Good & Grounded

The State of Children’s Mental Health in Colorado | Dr. Sheryl Ziegler

If you are a parent, there is a good chance you have heard Dr. Sheryl Ziegler on the national news talking about the stress of raising young humans while working through a pandemic and the ‘mommy burnout’ that many of us are facing. She stepped away from CNN and The Today Show to join Laura and Jim on Good & Grounded to offer some tips to help all of us – regardless of our parenting status – make it through these challenging times. This quick listen may give you the tips you need to keep your head above water this year.

If you or your child is in a crisis, text TALK to 38255 or call 844-493-8255.

Supporting Animal Shelters During the Pandemic | Laurie Peterson of Dumb Friends League

It’s a name that is synonymous with Denver and for the past 110 years this group has moved mountains to try and end pet homelessness and animal suffering. When the pandemic hit, Dumb Friends League never shut their doors as people rushed in to adopt pets. If you know someone who is dealing with loss, is lonely or needs a furry friend while working from home, Laurie Peterson, VP of marketing of DFL shares a few tips on what it takes to bring a perfectly imperfect pet into their new forever home.

Standing Up For Children Through Advocacy | Jenny Bender of CASA Colorado and Judge Bonnie McLean

Court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteers are people just like you. They make a life-changing difference for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. On this episode of Good & Grounded, Jim and Laura (a CASA volunteer herself) talk with Executive Director of CASA Colorado Jenny Bender, and 18^th Judicial District Judge Bonnie McLean. In 2021, thousands of Colorado children were matched with a CASA but only 35% of the kids that needed a CASA were able to receive one. CASA is in desperate need of more volunteers, specifically males and people from diverse communities, to reflect the children and families they are serving. Change a child's story and visit www.coloradocasa.org to get involved.

The Value of Lived Experience | Gary Sanford of Caring for Denver

In 2018, 70% of Denver voters said yes to raising funds to help heal members of our community dealing with mental health and substance misuse issues. Caring For Denver was formed to oversee $0.25 from every $100 spent into a community fund for mental health and substance misuse needs. On this episode of Good & Grounded, Jim Licko and Laura Love talk with Gary Sanford, with the Caring For Denver Foundation, about how his team decides how to distribute more than $35 million annually to support programs in Denver that provide alternatives to jails and emergency rooms as a first stop for those in crisis. If you want to make a positive impact, visit caring4denver.org and share a personal story to help normalize the conversation around mental health or substance issues

The Economics and Resilience of Grand Junction | Robin Brown of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership

Did you know that Grand Junction is the only metropolitan area in Western Colorado and the largest city between Denver and Salt Lake City, Utah? On this episode of the Good & Grounded podcast, Jim Licko and Laura Love talk with Robin Brown, who spent the last four years as the Executive Director of the Grand Junction Economic Partnership. We discuss the economy in Mesa County, how they’ve handled the pandemic, recommendations for your next visit and more. 

Human Trafficking in Colorado | Lara Mullin of the Denver District Attorney‘s Office

Warning. This conversation covers a difficult subject. Human trafficking is a crime that involves coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. And Denver has a big problem it is facing around this issue. On this episode of the Good & Grounded podcast, Jim Licko and Laura Love talk with Chief Deputy District Attorney Lara Mullin about her approach it as the leader of the human trafficking unit within the Denver District Attorney's Office and what warning signs we should all be looking for.

How can we help? Be observant. Trust your gut. When you see something that feels questionable, give the National Human Trafficking Hotline a call at 1-888-373-7888.

Advancing Nonprofit Leadership | Jami Duffy of Youth on Record

Why do nonprofits apply to foundations? Why don’t foundations apply to nonprofits? Why is the onus of finding the giving opportunities on the folks receiving the dollars? These are just a few of the things on Youth on Record Executive Director Jami Duffy’s mind. It was our pleasure to welcome Jami to the Good & Grounded podcast for a fascinating conversation.

Investing in Colorado‘s Mental Health | Vincent Atchity of Mental Health Colorado

Mental health has been on everyone’s minds this last year, now more than ever. Mental Health Colorado works hard to advocate for every Coloradan who experiences a mental health or substance use condition. On this episode of the Good & Grounded podcast, Jim Licko and Laura Love talk with President & CEO Vincent Atchity about the issues our state faces, how to get involved and more.

Vaccine vs. Variant - The Battle Against Misinformation | Dr. Lalit Bajaj of Children‘s Hospital Colorado

The COVID-19 vaccine. Does it alter your DNA? Are my kids safe to get vaccinated? Will it impact fertility? Will pregnant women be harmed? Dr. Lalit Bajaj, the Chief Quality and Outcomes Officer at Children’s Hospital Colorado answers these questions and more during this important episode of Good and Grounded with Jim Licko and Laura Love.

Music - A Healing Salve for the Dark Times | Paul Lhevine of Swallow Hill Music

For more than 40 years, Swallow Hill Music has offered music lessons, presented and promoted concerts, and provided music education in under-resourced communities. In 2019, they provided over 19,000 private lessons, ran nearly 1,200 group classes and put on 250 concerts. On the latest episode of Good & Grounded, Jim and Laura talk with CEO Paul Lhevine about this Denver-based non-profit organization, how they approached the challenges of the pandemic and the lessons he learned as a leader during such a tumultuous time.