Been There Done That Podcast

Been There Done That tells real life stories of the Baby Boom Generation. Hosted by Jo Ann Allen.

Finale 05/31/2023

Finale Jo Ann looks back on Season 4 conversations with a comedian/podcaster, a homeless man, a man who counsels unhoused people, two interracial couples, an LGBTQ-Plus community leader, a Native American community leader, a Black champion bull rider, a substance abuse survivor, and a retiring teacher. She also looks ahead to what's next for the podcast. See photos for each episode at https://beentheredonethatpodcast.com. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/26993370

City Cast Denver 05/24/2023

City Cast Denver Jo Ann is a regular guest on City Cast Denver which focuses on everything about The Mile High City from the arts to zoning issues. On a recent episode, she joined Bree Davies, Paul Karolyi and Peyton Garcia to gab about vacant office space downtown, the mayoral runoff candidates, and cultural happenings around the city. See their photos at And check out /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/26927988

Dana 04/19/2023

Dana Gun violence has become commonplace in America. People directly and indirectly affected by it are increasingly finding it tough to cope with mass shootings. Dana is a teacher who sees the effect that school shootings have on students, educators and staff. She describes the stress felt inside school buildings where active shooter drills are as important as learning English and math. See photos for this episode at https://beentheredonethatpodcast.com. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/26580291

Betty Jo 03/22/2023

Betty Jo We talk about addiction and substance abuse more readily today as overdose deaths continue to rise. Betty Jo started drinking and using drugs in middle school to deal with a mental health issue that she was unaware of for years. She's in recovery now and hopes that sharing her story will be of benefit to more addicts who are struggling. Photos for this episode are at https://beentheredonethatpodcast.com /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/26299839

Charlie Sampson 02/22/2023

Charlie Sampson World Champion Bull Rider Charlie Sampson talks about being a kid from Watts who became the first African American to reach the pinnacle of his sport. His many championship rides paved the way to his induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Charlie attributes his success to hard work, determination, and the unsung Black cowboys who blazed the trail before him. See photos of Charlie at Also visit /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/25991412

Rick Waters 01/25/2023

Rick Waters Educator, community activist and cultural leader Rick Waters, Executive Director of the Denver Indian Center, talks about growing up in Oklahoma, Indian terminology, important moments in Native history, appropriate land acknowledgements, and more. See photos for the episode at Denver Indian Center website is First Americans Museum website is /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/25715313

Transgender 12/21/2022

Transgender While Caitlyn Jenner, Elliot Page and RuPaul may be accepted, many more trans people are ridiculed, attacked and murdered over their gender expression. Activists say transphobia is being codified in some states by the growing number of anti-trans laws. Jo Ann explores gender expression and trans rights with Sable Schultz and Mia Yamamoto. This episode is dedicated to those killed and injured at Club Q and The Pulse, and everyone who has suffered because of gender identity or gender diversity. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/25389360

Interracial Couples 11/23/2022

Interracial Couples Fred and Linda and Brian and Joanne celebrate The 1967 Landmark Supreme Court ruling, Loving v. Virginia, which struck down state laws that prohibited interracial marriage. The couples talk about their lives over the past 50 years, including raising mixed race children and dealing with closed-minded people. They also offer advice to young couples about being true to themselves. Photos of the couples and their families are at https://beentheredonethatpodcast.com /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/25101597

William & Johnny 10/19/2022

William & Johnny Jo Ann talks with William, a man who lives on the streets of Denver, about what his day-to-day life is like. And she speaks with Johnny, a man who works to provide services to homeless people. Jo Ann also offers ideas for helping, without judgment, people in dire need. Episode photos at https://beentheredonethatpodcast.com. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/24730050

Marc Maron 09/14/2022

Marc Maron Marc joins Jo Ann on the premiere of Season 4 to talk about how he became a podcasting pioneer, why stand-up comedy remains his first love, where acting fits in his world, and how he's living his best life as a person and a performer. See photos at https://beentheredonethatpodcast.com /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/24367956

Season 4 Episode 1 Trailer/Marc Maron 09/09/2022

Season 4 Episode 1 Trailer/Marc Maron A preview of Jo Ann's conversation with comedian Marc Maron about the success of WTF and why he enjoys being a podcaster. https://beentheredonethatpodcast.com /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/24317061

Mistaken 08/10/2022

Mistaken Encounters with police officers too often turn deadly for Black people in America. This is the story of a Denver resident who was stopped by a deputy sheriff for carrying what looked like a rifle on a suburban street in Colorado, a state where open carry is allowed by law. See photos for this episode at /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/23993097

Rocky Mountain Views 06/29/2022

Rocky Mountain Views Jo Ann shares breathtaking vistas of the Rockies from the vantage point of her high-rise apartment in Denver. See the photos at: Bill Douglas Ars Nova Singers /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/23569721

Mia 06/01/2022

Mia To celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month, we revisit a show from November 2020 with Civil Rights attorney Mia Yamamoto, a trans rights activist who transitioned late in life. She remembers decades of struggle in the wrong body and her eventual decision to make a change. beentheredonethatpodcast.com has photos of Mia. Click on Episodes and scroll down to Season 2 Ep 2. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/23281106

