We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Strand and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachel, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Surprisingly, it was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. It was 2014, and the Denver Broncos were one of the best teams in the league. I wasn’t much of a social media person at the time, and I think I only had Facebook. Also, Instagram was somewhat in its ‘infancy’ and nowhere near as popular as it is now. So I just decided one day, “Hey, why don’t I stop saving all these Broncos photos and memes to my phone and actually post them somewhere?” Then, I created DailyDenverBroncos. What initially started as a place for me to just post random Broncos photos, evolved over the years into one of the most followed and most well-known Broncos news and fan pages.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a woman in sports media, I’ve faced the unique challenge of constantly proving my knowledge and legitimacy in what remains a male-dominated space. Early on, I received messages questioning whether I truly understood football and basketball, or suggesting that my knowledge was automatically inferior due to me being a woman. Even to this day, I receive some very crass, sexist messages. Rather than becoming discouraged, I channeled that skepticism into motivation to become exceptionally well-prepared and knowledgeable. I take pride in being recognized for my sports acumen.

Becoming a credentialed beat reporter for ClutchPoints in 2022 was a pivotal moment in my career. And by no means was it easy. After graduating college, I spent eight months grinding through the job market. And to be honest, this was an incredibly tough time in my life, as I would rarely get responses back from employers. But ClutchPoints gave me that shot, and they believed in me. Suddenly, I was in the Nuggets locker room and press conferences. I was no longer just watching the games on TV. I was finally on the inside and had become someone helping to deliver the news. I had been dreaming about this moment for years. Having this job would help springboard me into other opportunities with Mile High Report and Mile High Sports.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
That is a very difficult question because there are SO many things to do in Colorado. So little time, so many things to do!

I would love to take some out-of-town friends to the Cheyene Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. A zoo that is built into the side of the mountain? How cool is that! On top of it being one of the most scenic zoos in the US, I love how interactive it is as well. You can feed the giraffes, and last time I went, I remember petting some small, kangaroo-like creature that they were just letting roam around!

Second, while in the area of Colorado Springs, I’d take them through Garden of the Gods and to Cave of the Winds. Last time I was at Cave of the Winds, my sister and I did a ropes course that was suspended over the edge of a mountain, and that was super fun.

I’d also have to take them to Casa Bonita just for the experience. Every out-of-state friend that I have talked to about Casa Bonita thought it was made up by South Park. Their minds were absolutely blown when I told them it was a real place. I have gone to Casa Bonita since it got its little “facelift,” and I have to say Trey Parker and Matt Stone did a great job! Now I don’t have to warn people about the food before I take them there!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would say my parents and my sister are my biggest supporters. They’re also low-key responsible for my obsession with Denver sports. As a baby, before I could even crawl even, they’d plop me down in front of the TV, which always had on Broncos, Avalanche, and Nuggets games. A good handful of my baby photos are me all decked out in Broncos gear, sitting in a little kiddie chair, enjoying a game on TV.

Aside from brainwashing me as a young kid to love Denver sports, my family has been incredibly supportive of me and my quest to be in sports journalism. Never once had they doubted me in this field. They’ve always built me up and inspired me to be the best version of myself that I can be. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachellaringo

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rstrand96/

Twitter: https://x.com/MileHighRachel

Other: https://bsky.app/profile/milehighrachel.bsky.social

Image Credits
N/A. All images taken by me.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.