In this powerful episode of Springs & Things, we sit down with U.S. Army veteran, Paralympic bronze medalist, and world champion Melissa Stockwell to hear the extraordinary story of how she rebuilt her life after losing her leg while serving in Iraq. Melissa became the first American woman to lose a limb in active combat, and instead of letting that moment define her limits, she used it to redefine what was possible.

She went on to represent Team USA in multiple Paralympic Games, earned a bronze medal in paratriathlon, and became a multiple-time world champion, proving that resilience isn’t about what happens to you, it’s about what you do next.

This conversation explores the mindset, determination, and perspective that carried Melissa from one of the hardest moments of her life to standing on the Paralympic podium, and how those lessons continue to shape the way she lives today.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The moment that changed Melissa’s life forever (and how she responded)
• How she found the courage to pursue elite athletics after her injury
• What it feels like to represent the United States on the Paralympic stage
• The mental resilience required to compete at the highest level
• Why adversity can become the foundation for something even greater

Melissa’s story isn’t just about athletic achievement. It’s about identity, perseverance, and the extraordinary strength of the human spirit. It’s a reminder that even in life’s most difficult moments, a new path forward is always possible.

PICK OF THE WEEK

• Ashley's Attic

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Just In Case Workshop by Sonderwin
This April, Sonderwin is hosting a thoughtful and surprisingly empowering end-of-life planning workshop right here in Colorado Springs. You’ll hear from trusted experts like a CPA and estate planning attorney, walk away with a clear game plan, and even enjoy drinks and good food at Kinship Landing during their “Morgues & Margaritas” happy hour. Space is limited for the April 10th and 11th workshops, and our listeners can get 15% off with the code myluckyday at sonderwin.com.

Vanguard Aesthetics
Vanguard Aesthetics helps clients discover their most radiant selves by blending expert care with individualized beauty. Since 2013, they’ve offered medical-grade skincare and tailored aesthetic treatments that enhance natural features while prioritizing comfort and safety. Their team takes the time to understand each client’s lifestyle, skin goals, and vision so every visit leaves them feeling refreshed, confident, and authentically themselves.

Modern Interior Co.
Modern Interior Co. is a full-service interior design firm based in Colorado Springs that specializes in creating beautiful, elevated homes without the stress. Known for delivering seamless, high-touch design experiences from concept to completion, they help busy professionals and high-end homeowners create spaces that reflect their lifestyle.

Core Collective
Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

About Springs & Things

Springs & Things is a Colorado Springs podcast uncovering the incredible stories behind the people who make this city so inspiring, from Olympic and Paralympic athletes to local legends shaping the community in meaningful ways.

Follow Springs & Things for more conversations that reveal the remarkable stories happening right here in Colorado Springs.

What really goes on behind the iconic walls of The Broadmoor?

In today’s episode, we’re talking with the Broadmoor historian, Cindy Leonard, about the secrets, stories, and legends hiding inside Colorado Springs’ most iconic hotel. From royalty and polo matches to hidden spaces, lost swimming pools, and traditions that date back over 100 years, this conversation is packed with moments that will make you say, wait…what?

You’ll hear about:

• Hidden and forgotten spaces most guests never see
• Wild and elegant stories from over 100 years of Broadmoor history
• How The Broadmoor influenced Colorado Springs landmarks and culture
• Traditions that have quietly survived for decades
• And yes…the very real story behind the infamous glass eyeball

Whether you’re a lifelong Colorado Springs local, new to the city, or just fascinated by historic hotels and local lore, this episode will change the way you see The Broadmoor forever.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Colorado Appreciation at The Broadmoor
• Broadmoor Winter Polo Classic

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Vanguard Aesthetics
Vanguard Aesthetics helps clients discover their most radiant selves by blending expert care with individualized beauty. Since 2013, they’ve offered medical-grade skincare and tailored aesthetic treatments that enhance natural features while prioritizing comfort and safety. Their team takes the time to understand each client’s lifestyle, skin goals, and vision so every visit leaves them feeling refreshed, confident, and authentically themselves.

