Conversations Different with Inez Russell Gomez

In the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” Santa Fe Poet Laureate Tommy Archuleta discusses the launch of new poetry workshops aimed at giving an outlet and sense of community to Santa Fe’s homeless population. It’s called The Voice Project.   Funded by a $50,000 fellowship grant from the Academy of American Poets, the project follows the academy’s mission to enrich communities across the country through poetry and artistic endeavors.   Archuleta explains how his goal with the funding will consist of creating poetry workshops for unhoused people at area shelters to allow them to share their story and not feel so alone in the world. Work collected from the workshops will then be compiled for publishing and distribution throughout the city.   As a mental health and substance abuse counselor, Archuleta says he understands the various impacts of not being seen or being able to talk about one’s life experiences. He reflects on this knowledge which has played a contributing factor for him in founding The Voice Project.    Read more about the initiative in The New Mexican’s previous coverage:   Santa Fe poet laureate receives grant from Academy of American Poets for workshops with homeless See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many struggling New Mexicans trying to make ends meet, healthcare is one issue that has increasingly become a luxury. Rising costs have pushed people to the brink because life-saving medications, doctor's appointments or eye exams are unattainable due to financial and geographic circumstances. That’s the understanding of Villa Therese Catholic Clinic, based in Santa Fe, which has provided health services to low-income New Mexicans for nearly 80 years.   Villa Therese Executive Director Mark McDonald joins the latest episode of “Conversations Different” to share why his nonprofit clinic is providing free services to people and explains what factors have contributed to a need for more affordable healthcare in the state. He also shares some ways the clinic is trying to expand its reach in rural areas while emphasizing opportunities for community involvement, volunteering and donation.   To learn more about Villa Therese’s efforts, visit their website at villatherese.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fiesta de Santa Fe has long been a tradition for generations of New Mexicans. Every year, people gather downtown for food, live music and company, but the festivities go beyond that and have a historical significance to them as well.   Founded in 1712, Fiesta first started through a proclamation created to commemorate the resettlement of Santa Fe after the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. The proclamation states that Fiesta de Santa Fe be established and celebrated through mass, vespers and sermon, according to the Santa Fe Fiesta Council website.   Fast forward to today, it is deemed a cultural staple meant to honor that proclamation and keep the history of the city alive.   Santa Fe Fiesta Council President Krystle Lucero joins “Conversations Different” to discuss the cultural importance behind Fiesta de Santa Fe and to reflect on her experience and fondest memories of being a part of the volunteer organization.   For more information about this year’s 313th Fiesta de Santa Fe and events, visit santafefiesta.org.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He is known well to fans of the indie, folk and alternative music spheres here in the Land of Enchantment and across the country. A native of Northern New Mexico who was raised in Taos, Max Gomez is a folk and Americana artist who has worked with some of the industry’s notable singer-songwriters like Michael Martin Murphey and Ray Wylie Hubbard. His passion for making music, which started from an early age, has earned him over four million listens on Spotify for his song “Make It Me” and lead to his latest big achievement — a new, independent album coming out Aug. 29.     Gomez joins “Conversations Different” to discuss the making of his new album Memory Mountain, whose title song was co-written with Michael Martin Murphey, and to reflect on what it was like growing up in Taos and participating in the local music scene there.   Gomez will be performing in Santa Fe at Tumbleroot Brewery & Distillery on Aug. 28. For more information about the event and album release, visit his website maxgomezmusic.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Santa Fe’s emergency shelter, formally known as the Interfaith Community Shelter at Pete’s Place, has been in the headlines the past few months after city councilors voted to end a month-to-month contract with the nonprofit, which had provided an array of services to area homeless people for decades.  In that same decision, councilors approved a new contract with San Francisco-based group Urban Alchemy to take over operations at the shelter’s facility on Cerrillos Road effective the end of July.   As the transition continues, Mike Anderer, chief administrative officer for Urban Alchemy, joins “Conversations Different” to discuss some of the new management changes, including renaming the shelter to Agape House, his team’s efforts to clean up a bed bug infestation and how new policies will impact residents.   Anderer acknowledged the city’s separation from the Interfaith Community Shelter was opposed by many, but emphasized Urban Alchemy is committed to listening and working with community members to maintain and improve services.   For more information about Urban Alchemy, visit their website at urban-alchemy.us  To contact Mike Anderer about volunteering, email him at [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Santa Fe Public Schools’ months-long search for a superintendent ended in May with the school board choosing Christine Griffin, a previous educational leader in Arizona, to hold the district’s top job. She assumed the role in June and has officially been making the rounds for more than a month now, connecting with parents, students and state and local leaders ahead of the start of a new school year.    