Carousel of Happiness Podcast
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast! It all starts with Scott Harrison, a Vietnam veteran, who channelled his grief into art by hand-carving and restoring a 1910 Charles Looff-designed carousel that actively spins today. On the podcast, you'll hear stories about how the carousel came to be and how it found an unusual home 8,000 feet above sea level in the quirky mountain town of Nederland, Colorado.
The Carousel of Happiness Podcast is your weekly hub of positivity where we'll spin yarns and tell tales about the carousel itself, the people who keep it spinning, and the over 1 million visitors who are fundamentally changed as a result of their visit. Not sure how a $3 ride ticket can change your life? We'll show you how on the podcast.
In the meantime, take care. Be well. And don't delay joy. We'll see you next time around.
Episodes
34 episodes
Episode 33: How Small Change Can Create Big Impact – the Story of Mary Quinlan Wingate
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today’s episode, we’ll introduce you to lifelong Nederland summer resident, Mary Quinlan Wingate. You’ll learn how a mother of three changed Nederland for the better and how her legacy live...
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Episode 33
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12:24
Episode 32: "If Not Me, Then Who?" – A Lesson about Personal Passion & Leadership from the Travis Manion Foundation
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today’s episode, we share a story of a group of veterans and their families who visited the carousel from the Travis Manion Foundation a couple o...
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Episode 32
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18:19
Episode 31: Peace, Love, Moto: A Conversation with Ron Francis
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today’s episode, I’m going to share an interview I did last week with Ron Francis. Ron is the host of the Peace, Love, Moto Podcast, a podcast based in Loveland, Colorado that explores the ...
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Episode 31
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1:03:43
Episode 30: What to Do When the World's On Fire?
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today’s episode, we explore what to do when it feels like the world is on fire. Join host Allie Wagner as she shares a TedTalk by writer and creative coach, Amie McNee, who makes the argume...
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Episode 30
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28:39
Ep. 29: Full Moon Fever: How 7 Animals Escaped the Carousel
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today’s episode, host Allie Wagner shares a story about how she arrived at the carousel last Friday morning to discover seven carousel animals missing. Who left? Where are they? Did they ge...
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Episode 29
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23:15
Episode 28: Sunshine, Soul Retrieval, and Rainbows: A Conversation with Cypress Willett
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today’s episode, we wrap up our two-part conversation with Seer, Healer, and Artist, Cypress Willet. (Check out Episode 27 to listen to the first part of our conversation.) Join host Allie ...
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Episode 28
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26:35
Episode 27: Helping Spirits, Ritual, and "Nurse Energy:" A Conversation with Cypress Willett
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today’s episode, we meet Seer, Healer, and Artist, Cypress Willett. You might remember I met Cypress on my visit to the Warrior Storyfield in Longmont. And, if you’ve been to the carousel r...
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Episode 27
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20:32
Episode 26: Meditation, Happy Grandpas, and the Power of Awe – A Conversation with COH Board President Charles Wood
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today's episode, you'll meet Carousel of Happiness Board President, Charles Wood. Charles has been involved with the carousel for 12 years now, and has had pretty much every single job in t...
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Episode 26
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21:17
Episode 25: Presence, Creativity, and a Wonder Box Meditation
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today's episode, host Allie Wagner guides you through a carousel-themed meditation. Find a cozy spot, quiet your mind, and see what's possible when you are present with questions from the W...
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Episode 25
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39:09
Episode 24: Presence, Peace, and the Joy of "Riding the Wave"
Welcome the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today's episode, we talk about what happened on the podcast last week, how it relates to the carousel, and how we’re going to move forward together on the podcast. Host Allie Wagner tells you ...
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Episode 24
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16:42
Episode 23: Why Rambling is Good for Your Soul
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today's episode, we see what happens when we throw the playbook out the window. Join host Allie Wagner as we rumble (and ramble) off the rails slightly in this improvisational episode...
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Episode 23
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24:21
Episode 22: Mayoral Update and a Discussion about Beliefs and the Power of "What If"
Welcome the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today's episode, we celebrate a peaceful transition of power at the Carousel of Happiness. Madam Piglet Eunice Stardust becomes the 2025 Mayor of the Carousel. We hear details about the electi...
