Mile High Magazine Podcast

Guest: Lacey Wicksall Executive Director Wish Upon A Wedding is a national nonprofit that grants weddings and vow renewals to couples facing terminal illnesses or severe health challenges. Since 2010, it has fulfilled over 320 wishes with the help of a dedicated planner and volunteer vendors. Events are held on weekdays, limited to 50 guests, with $2,000 provided by the organization and the rest donated.  One recent wish was a vow renewal for a couple with stage 4 cancer and three teenage children. Their daughter walked down the aisle in her mother’s original wedding dress, danced with her father, and the mother was able to share a beautiful dance with her sons. wishuponawedding.org

Guest: Darren Smith, VP Finance and Admin Denver Pridefest is produced and managed as a fundraiser for The Center on Colfax which offers support, services and information year round to Colorado’s LGBTQ community. Although cuts in funding support for Pridefest will be a challenge for The Center operations this year, the Pridefest celebration goes on as it did prior to corporate support.

Guest: Cheryl Talley Director of PR/Communications Donor Alliance and Scott Pinkney, a liver recipient who is participating in the Donor Dash Donor Alliance, Colorado’s organ and tissue procurement organization, also manages the Donate Life Colorado Registry. Currently, over 1,300 Coloradans are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Remarkably, one donor can save up to 8 lives and help more than 75 others through tissue donation. Scott, a liver transplant recipient, has shared his powerful journey—an experience that not only transformed his health but gave him a renewed perspective on life. In celebration of that gift, he’ll be joining others at this year’s Donor Dash on July 20 at Washington Park—an uplifting event that brings together donor families, recipients, and supporters from across the community. donoralliance.org/donordash

Guest: Julie Klein, Director Program Strategy LifeTime Arts Visual arts, theater, writing and music are among the expressive ways older adults are now engaging themselves. Studies are showing involvement in arts can reduce fall risk, taking less medication, fewer Dr. visits, along with improved mood and less stress. Engaging in arts as a therapeutic health benefit for older adults is the subject of this edition.

Guest: Lindsay Zaback Development Director WeeCycle supports Colorado families by providing essential baby items—such as cribs, car seats, formula, and diapers—for children aged 0–4. The organization collects gently used gear, inspects and cleans it, and works with community partners to distribute supplies to families in need. Through mobile events in underserved neighborhoods, WeeCycle also provides diapers, wipes, and baby food directly to families. Last year, they served over 146,000 children across the state. weecycle.org

Guest: Amber Crist Atkins & Atty Tracey Groniger, Justice in Aging. 56% of America’s 38.1 million persons living in poverty are women. This edition in a series, reviews what can be done to better support those in this “poverty zone” and updates on strategies to minimize the risk of other women joining them. Interview at the American Society on Aging national conference.

Guest: Aisha Ahmad-Post Executive Director Located on the University of Denver campus, the Newman Center for the Performing Arts presents an eclectic mix of world-class performances, primarily in the acoustically superb Gates Concert Hall. Their programming spans contemporary and classical music, modern and cultural dance, spoken word, theater, and multimedia experiences. This season features jazz concerts, a Grateful Dead tribute, and much more. For those new to the arts, Aisha suggests catching MOMIX—a dance company known for its spellbinding blend of movement, illusion, and artistry. With something for every artistic palate, the Newman Center continues to be a cornerstone of cultural life in Denver. https://newmancenterpresents.com/

Guest: Renee Rosenberg Older adults whose previous years of reliable work habits are very much wanted and needed in todays companies. If you are in a job search now or seriously considering such again, to help support your positive mindset to be successful is the work of the organization Age-Rebrander. 

Guest: Emily Leclerq, Howard County Office of Aging Determining guardianship, advanced directives, medical orders, long term care needs are among the many considerations older single adults must manage alone. Being a solo ager, as they are termed now, can be a daunting task beyond just considerations for Medicare and Medicaid as strategies are regularly changing. Discovering your path as a solo ager without immediate family is the focus of this edition.

