rescue services. Celebrating 20 years as an incorporated rescue in 2026, the organization specializes in matching German Shepherds with families that understand the breed's unique needs and temperament. Their greatest need is foster homes, which help provide temporary care for dogs as they await adoption. On September 12, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Skiptown, the rescue will host its biggest fundraiser of the year, featuring trainer demonstrations, a silent auction, a mini runway show with adoptable dogs, and a celebration of the organization's impact. Their message is simple: rescue dogs aren't broken, they've just been let down by people. FRGSR.org.

Guest: Dr. Xavier Glover, Urologist, Advent Health Parker September is Men’s Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Although men are doing a better job with prostate screenings too many are still unnecessarily dying from skipping the checkups. Many are also using self-testing to avoid medical professionals which have been known to deliver false readings. If you have been putting off prostate screening, and encourage those who have been to continue.

Guest: Dr. Hans Elzinga, Director of Special Procedures Clinic for Salud Family Health and volunteer medical expert for the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society has updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines to include a blood-based screening test as an option for people who prefer not to use stool-based tests or undergo a colonoscopy. Screening is now recommended starting at age 45 due to rising rates of colorectal cancer in younger adults. Early detection is critical, as colorectal cancer is often highly treatable when caught early. It remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, with more than 55,000 deaths expected this year. Symptoms may include rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits, narrowed stools, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, or persistent abdominal fullness. https://www.cancer.org/about-us/local/colorado.html

Guest: Angela Green Urbaczewski, Chief Marketing Officer VMRC. The use of wearables, voice assistants, streaming services and smart devices by older adults is increasing markedly. However, for many it is still challenging because of the speed technology changes.

Guest: Bill "Big Bill" Ficke Bill's path to owning a pizzeria started with a joke while grabbing a slice of pizza. When the owner mentioned he was looking for a partner for a new location, Bill jumped at the opportunity. A year later, he bought out his partner, and in 1995 the restaurant became Big Bill's New York Pizza. Following the events of 9/11, Bill, a New Yorker himself, opened his restaurant as a gathering place for the community and soon organized fundraisers that raised nearly $70,000 for firefighters and their families. Those efforts became the restaurant's annual Day of Giving, which later shifted its focus to supporting local causes in Denver. After losing his wife, JoAnn, to cancer in 2007, Bill established the JoAnn B. Ficke Cancer Foundation, and today Day of Giving benefits six cancer organizations. Each September 11, customers pay what they wish for their pizza, often donating far more than the cost of their meal. Last year, the event raised an incredible $170,000. https://www.jbfcf.org/9-11-day-of-giving.html

Guest: Anthony Moisant, Chief Information Officer Artificial Intelligence use is widespread and growing. One area where Ai is instrumental is with job searches. Today with Ai you input more than just a resume. For many companies their Ai system is also your initial gatekeeper. To use it more effectively we touch base with the operator of America’s leading job/career search system, Indeed.

Guest: Melissa Monforti Executive Director PlatteForum supports 50 Denver-area high school students each year through a paid, year-long arts internship program. Students work alongside professional resident artists as they create new bodies of work for public exhibition. Recently relocated to the Santa Fe Art District, PlatteForum is now surrounded by galleries, museums, and youth-serving organizations. Its current exhibition, Future Archives, features vibrant works in printmaking and copper sculpture created in collaboration with participating youth. The gallery is free and open to the public Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. The exhibition's title reflects the idea that the work we create today becomes the archive of tomorrow. platform.org