Columnists
Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years. His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports. The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights. At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands. But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was. The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship
Amanda Cruz is a freelance writer, editor and certified yoga teacher. Holding a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder, her passion for the written word runs deep. Starting out as a prelaw student, her direction eventually unfolded into the realms of health and wellness, through the art of storytelling. An avid lover of adventure, Amanda makes nature her playground, and movement her medicine. Now, as a fulltime freelancer, you’ll find her behind a keyboard crafting content in topics ranging from meditation to circadian rhythm–inquiring and pondering along the way. As an editor, she enjoys adapting to multiple projects and mediums. Need literary guidance on a novel, or thesis development for an academic article? Challenge accepted!
When not glued to her desk or locked to a book, Amanda will be cutting through slopes on her snowboard or traversing up mountains. To view her latest written pieces, visit her at https://www.tuneus.com, where she is a contributing writer and editor for an up-and-coming holistic health organization.
Andrea wants to live in a world where the neighborhoods are walkable, bike lanes are plentiful, and the food is fresh, delicious and readily available.
A 20-year veteran of the health and wellness industry, she started her career in the fitness industry while earning a master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, and then on to the burgeoning field of worksite wellness. Andrea has competed in collegiate level soccer, worked as a personal trainer, fitness instructor, wellness coach, and master trainer, climbed 14ers, and completed cycling centuries and metric centuries. All of these experiences give her the opportunity to view well-being from many different perspectives.
When she’s not helping others to be their healthiest self, you can find her at a farm to table restaurant, down dogging at the yoga studio, or experiencing the Colorado landscape on a bicycle, snowshoes, cross country skis or on foot.
Bergen is an animal lover, arts and crafts dabbler, and board game enthusiast.In her free time she likes to read, and she runs a horror review blog. She has lived in Colorado all her life, except for a year she spent studying abroad in Wales: she has been to 15 countries and three continents and has ambitions to make it to many more. People come from all over to go camping and hiking in the Boulder area, and she gets to do it every weekend! She looks forward to writing about one of her favorite topics.
Dr. Brenna Bray, a local health and wellness coach, stress researcher, associate professor, and avid ultra-marathon mountain runner, holds PhDs in Biomedical Science, Neuroscience, and Complementary and Integrative Health. Her journey through an eating disorder fuels her dedication to coaching, merging personal experiences with scientific expertise. Through her practice, Bray empowers clients to access and harness their innate healing abilities and achieve remarkable health and wellness transformations. Committed to community engagement and holistic well-being, Dr. Bray shapes a brighter, healthier future for all. Learn more about Dr. Bray at www.brennabray.com.
Cailean has lived in Colorado his entire life, a 22 year old young man located in the heart of Colorado Springs. He has worked as a freelance writer for clients around the United States, and took the initiative to get first hand experience “behind the scenes” of the culinary industry here in Colorado; at the age of 5 he was reading college level books, and had already begun writing his own stories. In his free time he can be found exploring the state of Colorado, playing music with friends, or continuing to gather knowledge of the local culinary industry, it can be mentioned by his friends and family that he never really stops working- his mind always goes back to the same thing: stories. There are so many stories around Colorado that he wants to bring right to your fingertips.
Helen Kuhn is a writer hailing from the east coast. She moved to Colorado in 2015 to finish getting her Bachelor degree in English at the University of Colorado. Before making the move to Denver she interned with the Daily Camera in Boulder and with Philadelphia Weekly. She spends her times slinging drinks for work and writing poetry for fun. When she isn't writing or messing around on the keys at open mics her passion for beer has led her to finding some of the most delicious breweries around the city. She can't wait to explore more and share her love for Colorado.
Jared is a local content contributor and aspiring author. He was fortunate enough to grow up in Golden, Colorado and graduated from MSU Denver. While an insatiable love of travel lures him all over the world, his roots remain firmly planted here. He enjoys writing short stories, poetry, children's books, societal observations, and everything else. A nature enthusiast and sunshine connoisseur, Jared is perfectly at home on any mountaintop or patio. He frequents art galleries and concerts, poetry readings and breweries, museums and bookstores. When he isn't making neighbors cringe at his musical attempts he can be found on a snowboard or sailboat, depending on the day. A perpetual adventurer and eternal patron of the road less traveled.
