Colorado Soul Stories

Sunnyside Music Festival Pt.1: West Side Books, The Reals!

Join Mama Jill and her friends at the Sunnyside Music Festival, recorded Sept. 13, 2025. Bear with the Mama as she battles portable mics in the wind with the background noise of the festival. Despite that challenge, these were live-on-the-spot interviews, very organic and real! First off is an interview with the proprietors of West Side Books from North Denver near 32nd and Lowell. They are one of our long-standing authentic, independently owned neighborhood bookstores with a great backstory.
Mama Jill chats with her brother briefly at the festival right before Matthew Kowal and the beloved local band The Reals play a "pirate" session at the Colorado Soul Stories booth. They drew quite a crowd in between the sets on the main stage of the festival. The Reals is comprised of mostly North Denver musicians who have lived in the area and played together for decades. Their original songs possess a particularly wonderful Colorado essence. Enjoy!
The rest of the festival recording will launch soon as well.  https://www.jillcarstenswriter.com/coloradosoulstoriespodcast

"Everything is Beautiful, and Nothing is Clean": Autumn Check-In with Mama Jill

She's unearthing sweaters, observing the warm hues of the turning leaves and contemplating the transformational tendencies of this season, just days after, yet another, school shooting in Colorado.
Your host Mama Jill reflects on autumn with bittersweet memories. She reiterates her "mission" for the podcast, to share the joyful soul of Colorado through the unique perspectives of its special people and places. Yet she shares there is also a deeper goal of this work, which was recently validated in a separate interview she heard with NPR host of Fresh Air, Terry Gross; sharing our stories can help us learn about and connect with others no matter how different they may be and, perhaps more surprisingly, deepen our knowledge about ourselves.
And finally, in this ten minute chat, Mama Jill bares her soul about one particularly difficult autumn a few years ago that changed her profoundly. This story is punctuated at the end of this chat by an excerpt of master Colorado song-writer, Matthew Kowal's song, "Kerosene." Hear the full performance of this song in the upcoming Sunnyside Music Festival episode coming soon.
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Gray Carstens: Mama Jill's Son Shares his Path to Choosing a Career, Part 1

Mama Jill takes time to interview her grown son, Gray Carstens. In part one, Gray shares the struggles he experienced after high school striving to figure out that ominous question: "What do I want to do with my life?" 
He labels his path as non-linear; entering film school right out of high school, then becoming disillusioned with that idea. He travels down varied roads for a few years, not sure if a degree is in the cards for him. Then COVID comes into play, providing an unexpected chance for contemplation.
Gray shares that even though some of the choices he made were not always ideal, he wouldn't take anything to replace that journey and all of the things it has taught him so far. 
Whether you are a young adult facing these same challenges or a "mature" adult reflecting back on your own life-choice, this conversation offers unique perspectives for anyone paying attention to their journey. Enjoy!

Coleman Smith and Robin Vega: Connecting Music and Community

Coleman Smith is an internationally known fiddle player who captivates listeners with his sublime cross-genre style of playing his violin, which has been in-hand since he chose the instrument at the age of three.  When he met his partner, Robin Vega, they became a dynamic couple, with Vega helping to stretch the reach of Smith's talents to share with music students all over the Arkansas River Valley and well beyond through the Coletrain Music Academy in Buena Vista, Colorado. Their infectious happy demeanors and desire to cultivate community are just one of the reasons that they qualify as "soulful" guests for the show. Enjoy!
More info/subscribe: https://www.jillcarstenswriter.com/colemansmithfiddleplayer

Teague Bohlen Part 2: Paths to the Writing Life

As Mama Jill and Teague continue their conversation, they touch on Teague's small town, midwestern upbringing and how that influenced his proclivities to write. He shares his journey towards figuring out what to do with his life as a young adult, where his skills with writing kept floating to the top of each career move; from stints in the corporate world to discovering the joys of teaching and how a particular goat supplied a solution to temporary writers block!

Writer, Teague Bohlen: Part 1

Mama Jill has a meaty conversation with Denver writer, Teague Bohlen. Teague teaches writing at the University of Colorado in Denver, is a regular writer for Denver's arts and culture newspaper, Westword and is a well-known author. His first novel, The Pull of the Earth, won the Colorado Book Award in 2007. His latest book is a companion to the popular podcast of the same name, Escaping Denver, fictionalizing the myths about the underground tunnels at Denver International Airport - an edge-of-your-armchair read!
More info here: https://www.jillcarstenswriter.com/coloradosoulstoriespodcast
 

Sarah Anderson of Heavy Diamond Ring

Mama Jill interviews the front woman of her favorite Colorado band, Heavy Diamond Ring. Join the conversation as they go in-depth, reflecting on how Sarah's upbringing influenced her career in music and how the landscape of Colorado continues to provide inspiration for the band's reflective song-writing. Meeting in Kittridge on the cusp of the release of their new album, Sarah shares how the band came together so organically and the joy of working with such a talented group of happy musicians.
Please subscribe and rate the pod! More info here: https://www.jillcarstenswriter.com/coloradosoulstoriespodcast

JoJo Tells ANOTHER Story: Me and the Sheriff, an Unforgettable Night in Westcliffe, CO

In this thrilling episode of Colorado Soul Stories, join us as Jojo Elmquist recounts a wild night in Westcliff during the late 1980s. Discover how an ordinary evening at a local bar spirals into a surprising encounter with cowboys, guns, and a strict sheriff who enforces his own brand of justice. Experience the vibrant spirit and tight-knit community of a small Colorado town as JoJo navigates through unexpected predicaments with humor and candor.
 

"From Shadows to Light: An Artist's Journey of Hope"

Welcome to Colorado Soul Stories, a podcast dedicated to telling the tales of creative individuals who have shaped the essence of Colorado. Join your host, Mama Jill, as she travels to Westcliffe, Colorado, to meet Andy Mast, an inspiring artist with Amish roots. Discover Andy's journey from the Amish farmlands of Illinois to becoming a renowned artist in Colorado and the world. Through personal trials and unwavering determination, Andy found healing and hope in his art, leading him to create pieces that bring peace and comfort to others. Dive into his captivating story that highlights the power of resilience and creativity.

Ana Maria Vasquez: Animal and Nature Intuitive

In this episode of Colorado Soul Stories, long-time Colorado resident and host Mama Jill takes us on a journey with Ana Maria Vasquez, a multi-sensory intuitive who communicates with animals and nature. Recorded in the serene environment of Nathrop, Colorado, Ana Maria shares her transformative life journey from losing everything in the 2008 recession to discovering her unique connection with nature and her role as an animal communicator.
Join in to hear about her encounter with a wise tree that set her on the path to understanding the interconnectedness of all life. From tales of manifesting love intentionally to her work with global clients, Ana Maria’s story is one filled with surprising revelations, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Colorado's landscapes.
The episode also sheds light on practical ways to connect with nature's energies, whether through grounding, earthing, or the creation of sacred spaces like medicine wheels. Dive into this soulful storytelling that explores personal transformation and the power of nature's unseen communication.
And as always subscribe and rate the podcast. More information on this episode and the podcast can be found here: https://www.jillcarstenswriter.com/coloradosoulstoriespodcast