Ryan Warner

Colorado Matters Senior Host

[email protected]

Ryan Warner is senior host of Colorado Matters, the flagship daily interview program from CPR News. His voice is heard on frequencies around the state as he talks with Coloradans from all walks of life — politicians, scientists, artists, activists and others. Ryan's interviews with Colorado's governor now span four administrations. During his tenure, Colorado Matters has consistently been recognized as the best major market public radio talk show in the country. He speaks French, geeks out on commercial aviation, adores and tolerates his tuxedo cat Bob, and owns too many shoes.

Professional background:
Ryan came to CPR from WGCU in Fort Myers, Fla. He was the founding host of that station's daily call-in talk show, Gulf Coast Live. Ryan served as assistant news director and local host of NPR's "All Things Considered" and filed stories for NPR during Hurricane Charley in 2004. Ryan previously hosted "Morning Edition" on WYSO Public Radio in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and co-created a weekend news magazine there. Prior to that, he served as news director of KOPN Community Radio in Columbia, Missouri. For two years, Ryan left public radio to report and anchor weekend news at KTIV-TV, the NBC affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa.

Education:
Bachelor's degrees in political science and French, University of Missouri-Columbia; Master's degree in broadcast journalism, Boston University.

Awards:
Ryan has won numerous awards from Public Media Journalists Association for his interviews. He's also been honored by The Associated Press. Westword named Ryan the Best Talk-Radio Host for 2021, and the editors of 5280 Magazine voted him Top Radio Talk Show Host of 2009.

Contact:

Bluesky: @ryanhasaquestion

Instagram: @oddryhepburn

Rocky Mountain News Journalists Win Pulitzer Prizes

Ryan Warner speaks with reporter Jim Sheeler and photographer Todd Heisler about their yearlong reporting on Major Steve Beck.

ClickCaster Podcasting

Ryan Warner speaks with Scott Converse, founder and CEO of ClickCaster Incorporated, a Boulder company whose new website will allow users to create their own podcasts.

Breckenridge Gondola

Construction will soon begin on a gondola from the historic town to the Breckenridge ski resort. Officials hope the gondola will draw more skiers and cut down on traffic congestion.

Colorado and Immigration Reform IV / Protest Organizer

Ryan Warner talks about the effects of immigration on Colorado communities with Lisa Duran, the executive director of Denver-based Rights for All People, part of the coalition behind rallies around […]

Colorado and Immigration Reform V / Undocumented Worker

Ryan Warner speaks with a janitor in the Denver area who came here from Chihuahua, Mexico. She speaks through an interpreter about her experiences working without papers.

Colorado and Immigration Reform VII / Union Negotiator

Ryan Warner talks with Dan Owens, a labor union negotiator with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 9, who says illegal foreign workers undermine union efforts by working for […]

Colorado and Immigration Reform VIII / The Role of Religion

Ryan Warner discusses the role of religion in the immigration debate with Jamila Spencer, a representative for the Colorado Catholic Conference, and Rocky Mountain News reporter Myung Kim, who has […]

Future of Oil Shale II / EGL Resources

Ryan Warner talks to Glenn Vawter with EGL Resources about the company’s hopes of winning Bureau of Land Management approval for an oil shale test site.

Future of Oil Shale III / Energy Analyst

Ryan Warner speaks with energy analyst Randy Udall, director of the Community Office for Resource Efficiency in Carbondale, about harvesting oil shale in Western Colorado.

John Swartout on National Forest Plan

Ryan Warner speaks with the executive director of Great Outdoors Colorado, a state-run land conservation agency, about the proposed sale of national forestland to pay for infrastructure and education in […]

EcoBroker

Ryan Warner talks with Cindy Beach, a realtor in Cedaredge. She just completed a national training program in Evergreen that is designed to educate realtors and homebuyers about environmental issues.

Director Bonnie Metzgar

Ryan Warner talks to the director of The War Anthology, a collection of short pieces that examine the cost of war. The play recently made its world debut in Denver.

Tamarisk and the Web

Ryan Warner speaks with ecologist Tom Stohlgren, director of the National Institute of Invasive Species Science based in Fort Collins.

Yankee Girl Mine

Ryan Warner talks with Bob Risch, head of the Red Mountain Project, and Frieda Reish, granddaughter of one of the men who discovered the mine, about the future of the […]

Gale Norton

The former Interior secretary speaks with Ryan Warner about her tenure, energy drilling in the Rockies, and whether she’ll return to the West.

Women in Politics

Colorado is one of four states where non-partisan training sessions are offered for women interested in embarking on a political career.

Sign Up For Our Newsletters

It takes a good day’s drive to cover Colorado, but we’ll help you do it in a few minutes. Our newsletters bring you a closer look at the stories that affect you and the music that inspires you.

Upcoming Events

KRCC’s 719 Day Backyard Hootenanny

11:00amSouthern Colorado Public Media Center

Jul19

Turn the Page with Colorado Matters: “The Martians”

6:00pm21c Pikes Peak Library

Aug04

Indie 102.3’s INDIEVERSE

4:00pmLevitt Pavilion Denver

Sep13

Listen to a Colorado Postcard

Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. Listen now.

0:00/0:00