The Downtown Cheyenne Revival, Growth and Future with Patrick Graham | Episode 187

The Downtown Cheyenne Revival, Growth and Future with Patrick Graham | Episode 187

A broken sign can tell you a lot about a city. When the iconic Wrangler horse in downtown Cheyenne stopped “galloping,” it didn’t just feel like a maintenance issue, it felt like a piece of local identity went quiet. We sit down with Pat Graham of eXp Realty, who decided to do something about it, from getting permission to pull the horse down to rebuilding the mechanics and lining up a fresh repaint so it can shine again before Cheyenne Frontier Days.  From there, we get into the real-world nuts and bolts of downtown life. Pat explains the problem parking spots on Lincoln Way that keep costing drivers their side mirrors. We also talk about the upgraded downtown parking garage and why Cheyenne’s “pull up at the front door” habits might need to evolve as the city center grows.  The biggest shift coming is housing: new apartment projects mean well over a hundred new downtown households, and that changes what services make sense. We dig into the missing piece that keeps coming up, a walkable grocery store, plus what it would take to support car-light living with more foot traffic, bike-friendly options, and business-owner collaboration like Downtown First. If you care about downtown Cheyenne, local business, walkability, and smart community development, you’ll leave with ideas you can actually use. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves Cheyenne, and leave us a review with your pick for what downtown needs next.

How Wyoming & the Capitol City, Cheyenne Plans To Celebrate America’s 250th Birthday | Episode 186

America is turning 250, and Wyoming isn’t treating it like a one-day headline. We’re joined by Nick Nealin and Nathan Dore from Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources to talk about what the America 250 semi-quincentennial really is, how Wyoming 250 fits into the national picture, and why these anniversary years can shape how we see our communities for decades. We get into the big ideas first: how reflecting on history includes both the highs and the lows, and how Wyoming’s contributions to the nation deserve a louder spotlight. Women’s suffrage comes up right away, along with a preview of programs that dig into unique pieces of the Wyoming Constitution. If you’ve ever wondered what your state has truly added to the American story, this conversation gives you a clear starting point. Then we go practical. Nick and Nathan share how Wyoming supported celebration and historic preservation through a major statewide grant program, plus how to find events on Wyoming250.com. We also preview Cheyenne’s Fourth of July plans at the Capitol Complex, including the parade, activities at the State Museum and Supreme Court, a time capsule dedication, live performances, the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, and fireworks over the Capitol. We wrap with community builders like America’s Potluck and a coordinated statewide reading of the Declaration of Independence, plus quick personal questions on leadership and what “home” means. Subscribe, share this with a friend in Wyoming, and leave us a review so more neighbors can find the stories and events that bring us together.

This one is for the GIRLS! | Abby Lane at Bloom Therapy + Flourish Fitness & Recovery | Episode 185

Postpartum depression is often talked about like it’s obvious, dramatic, and easy to spot. The truth is it can be quiet, subtle, and hidden behind a “fine” smile, especially in places where moms feel isolated and expected to tough it out. We’re joined by Abby Lane, founder of Bloom Therapy WY in Cheyenne, to get real about what postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety actually look like, why sleep can become a major red flag, and why struggling after birth has nothing to do with how much you love your baby. Abby shares her path from working in child protection to becoming Wyoming’s first perinatal mental health certified therapist, then growing Bloom Therapy from a basement office into a team serving moms across the community. We talk through practical ways to get help, including starting with your OB, self-scheduling directly, and using a free 15-minute consultation to find the right fit. We also dig into the bigger cultural shift away from “it takes a village,” and why modern moms are asked to do too much with too little support. Then we zoom out to the next layer of healing: community and movement. Abby explains why she created Flourish Fitness and Recovery, a women-focused gym and wellness space with classes like yoga, Pilates, strength, spin, and more, plus child watch, sauna, and cold plunge. If you’ve been craving a healthier way to make friends, get out of the house, and take care of your mind and body, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with a mom who needs it, and leave a review with the one kind of support you wish every new parent had.

Renee Fowler with Make A Difference Cheyenne- Showing Up for Cheyenne | Episode 184

A lot of people think “community help” means writing a check or joining a committee. Renee Fowler is here to prove something different: sometimes the most life-changing support is a ride across town, a truck for a furniture pickup, a cleaned-out fridge, or a safe ramp that lets someone in a wheelchair leave their home without falling. Renee founded Make a Difference Cheyenne, a Cheyenne, Wyoming 501(c)(3) nonprofit built to fill the gaps that other programs can’t touch because of grant rules, staffing limits, or eligibility cutoffs.  We talk through what those gaps look like in real life: the bed voucher you can’t use because you can’t transport it, the older adult stuck with the city bus bag limit, the neighbor trying to pass an inspection while dealing with low vision, and the person who needs support but doesn’t have a built-in network. Renee also shares how she vets requests, why the organization avoids duplicating existing nonprofits, and how partnerships with groups like Veterans Rock, the VA, Habitat for Humanity, and Meals on Wheels help more people get served fast.  One of the most practical takeaways is the volunteer model. Make a Difference Cheyenne runs on “opportunities” posted to Slack, so volunteers can jump in when they’re available without getting locked into weekly meetings. We also get into new work supporting struggling working households with Thursday-night food boxes, plus a critical Sunday food gap for unhoused neighbors that too many people never see.  If you care about volunteering in Cheyenne, mutual aid, nonprofit leadership, or building a stronger Wyoming community one small task at a time, this conversation will give you real examples and a clear way to plug in. Subscribe, share this with a friend who wants to help, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

Brenda and John Lyttle Share The Atlas Comeback Story & Upcoming Productions | Episode 183

A historic venue doesn’t just reopen, it comes back to life. We sit down again with John and Brenda Little from the Atlas Theatre to talk about what really happened behind the closed doors: the structural work that had to be done in an 1887-era building, the surprise fire suppression requirements that slowed the timeline, and the upgrades that change how the building can be protected for the next 100-plus years. If you love old buildings, downtown Cheyenne, or the behind-the-scenes reality of a major renovation, you’ll get the honest version here. We also get into the fun parts, including what they found during construction: painted peacock designs hidden behind walls, covered brick archways, and a few strange artifacts that remind you just how much history can get tucked away in a theater. Then we shift to what the community is really waiting for: the Atlas grand reopening, how to book Atlas Theatre tours through Cheyenne Little Theatre Players, and the full 2026-2027 season announcement. We talk through the lineup including Shrek the Musical, Misery, Nunsense (dinner theater), Clue, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Rock of Ages, plus how season tickets and the flexible Pick Six package work. To wrap, we zoom out to what makes community theater run: volunteers, youth Summer Stock, and a culture where people can learn lights, sound, sets, box office, or step on stage for the first time. We finish with two closing questions that land with surprising depth: what great leadership looks like, and what “home” means now. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share this with a friend who loves local arts, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.