Richard Skorman joins us for an elaborate trip down memory lane, as he recounts the history of the Poor Richard’s family of businesses on the north end of downtown Colorado Springs. We couldn’t help but include some exploration of Richard’s political career and activism. While he is the face and name of Poor Richard’s Restaurant, Rico’s Café and Wine Bar, Poor Richard’s Books & Gifts, and Little Richard’s Toy Store, Skorman is quick to share credit with his business partner and wife, Patricia Seator.

MENTIONED:

The Granite Harp Bookstore

The Flick

Kimball Bayles

Kimball’s Peak Three Theater

Citizens Project

TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks Sales Tax)

Trails and Open Space Coalition

Beany Babies

Focus on the Family

Amendment 2

Richard’s Rubbish Roundup

Robin Izer

The Mitguards

Revele & Paul

Douglas Rouse

Pikes Peak Permaculture

Chinook Book Store

Tattered Cover

Compleat Games and Hobbies

CJ Kard

Bonanza

Lorne Greene

Strawberry Fields

Stratton Open Space

Sacred Grounds Café

Natasha Shnaper

Art on the Streets

LINKS:

Poor Richard’s Downtown: https://poorrichardsdowntown.com/

Front Range Passenger Rail District - CDOT Open House: https://frpropenhouse.com

RMG Photography - Ralph Giordano photography reception and exhibit at Cottonwood Center for the Arts: https://www.facebook.com/share/16UPc454p3/

The Next Us: https://thenextus.spaces.nexudus.com/

Loving the Springs celebrates the best of Colorado Springs and elevates the rest.

Plug into what’s happening in the Pikes Peak region, learn about awesome people, places and happenings, and explore opportunities to make life here even better. Longtime Springs booster Carrie Simison co-hosts with local gadflies Al Brody and Dave Gardner. All three love our two springs – Colorado and Manitou, so they give them the mic in this twice-monthly podcast. Nothing’s off the table – recreation, the arts, government, business, politics – if it touches your life, they’ll talk about it. We’ll invite the movers and shakers, conspiracy theorists, NIMBYs, YIMBYs, yaysayers and naysayers to join them.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and give us feedback and suggestions via comments at https://studio809podcasts.com/loving-the-springs or lovingthespringspodcast at gmail.com

Twelve new pieces of public art hit the streets of Downtown Colorado Springs for 2025-2026 – launching June 6. Learn more about the art and how this program turns our city into a yearlong outdoor gallery. Downtown Ventures Executive Director Michelle Winchell regales the gang with details and fun tales – like the great Humpty Dumpty Heist, and the story behind Adaman Alley. Get details on the June 6 launch and June 7 walking tour. See links below.

MENTIONED:

Downtown Colorado Springs

Norwood Development Group

Story Coffee

AdAmAn Club

Adaman Alley

Colorado Craft Social

PikeRide

Colorado Creative Industries

Otocast

Kasia Polkowska

Pikes Peak Center

Mountain Chalet

Colorado College

Nancy Rios

Brendan Picker-Mahoney

Michelle Sunset

University of Wyoming

Boulder Crescent Park

Jules Mendoza

Bike to Work Day June 25

Fine Arts Center

Kimber Fiebiger

LINKS:

Downtown Ventures: https://downtowncs.com/ventures/

Art on the Streets: https://downtowncs.com/arts-and-culture/aots/

Art on the Streets Digital Archive: https://downtowncs.com/aots-archive/

Downtown Walking Tours: https://downtowncs.com/walking-tours/

June 6 Scavenger Hunt: https://downtowncs.com/event/art-on-the-streets-scavenger-hunt/

June 7 Walking Tour/Launch: https://downtowncs.com/event/walking-tour-art-on-the-streets-2025-launch/

Discover Downtown Pass: https://downtowncs.com/pass/

AdAmAn Alley: https://downtowncs.com/adaman-alley/

Bronze Humpty Dumpties: https://downtowncs.com/bronze-humpty-dumpties-by-kimber-fiebiger/

First Friday: https://downtowncs.com/first-friday/

Loving the Springs celebrates the best of Colorado Springs and elevates the rest.

Plug into what’s happening in the Pikes Peak region, learn about awesome people, places and happenings, and explore opportunities to make life here even better. Local gadflies Al Brody and Dave Gardner love our two springs – Colorado and Manitou, so they give them the mic in this twice-monthly podcast. Nothing’s off the table – recreation, the arts, government, business, politics – if it touches your life, they'll talk about it. We’ll invite the movers and shakers, conspiracy theorists, NIMBYs, YIMBYs, yaysayers and naysayers to join them.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and give us feedback and suggestions via comments at https://studio809podcasts.com/loving-the-springs or lovingthespringspodcast at gmail.com

Get to know a funny, inspirational champion for people recovering from trauma or other setbacks. Joi Towner suffered a stroke at age 31, beginning a journey that inspired her to help others. After 6 weeks in the hospital, she went on to establish a nonprofit foundation, develop a comedy routine, launch a podcast and write a book. “You’re not handicapped, you’re handi-capable,” she tells us.

She provides counseling, a support group, and inspirational speaking. She also advocates for accessibility. Her book, Fight Lives in the Heart of a Survivor, is a story of strength and determination through the odds of adversity. It’s a stroke survivor's guide to hope, encouragement, and inspiration. She provides details on an upcoming event, King of Kings, on June 7, honoring the amazing men in our lives who are often overlooked.

Also discussed:

Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs purchased by John Weiss

Colorado Springs corners the market on expired vehicle registrations

Where do those registration fees go?

Dave’s 25 parking tickets story

LINKS:

Fight Lives in the Heart of a Survivor – by Joi Towner

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78710970-fight-lives-in-the-heart-of-a-survivor

Audio Book On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Lives-Heart-Survivor-Strength-ebook/dp/B0B4VC3HK4/

Strength in You Foundation: https://www.strengthinyou.org/

Strength in You podcast: https://blog.pod.link/1673153175

Strength in You YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thestrengthinyou

King of Kings June 7 at Peak31, 7 to 10 p.m.: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/king-of-kings-tickets-1344807799329

MENTIONED:

Thubthumping, by Chumbawamba: https://youtu.be/2H5uWRjFsGc?si=nPh_pPoJYS-s12Wy

Ivywild School: https://www.ivywildschool.com/

Willie CROW the Comedian: https://www.facebook.com/groups/452103915749254/

UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central

Spokes Fighting Strokes: https://www.spokesfightingstrokes.org/

Penny Arcade in Manitou: https://manitouspringsarcade.com/

Skee-Ball: https://skeeball.com/

Dig Dug: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dig_Dug

Loving the Springs celebrates the best of Colorado Springs and elevates the rest.

Plug into what’s happening in the Pikes Peak region, learn about awesome people, places and happenings, and explore opportunities to make life here even better. Local gadflies Al Brody and Dave Gardner love our two springs – Colorado and Manitou, so they give them the mic in this twice-monthly podcast. Nothing’s off the table – recreation, the arts, government, business, politics – if it touches your life, they'll...