Episode 4: The Path Ahead

Grassland conservation remains one of this century’s most pressing challenges. How do we turn the tide in order to ensure a healthy, sustainable future for these ecosystems? The final episode of our series will take the long view “looking east” from Denver, examining previous successes that can be built upon as well as newer policies and programs that might point the way forward. We’ll also talk about the ways that both rural and urban consumers can get more actively engaged with agricultural issues, reduce misconceptions, and contribute to shared successes wherever they live.

August 2021: Vaccine & Variant Update

Despite a springtime vaccination boom, the United States finds itself at a COVID-19 inflection point once again. The ascendent Delta variant has brought a spike in cases and hospitalizations, particularly in areas of the country where lingering vaccine hesitancy has slowed inoculation rates. Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an Associate Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, covers the latest on breakthrough infections and new mutations.

April 2021: Reflections On Our Pandemic Year

New and returning guests share their reflections on a year that re-shaped our world. Featured speakers include:
• Rachel Herlihy, MD, MPH/MSPH, State Epidemiologist for the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
• Cerise Hunt, PhD, MSW, Director for the Center for Public Health Practice and Assistant Professor in Community and Behavioral Health at Colorado School of Public Health
• Bobby LeFebre, Colorado Poet Laureate
• Traci Priebe, RN, BSN, CCRN, Charge Nurse in the medical ICU at the University of Colorado Hospital
• Jonathan Samet, MD, MS, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Health and Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health
• George Sparks, President & CEO, Denver Museum of Nature & Science

March 2021: The New Normal for Business & Economics

The state of the economy encapsulates all of the challenges and tradeoffs inherent in navigating a once-in-a-generation pandemic. So where do we go from here? Check out our conversation with Michael Hancock, Mayor of Denver; Deborah Jordy, Executive Director of the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District; and Ed Sealover, Senior Reporter at the Denver Business Journal, who covered the latest trends across different sectors and provided an outlook on what the economic future will look like for cities and communities.

March 2021: The New Normal for Education

Due to COVID-19 disruptions, the role of schools in our society has perhaps never been in greater focus. Yet the pandemic may offer unexpected opportunities as well, ushering in new tools and structures that could help schools emerge stronger on the other side, better prepared to help their students develop both in person and online. We welcome Rebecca Holmes, President & CEO of the Colorado Education Initiative; Christie Imholt, District Policy Director in the Office of the Superintendent, ‎Aurora Public Schools; and Landon Pirius, Vice President for Organizational Effectiveness, Student Affairs, and Strategic Initiatives for the Colorado Community College System to discuss.

February 2021: The New Normal for Science & Public Health

The long-term effects of this disruptive year of COVID on the scientific enterprise may not be fully realized for a decade. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, President of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, joins us to talk about how the medical and scientific worlds have shifted as we eventually move beyond the pandemic. What has changed for scientists in terms of funding, research focus, public trust, misinformation, and the place of science in our society? And what are his hopes for the future once COVID-19 recedes?

February 2021: Variants & Mutations

Viruses are ever-changing by nature, and each mutated strain poses new and different challenges. What can epidemiology tell us about these new SARS-CoV-2 variants? And how can public health officials stay one step ahead? Check out our recent discussion with Dr. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at Georgetown University's Center for Global Health and Security, discusses the evidence for higher variant transmissibility and what we know about the efficacy of existing vaccines against mutations.

January 2021: The National Response w/ Dr. Tom Frieden

Dr. Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives and the former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention joins us to discuss the role and responsibilities of the federal government in organizing large-scale public health responses, the importance of accountability and transparency, and assess the 2021 state of play.

January 2021: A Conversation w/ Governor Jared Polis

Since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Colorado on March 5, 2020, Governor Jared Polis has led the state's response, balancing public safety with social activity and the economy. He shares his firsthand experiences and talks about what lies ahead for the new year.

