Denver, Oct. 5, 2023 - Denverite and Colorado Public Radio today announced a new podcast on the stories and people behind Denver’s vibrant street art scene. “Off the Walls,” hosted by CPR’s Kibwe Cooper and Emily Williams, premieres Oct. 16.
“I love the stories Kibwe and Emily are telling with this project,” said Brad Turner, executive producer of CPR’s Audio Innovations Studio. “A podcast is an unusual way to tell stories about murals and visual arts. But it works because the art is a starting point to explore some deep, important issues in Denver.”
Denverite has long covered the artists and communities that create and support the city’s vibrant public art. In each episode of “Off the Walls” listeners will learn what inspired a mural in the city, as well as stories of how it was created. Through interviews with artists, activists and other Denverites, Cooper and Williams dig into what murals mean and why they matter to local communities in Colorado.
Kibwe Cooper and Emily Williams are both podcast producers for CPR’s Audio Innovations Studio, where they’ve worked on shows such as “Parched,” “Terra Firma,” “Music Blocks” and “My Story So Far.” Before joining CPR, Cooper spent eight years working as a podcast host, audio engineer and digital content creator. Williams’ prior experience includes hosting a weekly news podcast at The Post and Courier newspaper in South Carolina.
Williams said the podcast should help its audience find a new appreciation for the city’s public art. "I hope listeners get more curious about the murals they live near or see all the time. These walls can hold really special stories and memories,” she said.
"The biggest thing I've learned through this project is the importance of representation, of agency and of shared community narratives," Cooper said. "BIPOC communities and their art have often been ignored when Denver's history is told. I believe ‘Off the Walls’ will shine a light on the dedication and tenacity of underrepresented Denverites."
A trailer for the podcast is out now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and the CPR website. Subscribe to Denverite’s newsletter to see photos of the murals along with each new episode. The show debuts Oct. 16 with five weekly episodes planned.
“Off the Walls” was produced with support from PRX, and is made possible in part by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and a grant from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation.
Media inquiries: Clara Shelton, [email protected]
Photos and graphics related to this release here.
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About Colorado Public Radio
Colorado Public Radio is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization delivering meaningful news, music, and cultural experiences to everyone in Colorado using the power of the human voice in all its forms. Roughly 95 percent of CPR’s funds come from the private support of listeners, businesses and foundations. For more information, visit www.cpr.org.
- CPR News delivers in-depth, insightful and impartial news and information from around the world, across the nation and throughout Colorado, examining its relevance to our state and connecting it to our community.
- CPR Classical takes listeners on an in-depth exploration of thoughtfully curated music – with an emphasis on Colorado’s classical community – providing context to a broad range of meaningful and compelling works from past to present.
- Indie 102.3 takes listeners inside the world of new and independent music – exposing them to up-and-coming artists and highlighting Colorado’s local music scene.
- Denverite is an online news source dedicated to Denver's curious and concerned.
- KRCC is a public radio station in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving Southern Colorado. KRCC is operated by Colorado Public Radio in partnership with Colorado College.