Griffin joins “Conversations Different” to discuss how things are going during her first month, the upcoming school year and what her leadership priorities will be. Griffin also addresses a key community concern pertaining to federal funding cuts to schools and how the national issue will impact Santa Fe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, U.S. representative for New Mexico’s 3rd district, joins “Conversations Different” to discuss what went down during the passage of congressional Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill and how it will impact New Mexicans now that the bill is law.   Leger Fernández expressed deep concern over the bill’s cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits, citing New Mexico’s reliance on federal dollars for those programs to be effective. As a result, she said people could die by not getting the care and resources they need from the programs and rural hospitals could close.   Leger Fernández also recounts her exchange with a Republican colleague during a committee hearing over a provision in the bill which would’ve repealed a tax on tanning services. That provision was taken out of the final bill after her comments made during the meeting went viral on social media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Traditional Spanish Market returns to the Santa Fe Plaza July 25-27. Known for highlighting the rich Hispanic culture in our region, the market carefully selects artists from New Mexico and Southern Colorado for the chance to share their creative pursuits for a weekend and vie for awards.  The Traditional Spanish Market has been managed by the Atrisco Heritage Foundation since 2023 and its Program Coordinator Brissa Chilton-Garcia joins “Conversations Different” to discuss this year’s festivities. Chilton-Garcia discusses the event’s planning, her personal involvement with Spanish cultural art and what attendees should expect.  For more information, visit traditionalspanishmarket.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe is bidding farewell to its current president, Dr. Robert Martin, this month. Martin has been with the school since 2007, making an extraordinary impact on its development through his leadership, particularly in infrastructure, degree programs and enrollment growth. Martin joins “Conversations Different” to reflect on his 40-year legacy in higher education as well as his 18 years as president of IAIA. He also discusses the funding challenges that many tribal colleges and universities across the United States are facing in light of proposed federal funding cuts. IAIA could lose all federal funding. He explained that he believes funding will be secured to keep IAIA operating in the near future and spoke favorably about the environment the school’s next president will inherit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Wendy Johnson, a longtime physician, health activist and writer in Northern New Mexico, joins “Conversations Different” to discuss her new book Kinship Medicine: Cultivating Interdependence to Heal the Earth and Ourselves.   Johnson shares what guided her in writing the book along with discussing its theme of kinship medicine, a belief that individual wellbeing is determined by our relationships and interconnection. The book also delves into the belief that we as human beings are smaller ecosystems in a larger system such as the environment and Earth, and to truly be healthy, we must reconcile any misalignments with each other.   Johnson’s official book launch will be on July 15 at Tumbleroot Brewery in Santa Fe with a book tour around the United States to follow in the weeks after.   For more information about the book, launch and tour, visit wendyjohnsonmd.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The International Folk Art Market, a staple in Northern New Mexico for bringing together multicultural artists from around the world, returns to Santa Fe’s Railyard Park July 10-13. Nadia Hamid, IFAM director of artist development, and Alison Brushaber, IFAM volunteer chair of artist transportation, join “Conversations Different” to preview this year’s folk art market. Hamid talks about her role in selecting artists for the market, improvements event-goers can expect this year and things people can do outside of just shopping. Brushaber shares what inspired her to get involved with the organization and how it opened her eyes to a world full of artistic expression without having to travel far. More information about the market and tickets can be found on their website, folkartmarket.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alcoholism impacts the lives of many individuals and their families across the country and in New Mexico. According to the New Mexico Department of Health website, the state has been a leader in alcohol deaths since the 1980s with domestic violence, crime, poverty and unemployment also surging as related negative impacts.   Ted Alcorn, a writer/researcher and native New Mexican, joins “Conversations Different” to discuss his previous reporting on New Mexico’s alcohol problem from the individuals who consume it to the lawmakers who haven’t budged much on reform.   Alcorn shares insight into his news series “Blind Drunk,” featured in the news outlet New Mexico In Depth and The Santa Fe New Mexican. The series explores New Mexico’s alcohol crisis by looking at the state’s weaknesses and providing possible solutions.   Alcorn’s bylines include The New York Times, The Atlantic and Washington Post Magazine. He is a graduate of New York University and John Hopkins University.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sen. Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico’s junior U.S. senator, joins the latest episode of “Conversations Different” to discuss what he’s working on in the Senate, from a bill that would help families take care of their aging loved ones to holding hearings on the implications of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on everyday Americans. Luján also discusses congressional Republicans’ proposed spending bill deemed “The Big Beautiful Bill.” In the middle of the interview, Sen. Luján had to step away to go vote and was also briefed on a situation involving U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla of California being escorted out of an immigration press conference and later handcuffed after he tried to ask a question to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem. “Conversations Different” was provided a courtesy clip of Sen. Luján’s Senate floor speech where he spoke on Sen. Padilla’s forceable removal from the press conference.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catching up with former students came with an element of sadness for longtime Santa Fe music educator Marilyn Barnes as she found they lacked opportunities to showcase their talents in front of an audience after graduation. So she and her husband, Cris Barnes, did something about it. They created a musical theater company to give young adults the chance to retake the stage — and the result has been a hit.  “We had the incentive, seeing our students on the street, and saying ‘What are you doing? Are you singing?’,” Marilyn Barnes said. “And they hadn’t opened their mouths except in their cars and in the shower since high school, and it just broke our hearts. That was our incentive to start Tri-M, but it has just grown way beyond that.” In the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” Marilyn and Cris Barnes speak with host Inez Russell Gomez about how Tri-M (Millennial Music Makers) Productions has not just been a way for young adults to share their musical talents with the public but has also developed into somewhat of a social club that helps them form connections in the city.  The pair talk about how they’ve prioritized paying the talent for productions, and the struggle with finding venues in Santa Fe. They also discuss their upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” which will run June 12-22 at the Santa Fe High School Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit trimsantafe.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students Demand Action is an organization of high school and college students across the United States advocating against gun violence. The organization reports to have active volunteers in every state and 900 groups across the U.S. During New Mexico’s 60-day legislative session earlier this year, Students Demand Action activists had a presence in the Roundhouse advocating for gun safety legislation. In the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez speaks with two of the members on their recent experience in the legislature and what it’s like growing up in a time of school shooter drills and elevated levels of youth gun violence in the state. Recent high school graduate Wesley Clum and University of New Mexico student Bo Wilson discuss the legislation they were advocating for during the session and how they feel their message has been received by legislators.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singing, performance and community. Those are the traits that make up The Zia Singers, a local nonprofit women’s choir in Santa Fe. The concept originated in the living room of voice teacher Marilyn Barnes, who founded the group in 1993 with the goal for women to come together to share their love of music, according to its website. Now, that mission still stands under the new leadership of artistic director John Tiranno, who brings years of musical experience.   Tiranno joins “Conversations Different” to discuss the group, some upcoming June performances open to the public, and how other women can get involved.  The upcoming performances are part of “June Is Busting Out All Over,” a two-day concert on June 7 at 7 p.m. and June 8 at 3 p.m., both held at Cristo Rey Catholic Church in Santa Fe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What should I recycle? What can't be recycled? Where does the city send the items that we recycle? Peter Olson, outreach director with the city of Santa Fe's Environmental Service Department, joins the "Conversations Different" host Inez Russell Gomez to answer those questions and more on an episode focused on recycling. Olson talks about how residents can be more effective at recycling and how to be more sustainable in everyday life. He offers recycling tips, clarifies the city’s guidelines and preferences in what and how to recycle, and discusses the biggest mistakes Santa Feans make when it comes to recycling. Olson also talks about the impact people can have before they put their blue bins on the curb, sharing how our choices as consumers can impact what and how much we recycle and throw away. To get more tips on what can and can’t be recycled, he suggests using the city’s recycle coach app that can be found at https://app.my-waste.mobi/US/NM/Santa_Fe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather Cox Richardson is an author, historian and professor of American history who has examined the presidency of Donald Trump since his rise to power in 2016. During his first term in office she launched the popular newsletter “Letters from an American” to share her insight on his and the Republican Party's policies while offering the history behind the country’s current political climate. Cox Richardson joins “Conversations Different” ahead of speaking at the Santa Fe International Literary Festival to discuss Trump’s presidency, her optimism for the future of the country and what festival-goers can expect from her upcoming appearance. This episode is sponsored by Homewise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Santa Fe International Literary Festival is returning to the City Different May 16-18, with esteemed and award-winning writers from around the world slated to speak about their work and take questions from audience members. According to the festival’s website, the experience is meant to bring writers, readers and free thinkers alike into one space for an interactive and inclusive weekend experience. The lineup features authors from the New York Times Best Sellers list to Pulitzer Prize winners. Megan Mulry, the festival’s executive director, and Susan Burks, its executive producer, join “Conversations Different” to discuss some of this year’s lineup, what attendees can do outside of the festival and how it has expanded throughout the years. Learn more about the Santa Fe International Literary Festival at www.sfinternationallitfest.