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Episode 22
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17:51
Episode 21: Pat Craig, the Wild Animal Sanctuary, and the Power of Compassionate Empathy
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today’s episode we’re going to hear the story of Pat Craig and the Wild Animal Sanctuary. Did you know over 30,000 acres in the state of Colorado is home to over 950 lions, tigers, bears, a...
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Episode 21
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35:39
Episode 20: Celebrating 20 Episodes and the Finding the "Joy" in the Journey
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today’s episode, we’re taking a quick break to celebrate and reflect on how far we’ve come together on the podcast. Host, Allie Wagner, tells you about a camping trip she's planning, and we...
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Episode 20
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18:19
Episode 19: Artists, the "Muse," and the Story of the Twirling Girl
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today’s episode, we continue the conversation about the creative process by focusing on the Muse. How do Muses inspire creativity? Who was Scott’s Muse? Host, Allie Wagner, introduces...
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Episode 19
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20:37
Episode 18: Lessons on Art and Grieving from Carousel Operator, Burt Rashbaum
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast.On today’s episode, you'll meet Carousel Operator, Burt Rashbaum. He’s one of only a handful of people who have the distinct privilege of operating the carousel, something he has done since Se...
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Episode 18
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22:08
Episode 17: The True Story of Elephant's Disappearance
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. As many of you know, Elephant was reported missing in the local Mountain Ear newspaper a couple of weeks ago. But, we at the Carousel of Happiness, need to set the record straight on a few ...
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Episode 17
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22:33
Episode 16: What Animals Really Want Us to Know: A Conversation with Animal Communicator, JoLee Wingerson
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today's episode, host, Allie Wagner sits down with JoLee Wingerson, a Boulder-based animal communicator with almost 25 years of experience. For more than two decades, JoLee has communicated with ...
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Episode 16
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29:35
Episode 15: Lessons On Listening from Gift Shop Manager, Pat Hagberg
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today's episode, you'll meet gift shop manager and social media maven, Pat Hagberg. Pat was the original “girl boss” before that was even a term, and upon retirement, she found her way to the car...
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Episode 15
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28:35
Episode 14: Meet BoCo Open Space Ranger, Kevin Grady, & his "Miracle Dog" Dottie
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today's show, you'll meet Boulder County Open Space Ranger, Kevin Grady, and his "Miracle Dog," Dottie. You'll learn about how they started working together, and how a mysterious accident caused ...
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Episode 14
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23:50
Episode 13: Dragons, Veterans, and Healing Through Art: A Visit to the Warrior Storyfield
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today's episode, we learn more about the Warrior Storyfield project in Longmont, and how a veterans are being healed and shaped by a 16 ft. dragon, an 18 ft. phoenix, and the space in between. Jo...
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Episode 13
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29:04
Episode 12: Radical Love, Acceptance, and a Tail of Two Piggies
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today's episode, host Allie Wagner shares a recent visit she took to the local Tail of Two Cities animal sanctuary just outside Nederland....
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Episode 12
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22:04
Episode 11: Vote for Mayor – Spreading Love & Joy This Election Season
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today's episode, we are beginning our Mayoral Election Coverage for 2025. For the next 7 weeks, we will join together to strengthen our love and compassion muscles, all while raising money for th...
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Episode 11
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26:26
Episode 10: Why is the Fish So Small & Other Questions from the Wonder Box
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today's episode, host Allie Wagner answers some of your carousel-related questions from the Wonder Box. Like “why is the fish so small?” and “how fast is the cheetah?” You'll also learn how many ...
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Episode 10
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18:11
Episode 9: Lessons from the Wonder Box: How Awe & Wonder Have the Power to Heal
Welcome to the Carousel of Happiness Podcast. On today's episode, host Allie Wagner digs into the Wonder Box, and fishes out some of your questions and musings about life, love, joy, and peace. We’ll discuss the healing power of wonder and awe ...
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Episode 9
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25:19