December 2020: Reflections on 2020 w/ Dr. Nicholas Christakis

2020 has challenged us both as decision-makers and as human beings, forcing a collective reconsideration of what it means to live in a time of plague. But history and science can both be our guides if we allow them to be, argues Nicholas A. Christakis, Sterling Professor of Social and Natural Science at Yale University, who has studied the progression of the novel coronavirus across a range of disciplines.

November 2020: COVID-19 vs. Influenza

COVID-19 and influenza are both highly contagious respiratory illnesses that can manifest with similar symptoms. With flu season returning to the U.S., scientists and public health officials are closely monitoring the overlap and bracing for additional strain on healthcare resources. As the two diseases set out on a possible collision course, how should we be assessing risk and adapting responsibly? Jon Andrus, MD, Adjunct Professor and Director of Division of Vaccines and Immunization at the Colorado School of Public Health, and Suchitra Rao, MD, Associate Professor, Pediatrics-Pediatric Hospital Medicine at the Colorado School of Medicine, compare and contrast the two diseases.

October 2020: COVID-19 Open Forum

From testing to treatments to tracking the spread, we turn the floor over to our audience to find out what questions are on your mind and ask our panel of experts to weigh in. Featuring Michelle Barron, MD, Professor of Medicine-Infectious Disease at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Jude Bayham, Assistant Professor of Agricultural & Resource Economics at Colorado State University, C. Neill Epperson, MD, Chair of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Jonathan Samet, MD, MS, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Health and Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health.

October 2020: COVID-19 in Colorado, Six Months In

Since March, state public health officials have been grappling with the challenges of the pandemic and implementing new policies at a rapid pace. How has Colorado’s response evolved since that first wave of cases in the spring, and what insights have we gained about communication, testing, tradeoffs, and the efficacy of public health guidance? Jill Hunsaker Ryan, MPH, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and Kacey Wulff, Senior Advisor for COVID-19 Response, Resilience, and Recovery in the Office of Governor Jared Polis, discuss the latest caseload data, update us on available public resources, and assess the state’s current level of infrastructure and preparedness before winter sets in.

September 2020: COVID-19 in the U.S., Six Months In

Georges C. Benjamin, MD, Executive Director of the American Public Health Association, joins us to highlight big picture lessons from the pandemic so far - including early missteps and ongoing course corrections that will likely shape the course of the coming year - as well as the state of the nation’s healthcare infrastructure and strategies to build resilience.

August 2020: Aerosols & Airborne Transmission

What does the current science tell us about exposure indoors? Shelly Miller, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, and Jonathan Samet, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Health and Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, discuss the science of viral aerosol transmission and the emerging importance of adequate building ventilation.

August 2020: Economic Impacts

COVID-19 has sent shock waves through every sector of the U.S. economy, leaving businesses to navigate an uncertain future and millions of workers out of a job. While some industries look poised to bounce back quickly once the pandemic recedes, others may struggle and/or be permanently reshaped. What will meaningful recovery look like in Colorado, and when might it arrive? Join us to discuss the state of the economy and forecast the rest of 2020 with Kelly Brough, President and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Richard Wobbekind, Associate Dean for Business & Government Relations at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.

August 2020: COVID-19 in Latin America

We’re taking an international view of the epidemic with Dr. Edwin Asturias, Professor of Pediatrics-Infectious Disease at the CU School of Medicine, Professor of Epidemiology and Director of Latin American Projects for the Center for Global Health at the Colorado School of Public Health and Dr. Mauricio Hernández Ávila, Director of Economic and Social Benefits at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), as they share stories from Latin American communities, discuss commonalities with the U.S. public health response, and outline strategies to help improve care and prevent humanitarian crises amidst a pandemic.

August 2020: Mental Health

For many Americans, the stresses of COVID-19 extend well beyond the virus itself. We may be feeling isolated after months of physical distancing, fearful for our own personal safety, or anxious about household finances and the state of the economy. Frustration, helplessness, depression, exhaustion, anger, grief ─ our emotions can run the gamut, and no two people will ever navigate trauma in quite the same way. Mercedez Lang and Michelle Tijerina, both practitioners and ambassadors for the Healthy Living Team at the Mental Health Center of Denver, discuss recent trends and data surrounding mental health, strategies to stay connected with others during times of change, and other educational enrichment opportunities that are available as we navigate the new normal.