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Food Depot has served Northern New Mexico residents for over 30 years, aiming to bridge the gap between hunger and food security. According to its website, 1 in 7 New Mexicans experience food insecurity because of a lack of consistent access to food. The percentages are higher in smaller rural communities where there are few, if any, grocery stores and economic challenges may prevent people from traveling to the closest options.   Jill Dixon, executive director of The Food Depot, and Amanda Bregel, the organization’s communications director, join “Conversations Different” to discuss why Northern New Mexico’s largest food bank is a necessity for the nine counties it serves. The two talk about the nonprofit’s efforts to provide high-quality food, ways for people to get involved and how recent cuts to federal grants are making their work more challenging. For more information on The Food Depot and ways to get involved, visit thefooddepot.org. This episode is sponsored by Homewise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Susannah Walden says the mountains in Afghanistan remind her of the Sangre de Cristos near her former home of Santa Fe. The familiar landscape makes her feel homesick, but she stays busy with her work telling the stories of the people who have spent generations living amid war and instability. Walden, the Kabul bureau chief for Agence France-Presse, has spent much of her career reporting abroad and has volunteered for multiple assignments in nations experiencing conflict. On a break to visit her family in Santa Fe, she stopped by to share her experiences as an international correspondent in the latest episode of "Conversations Different." Walden arrived in Afghanistan about 1 1/2 years ago, after the U.S. withdrew its troops from the country. She discusses what it's been like in the country during that time, and talks about her daily life working and living with her colleagues in a guarded compound. This episode is sponsored by Homewise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Santa Fe’s first, now former, poet laureate Arthur Sze joins “Conversations Different” to discuss his latest books Into the Hush and The White Orchard, his life path to becoming a professional writer and an upcoming book event on April 24.   Sze first became interested in poetry while writing in the back of a math notebook in his freshman calculus class at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He shares with “Conversations Different” host Inez Russell Gomez that he discovered the craft by accident and was excited to pursue it despite family pressure to choose a more practical career.   Sze would transfer and graduate from the University of California, Berkeley and later move to Santa Fe where he’s been a longtime resident and retired professor from the Institute of American Indian Arts. Join him at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025, for a reading and signing of his books at the Collected Works Bookstore in Santa Fe.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring is upon us, and with the change in seasons comes a heightened risk of wildfires igniting due to high wind and drought in our state. Last month, Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya joined “Conversations Different” to discuss what homeowners in the Santa Fe area can do to prevent wildfires from destroying their personal property. This week, we welcome Dr. Adam Atchley, a hydrologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory who researches wildland fire, hydrology and ecosystem response to climate change, to discuss the science behind wildfires. Dr. Atchley offers insight into his team’s research methods like using Artificial Intelligence data mapping to better understand forests’ structures and how the team can use those models to prevent wildfire catastrophe. This episode is sponsored by Homewise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The month of April is National Community College Month, and it aims to showcase the various opportunities and resources that individuals can explore at smaller institutions of higher learning. Whether it’s obtaining a two-year degree or learning a new trade, these institutions can provide a gateway for future success in a person's desired career field. In Northern New Mexico, Santa Fe Community College is providing that service to many. Richard “Charlie” Shultz, academic director of the controlled environment agriculture program at Santa Fe Community College, joins “Conversations Different” to discuss how his program is helping students become sustainable food producers. He shares how the hands-on initiative, which utilizes hydroponic and aquaponic systems, is providing the tools to grow healthy food year-round — like tomatoes, kale and other greens. He also elaborates on how the program is giving back to the Santa Fe community through food donations. The controlled environment agriculture program will be holding an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, offering greenhouse tours, plant sales, food samples and more. To learn more about SFCC's National Community College Month schedule, visit www.sfcc.edu/ccmonth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether in the middle of the night or the light of day, search and rescue teams heed the call whenever an individual or group has gone missing, is lost or is injured. Search and rescue teams can play an essential role in locating people and getting them the proper resources in those types of scenarios, especially when time is of the essence.   