Modern Interior Co.
Modern Interior Co. is a full-service interior design firm based in Colorado Springs that specializes in creating beautiful, elevated homes without the stress. Known for delivering seamless, high-touch design experiences from concept to completion, they help busy professionals and high-end homeowners create spaces that reflect their lifestyle.

Core Collective
Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

🎧 Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with a friend! New episodes drop weekly on Springs & Things.

Normally on Springs & Things, we’re swapping fun Colorado Springs stories…but today’s episode goes somewhere much heavier.

Lauren sits down with Preston Goff from The Exodus Road, an organization combating human trafficking around the world and helping families understand what it really looks like today—especially in the digital age. They unpack the stuff most people get wrong (no, it’s usually not “stranger danger” at Target), how grooming and manipulation actually happen, and what prevention can look like without fear-mongering or vigilantism. It’s a tough but incredibly important conversation, grounded in real stories, real solutions, and real hope.

Listener discretion advised: Some of the topics discussed may be difficult to listen to. Please do not listen with children around.

PICK OF THE WEEK

• RECEPTION

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Vanguard Aesthetics
Vanguard Aesthetics helps clients discover their most radiant selves by blending expert care with individualized beauty. Since 2013, they’ve offered medical-grade skincare and tailored aesthetic treatments that enhance natural features while prioritizing comfort and safety. Their team takes the time to understand each client’s lifestyle, skin goals, and vision so every visit leaves them feeling refreshed, confident, and authentically themselves.

Modern Interior Co.
Modern Interior Co. is a full-service interior design firm based in Colorado Springs that specializes in creating beautiful, elevated homes without the stress. Known for delivering seamless, high-touch design experiences from concept to completion, they help busy professionals and high-end homeowners create spaces that reflect their lifestyle.

Core Collective
Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

Is it too early to be talking about summer camps when there is snow on the ground? You’d think.

But if you are a Colorado Springs parent, this episode might just save your summer.

In this episode, we break down our favorite local summer camps, from affordable outdoor programs, to creativity-fueled options, to adventure-packed favorites, and more. We talk honestly about cost, timing, what fills up fast, what opens later, and which camps are actually worth your time and money.

If you feel overwhelmed by all the options, worried you missed the boat, or just want trusted local recommendations, this episode does the research for you.

Plus, our Pick of the Week is a new kid-friendly coffee shop that might become your new go-to work and play spot.

Parents, planners, procrastinators, and everyone in between, this one is for you.

WE LOVE OUR SPONSOR

Vanguard Aesthetics
Vanguard Aesthetics helps clients discover their most radiant selves by blending expert care with individualized beauty. Since 2013, they’ve offered medical-grade skincare and tailored aesthetic treatments that enhance natural features while prioritizing comfort and safety. Their team takes the time to understand each client’s lifestyle, skin goals, and vision so every visit leaves them feeling refreshed, confident, and authentically themselves.

Modern Interior Co.
Modern Interior Co. is a full-service interior design firm based in Colorado Springs that specializes in creating beautiful, elevated homes without the stress. Known for delivering seamless, high-touch design experiences from concept to completion, they help busy professionals and high-end homeowners create spaces that reflect their lifestyle.

Core Collective
Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

Colorado Springs parents...this episode is a must-listen.

Carly sits down with Chris Aaby of Generation Wild/Great Outdoors Colorado and Maury Peterson of The Catamount Institute to talk about what’s really happening with kids and screen time, why unstructured outdoor play matters more than ever, and how getting outside impacts everything from mood and resilience to creativity and confidence. They dive into the science behind nature’s benefits, the concept of “safe risks,” and why even 20–30 minutes outside can make a meaningful difference.

You’ll also walk away with practical, realistic ideas for busy families (no epic hikes required), plus local resources, programs, and hidden gems right here in the Pikes Peak region that make it easier than ever to get kids outdoors, year-round, even (or especially) in winter. If you’ve ever felt like screens are winning or wondered how to make outdoor time feel fun instead of forced, this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped.

Download "100 Things To Do Outdoors Before You're 12"

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Sondermann Park
• Latin Social
• bird tree cafe

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Vanguard Aesthetics
Vanguard Aesthetics helps clients discover their most radiant selves by blending expert care with individualized beauty. Since 2013, they’ve offered medical-grade skincare and tailored aesthetic treatments that enhance natural features while prioritizing comfort and safety. Their team takes the time to understand each client’s lifestyle, skin goals, and vision so every visit leaves them feeling refreshed, confident, and authentically themselves.

Modern Interior Co.
Modern Interior Co. is a full-service interior design firm based in Colorado Springs that specializes in creating beautiful, elevated homes without the stress. Known for delivering seamless, high-touch design experiences from concept to completion, they help busy professionals and high-end homeowners create spaces that reflect their lifestyle.

Core Collective
Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30!

If you’ve ever saved a home photo on Instagram and thought, “Love this…but why doesn’t it work in my house?”...this episode explains exactly why.

On this week’s Springs and Things, we sit down with Elisha Niebuhr, CEO of Modern Interior Company, to unpack what actually works in Colorado Springs homes, and what we should probably stop copying from New York, Austin, and Pinterest altogether.

Elisha shares her unexpected path from professional ballerina to luxury interior designer, then gets very real about the most common design mistakes she sees across the Springs. She explains how our light, landscape, and lifestyle completely change how trends show up here, and why homes should feel lived-in, layered, and personal instead of themed.

We also cover the easiest upgrades with the biggest payoff (paint, lighting, and furniture that actually finishes a space), underrated neighborhoods with serious design potential, and what a true Colorado-inspired color palette looks like heading into 2026.

Fair warning: you may finish this episode looking around your house thinking, “Okay…we need to talk about this wall.”

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Prime25
• Boonzaaijer's Dutch Bakery
• Modern Interior Co Design Day and Furniture Sale

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Vanguard Aesthetics
Vanguard Aesthetics helps clients discover their most radiant selves by blending expert care with individualized beauty. Since 2013, they’ve offered medical-grade skincare and tailored aesthetic treatments that enhance natural features while prioritizing comfort and safety. Their team takes the time to understand each client’s lifestyle, skin goals, and vision so every visit leaves them feeling refreshed, confident, and authentically themselves.

Modern Interior Co
Modern Interior Co. is a full-service interior design firm based in Colorado Springs that specializes in creating beautiful, elevated homes without the stress. Known for delivering seamless, high-touch design experiences from concept to completion, they help busy professionals and high-end homeowners create spaces that reflect their lifestyle.

Core Collective
Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30! Vote for them in Best of the Springs!

We’re throwing it back to our very first episode of Springs & Things, with an updated Pick of the Week for today.

In this re-release, we reintroduce ourselves and share how this podcast came to life, why Colorado Springs deserves its own hype girls, and what listeners can expect from the show. From growing up here versus moving here, to leaving, exploring the country, and choosing to come back home, this episode sets the foundation for lighthearted, local conversations rooted in community.

You’ll hear how a custom itinerary idea sparked the podcast, how we became unlikely friends, and why Springs & Things is for people who live in, love, and want to feel more connected to Colorado Springs.

If you’re a Colorado Springs resident looking for a fun, approachable way to stay plugged into your city, this is where it all started.

PICK OF THE WEEK

• House of GOCA: STARDUST

WE LOVE OUR SPONSORS

Vanguard Aesthetics
Vanguard Aesthetics helps clients discover their most radiant selves by blending expert care with individualized beauty. Since 2013, they’ve offered medical-grade skincare and tailored aesthetic treatments that enhance natural features while prioritizing comfort and safety. Their team takes the time to understand each client’s lifestyle, skin goals, and vision so every visit leaves them feeling refreshed, confident, and authentically themselves.

Modern Interior Co
Modern Interior Co. is a full-service interior design firm based in Colorado Springs that specializes in creating beautiful, elevated homes without the stress. Known for delivering seamless, high-touch design experiences from concept to completion, they help busy professionals and high-end homeowners create spaces that reflect their lifestyle.

Core Collective
Core Collective Pilates is a boutique studio dedicated to helping clients build strength, flexibility, and confidence through expert-led, personalized Pilates sessions. With a welcoming atmosphere and a focus on mindful movement, Core Collective transforms workouts into empowering experiences. Enter code SPRINGSANDTHINGS to get 3 classes for $30! Vote for them in Best of the Springs!