Jessie Hanson lives and works in Denver and couldn't be happier about it. Like the best-possible kind of Jekyl-and-Hyde scenario, she splits her life between science and storytelling. During the day, she performs clinical diagnostics and messes around with test tubes. At night, she performs behind the mic as a standup comedienne, in the air as a circus aerialist, and in rhinestones as burlesque dancer. She begrudges the hyper-inflated cost of a decent pair of false eyelashes. When she's not on stage, she sweating it out as an endurance athlete in triathlons and marathons across the West. She begrudges the hyper-inflated cost of a decent pair of running shoes. She's thrilled to be on board with OnDenver and writing about science, comedy, circus, athletics, and general fun on the Front Range!
Director of Media Relations at onDenver.com
Katie traded in her flip flops for hiking boots at age three when her family moved from sunny Florida to even sunnier Colorado. Katie’s passion for food began at an early age when she would retrieve a strip of bacon from the counter each morning - a daily treat from her nanny. That was only the beginning for her love of food. After graduating with a degree in Communications (with an emphasis in Public Relations), she got her foodie start as Yelp Denver’s first intern and has been scouting places to nosh all over Denver since. For the past 9 years, Katie has maintained Yelp Elite status and made lasting relationships with local business owners, while continuing to be an avid food consumer and writer. Her latest cravings and discoveries are frequently documented on her Yelp page. Katie is known for her unique and witty writing style, obsession with avocados, and is considered the go-to girl when it comes to finding a place to dine. When she’s not finding a way to quit her day job to be the next Guy Fieri, she can be found slinging balls on the golf course, binging on true crime podcasts or indulging at a local brewery in the burbs. Look for her work each Friday under Bites with Blondie.
- Multi-published and syndicated blogger and author.
- University lectures at University. of Colorado, Boulder, Denver University Law School, Univ. of New Mexico, Las Vegas NM, and many other schools at all levels. Numerous lectures for the NORML Legal Committee
- Former Judge
- Media work, including episodes of Fox’s Power of Attorney, well in excess of many hundreds media interviews, appearances, articles, and podcasts, including co-hosting Time For Hemp for two years.
- Life Member, NORML Legal Committee, Distinguished Counsel Circle.
- Photographer of the Year, AboutBoulder 2023
- First Chair and Originator of the Colorado Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Committee, a National first.
- Previous Chair, Boulder Criminal Defense Bar (8 years)
- Twice chair Executive Counsel, Colorado Bar Association Criminal Law Section
- Life Member, Colorado Criminal Defense Bar
- Board Member Emeritus, Colorado NORML, and prior chair during legalization, as well as pre and post legalization
- Chair, Colorado NORML, 7 years including during the successful effort to legalize recreational pot in Colorado
- Senior Counsel Emeritus to the Boulder Law firm Dolan + Zimmerman LLP : (720)-610-0951
- Board member, Author, and Editor for Criminal Law Articles for the Colorado Lawyer, primary publication of the Colorado Bar Assoc. 7 Years, in addition to having 2 Colorado Lawyer cover photos, and numerous articles for the Colorado Lawyer monthly publication.
- http://www.Lfrieling.com
- MidWinter: A Colorado Night’s Dream
- Smoke In Denver: Fires, Red Air, Smokey Joints! Smoking a joint and breathing air on a high particulate day exposes your lungs to a variety of harmful substances. The nature and concentration of these substances can vary significantly. Here’s a comparison based on the types of pollutants involved and a chat about health concerns and remediation: Smoking a Joint 1. Combustion Products: Smoking a joint produces combustion products, including tar, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and other toxic substances. 2. Cannabinoids: The smoke contains cannabinoids like THC and CBD, which can have various physiological effects. 3. Carcinogens: Cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogens found in tobacco smoke, though in different concentrations. 4. Immediate Impact: Inhalation of cannabis smoke leads to immediate exposure to these substances, which can irritate the lungs and contribute to respiratory issues. For real time tracking of pollution across the US and locally, PurpleAir is amazing! Here is the macro view showing the smoke moving down from Canada directly to Colorado. Breathing Air on a High Particulate Day 1. Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10, with PM meaning “parts per million”): High particulate days involve elevated levels of PM2.5 and PM10, which are tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. 2. Sources of Particulates: These particles come from various sources, including vehicle emissions, industrial processes, wildfires, and dust. 3. Health Effects: Long-term exposure to high levels of particulate matter can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, reduced lung function, and aggravated asthma. 