The Casa Bonita Podcast

This is season 2, episode 4, released on April 2, 2021. The first segment of today's episode was recorded on March 21, 2021, the second segment was recorded on March 25th. Today I'm sharing a fun conversation I had with my spicy, saucy friend, Sarah Rosenbaum. On today's show, Sarah and I talk media, Casa Bonita (because duh), and then we explore the Classic Alfred Hitchcock film “Rear Window'' and what it would be like if it were set in Sarah's neighborhood, the area newly renamed as Central Park. Anyone who has ever lived in a place where your neighbors are all up ya bidness can appreciate today's episode. Having watched the movie is not a prerequisite. After my call with Sarah, I will talk about mental health hacks with my favorite Lakewood-based health coach specializing in behavior change, Jennie Page. Anyone who dabbles in lots of projects (like I do) can understand the messiness of the creative process. Sometimes you want to make creative changes, sometimes your computer stops working, sometimes you burn yourself out on season 1 with weekly episodes and way too much editing and have to pare down in order to keep going. Truth be told, season 2 of the Casa Bonita Podcast is stylistically informed by all of these factors. This season will have some different sounds and vibes than what listeners of season 1 have grown accustomed to. Throughout Season 2 of the podcast, my awesome, smart, funny guests help me reimagine some of our favorite movies as if they were set in greater Denver. Episodes will drop every other Friday. I had to stop releasing episodes every week, you guys, because this is not how I actually make money and I needed to slow the production pace. Speaking of money, the way I do actually make money is as a real estate broker and co-owner of Bluebird Real Estate Group, a boutique residential real estate brokerage serving the entire Denver/Boulder areas, with Offices in Lakewood and Longmont. I am the employing broker and I've been working in real estate for over 8 years! Bluebird is made up of 4 kick-ass agents and you can find us online at www.bluebirddenver.com. We are a growing brokerage, currently accepting experienced agents who want local support, competitive splits, and zero kool-aid. If you think you might be interested in joining us, check out our website, again that's www.bluebirddenver.com. Are you a return listener of the show? If so, please consider writing a 5-star review of the Casa Bonita Podcast on apple podcasts or on our website, www.casabonitapod.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

S2 E3: In this episode, I'm sharing a fun conversation I had with the woman rocking the darkest, most twisted humor in Colorado, Bonnie Rulz. Bonnie loves large lizards, Horror films, destruction, Youtube deep dives into the history of the guillotine, misunderstood creatures, and doing TJ Miller impressions with her hubby. On today's show, Bonnie and I talk media, Casa Bonita, obviously, and then we do a deep dive into one of Bonnie's favorite movies, 2008 film, Cloverfield. A monster movies for ‘merica. What would would it have been like if it were in Denver instead of New York City? Spoiler alert: the infamous blue mustang makes more than a cameo in this new and improved version of Cloverfield. Anyone who loves Colorado, or who wants to learn more about it, can appreciate today's episode, it's not just for the Cloverfield fans out there. After my call with Bonnie, I will talk about mental health hacks with my favorite Lakewood-based health coach specializing in behavior change, Jennie Page. You can find Bonnie Rulz at your mom's house and Jennie Page at www.oimcare.com. If you know anyone needing a real estate agent, send them to www.bluebirddenver.com. We would love to help them out and your vouch means the world to us. Bluebird Real Estate Group is a top-ranked locally-owned boutique residential real estate brokerage serving the greater Denver and Boulder metro areas. Are you a return listener of the show? If so, please consider writing a 5-star review of the Casa Bonita Podcast on apple podcasts or on our website, www.casabonitapod.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