August 2020: Zoonotic Spillover & Emerging Viruses

COVID-19 isn’t the first virus to make the leap from animals to humans, and if history is any guide, it won’t be the last. Novel zoonotic diseases can persist benignly inside an animal host for years, waiting patiently for an opportunity to jump to a new species and wreak havoc. What have researchers learned that might help us prevent future global outbreaks? We chat about spillover with Brian Foy, PhD, and Tony Schountz, PhD, both Professors in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology at Colorado State University.

July 2020: Mid-Summer Update

Amidst a nationwide resurgence of COVID-19, Colorado scientists, health officials, and policymakers continue to closely monitor the disease’s progression within the state. We assess the “state of the state” with Jonathan Samet, MD, MS, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Health and Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health. Later, he's joined by John M. Douglas, Jr., MD, Executive Director of the Tri-County Health Department, and Karen Koenemann, Public Health Director for Pitkin County, for a discussion on how different areas of Colorado face different challenges in their respective public health responses.

July 2020: Race and Inequality (Part Two)

The systemic inequities in the American healthcare system existed long before COVID-19 ever arrived. Throughout history, Black, Latino, Native, and Indigenous communities have borne a disproportionate burden in public health crises due to a lack of affordable and accessible treatment options. We discuss outreach and engagement strategies as well as ways to bridge the wellness divide with a panel of distinguished guests:
• Alisha Brown, MNM, Senior Vice President, The Foundation for Sustainable Urban Communities and Director of the be well Health and Wellness Initiative
• Michael Cortés, MSW, MPP, PhD, Scholar in Residence and Special Community Member at the DU Graduate School of Social Work and Executive Director of the Colorado Latino Leadership, Advocacy & Research Organization (CLLARO)
• Jennifer Ho, PhD, Director of the Center for Humanities & the Arts and Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder and President of the Association of Asian American Studies

July 2020: Race & Inequality (Part One)

COVID-19 has illustrated structural inequities in the American healthcare system that have persisted for centuries. Black Americans are dying of the virus at a higher rate than whites, despite making up a smaller percentage of the population. Majority-minority communities commonly lack access to testing sites and other medical resources. We’ll discuss the history of healthcare inequality, trust (and mistrust) of health practices, data from the current outbreak, and possible ways forward with a panel of distinguished guests:
• Fernando Holguin, MD, Director of the Latino Research & Policy Center at the Colorado School of Public Health and Professor of Medicine-Pulmonary Sciences & Critical Care and Director of Asthma Clinical and Research Programs at the University of Colorado School of Medicine
• Cerise Hunt, PhD, MSW, Director for the Center for Public Health Practice and Assistant Professor in Community and Behavioral Health at Colorado School of Public Health
• Spero M. Manson, PhD, (Pembina Chippewa), Distinguished Professor of Public Health and Psychiatry, Director of the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health, and the Colorado Trust Chair in American Indian Health within the Colorado School of Public Health

June 2020: Misinformation & Misunderstandings

As COVID-19 spread rapidly around the world, so too did myths, exaggerations, and outright falsehoods. The flood of misinformation was often powerful enough to shape public perception and policy decisions. Steven Goodman, MD, MHS, PhD, Associate Dean of Clinical and Translational Research and Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health and Medicine at Stanford University, and Elizabeth Skewes, PhD, Department of Journalism Chair and Associate Professor in the College of Media, Communication and Information at the University of Colorado Boulder discuss how COVID-19 misinformation takes hold in the discourse and how we as citizens and the media can apply critical thinking principles to assess what we’re seeing.

