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
Good Governance
Democracy
Tax Credits
Environmental Regulations
Legislative Turnover
Stephen Varela
Jeff Heard

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 monthlyEpisodes185Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Government

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Artwork for Purplish

Latest Episodes

Primary ballots will land in Coloradans’ mailbox in a few weeks, and now, voters know which candidates will be on them. Many got there by winning over party activists at the recent Democratic and Republican state assemblies in Pueblo. These were high... more

YouTube

A bill advancing through Colorado's statehouse would require law enforcement officers to ask a set of 11 questions — 11 very specific questions, meant to measure someone’s risk of dying at the hands of their abuser. Backers say the change is especial... more

YouTube

Decades ago, Colorado lawmakers set statewide limits on noise for different types of areas — lower limits near homes, louder away from them. But a recent court case has upended the status quo around which venues are allowed to be extra loud and how m... more

YouTube

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

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
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

Ava Kian
Justice reporter for CPR
Colorado Public Radio
Episode: 11 questions lawmakers hope could help prevent domestic violence killings
Teddy McCullough
Private citizen, subject of a personal story and candidate
None explicitly stated
Episode: 11 questions lawmakers hope could help prevent domestic violence killings
Holly Rogan
Mayor of Lyons
Town of Lyons, Colorado
Episode: Who should have the power to pump up the volume at Colorado’s venues
Gretchen Ryden
State Representative, House District 38
Colorado General Assembly
Episode: Who should have the power to pump up the volume at Colorado’s venues
Dr. Murray Relf
Retired radiologist
Private practice
Episode: Who should have the power to pump up the volume at Colorado’s venues
Mariana Bailey
Resident near the amphitheater
Community member
Episode: Who should have the power to pump up the volume at Colorado’s venues
Zach Tucker
Representative of a festival organizer
Rocky Mountain Folks Festival, Lyons
Episode: Who should have the power to pump up the volume at Colorado’s venues
Dean Budnick
Writer on live music industry
Variety, Billboard
Episode: Who should have the power to pump up the volume at Colorado’s venues
Brian Kitts
Employee at Denver's Cultural Agency Arts and Venues
Arts and Venues, Denver
Episode: Who should have the power to pump up the volume at Colorado’s venues

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
#56
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#86
Denmark/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

11 questions lawmakers hope could help prevent domestic violence killings
Q: What are the funding challenges behind implementing this policy statewide?
Policy experts note widespread funding gaps, reliance on federal money, and shortages of shelter capacity, which complicate comprehensive rollout and sustained support for victims.
11 questions lawmakers hope could help prevent domestic violence killings
Q: How would the protocol affect police workflow and response times?
It adds an extra step where officers must assess risk and potentially coordinate on-scene with advocates, which could slow responses but is viewed as essential for safety in the long term.
11 questions lawmakers hope could help prevent domestic violence killings
Q: Why introduce a lethality assessment protocol now in Colorado?
Advocates say domestic violence fatalities have risen even as overall homicides fall, and the protocol provides a structured way to identify high-risk victims and connect them with resources immediately.
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.

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. Today, Explained
5. Up First from NPR

How many episodes of Purplish are there?

Purplish launched 8 years ago and published 185 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. Ava Kian
2. Teddy McCullough
3. Holly Rogan
4. Gretchen Ryden
5. Dr. Murray Relf
6. Mariana Bailey
7. Zach Tucker
8. Dean Budnick

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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