This is season 2, episode 2, released on February 19, 2021. The first segment of today's episode was recorded on February 3, 2021, the second segment was recorded on February 15, 2021. Today I'm sharing a fun conversation I had with local writer and comedienne, RJ Rowley, a joker of all trades who captures life's absurdities on the page and keeps them there until the proper authorities arrive. A Colorado native, Rowley writes cooking-memoirs for kicks when composing humorous fiction and satirical guides gets too grim. Outside of her library of books, past publications include satirical articles, short works of fiction, and random acts of poetry. When not entertaining the masses or terrorizing the villagers, Rowley is an entreprehumorist who leads the Bexly empire to promote humor writing and create a supportive community for fellow jesters. On today's show, RJ Rowley and I talk books and music, Casa Bonita, obviously, and then we do a deep dive into the 1941 noir crime fiction film, The Maltese Falcon. You're gonna love it. After my call with RJ Rowley, I will talk about mental health hacks with my favorite Lakewood-based health coach specializing in behavior change, Jennie Page. Anyone who dabbles in lots of projects (like I do) can understand the messiness of the creative process. Sometimes you want to make creative changes, sometimes your computer stops working, sometimes you burn yourself out on season 1 with weekly episodes and way too much editing and have to pare down in order to keep going. Truth be told, season 2 of the Casa Bonita Podcast is stylistically informed by all of these factors. This season will have some different sounds and vibes than what listeners of season 1 have grown accustomed to. Throughout Season 2 of the podcast, my awesome, smart, funny guests help me reimagine some of our favorite movies as if they were set in greater Denver. Episodes will drop every other Friday. I had to stop releasing episodes every week, you guys, because this is not how I actually make money and I needed to slow the production pace. Speaking of money, the way I do actually make money is as a real estate broker and co-owner of Bluebird Real Estate Group, a boutique residential real estate brokerage serving the entire Denver/Boulder areas, with Offices in Lakewood and Longmont. I am the employing broker and I've been working in real estate for over 8 years! Bluebird is made up of 4 kick-ass agents and you can find us online at www.bluebirddenver.com. We are a growing brokerage, currently accepting experienced agents who want local support, competitive splits, and zero kool-aid. If you think you might be interested in joining us, check out our website, again that's www.bluebirddenver.com. Are you a return listener of the show? If so, please consider writing a 5-star review of the Casa Bonita Podcast on apple podcasts or on our website, www.casabonitapod.com. Find RJ Rowley at: https://www.bexly.org Find Jennie Page at: www.oimcare.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

This is season 2, episode 1, released on February 5, 2021. The first segment of today's episode was recorded on December 3rd, 2020, and the second part was recorded on February 3, 2021. A lot has happened in the world since I started recording this episode. Today I'm sharing my conversation with local comedian, Andres Becerril. We rap about pop culture, podcasting, Crocodile Dundee, and of course everyone's favorite Lakewood novelty restaurant, Casa Bonita. Then, I will introduce a new segment in which I will explore mental health hacks with my good friend and Lakewood-based health coach specializing in behavior change, Jennie Page. In this episode, Jennie and I talk about the vagus nerve. Jennie has a health coaching practice in an integrative medicine doctor's office in Lakewood. Jennie offers a free 20-30 minute conversation with folks who are interested in exploring health coaching. The purpose of health coaching is moving forward and working in partnership with your coach (Jennie) to make changes in your life. To book a free consultation, call Jennie Page at 303-350-7990. The website for the office where she practices is oimcare.com, which stands for Osteopathic Integrative Medicine, again that's www.oimcare.com. Anyone who dabbles in lots of projects (like I do) can understand the messiness of the creative process. Sometimes you want to make creative changes, sometimes your computer stops working, sometimes you burn yourself out on season 1 with weekly episodes and way too much editing and have to pare down in order to keep going. Truth be told, season 2 of the Casa Bonita Podcast is stylistically informed by all of these factors. This season will have some different sounds and vibes than what listeners of season 1 have grown accustomed to. Throughout Season 2 of the podcast, my awesome, smart, funny guests are going to help me reimagine some of our favorite movies as if they were set in greater Denver. Episodes will drop every other Friday. I had to stop releasing episodes every week, you guys, because this is not how I actually make money and I needed to slow the production pace. Speaking of money, the way I do actually make money is as a real estate broker and co-owner of Bluebird Real Estate Group, a boutique residential real estate brokerage serving the entire Denver/Boulder areas, with Offices in Lakewood and Longmont. I am the employing broker and I've been working in real estate for over 8 years! Bluebird is made up of 4 kick-ass agents and you can find us online at www.bluebirddenver.com. We are a growing brokerage, currently accepting experienced agents who want local support, competitive splits, and zero kool-aid. If you think you might be interested in joining us, check out our website, again that's www.bluebirddenver.com. Are you a return listener of the show? If so, please consider writing a 5-star review of the Casa Bonita Podcast on apple podcasts or on our website, www.casabonitapod.com. Find Andres Becerril: Twitter: @bigbadbecerril --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

