Updated with original episodes every month, the Visit Aurora "Gateway To The Rockies Podcast" serves to amplify the voices of the influential people shaping the future of Aurora, Colorado, with a focus on business owners, community leaders, and those preserving history and moving culture forward. To be featured in an upcoming episode, please click here.
In this episode, we sit down with Carla Ladd to discuss entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, and the importance of creating opportunities for Black-owned businesses in Colorado. Carla shares the mission behind B.E.S.T. The Black Economic Success Trust, her personal journey, and what attendees can expect from the upcoming B.E.S.T. Success Summit & Expo in Aurora.
The founder of Maria Empanada, Lorena Cantarovici, shares her inspiring journey from Argentina to Colorado, how she built one of the region’s most celebrated food brands, and the powerful role food plays in culture, community, and connection. We also explore Aurora’s growing identity as one of Colorado’s most diverse culinary destinations.
Vivian Egonio-Norman and Danielle Stratton of the Filipino-American Community of Colorado talk about their personal journeys, the richness of Filipino culture in Colorado, and the stories behind "Mosaics of Culture,” a powerful exhibit at the Aurora History Museum. It’s a conversation about heritage, belonging, and what makes Aurora’s diversity so real and so worth celebrating.
Step inside one of Aurora’s most iconic cultural landmarks as we sit down with Lisa Rigsby Peterson, interim Manager of the Aurora Fox Arts Center. With more than 25 years of experience in theater and performing arts, Lisa shares her journey, her vision for the Fox, and how the arts can shape and strengthen a community.
Journalist Antony Bruno joins us to share what he discovered after dining at nearly 50 restaurants on Havana Street in Aurora. What began as a personal challenge turned into a powerful exploration of culture, community, and the immigrant-owned businesses that define this iconic corridor. From unforgettable dishes to meaningful conversations, this episode celebrates why Havana Street is one of Colorado’s most dynamic culinary destinations.
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is one of Colorado’s most powerful economic engines. Kelly Brough, the President & CEO of the Fitzsimons Innovation Community, shares the bold vision behind the newly approved master plan, the cutting-edge research transforming patient care, and how this square-mile campus is evolving into Aurora’s first true urban district. From talent pipelines and housing innovation to public art, green spaces, and world-class labs, she reveals how FIC is shaping the city’s future and redefining what it means to live, work, and discover in Aurora.
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