Guest: Scott Dishong President & CEO Make-A-Wish Colorado grants life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses across the state, fulfilling about one wish per day. The first wish ever granted, over 45 years ago, was a trip to Disney. As they prepare to grant their 7,000th wish—to a northern Colorado child who dreams of learning to be a cowboy from professional bull rider JB Mooney—they continue to expand their mission beyond terminal diagnoses to serve all children with critical illnesses. https://wish.org/colorado

Guests: Catherine Marienau and Gail Zelitzky Grown up adult women age 60+ are reshaping their lives growing into new directions, keeping active, developing and acting upon new interests in essence redesigning their lives. Helping them to get there are two ladies who conducted the workshop, “Women Over 70, Changing the Narrative” at the American Society on Aging national conference. https://asaging.org/

Guest: Steve Best Board Member The Honor Bell Foundation pays tribute to the selfless service of U.S. veterans. Their mission is to provide a dignified final salute during burial services, upholding tradition, respect, and solemnity. In addition to veteran outreach and community education, the Honor Bell contains 12 artifacts donated by families of deceased Colorado veterans, representing every U.S. conflict since World War II and all military branches. The bell is rung seven times at the end of the service, symbolizing service, patriotism, dignity, camaraderie, respect, honor, and the value of life. https://honorbell.org/

Guest: Deidre Johnson Exec Director and Dr. Oswaldo      In addition to their long term mission of supporting African Americans in Colorado with their health through screenings, nutrition education, mental health/wellness, and annual health fairs, the Center for African American Health is opening new clinic. The clinic will have health professionals on site, will do exams and make referrals.  https://caahealth.org/

Guest: Deidre Johnson Exec Director and Dr. Oswaldo In addition to their long term mission of supporting African Americans in Colorado with their health through screenings, nutrition education, mental health/wellness, and annual health fairs, the Center for African American Health is opening new clinic. The clinic will have health professionals on site, will do exams and make referrals.  https://caahealth.org/

Guest: Dr. Joseph Ramos Level 1 Trauma Doctor and Personal Injury Attorney owner of FitMD Have you heard about the miracle medicine helping people lose weight? The medicine over the counter is called, "Mounjaro" or "Wegovy." But the public can access safe compound versions of the medicine. It is called, "Semaglutide" and "Tirzepatide." These compounds help people lose stubborn pounds and fight off disease caused by obesity. What does it do to your body? What are the side effects and how long should you expect to be on it? https://fitmdusa.com/

Guest: Kelly Ostoff, Colorado Alzheimer’s Association April 17 is End Alzheimer’s Day. This program updates new developments and care regarding Alzheimers and dementia along providing 10 health habits to support the brain. https://www.alz.org/co

Guest:  Kelly Ostoff, Colorado Alzheimer’s Association April 17 is End Alzheimer’s Day. This program updates new developments and care regarding Alzheimers and dementia along providing 10 health habits to support the brain. https://www.alz.org/co

Guest: Julissa Soto, CEO & Founder of Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting, Office of Health Equity Commissioner Julissa helps people in the Latino community the health care system.  Starting January 1st of 2025, undocumented children and undocumented pregnant people qualified for Medicaid.  The health fairs Julissa host have vendors that are bilingual, they try to make it as easy as possible and be as transparent so these families know that they can get access to care.  There will be a health fair on May 17th from 10a-2p at the Mountain Christian Church.  There will be a wide range of vendors that will help with thing such as mental health as well as vaccines.  The event is free to the community. https://julissasoto.com/

Guest: Dr. Rachel Herlihy Chief Medical Officer The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment advises the state has at least three verified cases of measles. This edition will provide you with much of what you need to know to protect yourself against contracting measles.