S1 E11: This week I'm excited to share a recent conversation that I had with Evan Weissman, founder and Executive Director of Warm Cookies of the Revolution. Evan and I discuss how we met, or maybe met? at the Denver Foundation's event a couple of years ago, titled “Art Tank.” This is an event that listeners of the show may recognize from my conversation with Pam in episode 6. Then, we go into a somewhat meandering and totally enjoyable conversation, starting with Colorado cemeteries, making a pit stop in the past to discuss Evan's path from theater and social activism that led him to start Warm Cookies of the Revolution, the world's first Civic Health Club. We continue on the meandering path, discussing books, music, movies, TV, and a certain painting in the Denver Art Museum collection. Later, we riff on what Ferris Bueller would have done with Cameron and Sloane if they took their day off in present Denver. (Covid notwithstanding). Evan and I discuss how COVID has affected Warm Cookies and, last but not least, we talk Casa Bonita. It was such an honor to host Evan, one of, in my opinion, Denver's inspired movers and shakers. If you'd like to connect with Warm Cookies of the Revolution, check out their website, warmcookiesoftherevolution.org. You can also get updates via text message if you text “cookies” to 407-219-9369. This is episode 11 of the first season of the Casa Bonita Podcast and it's the last episode of the season! I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to listen, all of our amazing guests, and to those special listeners who have taken the time to write a review on Apple Podcasts. That means the world to me, thank you so much! If you're a fan of the show and haven't written a 5 star review yet, we would love it if you show your support with a positive review on apple podcasts or on our website, again, that's www.casabonitapod.com. *** Do you want to check out some of the things that we discuss in this episode? Please visit the S1 E11 Blog Post for all of the resource links and more detailed show notes! *** --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

S1 E10: This week I'm sharing a recent fun conversation with my good friend Meredith Gershberg, owner of Design Resource Group and the Founder and Executive Director of Sleep Tight Colorado. We tip our hats to friend and business banker, Cindy Grove at Mountainview Bank of Commerce. Cindy was a guest of the pod in episode 9, when we talked about how she was able to pivot and adapt her newly purchased business, Colorado Tack and Supply, during the pandemic. You can find that episode on our website, casabonitapod.com. Anyway, Mer and I reminisce about the mullets and mustaches party where we met, we think, about 14 years ago. And later, Meredith shares her story of migration to Colorado from New Jersey, by way of San Francisco. She also shares the story of her late aunt Carol who inspired her to start Sleep Tight Colorado ten years ago, which has donated 4,452 sleeping bags to people experiencing homelessness in Colorado to date. We talk about Meredith's 1 star review of Casa Bonita and I share the current status updates for the restaurant. Have you been listening to the pod for a while? We would love it if you show your support with a positive review on apple podcasts or on our website, again, that's www.casabonitapod.com. *** Do you want to check out some of the things that we discuss in this episode? Please visit the S1 E10 Blog Post for all of the resource links and more detailed show notes! *** --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

S1 E9: This week, I'm excited to share my conversation with local business owner, all around smart lady, and banking savant, Cindy Grove! Cindy graciously lets me announce her accolades based on the minor linkedin stalking I did in preparation for this interview. Then, we move on to music/movies/TV and Cindy shares the books that she has gifted the most. Listeners of the show know that I could talk books and movies all day. But, we don't do that, we move on to discuss how Cindy has been able to pivot her newly-purchased business, Colorado Tack and Supply, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's a great story and offers creative insight for any business owners out there looking for fresh adaptation ideas. Then, we talk Casa Bonita because, you know… I gotta. And because it's amazing. This is a good one and Cindy is a great interview guest! Thanks so much for listening, stick around! Oh, wait. This week it's my birthday so I'm just gonna come out and ask for what I want. If you like the show, please consider writing a review on Apple Podcasts or on our website, www.casabonitapod.com. *** Do you want to check out some of the things that we discuss in this episode? Please visit the S1 E9 Episode Blog Page for all of the resource links and more detailed show notes! *** --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

This is a special Casa Bonita Minisode, released on October 31, 2020. It's Halloween, you guys! So today I am releasing a few “fun size” Halloween treats for your listening enjoyment. This bonus minisode, featuring local spooky librarian, Wendy Paulas, is The Tale of the Denver Spider Man. This story is also included with several other spooky Colorado stories in our full Halloween show, season 1, episode 8, released earlier this week on October 27th, titled Spooky Denver Stories Convo with Wendy. If this is your first time listening to the Casa Bonita Podcast, check out the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on the pod website, www.casabonitapod.com. Thanks for listening, stick around! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

