Mandy Connell

Deborah Flora fills in for Mandy! Talking Christmas movies and more!

Where is AI already affecting industry, my dear friend and former newsperson Susan Witkin pops by, AROD's parents stop in and it's an Ask Me Anything sort of day!

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: AROD's Parents AND Susan Witkin!

AI HAS BEEN ADOPTED FASTER THAN ANY OTHER ADVANCEMENT IN HISTORY And I've got a guest on today to talk about where the product is having the biggest impact already. Trevor Wagener, Chief Economist and Director of the Research Center, Computer & Communications Industry Association joins me at 12:30 to talk about this fascinating report on how quickly we all began to and continue to use AI. This conversation should be interesting.

A healthcare roundtable with a focus on free market options, Trump gave a speech, and more power outages expected today.

LET'S TALK ABOUT ALTERNATIVES TO OUR BROKEN INSURANCE SYSTEM I've gotten SO MANY questions about Direct Primary Care and Med Share membership based health plans I'm bringing in experts for a healthcare roundtable at 2pm. I've got Dr. John Dygert, founder of Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care, Lisa Fagan, with Smith Medical, and Preston Guthrie with Zion HealthShare to explain how these programs are upending healthcare. We will discuss the nuts and bolts of how they work, why they are different than insurance, and the limitations for each. We will give a complete example of what a patient might expect when using these services and answer your questions about it. Click on each hyperlink above to reach each business, and rethink how your healthcare is paid for and delivered!

When will it feel like winter, Rep. Scott Bottoms on who he hasn't asked to be Lt. Governor, and get ready for power outages in some parts of the state.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Rick Lewis.

ABOUT THOSE EDUCATION TAX CREDITS POLIS JUST SIGNED UP FOR There is a lot of confusion from Colorado Democrats who think a modest tax credit given to those who donate to programs that give scholarships to kids wanting more from their education are robbing the public school system. Nothing could be further from the truth. I've got Norton Rainey, CEO of ACE Scholarships on at 2:30 to talk about it. ACE Scholarships (headquartered in Denver) a nonprofit K-12 SGO that's been delivering scholarships for 25 years is going to discuss Polis' decision, what it means for Colorado, and how this tax credit will deliver educational freedom to thousands of Colorado families. Find out more about ACE by clicking here.

REP. SCOTT BOTTOMS JOINS TODAY AT 1 Not only is he running for Governor, he's also been dragged into the fray with Victor Marx. Marx said on Ryan Schuiling's show yesterday (You should listen to that interview here) that Bottoms had not only asked Marx not to run, but had also offered him a position as Lt. Governor if Bottoms was the nominee. Bottoms says this is not at all accurate. Find out more about Rep. Bottoms' campaign here.

DAVE FRASER JOINS AT 12:30 FOR WEATHER WEDNESDAY And I'll ask Fox 31's Chief Meteorologist when it will feel like winter here. I realize I shouldn't complain but high 60s is too high for me right now.

An amazing story of recovery and success, great Christmas ideas for you, and Australia takes the wrong approach.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Ryan Edwards.

POP THE POPCORN, GOP GOVERNORS RACE IS ALREADY HOT and I talked a bit about this yesterday, but this morning my colleague and new KHOW Morning Drive Host Ryan Schuiling did a barnburner of an interview with candidate Victor Marx. Find that here. In it, Marx claimed that Rep. Scott Bottoms, another candidate, had asked him to be Bottoms' Lt Governor. When asked directly about that, Bottoms said succinctly, "is not being honest". I need you Marx supporters to help me understand the kind of support I'm seeing for a person who is a political blank slate. Ryan is joining me at 1:30 to talk about the interview, you really should listen to it.

WAIT UNTIL YOU HEAR NATHAN'S STORY Have you heard of Nathan Barkocy? He sent me this about his story:My story begins when I was 16 years old. Top ten in the Nation for competitive road cycling. I would compete in stage races against semi-professionals in their 30's and became the New Mexico State Champion and road race leader for the state. I am still the youngest to ever win the Tour of the Gila in the category which I was competing. January 23 of 2016 was the day it all changed. Being hit by a car at 60 MPH, I was declared dead at the scene. After being in a coma for two weeks, I miraculously opened my eyes. Paralyzed on my left side. I was in the ICU for a month, then I went to Craig Hospital in Denver for two months, where I learned how to live again. A nationally ranked cyclist who had to relearn how to walk, eat, talk, function again. And it only gets better from there. He joins me at 1pm to tell you the rest of it. Find him online and buy his new book here! You know I'm a sucker for an overcoming adversity story.

Another mass killing of Jews, Rob Reiner and his wife are found murdered, and what is going on in this world??? 

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Grant Smith.

THERE IS A GOP GOVERNOR'S DEBATE IN JANUARY And yours truly will be one of the moderators, along with my pal Ryan Schuiling from next door at KHOW (moving to morning drive in January!) It will have the top FIVE candidates, even though SIX were invited. Only Victor Marx said no, first citing an out of town fundraiser and then just passing when the offer was made to move the event to a weekend that could accommodate his schedule. I am less and less interested in Victor Marx as a candidate. Get your free tickets to the event in Greeley on January 10th at 1:30 by clicking here, but don't wait, they are going fast. Thanks to Steve Wells for making this happen, and Sheriff Steve Reams for setting it up. Ryan pops in at 1:30 to chat about the drama behind the invites with me.

I DO HAVE SOME GOOD STUFF TODAY And it is in the form of a wonderful woman in Lakewood with a dream of allowing people to get on stage and do something they've never done before. I will talk to Brit Stueven at 1pm today about her upcoming event at the Lakewood Cultural Center on Wednesday, January 28th called Not Til Now. What is it? A storytelling and comedy event where people finally do what they've always wanted — share a story, try stand-up, or create on stage — for the very first time. Find out more and buy your tickets here!

The song "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is NOT predatory and Mandy tells you why it's not.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Ryan Edwards AND Zach Segars (getting a fair tiebreaker).

HUMANE COLORADO HAS A PET FOR YOU! And their annual Home for the Howliday's adoption special is happening now! From November 17 - December 31, all adoption fees for dogs and cats 1 year or older are 50% off and all adoption fees for small pets (rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.) are waived! Stop by any of their shelter locations in Alamosa, Castle Rock, and Denver to meet your new best friend today! Find their website here. Mary Sarah Fairweather joins me at 12:30 to talk about it.

Today is Mostly Non Political Thursday so we're talking about stuff that isn't politics (mostly), but we took a Venezuelan oil tanker, plus a chat about Christmas movies.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Zach Segars.

We're hearing about weather, solving legal problems, and checking in with the Salvation Army's Red Kettle drive, plus DPS goes after innovation schools.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Rick Lewis.

THE SALVATION ARMY'S RED KETTLE DRIVE IS UNDERWAY And I've got a rep on today to talk about the Red Kettle Drive, their partnership with the Food Bank of the Rockies and more. If you want to know what the Salvation Army is all about, click here.

DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL QUESTION? My favorite personal injury attorneys join me at 1pm for an hour of Ask the Attorneys! Gary and Brad from Bell and Pollock will be in so get your weird personal injury questions ready. The weirder the better! Find more about Bell and Pollock here.

WEATHER WEDNESDAY AT 12:30 With our pal Fox 31's Dave Fraser. We'll find out if Wyoming got blown completely off the map yesterday.

Get out your wallets for Colorado Gives Day, Step Denver stops by, and Denver Public Schools is taking more of your money this year.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Benjamin Allbright.

STEP DENVER AND STEP COLORADO SPRINGS This program is helping men struggling with addiction get their lives back with a program of work, accountability and sobriety. Their success rate for them is well above what other programs can claim, and they join me at 2pm to talk success stories and their recent expansion into Colorado Springs. They take zero government dollars and help one man for one year for less than six thousand dollars. Donate to the Denver program here, and the Springs program here.