June 2020: The Summer of COVID-19

Summer is typically the season of camping, grilling, and lounging by the pool, but some of our favorite warm weather activities could look and feel very different this year due to ongoing COVID-19 precautions. So what should Coloradans expect over the next few months? Is it safe to send kids to camp? Will I be able to go swimming? Will vacation destinations be open for business? And will the coronavirus make a comeback? Join us for an audience-driven conversation with Rachel Herlihy, MD, MPH/MSPH, State Epidemiologist for the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment and Jonathan Samet, MD, MS, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Health and Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health.

June 2020: Ethics in the Age of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised a number of complicated ethical questions for society, including if and when it is acceptable to restrict individual liberties to protect the public by enforcing quarantines, face masks, or event cancellations. In light of this, how can policymakers, scientists, and citizens best navigate these murky moral waters? And what do we owe to ourselves and to each other as human beings in the face of this global crisis? Join us as we discuss the ethics of COVID-19 with Matthew Wynia, MD, MPH, FACP, Professor of Medicine and Public Health and Director of the Center for Bioethics and Humanities at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

May 2020: Technology & The Path Forward

Colorado’s research community has responded swiftly to the COVID-19 challenge, with new projects already underway on vaccine development, diagnostic tools, biomedical countermeasures, and food system impact mitigation. Alan Rudolph, Ph.D., Vice President of Research at Colorado State University, joins to discuss the creative and innovative new ways that researchers are tackling this novel disease and draw upon his decades of experience in both biomedicine and global security to address how today’s infrastructure development can help build tomorrow’s more resilient societies.

May 2020: On the Front Lines

As the battle against COVID-19 unfolds each day in America’s hospitals, doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other caregivers are working tirelessly to diagnose, treat, and improve patient outcomes. Hear firsthand perspectives from a pair of Colorado medical professionals Marc Moss, MD, the Roger S. Mitchell Professor of Medicine and Head of the Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and Traci L. Priebe, RN, BSN, CCRN, a Charge Nurse in the medical ICU at the University of Colorado Hospital.

May 2020: Testing in Colorado

For weeks, the availability and accessibility of COVID-19 testing has dominated the national discourse. Who can get tested? How quickly do the results come back? Is there enough widespread testing to identify and contain new hotspots? In such a rapidly-shifting landscape, guidance can change quickly, leaving the public with more questions than answers. In the third part of our ongoing coronavirus webinar series, you’re invited to tune in for a discussion on Colorado’s approach to testing and how it fits into the state’s broader response. Kyle M. Brown, Ph.D., Deputy for Mass Testing and Isolation Support on Colorado’s COVID Innovation Response Team, separates fact from fiction.

May 2020: Social Distancing

Coloradans have increased their time spent at home since mid-March following statewide policy interventions implemented by Governor Polis and increased social distancing guidelines set by essential businesses. Using digital trace data, scientists have been able to study general patterns in population mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jude Bayham, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Agricultural & Resource Economics at Colorado State University discusses the study’s key findings.

May 2020: Vaccines & Therapeutics

The search for a COVID-19 vaccine has taken center stage, with all eyes on scientists’ efforts to develop safe and effective treatments at a breakneck pace. But what will a successful vaccine rollout look like, and when might it arrive? Michelle Barron, MD, and Thomas Campbell, MD, from the University of Colorado School of Medicine talk about process of clinical trials, what history tells us about possible outcomes, and which hurdles a vaccine would need to clear before it can be confidently distributed to the public.

April 2020: Controlling the COVID-19 Epidemic in Colorado

In our premiere episode, Jonathan Samet, MD, MS, Professor of Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Health and Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, discusses solutions and challenges around slowing the spread of the disease, as well as insights gained from working closely with state officials on their public health guidance.

Episode 4: The Values & Costs of Wolves

The presence of wolves on the landscape creates inherent tradeoffs. Stanley Asah, Professor in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences at the University of Washington; Shauna Baron, a naturalist guide in Yellowstone National Park; and Dana Hoag, Professor in the Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics at Colorado State University explore different interpretations of costs and values before looking at some of the most recent economic studies that put a dollar value and a price tag on coexistence.