Episode 8: (explicit content, PG-13!) This is the first full and official Halloween episode of the Casa Bonita Podcast, featuring the spookiest librarian I know, Wendy Paulas. We talk about how COVID has affected the library experience and which library patrons have been hit the hardest by quarantine. Wendy shares information about the innovative ten ring circus of new online programming available on the DPL website. Wendy shares spooky Denver Stories. Wendy tells of Bodies in Cheesman Park, which was also featured in our Halloween minisode, The Tale of the Denver Spider Man, no relation to the Marvel universe, and rumors of a supernatural presence in the basement of a certain public building. Links: Books: Mexican Gothic, Everything's Trash but it's OK, Rita Hawyworth and the Shawshank Redemption, The Dark Tower Series, Uzumaki:Spiral into Horror, Vol. 1, Out on The Wire Podcasts: Two Dope Queens, Dyslexia Quest, This American Life, Lore, Out on the Wire Music: Ezra Furhman, Brittany Howard, The Alabama Shakes, The Shawshank Redemption Soundtrack Movies: The Shawshank Redemption, Blazing Saddles --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

This is a special Halloween minisode of the Casa Bonita Podcast, released on October 24, 2020. Halloween is just around the corner and later this week I'll be releasing Season1, episode 8 of the Casa Bonita Podcast in which I talk with friend and local librarian, Wendy Paulas, the spookiest librarian I know, about spooooooky Colorado stories. To prime you for this awesome episode, as a little teaser, I thought I would first share the spooky Colorado story that everyone should know, Bodies in Cheesman Park. Fun fact, Cheesman Park is said to have inspired the films, The Changeling (the 1980 one, not eh Angelina Jolie one) and Poltergeist of 1982. Whether you know the story of Cheesman Park or not, you're sure to enjoy Wendy's telling. Come back for Season 1, Episode 8 of the Casa Bonita Podcast, which will be released on October 28, 2020. You'll hear more Colorado spooky Stories from Wendy, more on the movies The Changeling and Poltergeist and, of course, some Casa Bonita Halloween memories, as well! Don't miss it! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

Episode 7: As you may have noticed, the show intro makes a few content promises. Well, my husband Thomas recently pointed out that I have gone off script and haven't delivered on those promises. In an attempt to impose order and make sense of this chaotic world in which we're living, I have gone back to the original plans. Don't worry, I'll definitely go off script again, it's unavoidable. In this episode, I will first explore the living in Colorado promise from the perspective of a values-driven business owner (myself) with Jordan Pryczynski, director of membership at a wonderful organization where I am proud to be a member, Good Business Colorado. Bonus, Jordan is a Colorado native and he has many Casa Bonita memories to dive into. Speaking of diving… did you hear that Casa Bonita is being sued by a professional diver for age discrimination? (See what I did there? Pun.) Casa Bonita cliff diving seems to be pretty heavily inspired by La Quebrada Cliff Divers in Acapulco, Mexico. Fun fact- cliff diving, especially cliff diving in Acapulco is totally, like, a thing in Mexican popular culture. The 1963 Elvis Presley film, Fun in Acapulco, is credited with bringing Mexican cliff diving to the world's attention. I don't know if that's actually true, it might have been on the scene before Elvis came along, he might be totally Columbusing the whole thing, I don't know. But, just in case, I watched the movie to prepare for this episode and I can't wait to tell you all about it. Anyway, ironically, the guy suing Casa Bonita for age discrimination is a champion diver and placed first in the 1970s in the Acapulco World Cliff Diving Championships. (Geez, Casa Bonita. Awkward.) So, Diving might actually come to have a significant presence here in Colorado. According to September 2019 headlines, USA Diving, the national governing body for the sport of diving, announced last year that they would be relocating their headquarters to Colorado Springs to be closer to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. There hasn't been a lot of post-move news about how USA Diving is liking their new Colorado digs, and it's not clear if they ever made the move! I can't find any news on it. I creeped on their Linked in profile and they only have one employee listed as living in CO Springs and their official location is “United States of America.” So, that clears things up. If you know what the deal is with USA Diving's planned move to Colorado Springs, leave a voicemail message on our shiny new website, www.casabonitapod.com! Later, we'll check out the available real estate close to the top-ranked cliff diving location in Colorado and we'll explore the cost, feasibility, and affect on your property value if you install a pool with a high dive in your backyard. Oh, if you want to take a look at the

2020 Colorado ballots are out and Proposition 118, Paid Family and Medical Leave, is on the ballot. It's something that I'm very passionate about… but I'm not so great at talking policy. So, Debra Brown, executive director of Good Business Colorado was kind enough to contribute some of her time to explain what it's all about for anyone who would like to know more about why Prop 118 is great for Colorado workers, business owners, and solopreneurs, and all of their loved ones. You will hear me reference a conversation with Jordan, who is the director of membership at Good Business Colorado. Jordan will be featured in an upcoming full episode, which will be released soon. If this is your first time listening to the Casa Bonita Podcast, check out the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on the pod website, www.casabonitapod.com. Thanks for listening, stick around! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

