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Politics is Personal with Leslie + Cole
Politics is Personal is a weekly video and audio podcast hosted by former Colorado legislators Leslie Herod and Cole Wist. Built on a real friendship forged through years of legislative work, the show brings together a Black queer Democrat from Denver and a straight white former Republican from rural Colorado to have the kinds of honest, complicated conversations that feel increasingly rare in American politics.
Rooted in the “Colorado Way,” the podcast offers a grounded, relatable approach to national conversations. Designed for the “exhausted majority,” Politics is Personal invites listeners back into political dialogue with curiosity, respect, and the belief that real conversation is still possible.
Episodes
21 episodes
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EP 14: Max Miller Controversy, Colorado Political Tropes, and Denver DA John Walsh
In this episode of Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist unpack the latest national political headlines and Colorado state news before hosting a detailed conversation with Denver District Attorney John Walsh.Key To...
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EP 13 Bridges on Bridges & Fauci's Odyssey
In this Episode of Politics is Personal, Leslie and Cole talk all things IMAX 70mm unhoused camps under 1-25. They talk with Senator Jeff Bridges about the Treasurer race and if Victor Marx's Govener race was funded without any secrets. Tune in...
PREVIEW EP 13: Bridges on Bridges & Fauci's Odyssey
In this Episode of Politics is Personal, Leslie and Cole talk all things IMAX 70mm unhoused camps under 1-25. They talk with Senator Jeff Bridges about the Treasurer race and if Victor Marx's Govener race was funded without any secrets. Tune in...
EP 12: Poop + Parasites, Election Interference, BBQ Sauce & Water Crisis with James Eklund
Is the political summer heat getting to be a bit much? Hosts Leslie Herod and Cole Wist break down the wildest national headlines, local controversies, and critical issues shaping our world this week.First, Leslie and Cole dissect Donal...
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Ep 11: DSA, Graham Platner, & Lindsey Graham
In this episode of Politics is Personal with Leslie & Cole, we talk about the Democratic Socialists of America, if they have a figure head of the party, and how voters are turning to Mamdani like Politicians. Graham Platner and all things M...
PREVIEW EP 11: DSA, Graham Platner, & Lindsey Graham,
In this episode of Politics is Personal with Leslie & Cole, we talk about the Democratic Socialists of America, if they have a figure head of the party, and how voters are turning to Mamdani like Politicians. Graham Platner and all things M...
Rethinking the Way We Pick Candidates
Is the current two-party system actually serving the American people? In this episode of Politics is Personal, Leslie and Cole experiment with a new format: a "pitch" segment where they challenge each other with bold political ideas.<...
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EP 9: Colorado Primary, Electric Scooters, and Firework Bans
In this episode of Politics is Personal with Leslie and Cole, special guest Marshal Zelinger talks about his experience in primary elections, whether Cole's predictions were correct, and if Colorado has a new face for the democratic primary. Th...
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EP 8: Primary Predictions, Bow Mar Gates, Community Wealth | Politics is Personal with Leslie + Cole
This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist make their final predictions around the Colorado primaries, including what they think is going to happen with Diana DeGette and CD1. They commiserate the Bow Mar community where gate...
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EP 7: Father's Day, Conspiracies & Corruption, Guest Jason Crow | Politics is Personal
This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist cover the Colorado primaries and speculate on the winners. They discuss Diana DeGette and whether she'll be able to hold on, as well as legislation around social media and minors.
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EP 6: Knicks, Trans Ballots, and Water Regulation | Politics is Personal with Leslie + Cole
This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist cover everything from basketball to ballot measures to one of Colorado's most precious resources: water.The episode kicks off with a conversation about the New York K...
EP 6: Knicks, Trans Ballots, and Water Regulation | Politics is Personal with Leslie + Cole
This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist cover everything from basketball to ballot measures to one of Colorado's most precious resources: water.The episode kicks off with a conversation about the New York K...
Ep 5 Pattie Gonia, Pride, Wine with Michael Diaz de Leon | Politics is Personal
This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist dive into Pride Month by exploring the facts and nuances in the Pategonia v. Pattie Gonia lawsuit, and discussing the ongoing hate towards the LGBTQIA community.
PREVIEW EP 4: Primaries, Polis, & Puck Drops
This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist tackle the stories shaping conversations across Colorado—from the latest primary election battles to Governor Jared Polis and his evolving role on the national political sta...
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EP 4: Primaries, Polis, & Puck Drops
This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist tackle the stories shaping conversations across Colorado—from the latest primary election battles to Governor Jared Polis and his evolving role on the national political sta...
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EP 3: Should the Epstein Files be released?
This episode contains a trigger warning, topics such as self harm, human trafficking, abuse, will be addressed. Leslie and Cole sit down with Kelly Dore founder of Sierra Cares to talk about human trafficking, and the Epstein Files....
EP 2 Borders, Ballers & Boundaries | Politics is Personal
In this episode of Politics is Personal with Leslie and Cole, we connect the dots between immigration policy, the rise and visibility of the WNBA, and the quiet power of gerrymandering in shaping political representation. From who gets t...
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Ep 1 Met Gala, MAGA, & the Midterms | Politics is Personal
This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist dive into the strange intersection of politics, culture, and identity—from the spectacle of the Met Gala to the conversation around Trump’s proposed national fitness initiat...
Met Gala, MAGA, & the Midterms | Politics is Personal
This week on Politics is Personal, Leslie Herod and Cole Wist cover everything from the Met Gala to Trump’s proposed national fitness initiative—and what all of it says about culture, politics, and America right now.Then, former...
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Politics is Personal Pilot: Media, Mergers, and Misinformation
Ft Leslie Herod, Cole Wist, Tony KovaleskiIn this pilot, Leslie and Cole kick things off by catching up on life after the Capitol—what they’ve been working on, what’s changed, and what’s stayed the same. From there, they scroll through what...
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