Guest: Wes Allison President and CEO

Wes Allison is beginning his first year as President and CEO of the National Western Stock Show. He grew up in agriculture, showed livestock in Denver as a kid, and has spent 25 years working in stock shows. This year’s event will debut new facilities and continue expanding in the coming years. The Stock Show will award $650,000 in scholarships to students from Colorado and Wyoming. It remains the only major show that still features the historic yards, honoring its roots in beef cattle. The event runs January 10–25, with Pete Coors serving as Grand Marshal of the parade. With everything from dog and horse shows to the rodeo, the Stock Show offers something for everyone.

nationalwestern.com

Guest: Matthew Fritz-Mauer Executive Director

Denver’s minimum wage will rise to $19.29 per hour on January 1, and all employers must update their payroll systems to comply with the new rate, which increases annually based on the cost of living. Wage theft occurs when workers are not paid what they are legally owed—whether proper hourly wages, overtime, or paid sick leave—and Denver Labor offers free assistance to anyone who believes their rights have been violated, recovering $2.3 million for 7,200 workers in 2025 alone. As more people turn to gig apps for extra income, many are misclassified as independent contractors, leaving them without minimum wage protections, overtime, paid sick leave, or employer tax contributions, since workplace rights apply only to employees. Staying informed and speaking up ensures every worker receives the fair treatment they deserve.

denverwages.org

Guest: Paula Schriefer CEO

The immigration crackdown is having a devastating effect upon legal immigrants doing translation services for companies and government agencies. The Spring Institute provides these services while also assisting refugees with career pathways and assisting medical professionals to also become certified in America.

https://springinstitute.org/

AgeWise Colorado is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to supporting older adults and addressing key aging‑related issues such as housing, transportation, healthcare, and caregiving. Serving adults ages 40 to 100, the organization offers more than 160 categories of resources, including emerging age‑tech tools like fall‑detection systems. The need for support is significant: 70% of people over 65 will require some form of care. Financial insecurity is also common—14% of Coloradans over 65 live below the federal poverty line, one in five households in this age group are renters, and assisted living often exceeds $7,000 per month. Community involvement makes a meaningful difference. Even simple volunteer efforts, such as providing transportation, can help older adults navigate the challenges of aging—because aging doesn’t come with an instruction manual.

Guest: Paula Schriefer CEO

The immigration crackdown is having a devastating effect upon legal immigrants doing translation services for companies and government agencies. The Spring Institute provides these services while also assisting refugees with career pathways and assisting medical professionals to also become certified in America.

https://springinstitute.org/

Guest: Nancy McKay Founder

Nancy supports women in their healing journeys using horse‑assisted therapy. Many women feel pressure to be strong and handle everything, which becomes exhausting—especially during the holidays when perfection feels expected. Setting boundaries is healthy and helps protect your well‑being. Signs of overwhelm can show up as irritability with loved ones. The first step is recognizing you’re overloaded and can’t do it all. Even strong women need support, and asking for help is a sign of being human, not weak.

https://www.womenempoweredrecovery.com/

Guest: Nadine Cornish, Family Caregiving Consultant and Certified Senior Advisor

An estimated 600-870,000 persons in Colorado are presently performing an estimated 560 million hours of challenging work as unpaid caregivers. Between 2010 and 2020 Colorado’s aging 65+ population grew by over 58% on a pace to create a shortfall of caregivers by 115,000 by 2030. This program covered support for present caregivers and how to meet the caregiving shortfall.

Guest: Major Nesan Kistan, Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army Intermountain Division

For 160 years, The Salvation Army has supported vulnerable communities across the U.S. through food pantries, shelters, financial aid, and youth programs. In Denver, its addiction recovery program helps 150 men every six months, while nationwide the organization has provided more than two million meals and 1.5 million shelter nights. On December 21, it will host a Christmas dinner from 4–6 p.m. at the Convention Center, welcoming anyone in need of holiday fellowship. Community members can also support the mission by donating to the iconic Red Kettles, where even small contributions make a big impact. Importantly, all donations remain within the donor’s local zip code, ensuring that neighbors directly benefit from the generosity of their community.

https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usa-western-territory/intermountain/