Rephonic
Artwork for Purplish
Colorado Politics
Colorado's 3rd Congressional District
Colorado
Republican Party
Immigration
Democratic Party
Oil and Gas Industry
Housing
Adam Frisch
Lauren Boebert
Mesa County
Alcohol Consumption
Bipartisan Property Tax Reform
Democracy
Good Governance
Tax Credits
Legislative Turnover
Environmental Regulations
Ron Hanks
Stephen Varela

Purplish is a podcast about politics and policy and how they shape Coloradans’ lives, hosted by Colorado Public Radio’s public affairs reporter Bente Birkeland and reporters from the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. They break down the latest developments at the statehouse, in Congress and in local communities, to find the bigger picture behind the political headlines.

Purplish is produced by CPR N... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes182Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

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Artwork for Purplish

Latest Episodes

The six lawmakers tasked with writing Colorado’s budget have an excruciating job this year — they must find about $1.5 billion in savings to keep the budget in balance, and understand that many of their cuts will have direct, human consequences. That... more

Colorado’s prisons have been filled nearly to capacity for months. And when the state has too many people in its prisons, difficult living conditions can quickly become intolerable. That’s got Colorado Department of Corrections officials, staff and s... more

YouTube

Flock cameras, and other license plate reader systems, are installed all over Colorado. The technology gives law enforcement access to a new level of tracking, a reach they say has helped them solve all kinds of terrible crimes and made the state saf... more

YouTube

For a lot of farmers in Colorado, and across the country, insecticides known as neonicotinoids, or neonics, have been a game changer. But what’s been a breakthrough for some has been a nightmare for others. Neonics are being blamed for die-offs in do... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Colorado Today
Colorado TodayColorado Public Radio
The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Jesse Paul
Reporter for The Colorado Sun
The Colorado Sun
Episode: Colorado’s budget woes and the ballooning costs of Medicaid
Seth Klamann
Reporter for The Denver Post
The Denver Post
Episode: Colorado’s budget woes and the ballooning costs of Medicaid
Barbara Kirkmeyer
Senator and JBC member
Colorado Senate
Episode: Colorado’s budget woes and the ballooning costs of Medicaid
Lisa Ferre
House sponsor of a Medicaid-related bill
Colorado House of Representatives
Episode: Colorado’s budget woes and the ballooning costs of Medicaid
Emily Sirota
JBC Chair, Democratic Representative
Colorado House of Representatives
Episode: Colorado’s budget woes and the ballooning costs of Medicaid
Jeff Bridges
JBC Vice Chair, Democratic Senator
Colorado Senate
Episode: Colorado’s budget woes and the ballooning costs of Medicaid
David Carrillo
Former Colorado prison inmate who teaches economics to inmates
Independent (former inmate)
Episode: Colorado’s prisons have a crowding problem
Steve Reams
Weld County Sheriff
Weld County Sheriff's Office
Episode: Colorado’s prisons have a crowding problem
Randall Heide
Commercial beekeeper with dozens of hives
Beekeeping industry, Denver Metro area
Episode: A prescription for pesticides? Why lawmakers considered a novel approach to neonics

Host

Bente Birkeland
Host with long-standing role as public affairs journalist for CPR News; central to coverage and framing of Colorado politics.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 253 ratings
  • Great resource

    I got my blue book and first thing I did was check to see if their were fresh Purplish episodes explaining the measures.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ramses does not dance
    United States2 years ago
  • My favorite political podcast

    It can be difficult to find news about local politics but Purplish does a great job doing just that! I learn so much with each episode and am entertained along the way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sarah Moped
    United States3 years ago
  • Good way to keep up, Megan makes it weird

    This podcast is a good way to keep up on CO politics. Bente and Andrew do a nice job of laying out the issues, contextualizing the news, and keeping biases in check. It’s weird when Megan gets on the mic. She always makes it about how she’s the editor, she’s the boss, she’s in charge. The comment about her new years resolution being “to get performance reviews in on time” is just a way for her to remind everyone she’s a manager. Big whoopi ding dang Megan. Nobody cares. Stop making your appearan... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    daveherrald
    United States3 years ago
  • Great state legislature coverage

    I was lukewarm about the coverage during the election, but the coverage of the state legislature has been outstanding. Whether or not you think Colorado is still a purple state, the podcast is excellent coverage.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    tallsally
    United States5 years ago
  • Insightful

    Purplish is incredibly insightful for everyone, no matter where you stand on the political spectrum, no matter what level of involvement! I listened when I was an undergrad in PSCI and I listen today as a campaign manager.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bryyyydawg
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise accessible, in-depth coverage of Colorado politics and legislation.
Many appreciate balanced, well-researched analysis with practical context for voters.
Some notes about on-air dynamics; overall positive impressions of hosts and quality.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#53
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#172
Japan/Government
Apple Podcasts
#221
Denmark/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Will Colorado join the redistricting war?
Q: What do you see is at stake for the future?
The future of voting and elections could be significantly impacted as redistricting norms may shift, allowing more fluidity in how districts are drawn and potentially further politicizing the process.
Will Colorado join the redistricting war?
Q: What do you see as the political upshot for taking this position?
The political ramifications include a push from Democratic leaders to react to Republican strategies, indicating a willingness to engage in similar tactics despite previous commitments to fair representation.
Yes, yes, we just had an election, but It's never too soon to talk about the midterms
Q: With many political seats open in Colorado, what is the governor's race shaping up to be?
The governor's race is shaping up to be a two-man contest primarily between Attorney General Phil Weiser and U.S. Senator Michael Bennett, as both have been prominent candidates in the Democratic primary.
Yes, yes, we just had an election, but It's never too soon to talk about the midterms
Q: What were the major outcomes from the recent Colorado elections?
The major outcomes included the successful passage of Propositions LL and MM, which secured funding for Colorado's Universal Free School Meals program, and gave voters a choice on excess tax revenue for school meals.
100 days of Trump, in the eyes of two Colorado lawmakers from two different capitols
Q: Are there ways you feel like they've gone too far, not gone far enough? What are your thoughts?
I think closing the border was a very good first step.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Purplish

What is Purplish about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A Colorado-focused politics program that breaks down statehouse dynamics, local policy, and political trends through in-depth reporting, interviews, and contextual storytelling. Episodes commonly explore legislation, governance challenges, and the practical impacts of policy on Coloradans, often featuring perspectives from lawmakers, journalists, advocates, and community voices. The show stands out for its clear explanations of complex topics, hands-on reporting, and a willingness to cover both technical policy details (like privacy, education funding, and regulatory issues) and the human side of politics. Listeners are likely looking for accessible, well-sourced analysis of state and local issues with a tangible sense of how decisions affe... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Purplish has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Purplish?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Purplish:

1. Colorado Today
2. City Cast Denver
3. The Daily
4. Throughline
5. Planet Money

How many episodes of Purplish are there?

Purplish launched 8 years ago and published 182 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Purplish?

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What guests have appeared on Purplish?

Recent guests on Purplish include:

1. Jesse Paul
2. Seth Klamann
3. Barbara Kirkmeyer
4. Lisa Ferre
5. Emily Sirota
6. Jeff Bridges
7. David Carrillo
8. Steve Reams

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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