Carl Bilek

Colorado Matters Executive Producer

@CarlBilek[email protected]

Carl joined Colorado Public Radio in 2018. He brought with him nearly 30 years of experience in the broadcast news industry, all of which was spent covering news in Denver.

Professional Background:

Most recently, he was National Director of Content at the E.W. Scripps Company, where he helped manage the "Now" show for stations across the country.

Carl has extensive experience in leadership roles for local newsrooms. He was formerly the acting news director and executive producer at KMGH, and was also the news director at KWGN.

Awards:

After 25 years of service dedicated to excellence, Carl was inducted into the Silver Circle of the NATAS Heartland Region in 2017. He also received four regional Emmy Awards for his work on special projects at KMGH, and was a part of the station's leadership when it won the Emmy for both news excellence and station excellence.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in marketing from Metropolitan State University of Denver

Remembering the skiing soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division

For Veterans Day, we recognize the skiing soldiers of World War II. Members of the 10th Mountain Division trained at Camp Hale in Leadville. In October, President Biden declared it a national monument. These troops fought to take Mt. Belvedere, in Italy’s Apennine Mountains. And their victory was a turning point in the war. Producer Joe Richman, of Radio Diaries, brings us their story.
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How engaging in civil discourse can strengthen democracy

On this Election Day, we talk about civil discourse. It means having a conversation with people of different viewpoints to broaden understanding. The University of Denver and the Korbel School of International Studies recently gathered experts from four think tanks for “Denver Dialogues” to talk about the challenges, opportunities, and importance of engaging in civil discourse.
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The outlook for snow in the age of climate change

Mid-to-late October is when we usually see the first snow in Denver. Last year, the first measurable snowfall didn’t happen until December, which, by the way, is the latest “first” snowfall on record. We get perspective on weather and climate now in our regular conversation with Denver7 chief meteorologist Mike Nelson.
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Sharing stories through music

It’s back to school, which means it can also be back to… music. Music Blocks is CPR’s podcast which explores how songwriters and composers use sound to express emotion. And how kids can tap into their own feelings. It was developed to spur classroom discussion with middle and high schoolers in mind, but can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Music Blocks co-hosts and producers, Rebekah Romberg and Luis Antonio Perez, join Colorado Matters to talk about the second season, which focuses on musical storytelling.

One of the ‘greatest athletes of all time’ gets his Olympic recognition decades later

He’s considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. But the International Olympic Committee didn’t remember it that way, until now. This month, the IOC reinstated Jim Thorpe as the sole gold medalist in the 1912 Olympic decathlon and pentathlon. The reinstatement comes after decades of petitions. Thorpe was Indigenous, and when the IOC stripped him of his medals for violating amateurism rules, many claimed it was motivated by racism.
James Beard Awards DJ Cavem Adrian Miller

Ietef ‘DJ Cavem’ Vita and Soul Food Scholar Adrian Miller talk about diversifying top culinary award

The James Beard Awards are one of the top prizes in the culinary world. This year’s ceremony included a recommitment to upholding “racial and gender equity, community, sustainability and a culture where all can thrive.” Denver culinary ambassador Ietef “DJ Cavem” Vita, a vegan chef and rapper, was one of this year’s judges. He joins us along with Denver’s Soul Food Scholar and culinary historian, Adrian Miller, who won an award for “reference and scholarship” for his book, “Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue.”