Josiah M. Hesse
Stress and Sociopathy at Denver’s High Plains Comedy Festival
In its second year, the event is already looking like a success, giving once-marginal comedians access to the national spotlight.
Satanism and Guilt-Free Murder in Iowa
On the evening of July 18, 2013, Kathy Barlas returned to her home in Mason City, Iowa, to find her adult son waiting in the garage in his underwear, dripping with blood. "Mom, I killed Satan," he told her.
Going Underground: Denver’s Indie Music Festival Wrestles with Corporate Ties
When you call your event an "Underground Music Showcase"—the title of Denver's 14-year-old local music festival—are you obligated to adhere to all the weird rules and intricate politics of indie culture, no matter how big you get?
Colorado Bankers Are Still Scared of Weed Money
Until the ink is dry on a new federal law, financial types won't touch ganja profits—which only benefits the private security industry.
Rat in a Cage: Legalized Weed Has Been Awkward for Colorado's Governor
During a recent hour-long interview on the subject of marijuana with Katie Couric at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper laid out the details of his upcoming PSA, an anti-pot campaign titled "Don't Be A Lab Rat."
Am I a Bigot for Hating Cruiser Bikes?
The most iconic villains in the gentrification of Denver are the bros riding the bicycle equivalent of an SUV while blasting "Blurred Lines," and the Punch Bowl Social—a Costco-size bowling alley that attracts upper-class beer-pong enthusiasts.
Colorado Republicans Are Attempting a Radical Makeover
Frustrated with Democratic "bullying" that inevitably steers young, gay, minority, and creative types toward their rival in a state where recreational pot use is now legal, the local GOP is stepping up its appeal to the kids.
How Do People Not Believe in Climate Change, and How Can I Become One of Them?
Are journalists at fault for failing to convince us just how horrible global warming will be? Denial and doubt can be tempting—even to those who cover this stuff for a living.