4. Vulnerability: People with pre-existing health conditions, children, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the effects of particulate matter. PurpleAir of the Boulder Valley 10:21 AM MT 7/23/2024 Comparative Analysis – Exposure Duration: Smoking a joint results in a relatively short, intense exposure to harmful substances, whereas breathing polluted air involves continuous exposure over an extended period. – Concentration of Pollutants: The concentration of harmful substances is generally higher in cannabis smoke than in ambient air, but the cumulative effect of long-term exposure to air pollution can be severe. – Types of Pollutants: While both scenarios involve inhaling particulate matter, the specific types of chemicals and their health impacts differ. Cannabis smoke contains more organic compounds and carcinogens, while ambient air pollution includes a broader range of particulates and gases. – Health Impact: Both activities can harm lung health, but smoking a joint has immediate, acute effects, while air pollution contributes to chronic health problems over time. While both smoking a joint and breathing air on a high particulate day are harmful to lung health, they affect the body in different ways. Immediate exposure from smoking a joint introduces higher concentrations of certain harmful substances, whereas continuous exposure to high particulate matter in the air poses significant long-term health risks. Recommendations: I would consider skipping joints for a few days and instead relying upon edibles. Vaping is of course an option. Simultaneously smoking a joint and breathing the smokey air is a poor choice IMO (in my opinion). Personally I’m breaking out a mask for the time I spend outside. Set aside combustion for consumption for a few days and utilize the alternatives. Follow the “normal” CDPHE guidelines for bad air days. Stay safe! Lenny Lensworth Frieling Shared Knowledge Is Power!
- “That’s A Wrap!” Crisp and Green Adds a New Menu Category!
- Wedding Wonders! Pikes Peak to Patterson Inn: Engaged To Wed In A Second!!
Rea McLaughlin is an enthusiastic soul that loves life from Colorado. She loves the Colorado sunshine and enjoys partaking in it often by going climbing, hiking or camping. She attained her BFA in Film Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder where she fell in love with storytelling. After living in NYC for a year to pursue film, Rea is happily back in Colorado enjoying the mountains and sunshine. One of her favorite themes to explore in her art and writing is the human spirit and human connection. When she’s not climbing or creating, Rea loves traveling to music festivals and going to Red Rocks shows. She might ask you for your birth time to check out your astrology chart too! (She is a Leo Sun, Scorpio Moon, Aquarius Rising). She loves to enjoy life and squeeze the very best of out of it.
With over 15 years of experience in the marketing and advertising industry, I have cultivated an extensive expertise in the realms of cigars, spirits, and the cannabis industry. My journey has seen me not only operate and own dispensaries across California but also collaborate with esteemed publications like Enthusiast Report & Cigar & Spirits magazine, delving into the nuances of high-end luxury lifestyle. Through strategic marketing initiatives, branding endeavors, and innovative advertising campaigns, I have navigated the intricacies of these niche markets, leveraging my passion for the products and profound industry insight to drive growth and establish impactful brand identities.
This content has been published by OnDenver in conjunction with a local business, organization, or community member. This content may have been paid for, and also may include links not directly associated with OnDenver or its parent company, MetroSampler. We do our best to ensure that all content is consistent with our core beliefs and is safe/valuable for our audience. To inquire about sponsoring your own content, please email info@metrosampler.com.
Stephanie is a road warrior, adventure seeker, and brand builder. She grew up in the mountains of Colorado and after spending nearly a decade between the PNW and the east coast, she’s proud to once again be calling Colorado home. Well, home for now. Stephanie recently bought an Airstream with the intention of living a more minimalistic and nomadic lifestyle. After logging over 20k miles in her car last year, chasing rock faces in the summer and powder days in the winter, she realized that life could be a hell of a lot simpler if she could carry her house with her on these adventures. In 2017, she started her own marketing agency, Sleigh Creative, to take control of her freedom. As a freelance creative director and brand strategist, she spends a lot of days playing and even more nights working. In all things, be it work or play, she seeks to inspire people to the life of never settling. You can follow along with her journey on Instagram, @by.stephanieleigh, and through her self-titled personal blog.
Tim has been alarmingly enthusiastic about movies ever since childhood. He grew up in Boulder and, foolishly, left Colorado to study Communications in Washington State. Making matters worse, he moved to Connecticut after meeting his too-good-for-him wife. Drawn by the Rockies and a mild climate, he triumphantly returned and settled down back in Boulder County. He's written numerous screenplays, loves hiking, and embarrassed himself in front of Samuel L. Jackson. True story.