In episode 6 of the Casa Bonita Podcast, I talk with my friend, Pam, who was there when it all began… She worked in the Casa Bonita gift shop shortly after their Lakewood location opened! Back when Pam started, the gift shop sold expensive and trendy silver and turquoise jewelry and the facility was shiny and new.  Pam wants you to know: it was *never* about the food. In addition to Casa Bonita Then and Now, we talk dogs, applying for jobs (what not to do), the infamy of Colfax Avenue, the rising cost of living in the Denver Area, and more. In the final segment, "And Another Thing," featuring my favorite curmudgeon/business partner/husband, Thomas Spahr rants in the tradition of Lewis Black on the Daily Show and Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes. This week, he rants about the way the public has repeatedly shot down smart infill projects with entry-level housing options. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

In episode five of The Casa Bonita Podcast, we are going to do a deep dive into raising back yard chickens: the cute, the delicious, and the stinky. First, I'll share my conversation with my good friend, Nicki, who tells me about her 8 year aspiration to become a chicken momma. Then, I'll take you back in time a couple of months to some interviews that I conducted with my son, Zephyr, and my husband Thomas. We explore how to properly hold a chicken, how back yard chickens affect property values, and some of the logistics of getting and caring for chickens. Casa Bonita fun facts are sprinkled into this section, as well. In recent weeks, the chickens have started laying eggs. So, I pulled out my recording equipment once again and Thomas and I revisited the convo. By that time, I had discussed Nicki's chicken goals with Thomas and I asked him to weigh in with some information that may help with the decision. Closing out the episode is our still-pretty-new segment, "And Another Thing," featuring my favorite curmudgeon... you guessed it... Thomas! This week, Thomas rants about paper straws. *Content Warning: there is one f-bomb in this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

Episode 4 of The Casa Bonita Podcast, in which I share my recent interview with local author, adventurer, and all around badass, Chris Englert. Chris's books include Best Urban Hikes: Denver, Discovering Denver Parks: A Local's Guide, Walking Denver's Neighborhoods, 2nd Edition: From Athmar Park to Windsor, Denver's 78 Neighborhoods, and Travel Magic Postcards: Vignettes from the Walking Traveler. (Visit Chris online at: www.denverbyfoot.com) Chris and I discuss her projects, the only reason she will ever go to Casa Bonita (hint: it's family-related), Denver parks/neighborhoods/libraries, and we even dabble a little in the history of Cesar Chavez and his time in Colorado with local legend, Paco Sanchez. My husband, Thomas Spahr, butts in to mansplain the -berto's suffix phenomenon in San Diego style Mexican food restaurants. He also contributes the show's new segment, "And Another Thing," which is in the tradition of Andy Rooney's segment on 2020, Lewis Black's bit on The Daily Show, and other curmudgeons, worldwide. This one's long.* Multi-tasking encouraged. *That's what she said. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

Episode 3 of the Casa Bonita Podcast, in which I interview Community Development nerd (and my husband), Thomas Spahr. Earlier this summer, Thomas wrote an article that explores how gentrification and redlining fit into the Black Lives Matter movement. We discuss the article and a few other things too. #casabonitapod If you'd like to read the original article, go to: http://bluebirddenver.com/gentrification-and-black-lives.../ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

Episode 2 of The Casa Bonita Podcast: Wouldn't we all love to live in a beautiful, organized space? Join me as I interview Stephanie Craft, owner of Blank Canvas Organizing LLC. Stephanie shares her insights and experience as a professional organizer and her Casa Bonita memories. Tune in to the 2nd episode of the Casa Bonita Podcast, available September 23rd on all major podcast platforms. #casabonitapod --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

Episode 1 of The Casa Bonita Podcast: Have you ever considered becoming an Air BnB host? Wouldn't you like to hear from an 8-year veteran of Air BnB hosting? Do you like to reminisce about Roseanne and Mrs. Doubtfire? Do you want to plan a vow renewal at Casa Bonita? (RIP???) These are all excellent reasons to listen to the first episode of The Casa Bonita Podcast, available on (most of the) major podcast platforms on September 23rd. #casabonitapod --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message

Podcast Trailer: Listen to The Casa Bonita Podcast Prepisode to find out what to expect from the Casa Bonita Podcast, dropping September 23, 2020. Be sure to subscribe for the latest episode as they become available. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/casabonitapod/message