Al Webster, Lee Kolosna and Yvonne Gillespie, search and rescue volunteers in the Santa Fe area, join “Conversations Different” to discuss their experiences with search missions and share tips for staying safe in New Mexico’s great outdoors. They also provide information on the various search and rescue outfits in the region and share the stories of how they become volunteers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts has almost 10,000 pieces of work from 1962 to present day from Indigenous people from across the world. Museum Director Patsy Phillips and Chief Curator Manuela Well-Off-Man join "Conversations Different" to discuss contemporary Native art and what goes into putting the museum's exhibits together.  The pair talk about current exhibits including "The Stories We Carry," which features contemporary jewelry made by more than 100 Indigenous artists. They also discuss the upcoming exhibit "Dreaming with AI" from Dr. Suzanne Kite (Oglala Lakota) which features installation, performance, and video works that combine machine learning, artificial intelligence and Indigenous knowledge. "Kite’s projects push boundaries formally and thematically and involve concepts that shape the future of contemporary Indigenous art," the museum's website says. Phillips also discusses how recent grants have strengthened the museum by helping to pay for a full-time staff, offering the ability to create an endowment, and giving the museum the opportunity to offer free admission to visitors on Fridays. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former chef at the Blue Heron Restaurant and Palace Prime, Rocky Durham is a well-known name in Santa Fe’s dining scene. Nearly three years ago, just after Russia invaded Ukraine in February of 2022, he and his wife, Emmy, felt the call to help.  Rocky and Emmy, who are both fluent in Russian, sold their belongings and moved to Ukraine without a real plan but soon found their place. They founded a nonprofit, Durham Humanitarian, which has become part of an international network offering relief to refugees and helping deliver essentials to civilians and soldiers amid disrupted and damaged supply chains.  During a brief visit to Santa Fe in late February, Rocky sat down with “Conversations Different” host Inez Russell Gomez to share his experience in the war-ravaged nation, provide his thoughts on America’s position on the war under President Donald Trump, and offers his insights on where things stand from his perspective. To donate or learn more about the Durham Humanitarian, visit durhamhumanitarian.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Solace Sexual Assault Services has been providing support and healing for survivors of sexual assault and child abuse for more than 50 years. The nonprofit organization offers forensic interviewing, therapy, advocacy services and education and prevention services in the Santa Fe area. Executive Director María José Rodríguez Cádiz has been with Solace for more than 23 years, helping the organization offer its services to survivors at no cost. She joins the latest episode of “Conversations Different” to discuss the prevalence of sexual assault in New Mexico and the role of Solace in the community to provide survivors with support. With the threat of funding cuts under the Trump administration, Rodríguez Cádiz talks about how Solace plans to work proactively to bridge the gap in the event of a decline in federal funding. To support Solace’s sustainability campaign, visit www.findsolace.org. Solace has a 24/7 crisis advocacy hotline that can be reached by calling 1-800-721-7273.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández has been busy since President Donald Trump took office last month, working with the other members of New Mexico's Congressional delegation to push back against Trump's agenda. The two-term congresswoman from Las Vegas, N.M., who serves as chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus has been making the media rounds to speak out against the Trump administration’s policies and orders regarding immigration, cuts to the federal workforce, federal spending cuts and more. Leger Fernández joins "Conversations Different" to discuss the impacts the Trump administration's executive orders and policies are having on New Mexicans, including in the 3rd Congressional District that she represents. She also talks about what she and her fellow Democrats in Congress can do as the minority party in both chambers as a potential government shutdown looms in March. Speaking on the Democrats' strategy to regain support among voters, Leger Fernández said the party needs to turn to telling the stories of how the policies of Trump and the Republicans are adversely impacting people across the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As CEO of Ultra Health, which operates more than two dozen licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in New Mexico, Duke Rodriguez is a major voice in the state’s cannabis industry. Nearly three years after legal retail sales began in New Mexico, Rodriguez says the industry has been turned upside down.  Prior to legalization, Rodriguez said the state had 35 licensees. Now, it’s over 3,000. Rodriguez says there is no more growth in the industry due to the oversaturation. “The green rush is officially dead,” he said on the latest episode of “Conversations Different.”  