Rebuilding Together: Aspen Acres Fire Recovery with Chris Segura of the United Way

Rebuilding Together: Aspen Acres Fire Recovery with Chris Segura of the United Way

In this special episode of Bree on a Budget, host Bree Anne Pappan sits down with Chris Segura, director of communications and engagement for United Way of Southern Colorado, to discuss the response to the Aspen Acres Fire and the long road from emergency relief to community recovery. Recorded while the wildfire remained active, the conversation examines the rapidly changing needs of evacuated and displaced residents. Segura explains how the Southern Colorado Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund, Disaster Assistance Center and local partner organizations are connecting families with temporary housing, transportation, food, financial assistance, mental health support and other essential services. He also discusses how donation needs evolve, why coordination matters and how relief organizations are beginning to prepare for the difficult months and years that follow a disaster. Beyond the immediate response, Bree and Segura explore the emotional toll of leaving home, the uncertainty faced by families assessing damage and the challenges confronting residents who may be uninsured or underinsured. At the heart of the episode is a powerful story of neighbors, nonprofits, businesses, first responders and volunteers answering the call. Recovery is not only about replacing what was lost. It is about making sure people have the resources, relationships and community support needed to move forward. In Southern Colorado, that work has already begun. Pueblo, we’ve got your back. Bree on a Budget is a production of the Voices of Pueblo podcast, presented by the Pueblo Star Journal with support from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.

A Conversation with Artist, Creative, Producer James Beck

In this episode of State of Art, Bree Anne Pappan sits down with artist, creative, and producer James Beck for a wide-ranging conversation about artificial intelligence and the future of creativity. Building on her June story about AI, Bree explores the implications of this rapidly evolving technology for artists, storytellers, cultural workers, and the broader creative community. Together, they discuss both the promise and the uncertainty of AI, from new tools for production and imagination to deeper questions about authorship, originality, ethics, and what it means to create in a changing world.

State of Art | Leonardo da Vinci Museum opens Pueblo to the world | A Conversation with Dr. Sara Taglialagamba

State of Art, a Voices of Pueblo podcast, explores the people, ideas and creative forces shaping the cultural life of our community. In this episode, Bree Anne Pappan leads a conversation about a remarkable new chapter for Pueblo: the opening of the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, a project that connects southern Colorado to audiences, ideas and cultural conversations around the world. The featured guest is Dr. Sara Taglialagamba, an internationally recognized Leonardo scholar whose work has helped bring the museum’s vision to life. The conversation explores the museum’s opening, its significance for Pueblo, and what it means for the city to become part of a global conversation about creativity, education, art and discovery. State of Art: “Leonardo da Vinci Museum Opens Pueblo to the World” — a conversation with Dr. Sara Taglialagamba.

Leonardo Da Vinci Museum Opens Pueblo to the World with Andy Koen

In this special episode of the Voices of Pueblo podcast, the Pueblo Star Journal marks the opening of the new Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America and STEAM Center in downtown Pueblo. Producer and narrator Andy Koen takes listeners inside the story of how a world-class cultural attraction, featuring exhibits created by the renowned Artisans of Florence, found its North American home along Pueblo’s Historic Arkansas Riverwalk. Guests Joe Arrigo and Craig Eliot Cisney share the vision, partnerships and persistence behind the museum’s creation, as well as its promise to inspire curiosity, creativity and hands-on learning for students and visitors across Southern Colorado. The episode also features original Renaissance-inspired music created with the innovative AI platform Suno.com, designed to evoke the sound and spirit of Leonardo da Vinci’s time. Guests: Joe Arrigo and Craig Eliot Cisney  | Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America | https://davincisteam.org/ [https://davincisteam.org/] Host: Andy Koen Presented by: Pueblo Star Journal's Voices of Pueblo Podcast Series

Pueblo, We've Got Your Back: United Way's Financial Empowerment Center

As the cost of everyday essentials continues to rise, from groceries and gasoline to housing and healthcare, many Pueblo families are feeling the strain of making ends meet. In this episode of Bree on a Budget, host Bree Ann Pappan welcomes Luanne Maes, Kevin Harris, and Chris Segura from United Way of Pueblo County to discuss the new Financial Empowerment Center, a community resource designed to help individuals and families build financial stability and confidence. At the Pueblo Star Journal, the guiding message behind Bree on a Budget has always been simple: "Pueblo, we've got your back." The Financial Empowerment Center reflects that same commitment by offering free financial coaching, practical tools, and personalized support to help residents navigate today's economic challenges. This conversation highlights one of Pueblo's greatest strengths: people and organizations coming together to support one another. When we work together, we build community. When we watch out for each other, we create opportunities for everyone to succeed. Join us to learn how the Financial Empowerment Center is helping Pueblo residents take control of their finances and why this new partnership is another example of what Pueblo does best. Guests: Luanne Maes, Kevin Harris, and Chris Segura  | United Way | https://www.pueblounitedway.org/fec [https://www.pueblounitedway.org/fec] Host: Bree Ann Pappan Presented by: Pueblo Star Journal's Bree on a Budget Podcast Series Pueblo. We've got your back.