Reprise 05/11/2022

Reprise Highlights from a memorable Season 3 that features the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, a convict who turned his life around, a visionary artist, 3 remarkable journalists and a brave female firefighter. See photos at https://beentheredonethatpodcast.com /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/23050178

Laura 04/13/2022

Laura It used to be unusual for a little girl to grow up wanting to be a firefighter. Most folks were under the false impression that women weren't strong enough for the physically demanding job. But thankfully things changed, and in 1980, Laura and a group of brave women proved it was time to put such antiquated thinking to rest. Laura tells stories about becoming a firefighter, describes life in the firehouse and remembers gut wrenching moments from being on duty. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/22734245

Rachel Maddow 03/09/2022

Rachel Maddow Jo Ann chats with Rachel Maddow about journalism, podcasting, getting started in radio news and much more. This is the last of a trio of episodes Jo Ann dubs her "farewell to journalism" conversations as she transitions to new challenges. See photos of Rachel at work and play at: Also check out photos of Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! and Maria Hinojosa of Futuro Media from the previous "farewell" episodes. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/22378223

Rachel Maddow Trailer 03/01/2022

Rachel Maddow Trailer Rachel Maddow is one of the most trusted people in broadcast news. I reconnected with my old friend to get her take on the well-being of journalism today. We talk about loving our profession, podcasting and more. This is a little taste of the full episode coming March 9. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/22283600

Maria 02/09/2022

Maria Multiple Emmy, Peabody & Murrow awards winner Maria Hinojosa joins Jo Ann to talk about what newsroom leaders must do in order to practice journalism that reflects the country; calling out public media brass in particular. She offers advice to young people of color for staying sane while pursuing a journalism career and defines terms that describe the growing and diverse Latinx community. Maria is the founder, president and CEO of Futuro Media Group. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/22050005

Seniority Authority Interviews Jo Ann 01/26/2022

Seniority Authority Interviews Jo Ann Seniority Authority is a podcast that focuses on all aspects of aging well, from fitness to finance, brain health to downsizing, isolation to insurance and more. In this episode, host Cathleen Toomey and Jo Ann talk about the need for older people to engage actively with the world in order to make it a better place thru humanity and the understanding that comes from experience. You can find more episodes of SA and watch Cathleen's Tedx Talk at: /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/21883862

Amy 01/12/2022

Amy Jo Ann talks with Amy Goodman about 25 years of hosting Democracy Now!, the independent nightly news program on TV and radio stations across the country. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/21738221

Goodbye 2021 12/15/2021

Goodbye 2021 The ups and downs of life continue as the coronavirus pandemic remained front and center for another year. No one can say for certain what will change next year and what will stay the same. In this episode, Jo Ann looks back on the vicissitudes of 2021 and looks forward to a better 2022. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/21487793

Mary 11/17/2021

Mary Mary is a visual artist who is full of life, creativity and thoughts about this crazy world in which we live. She and Jo Ann were friends who lost track of each other more than 30 years ago. They recently discovered that they live only a few miles apart. Listen to them catch up as if they never skipped a beat. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/21190064

Season 3 Bonus Episode 10/27/2021

Season 3 Bonus Episode From the Margins to the Center debuted in early October featuring an interview with Jo Ann as part of a series highlighting women of color podcasters in Colorado who share their best stories, biggest moments on the mic and give a glimpse into their experiences in the audio industry. The goal going forward for this House of Pod production is to amplify voices of marginalized folks. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/20952569

Johnny 10/06/2021

Johnny Johnny is a convict. He's been in and out of prison 4 times and has definitely seen a few things. He talks about serving time and what he's up to now that he finally turned his life around. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/20717519

9/11 09/08/2021

9/11 Approaching the 20th Anniversary of The World Trade Center attack, WNYC Reporter Beth Fertig and Jo Ann remember the toll the tragedy took on its many victims, New York City and them as journalists. The former colleagues relive the difficulty of covering that gut wrenching day and the weeks that followed September 11. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/20402432

Season 3 Trailer 08/23/2021

Season 3 Trailer WNYC Senior Reporter Beth Fertig joins Jo Ann to talk about being journalists on September 11, 2001 and how they feel 20 years later. Season 3 Episode 1 debuts September 8. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/20232446

Season 2 Bonus Episode: A Hard Fall 07/22/2021

Season 2 Bonus Episode: A Hard Fall Jo Ann learns to stop paying lip service to balance issues after sustaining a serious head wound and a concussion. She describes how a recent fall is prompting her to make needed changes. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/19890881

Beyond Sixty 06/28/2021

Beyond Sixty Melissa Davey talks about the joy of making "Beyond Sixty," a documentary that challenges the way we think about aging by exploring ten remarkable women whose resilience, defiance and achievement prove there is life beyond sixty. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/19631810

Vignettes 05/26/2021

Vignettes Jo Ann is always asking Baby Boomers to reveal personal stories. In the Season 2 finale, she remembers stories from her own life including a secret she's kept for 50 years. /episode/index/show/beentheredonethatpodcast/id/19247249

Been There Done That Podcast

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