Episode 5: The Experience of Living With Wolves

Our five-part series concludes with first-person stories and lived experiences from Shane Doyle (Apsaalooke/Crow), an educational and cultural consultant; Denny Iverson, Rancher and Logger at Iverson Ranch (Montana) and Secretary of the Blackfoot Challenge; and Kim Skyelander, Associate Director of the Center for Collaborative Conservation at Colorado State University sharing wolf-human co-existence strategies and what they’ve learned about balancing diverse viewpoints.

Episode 6: After the Vote

In November 2020, Colorado voters narrowly approved Proposition 114, initiating a managed reintroduction of gray wolves by 2023. Now what? Colorado Parks & Wildlife Director Dan Prenzlow, a Colorado native and a 33-year veteran of the agency, joined us to discuss the short-term practical implications of the ballot initiative result and then share some of CPW’s longer-term goals and vision for bringing wolves back to the state.

Episode 4: Transmission

When it comes to conversations around increasing renewable energy deployment in the U.S., one vital component often goes overlooked: transmission. High-voltage lines move wind and solar energy from where it is generated to where people are, but build-out has lagged behind in recent decades. We discuss the possibility of a nationwide "superhighway" for renewable energy with Dr. Christopher Clack, CEO of Vibrant Clean Energy, LLC, who shares findings from his proprietary WIS:dom® modeling on the feasibility of large-scale high-voltage infrastructure.

Episode 5: Accessibility

Colorado's ongoing energy transition isn't just about technology; it's also about people. Each year, tens of thousands of residents struggle to pay their electric bills or lack access to reliable energy. The cost of electricity remains a primary market driver and can greatly impact behaviors and attitudes toward energy. Jennifer Gremmert, Executive Director of Energy Outreach Colorado, discusses her organization's work to mitigate energy costs for underserved communities in Colorado before discussing the current policy landscape and efforts underway to address this crucial area of need.

Episode 6: Buildings

Buildings are crucial to our livelihood and they also offer a nearly unlimited canvas for creativity when it comes to sustainable design and innovation. Optimizing energy use in residential and commercial structures can help homeowners and businesses meet their efficiency goals while also serving as testbeds for new technology and material sciences. We chatted with Jamy Bacchus, Senior Associate for Building Performance at ME Engineers, Inc., and Josie Plaut, Associate Director of the Institute for the Built Environment at Colorado State University about construction, inequities, energy policy, and more.

Episode 7: Nuclear

Nuclear power is perhaps the most complicated and controversial element of America's energy portfolio. Although nuclear still accounts for nearly 20% of all U.S. electricity, the technology has seen its star fall in recent years due in part to a lack of investment in expensive new plants and lingering public concerns over safety and waste disposal. Jessica Lovering, PhD, Co-Founder and Co-Executive Director of the Good Energy Collective, makes the progressive case for nuclear energy and why the technology needs to be rebooted and reimagined in an equitable, socially responsible way if it ever hopes to regain favor with the American public and policymakers.

Episode 8: Entrepreneurs & Investment

Entrepreneurial innovation is a key factor driving the energy transition. Startups in the clean tech sector have proliferated in recent decades, pushing forward with new technologies and platforms, each one hoping to upend the status quo. With such a rapidly changing landscape, where does the potential lie for the next great disruption, and how will public policy adapt? Our Future of Energy series continues with Seth Terry, CEO of New Day Hydrogen, LLC, for a conversation about energy and entrepreneurialism.

Episode 9: Colorado's Energy Roadmap

In 2019, Colorado's House Bill 1261 laid out a series of carbon reduction targets: 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2050 compared to the 2005 baseline. The legislation set the state on an ambitious course for a clean energy transition, encompassing key sectors like electricity and transportation. Now, with implementation underway, what are the early successes and lingering challenges? What will the next several years look like for Colorado's energy policy landscape? We chat about the future with Will Toor, Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office.