Guest: Wendy Loloff Cooper CEO Generation Schools Network helps students prepare for college and careers, offering unique experiences and organizing events like Entrepreneurship Fairs. An upcoming fair on April 30th at Wiggins High School, along with mini fairs in Aurora and Colorado Springs, engages students by providing feedback on their business plans. The organization also addresses bullying by teaching that it’s unacceptable and exploring underlying causes, often providing support with social or communication skills. https://www.generationschools.org/

Guest: Cheryl Talley April is National Organ Donor Awareness Month. With over 1,400 persons in the state awaiting one of eight organs, it is a good time to separate fact from fiction regarding organ donation and encourage listeners to consider becoming donors. https://www.donoralliance.org/

Guest: Shelby Mattingly CEO Denver’s Early Childhood Council is dedicated to strengthening the childcare system, recognizing that childcare is not only essential for children’s healthy development but also a cornerstone of a thriving workforce. They ensure families have access to quality childcare, collaborate with partners to provide health and mental health support, and focus on early development. Their efforts include supporting existing childcare programs, training early childhood professionals, building referral networks, and connecting children to developmental resources. By nurturing a robust childcare system, they help lay the foundation for both the well-being of children and the sustainability of the workforce. https://denverearlychildhood.org/ 

Guest: Cheryl Talley April is National Organ Donor Awareness Month. With over 1,400 persons in the state awaiting one of eight organs, it is a good time to separate fact from fiction regarding organ donation and encourage listeners to consider becoming donors. https://www.donoralliance.org/

The Colorado Lottery is committed to giving back, with funds supporting the state’s beautiful outdoor spaces. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of players’ well-being. While lottery games can be a source of enjoyment, it’s vital to play responsibly and recognize signs like stress, strained relationships, or dishonesty about time or money spent. Colorado offers various resources to support those struggling, including tools on the lottery’s website. As a leader in player safety, the Colorado Lottery was one of the first to implement age verification on vending machines, ensuring responsible gaming. Together, we can enjoy these games while prioritizing health and happiness—because a little play can go a long way when it’s done right! https://www.coloradolottery.com/

Guest: Deborah Richardson Executive Director In the mission statement of the ACLU, the American Civil Liberties Union, you will find these words. We are there for you, rich or poor, straight or gay, black or white, or brown, urban or rural, pious or atheist, American born or foreign born, able bodied, or living with a disability, every person in the country should have the same basic rights.  The ACLU identifies itself as the nation's preeminent public interest law firm, an organization that is not anti-anything.  Their fight is taking on attempts to take away or to limit your civil liberties. https://www.aclu.org/

Guest: Lauren Abram, Forestry Program Coordinator and Doug Schoch, Forestry Supervisor Trees enhance livability in our city and have a lot of benefits.  They provide shade, reduce stormwater runoff, they provide wildlife habitat, reduce energy costs, and even reduce the heat island effect.  The Office of the City Forester plants between 1200 and 1300 trees a year.  The goals the BASA program are to enhance livability by increasing Denver's tree canopy and by improving and expanding the diversity of our urban forests.  To apply to have trees planted at your house and you live in the city and County of Denver, you only need to fill out an application.        beasmartash.org  

Guest: Dr. Premilla Banwait OD MPH FAAO, vice president of clinical programs, UnitedHealthcare Vision  Diabetes, a chronic disease caused by high blood sugar, is rising among young people, especially Type 2, which is linked to poor diet and inactivity. Uncontrolled diabetes can damage small blood vessels, leading to complications like blindness. Managing it involves eating fresh, home-cooked meals, staying active, and incorporating vegetables and fruits into your diet. Diabetes.org https://preventblindness.org/

Guest: Former Mayor Michael Hancock After leaving office, Mayor Hancock took himself on an almost bucket list in quotes tour of the American South to the heritage sites and museums that he had little time to explore while in office. This profound journey led him to establish a foundation to do the same for youth to protect African American history. While shaping and developing them to become the next generation of community leaders. https://www.hancock-foundation.org/