JIMMY KIMMEL'S SAD CONTRACT EXTENSION And I don't mean it's sad because he got an extension, I mean it's sad because it's pretty clear that ABC is just kicking the can down the road far enough to make it look like Donald Trump isn't he boss of them. Christian Toto writes about it here. Christian joins me at 1 to discuss.

A brewing group is making beer to help veterans, and Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks up loudly. 

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Nick Ferguson.

BREWERS HELPING VETS WITH BEER The Aurora City Brew Club (AC/BC) is a group of homebrewers who make beer for their own enjoyment. Last year they brewed a special batch of beer to support the Veterans Community Project and they are doing it again this year.

CHSAA settles on boy in girls sports, The Wine Yogi pops in to talk bubbles, and you need to sign these petitions!

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: The Wine Yogi.

THE WINE YOGI POPS IN TO TALK BUBBLES And she joins me at 2:30 to talk how to celebrate the holidays well. Find her blog and lots of great info on her website here, where she does a deep dive on the history of champagne that is super interesting.

YOU NEED TO SIGN THESE PETITIONS Erin Lee from Protect Kids Colorado is on today at 1:30 to talk about some pop up signing events for the three ballot initiatives they are gathering signatures for.

CHSAA SETTLES ON BOYS IN GIRLS SPORTS And this is just the first round as districts like D49 in Colorado Springs refuse to allow fundamental unfairness to harm girls. According to the settlement reached and announced yesterday, D49 and its co-plaintiffs will be allowed to do the following:• Maintain separate sports teams for biological boys and girls.• Keep locker rooms and overnight travel accommodations separated by biological sex.• Avoid CHSAA-imposed penalties for upholding these policies.• Comply with Title IX and the U.S. Constitution while rejecting mandates that put student privacy at risk.All of which is perfectly NORMAL (more on that later in the blog). They are still suing the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and the Attorney General and will continue moving forward with that part of the suit. I've got D49 Superintendent Peter Hilts on at 12:30 to talk about it.

How hospitals are driving the cost of healthcare, helping people with developmental disabilities, and the progressive income tax is coming.

Dad joke of the day, word of the day, Mandy's trivia question of the day & jeopardy! It's OF THE DAY! Today's opponent: Ryan Edwards.

JERRY SCHEMMEL HAS A CAUSE And I love this one. Our friend Jerry is working with Best Day Ministries, an organization that works to provide support and life skills to help them achieve at their highest level. Find out more about it here, and Jerry joins me at 2:30 to discuss it!

HOW HOSPITALS ARE DRIVING UP HEALTHCARE COSTS The thing that makes health insurance so expensive is the COST of the healthcare being delivered, and as we try to fix health insurance we can't do so without acknowledging what is driving those costs. One bit thing is hospital consolidation. Hospitals are buying up private practices, surgical centers and more and then leveraging their monopoly powers to charge more to insurance companies, who then charge more to insurers. I've got Peter Pitts, former Associate FDA Commissioner and President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest on at 1pm to talk about it. He recently testified before Congress and in part had this to say:“Healthcare in the United States is in a crisis of affordability and accountability. In 2023, Americans spent more than $1.5 trillion at hospitals—nearly one-third of total health expenditures. Hospital systems, especially nonprofit institutions, are the primary driver of healthcare cost inflation and systemic inefficiency.”If we want to lower healthcare costs, we have to fix this broken system. Peter also has a book out about the process of creative destruction and how to leverage it and you can buy it here.

A perfect day for Weather Wednesday, Boca Raton is coming for our business, and more on the massive fraud in Minnesota

BOCA RATON WANTS YOUR BUSINESS And I've got Jessica Del Vecchio, Economic Development Manager for the City of Boca Raton on to talk about office vacancies here in Denver and how they are trying to woo our business away. If you're looking to be wooed you can check this out. She joins me at 1 to discuss it. Just how bad are our downtown occupancy rates? Really, really bad. Maybe everyone is moving to Boca already.