Coal at Sunset: Still Burning | Nothing is Linear (S1, Ep.2)
Laws of Notion
In our second and final episode of Coal at Sunset: Still Burning, we talk with members of the close-knit community of Craig. While lawyers argue over Section 202(c) in Washington and Denver, the community is living with the uncertainty the federal order created while building toward a future beyond coal. From a power plant worker turned whiskey distiller to people trying to navigate uncertainty while planning for the future, this is a story about what transition actually looks like on the ground:...
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Coal at Sunset: Still Burning | From the Top (S1, Ep.1)
Laws of Notion
We're going back to Craig, Colorado, a story we took on in 2021 about the pending closure of a local coal plant that has served as the town’s financial backbone for half a century. Now, a federal emergency order is upending the plan to close the plant. We’ll look at the order itself, the economics underlying it, and the decisions that drove the transition away from coal in the first place. Learn more about the podcast at and . Sign up for the . Follow us on , , , . If you like our work, consider...
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Coal at Sunset ENCORE: A Look Ahead (S1 Ep.3)
Laws of Notion
In our final episode re-release of Coal at Sunset, we look ahead to 2030. There are estimated to be more than a thousand ghost towns in Colorado. Each one represents a failed economic transition. In 2019, Colorado created the first state-level Office of Just Transition in the nation. It was designed to help coal towns like Craig strategize for the future. Will it be enough to support the residents? And what other opportunities could be on the horizon for a town moving beyond what has defined it for so...
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Coal at Sunset ENCORE: Change is Coming (S1 Ep.2)
Laws of Notion
In episode 2 of our re-release of Coal at Sunset, we dive into the Colorado legislature’s boldest step yet toward addressing climate change. In 2019, House Bill 1261 committed Colorado to a 50% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and a 90% reduction by 2050. The bill signaled the beginning of the end for coal plants in the state. For some, the bill was seen as an overreach and another example of the glaring rural-urban divide in America today. When big industries fail or move away, bad things can happen to the small towns that...
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Coal at Sunset ENCORE: The Decision and the Cost (S1 Ep.1)
Laws of Notion
It’s been almost five years since our very first season: Coal at Sunset: A Colorado Town in Transition. In 2021, we went to Craig, Colorado, as it grappled with the forthcoming closure of the coal plant and mine that economically anchors the town. But in 2026, a new federal intervention requires the plant to remain open for the time being, putting the town in limbo. So, we are re-releasing our original story about a town on the front lines of the energy transition. Over the next...
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Gray Territory BONUS: Citizen Lawmaking | Decoding Direct Democracy
Laws of Notion
This whole series started with a vote. That vote not only revealed the ongoing debate about reintroducing the gray wolf to Colorado, but also who gets to make decisions and what the best way to do that is. In this interview with direct democracy expert Dr. John Matsusaka, we break down how this system of government functions more broadly, when it is most effective, and the philosophy behind it. The discussion illuminated that what happened in Colorado in 2020 wasn't just a wildlife story; it was a...
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Gray Territory BONUS: Saint or Sinner | Interview with Wolf Biologist David Mech
Laws of Notion
David Mech has been researching wolves since 1958 and has authored hundreds of articles and 13 books on wolf behavior and ecology. From his decades of studying wolves across the globe, including Isle Royale, Minnesota, Canada, Italy, Alaska, Yellowstone, Ellesmere Island, and elsewhere, to modern wolf management and conservation, David has witnessed and helped shape decades of evolving scientific understanding. In our deep dive interview with David, hear some of his key...
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Gray Territory: Beyond the Divide (S5 Ep5)
Laws of Notion
In our final episode, we examine what the future might hold for wolves, ranchers, advocates, and the people working every day to move us beyond conflict and simplified narratives. From museum specimens that document our shared history to voices on the ground navigating life with the gray wolf, we explore whether Colorado can move beyond the mistrust and pendulum swings toward something sustainable. Because the wolf story is just beginning, and coexistence isn't a destination, but an ongoing practice of adaptation, humility, and seeing the humanity in those with whom we disagree. Learn more...
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Gray Territory: Solutions for Coexistence (S5 Ep4)
Laws of Notion
There are many tools being tested and deployed to help make coexistence with wolves a reality. Range riders provide a human presence on the landscape night after night to keep wolves at bay. Ongoing conversations between wolf advocates and ranchers to build understanding. Raising money across the state to support non-lethal deterrents for the people who need them most. Testing modern-day technologies like AI alongside traditional ones out in the field to give ranchers a toolbox of options to protect...
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Gray Territory: Can We Coexist with Wolves? (S5 Ep3)
Laws of Notion
The reintroduction of wolves has created a new reality for many ranchers. While many expected challenges when reintroducing a large predator, the experience on the ground has proven to be both more complex and emotional than they anticipated. The story of the Copper Creek wolf pack brought this to the forefront and has dominated Colorado news headlines. Not only were they some of the first wolves born from the reintroduction effort, but also because of their threat to livestock. In...
info_outlineFrom supporting the wickedly smart and engaged next generation to learning how to work together in new and more meaningful ways, our last episode explores what it means to truly empower people to solve our air quality issues. Change has been slow and incremental, but change is happening. And while bad air affects us all, no matter where we live, the burden is not equal. Since our air is often invisible, it can be easy to ignore. But as we gain knowledge, it just might be harder to look away.
Learn more about the podcast at clearingtheair.org.
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The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity. The Institute is a project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Episode Credits:
Reporting, writing, hosting: Kristan Uhlenbrock
Producing, marketing: Tricia Waddell
Additional writing: Meredith Sell
Additional reporting and fact-checking: Nicole Delaney and Kate Long
Sound design: Seth Samuel with tracks from Epidemic Sounds
Audio engineering: Jesse Boynton