Guest: Nancy McKay Founder, Life Coach, EQUIS coach, Master Facilitator, SHE Recovers Coach Nancy helps women who are seeking recovery from whatever life has thrown their way and she uses horses to help her with this therapy.  Horses are great therapists. Their calm demeanor and giant stature have helped people overcome addiction, grief and even emotional trauma. Horses can sense conflict and with the guided help of life coach, Nancy McKay, women are finding a new life.  Nancy is herself, a survivor on many levels, from cancer to addiction, Nancy has battled it all at every age stage of her life.  It's never too late to do anything. https://www.womenempoweredrecovery.com/

Guest: Former Mayor Michael Hancock After leaving office, Mayor Hancock took himself on an almost bucket list in quotes tour of the American South to the heritage sites and museums that he had little time to explore while in office. This profound journey led him to establish a foundation to do the same for youth to protect African American history. While shaping and developing them to become the next generation of community leaders. https://www.hancock-foundation.org/

Guest:  Dr. Hans Elzinga Director of Special Procedures at Salud Family Health Clinic March is Colorectal cancer awareness month, colorectal cancer, is the second most common cause of cancer death in men and women combined.  A lot of risk factors for colon cancer are related to lifestyle, major risk factors include obesity, diabetes, eating a diet that's high in red meat or processed meat, smoking and significant alcohol intake.  If you were born in 1990. Your risk of getting colon cancer is 4 times higher than if you were born in 1950.  It's estimated that if they do sixty test, they can save one life.  If you're 45 or older, please talk to your doctor about getting a colorectal cancer screening.     cancer.org/colon

Guest: Isabel Dickson CDPHE Mobility Program Manager The new Colorado Family Affordability Tax Credit can help families with costs for clothing, food, child care, etc up to $6,400. Through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, their outreaches Get Ahead Colorado and Hacia Adelante, Coloradans can obtain details and how to receive free filing assistance. https://www.getaheadcolorado.org/

Guest:  Lydia Rhino Program Director Eating Disorder Awareness Week starts on February 24th. The Eating Disorder Foundation, founded in 2003, offers support to those affected by eating disorders, as well as their families and friends. Eating disorders thrive in silence and can affect anyone, regardless of size, shape, age, ethnicity, or ability. It's important to be mindful, check in with ourselves, and observe how we engage with our bodies and self-talk. The Eating Disorder Foundation provides various support groups and a mentorship program that pairs individuals with lived experience and recovery to those seeking help. https://www.eatingdisorderfoundation.org/

Guest: Isabel Dickson CDPHE Mobility Program Manager The new Colorado Family Affordability Tax Credit can help families with costs for clothing, food, child care, etc up to $6,400. Through the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, their outreaches Get Ahead Colorado and Hacia Adelante, Coloradans can obtain details and how to receive free filing assistance. https://www.getaheadcolorado.org/

Guest:  Paige Piper, MBA Executive Director Localworks helps and supports the city of Wheat Ridge to create the economic development and community development.  They are part of citizen engagement and community events.  One of the largest projects that Localworks recently completed in its organizations' history is Clear Creek Makerspace.  They have 3D printers, laser engravers, sewing stations, wood shop and metal shop.  People can come in and take classes on how to use the equipment.  You do not need to live in Wheat Ridge to come take classes.  Once a month Localworks host a Live Local event, they go to a business in Wheat Ridge with the goal to bring residents into the business to help with local economics.  Localworks wants people to know, there is always a place for you in the community if you live in Wheat Ridge or somewhere else.     https://wearelocalworks.org/

Guest:  Gary Reece President Cancer League of Colorado is an all-volunteer organization that started in 1969.  They are a fundraiser organization to fund cancer research project and organizations that serve cancer patients.  All the money they raised stays here in Colorado.  They host four major events during the year and the first one is The Hope Ball which will be held in May.       https://www.cancerleague.org/  

Guest: Paula Schriefer President & CEO “Colorado Welcome Back” is a program of the Spring Institute which supports internationally trained American health workers and health care providers. It is one of numerous outreaches for the organization that has been the leading language translation service for business, education organizations and government in Colorado for the last 20 years. They are also leaders supporting legal immigration and rights of naturalized citizens. https://springinstitute.org/colorado-welcome-back/