Rodriguez talks about the need to slow down licensing, to crack down on the illicit market and require inspection prior to licensure. He says a rise in crime in the state has impacted his businesses, with frequent break-ins but no perpetrators being prosecuted. The former Cabinet secretary for the state Human Services Department also talks about his time under former Gov. Gary Johnson, who first called for the legalization of marijuana in 1999. Rodriguez then talks about the race for governor, bringing up possible candidates and addressing his potential involvement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cultural historian and author Carmella Padilla joins "Conversations Different" to discuss the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum’s new exhibit — 100 Years of Collecting • 100 Years of Connecting. The exhibit focuses on the Spanish Colonial art forms that have long represented the cultures and people of Northern New Mexico, as well as their connections to the Spanish Colonial world. Padilla shares the importance of the exhibit and what visitors could expect, presents the history of the Spanish Colonial Arts Society, founded to preserve the art forms of Spanish Colonial New Mexico, and discusses key figures and stories that have had an important role in the history of both the society and the museum. The museum originally opened as the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art in 2002 but changed its name in 2024 to the Nuevo Mexicano Heritage Arts Museum. Visit their website for more information about the new exhibit and their preservation work at nmheritagearts.org. This episode was sponsored by Homewise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Mexico ranks among the top four states in the nation for suicide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the numbers aren’t any better for youth and teens. The impact that suicide leaves on families, friends and communities for years to come can be insurmountable. It’s why the nonprofit organization The Sky Center, home to licensed health professionals, is helping to intervene and prevent such a tragedy from taking place. The Sky Center Director Apryl Miller joins "Conversations Different" to discuss the efforts of her organization to combat teen and youth suicide in New Mexico. From free family counseling to group sessions and training, the center provides a variety of support services in both English and Spanish. Miller also talks about a few factors that have led to higher risk in recent years while providing tips to combat the surge. For more information about The Sky Center and to donate, visit their website skycenter.nmsip.org or call (505) 473-6191 If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, call the national Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As wildfires rage throughout Southern California and the Los Angeles area, fire prevention is the prevalent topic to consider these days. That sentiment especially goes for drier climates like Santa Fe and much of Northern New Mexico, where we’ve seen widespread fire destruction in recent years. Santa Fe Fire Department Chief Brian Moya, who is a native Santa Fean, joins "Conversations Different" to discuss the importance of knowing how to manage fire risk and provides tips for protecting your property in the event that smoke and flames threaten our communities. Moya also discusses the department’s proactive efforts to keep the city and surrounding areas safe.   Santa Fe residents wanting to learn more about wildfire prevention can attend Santa Fe Fire Department’s Ready Set Go workshop at the Southside Library on Jaguar Drive on May 3, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Focus remains on the Roundhouse for this week’s “Conversations Different” as state Rep. Rebecca Dow, R-Truth or Consequences, and freshman state Sen. Nate Paul, R-Alamogordo, join the show to share Republican and rural perspectives for the 60-day legislative session. Dow and Paul say Republicans share the Democrats’ desire to pass crime legislation, but that the GOP has been calling for action for years with little progress. While the most attention gets paid to crime in the state’s largest cities, Dow and Paul say crime has been rising in rural areas, too. They also note that they don’t want gun control in a public safety package. Dow and Paul also speak to the struggle of having influence in legislation as a minority party and share ways they can try to make an impact. Dow says the challenges may increase as Democrats have recently voted in more progressive candidates who have replaced more conservative party members. The lawmakers agree that the state’s rural areas, especially in the south, are often forgotten. As the state enjoys a large revenue surplus, Dow mentions the desire to have a rural capital outlay fund created to offer greater support to rural infrastructure. Dow also advocates for tax reform, calling for the state to consider eliminating the income tax and reforming the state’s gross receipts tax.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode of "Conversations Different" focuses on the start of New Mexico's legislative session and features separate interviews with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth. Both discussions revolve largely around public safety and behavioral health priorities.  Lujan Grisham talks about the state's issues with re-offenders and stresses the need for criminal competency reform. She also expresses her frustrations with the struggle of getting police data and her concerns with an escalation in juvenile crime. Lujan Grisham said that many New Mexicans don't feel safe, and shares an anecdote about a time she didn't feel safe when out in public with her grandchildren.  Sen. Wirth, D-Santa Fe, discusses the need to invest in the state's behavioral health infrastructure and shares his thoughts on criminal competency reform. