Get to know a funny, inspirational champion for people recovering from trauma or other setbacks. Joi Towner suffered a stroke at age 31, beginning a journey that inspired her to help others. After 6 weeks in the hospital, she went on to establish a nonprofit foundation, develop a comedy routine, launch a podcast and write a book. “You’re not handicapped, you’re handi-capable,” she tells us.

She provides counseling, a support group, and inspirational speaking. She also advocates for accessibility. Her book, Fight Lives in the Heart of a Survivor, is a story of strength and determination through the odds of adversity. It’s a stroke survivor's guide to hope, encouragement, and inspiration. She provides details on an upcoming event, King of Kings, on June 7, honoring the amazing men in our lives who are often overlooked.

Also discussed:

Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs purchased by John Weiss

Colorado Springs corners the market on expired vehicle registrations

Where do those registration fees go?

Dave’s 25 parking tickets story

LINKS:

Fight Lives in the Heart of a Survivor – by Joi Towner

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78710970-fight-lives-in-the-heart-of-a-survivor

Audio Book On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Lives-Heart-Survivor-Strength-ebook/dp/B0B4VC3HK4/

Strength in You Foundation: https://www.strengthinyou.org/

Strength in You podcast: https://blog.pod.link/1673153175

Strength in You YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thestrengthinyou

King of Kings June 7 at Peak31, 7 to 10 p.m.: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/king-of-kings-tickets-1344807799329

MENTIONED:

Thubthumping, by Chumbawamba: https://youtu.be/2H5uWRjFsGc?si=nPh_pPoJYS-s12Wy

Ivywild School: https://www.ivywildschool.com/

Willie CROW the Comedian: https://www.facebook.com/groups/452103915749254/

UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central

Spokes Fighting Strokes: https://www.spokesfightingstrokes.org/

Penny Arcade in Manitou: https://manitouspringsarcade.com/

Skee-Ball: https://skeeball.com/

Dig Dug: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dig_Dug

Loving the Springs celebrates the best of Colorado Springs and elevates the rest.

Plug into what’s happening in the Pikes Peak region, learn about awesome people, places and happenings, and explore opportunities to make life here even better. Local gadflies Al Brody and Dave Gardner love our two springs – Colorado and Manitou, so they give them the mic in this twice-monthly podcast. Nothing’s off the table – recreation, the arts, government, business, politics – if it touches your life, they'll...

We reflect on the changes the Colorado Springs Independent has gone through in recent years, especially it’s sale in April to Dirk Hobbs’ Colorado Media Group. We also assess the state of local news media in general, and its future.

At the Table:

• Carrie Simison, co-host of this podcast, who worked for the Indy for 20 years, most recently as publisher.
• Dave Gardner, co-host of this podcast, who worked for the Indy briefly as executive producer of podcasts, and served on the board of the non-profit that acquired the Indy from John Weiss in 2023.
• Al Brody, co-host of this podcast, one-time city council candidate, long-time VERY engaged local citizen
• Corey Hutchins, who oversees the Colorado College Journalism Institute, advises Colorado Media Project, and writes the weekly Inside the News in Colorado newsletter.
• Matt Schniper, who served as editor of the Indy 2016-2019, served as its Food & Drink Editor for 19 years, and now publishes Side Dish with Schniper and co-hosts the Tap & Table podcast.

MENTIONED:

Pikes Peak Media

J.W. Roth

Kevin O’Neil

John Weiss

Colorado Springs Business Journal

Southern Colorado Business Forum & Digest

North Magazine

Cannon Taylor

Springs Magazine

Pikes Peak Bulletin

Pam Zubeck

Substack

Craigslist

Facebook Marketplace

719 Daily Dose

Stompin’ Groundz

Next Door

In-Box Journalism

Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum

LINKS:

Colorado Springs Independent: https://csindy.com/

Side Dish with Schniper: https://www.sidedishschniper.com/

tap & table podcast: https://pod.link/1725345176

Inside the News in Colorado: https://coloradomedia.substack.com/

Colorado Springs Indy Lays Off Staff and Transfers Ownership Amid Shock Statement – Corey Hutchins’ report: https://coloradomedia.substack.com/p/colorado-springs-indy-lays-off-staff

Colorado Springs Independent Staff Fired; Paper Sold for Second Time in Less Than Two Years – CPR news story: https://www.cpr.org/2025/04/25/colorado-springs-independent-business-journal-sold-to-new-owners/

New Ownership, Direction for The Indy and the Colorado Springs Business Journal – Gazette news story: https://gazette.com/news/local/new-ownership-new-direction-for-the-indy-and-the-colorado-springs-business-journal/article_18bcc019-7898-46c9-af1c-58a5e9f67798.html

Colorado Springs Independent and Business Journal Again Change Hands – Gazette news story: https://gazette.com/business/colorado-springs-independent-and-business-journal-again-change-hands/article_0dd5339d-542f-48e3-a4f1-4af704fd4fc3.html

Loving the Springs celebrates the best of Colorado...

Every Monday, folks experiencing houselessness are treated like valuable human beings, served a food truck hot lunch and provided supplies to make living on the street a little easier. Meet the local hero who makes this happen (with help), Tracey Porter, and learn about the nonprofit she founded, Food Trucks Against Homelessness.

Tracey, several volunteers, and a food truck, feed about 85 people in the Westside CARES parking lot, where they cultivate friendships and also distribute underwear, socks, coats, gloves, scarves, blankets, etc. Their mission is to partner with businesses & individuals to provide meals, resources & human connection to our houseless community.

Also:

• Get acquainted with our new co-host, Carrie Simison, a local hero in her own right.
• More about food trucks in general
• Everyone’s favorite tacos – including broccoli tacos and cricket tacos

Mentioned:

The Indy

Cerberus Brewing

Downtown Colorado Springs

Focus on the Beer

Westside Cares

Kristy Milligan

These Girls Got Beef

Smokin’ Joe’s Barbecue

Mateo’s

Dutch Heritage Gardens

Prime 25

MeadowGrass Music Festival

The Taco Trail in downtown Colorado Springs

Acquire Homes Real Estate Pros

LINKS:

Food Trucks Against Homelessness: https://ftahcos.com

Annual Fundraiser Food Trucks Against Homelessness: https://fb.me/e/7Awk1NnOR

Dutch Heritage Gardens – Spring Open House: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AS7DDcRkS/

Westside CARES: https://www.westsidecares.org/

The Taco Trail in downtown Colorado Springs – download a pass and enter to win a gift card

https://downtowncs.com/taco

Loving the Springs celebrates the best of Colorado Springs and elevates the rest.

Plug into what’s happening in the Pikes Peak region, learn about awesome people, places and happenings, and explore opportunities to make life here even better. Local gadflies Al Brody and Dave Gardner love our two springs – Colorado and Manitou, so they give them the mic in this twice-monthly podcast. Nothing’s off the table – recreation, the arts, government, business, politics – if it touches your life, they'll talk about it. We’ll invite the movers and shakers, conspiracy theorists, NIMBYs, YIMBYs, yaysayers and naysayers to join them.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and give us feedback and suggestions via comments at https://studio809podcasts.com/loving-the-springs or lovingthespringspodcast at gmail.com