Guest:  Laura Crowley Executive Director Angel Eyes provides free grief counseling to families who have lost an infant or a toddler to unexpected death including still born or miscarriage.  Families are offered 12 sessions with a professional grief counselor.  Angel Eyes also provides group sessions.  Angel Eyes offers sibling counseling for children from 3-18 and they also offer counseling for the family unit together.  Angel Eyes holds four major events throughout the year to help raise money and a way of families to come together to heal.  On March 1st at Wings Over the Rockies if their first event of the year called Suds for SIDS.  The event includes a silent auction, games prizes, there will be 19 breweries, 4 wineries, tasting with restaurants, plus you get to tour the museum.       Angeleyes.org

Guest:  Kelli Melissa Reinhardt Founder of Make Mental Health Matter, and Nikki Brooker Founder of YANA Make Mental Health Matter educates people about mental health and suicide prevention.  They offer the program to people of all ages. YANA (You Are Not Alone) is a non-profit that supports mom with mental health.  They have a program that gives new moms wrap around support for a year for free.   Make Mental Health Matter and YANA have partnered with YANA to put on Rock Your Wellness is a Wellness Expo.   The event February 22, 2025, at The Village Work, Wellness & Event Center from 11am-3pm.  There will be vendors including crafts, silent disco, live music, food trucks, mini-workshops, blood drive, pet adoption, dance movement classes, trauma informed yoga, Fit for Mom classes, family fun and so much more. www.rockyourwellness.org makementalhealthmatter.org yanamom.com

Guest:  Dr. Joseph Silva  in the state of Colorado, there are 22,000 Justice Engaged Students.  These are students that might homeless, students that might be on truancy, (those that have been charged with different types of varying crimes).  A Justice Engaged Student is someone that between the age of 14 and 18 that has engaged in the justice system in a negative way or in a way that has created a deficit that then impacts their ability to finish high school.  Justice Engaged Students helps to ensure their pathway to high school graduation.  They have a 90% graduation rate of students that we've worked with to graduate.  The Justice Engaged Students will have a hotline starting later this year.  The hotline is for anybody to call and get resources and to understand the legislation and the laws and more so the constitutional rights of a student to be educated in the state of Colorado.  It’s about one student, one student at a time. justiceengagestudents.org

Guest: Paula Schriefer President & CEO “Colorado Welcome Back” is a program of the Spring Institute which supports internationally trained American health workers and health care providers. It is one of numerous outreaches for the organization that has been the leading language translation service for business, education organizations and government in Colorado for the last 20 years. They are also leaders supporting legal immigration and rights of naturalized citizens. https://springinstitute.org/colorado-welcome-back/

Guest: Dr. Hans Elzinga, Volunteer, Director of Special Procedures Clinic, Salud Family Health In January, the American Cancer Society released its 2025 Cancer Facts & Figures report, the report is an update that shows trends with cancer diagnoses and deaths, the report also showed statistics of what is happening in Colorado.  In Colorado, there will be an estimated 29,020 new cases of cancer diagnosed in 2025 and an estimated 8,620 deaths.  Cancer is still more common in men then women but there has been a shift in women 50-64.  Colorectal cancer in men and women under 65 have increased.  Doctors are still not sure why the rates are going up in some cancers.  Early detection or prevention screenings are key.  Know your family history of cancer, it can make a big difference in your overall health.     https://www.cancer.org/about-us/local/colorado.html   

Guest: Heather Burke, spokesperson for Donor Alliance and Niki Kigerl, Teacher from Eaglecrest High School Donor Alliance’s Community of Excellence Award is presented each year to individuals or organizations in Colorado and Wyoming who go above and beyond to educate and inspire others about the importance of organ and tissue donation.  This year’s recipient is Niki Kigerl, her son was born with a rare liver disease and will eventually need a transplant, so she knows firsthand the importance of organ and tissue donation.  Donor Alliance’s Transplantation Science Program gives students an interactive look at the science behind organ and tissue donation.  Transplantation Science Program is offered in two languages in schools throughout Colorado and Wyoming.       DonorAlliance.org

