Ryan Warner

Colorado Matters Senior Host

[email protected]

Ryan Warner is senior host of Colorado Matters, the flagship daily interview program from CPR News. His voice is heard on frequencies around the state as he talks with Coloradans from all walks of life — politicians, scientists, artists, activists and others. Ryan's interviews with Colorado's governor now span four administrations. During his tenure, Colorado Matters has consistently been recognized as the best major market public radio talk show in the country. He speaks French, geeks out on commercial aviation, adores and tolerates his tuxedo cat Bob, and owns too many shoes.

Professional background:
Ryan came to CPR from WGCU in Fort Myers, Fla. He was the founding host of that station's daily call-in talk show, Gulf Coast Live. Ryan served as assistant news director and local host of NPR's "All Things Considered" and filed stories for NPR during Hurricane Charley in 2004. Ryan previously hosted "Morning Edition" on WYSO Public Radio in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and co-created a weekend news magazine there. Prior to that, he served as news director of KOPN Community Radio in Columbia, Missouri. For two years, Ryan left public radio to report and anchor weekend news at KTIV-TV, the NBC affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa.

Education:
Bachelor's degrees in political science and French, University of Missouri-Columbia; Master's degree in broadcast journalism, Boston University.

Awards:
Ryan has won numerous awards from Public Media Journalists Association for his interviews. He's also been honored by The Associated Press. Westword named Ryan the Best Talk-Radio Host for 2021, and the editors of 5280 Magazine voted him Top Radio Talk Show Host of 2009.


Contact:

Bluesky: @ryanhasaquestion

Instagram: @oddryhepburn

April 13, 2022: Air violations for the Front Range; How medical gaslighting harms patients

The Front Range is in trouble for violating federal air quality standards and the EPA plans to declare the area a “severe” violator. Then, the consequences of “medical gaslighting,” when patients – especially women and people of color – aren’t taken seriously. And, a new poetry collection from an unconventional professor. Also, Congress considers decriminalizing marijuana and schools encourage video games.

Poetry about bodies, death, and Dolly Parton

The new poetry collection from Denver’s Nicky Beer is both profound and campy. “Real Phonies and Genuine Fakes” is like a literary cabinet of curiosities. She explores her own mental health and imagines a troop of drag queens at an amusement park. Beer, a collector of things and ideas, is an assistant English professor at CU-Denver.
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April 1, 2022: Diving into Colorado’s newest Congressional District

Colorado’s new congressional district stretches from Thornton to Greeley and includes parts of Adams, Larimer, and Weld Counties. But do people know they’re in a new district and what issues might shape their vote? Plus, Elizabeth Garner breaks down the growth and population trends in CD-8. Then, Dick Barkey, a Democratic organizer in Weld County, and Joe Jackson of the Colorado GOP, talk about the effort to win the district.

March 28, 2022: Helping displaced Ukrainians; The new photo on your driver license

We talk with a hiker who’s now had close encounters with two wildfires in four months. Then, John Babiak is the son of Ukrainian immigrants; he’s headed from Colorado to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees. Plus, Denver will pay a group of protesters $14 million. Also, the photographer who took the image on Colorado’s new driver licenses. And reflecting on coming “Back from Broken” as season three debuts.
NCAR Fire Boulder County

Wildfires greet hiker new to Colorado

They say lightning doesn’t strike twice. But wildfire sure does. Ben Holden moved to Colorado for graduate school– specifically to Superior. That was just before The Marshall Fire tore through town. This past weekend, he went on a long-planned hike with some fellow students and on the descent, the group spotted trouble.