Guest:  Kristen Tonevero Cardiologist with Intermountain Health   February is American Heart Month, aiming to raise awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S. The American Heart Association encourages everyone to prioritize heart health through regular exercise and stress management. Heart disease encompasses various cardiovascular issues, with common forms including coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Women and diabetics often experience atypical heart disease symptoms, making early detection and attention to heart health crucial.  Don't ignore your symptoms, we didn't get here overnight so don't expect to change it overnight. heart.org

Guest: Marlene Bedoya Communications Director  Transforming lives through free legal aid, advocacy and education to seek justice for the most vulnerable in our community is the mission of the Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Center. Organized in 2006 JAMLAC is a faith based non-profit initiative that has assisted over 20.000 low income community members. https://jamlac.org/

Guest: Cassidy Smith Executive Director Colorado Access has been around for 30 years, they are the largest Medicaid health plan in the state, and they established our foundation, the Colorado Access Foundation in the fall of 2021.  Forming the foundation was a way for the company Colorado Access to ensure that there is dedicated resources and funding available to tackle some of the root causes of health disparities that we see in our state.  The Colorado Access Foundation works with partners and funding partners who are focused on building a more diverse healthcare workforce in our state.  Also improving the key conditions that affect health like access to housing, food and transportation.  Colorado Access Foundation gave a grant to Capital TGTHR, they're an organization in Colorado that's working to end youth homelessness.  The grant allowed them to hire a full-time behavioral health clinician to be on site at a new supportive housing site called Nest 56. Coaccessfoundation.org

Guest: Richard Lewis RTL Founder and CEO  The RTL Foundation is established to give and assist BIPOC, Black, Indigenous People of Color, non-profit organizations to provide them the office support and resources help them develop and become successful in the long term. RTL is founded the three principals of the African American timeline history, entrepreneurship, and technology. https://rtl-foundation.org/

Guest: Maria Trujillo Division of Criminal Justice January is national human trafficking prevention month, it is a month dedicated to helping raise awareness for everyone.  Human trafficking consists of the denial of a person’s human rights to freedom and basic dignity. It's the exploitation of another person to force fraud or coercion for some type of labor, including within the commercial sex sector, as well as other industries such as traveling sales, crew, agriculture, construction. Hospitality, just to name a few.  The majority of human trafficking is in labor trafficking versus sex trafficking and both of those happen in Colorado.  A lot of people don't know and don't have the language to describe their situation as human trafficking.  The Colorado Human Trafficking Council has a campaign that will help you understand all of this and how to report it. https://thisishumantrafficking.com/

Guest: Colorado State Attorney General Phil Weiser With the success of the Colorado State lawsuit to block the merger of food stores King Soopers and Albertsons/Safeway we touch base with Attorney General Phil Weiser regarding this, the lawsuit that ended Wyatts Towing, the of the opiods settlement, the continuing effectiveness of the reporting service for students Safe2Tell and others matters of public significance. 

Guest: Amanda Gordon Owner Amanda started the first black woman owned car dealership in Colorado, she started her business with just $10,000.  She got her dealer license in 2018.  Amanda is also the first black woman to sit on the Colorado State dealer board. She may be the first but knows she will not be the last and will set the standard and example for women of color that come after her to be comfortable, confident and be successful in being an owner.  Amanda also has a podcast called Mind Your Business, it is about being on your mind about your business.  Amanda has a blueprint that will help, and the first thing is to have a business model.  She also wants people to know consistency is key.  No one is going to bet on you how you will bet on you! https://www.gojoauto.com/

Guest: Yusef Lateef Founder and Director The Second Chance Center in Aurora works with newly released offenders to get them a better return into society to prevent them from returning again to jail. Begun as a former inmate assisting others, the center has now prevented over 80% of those they assist from becoming repeat offenders.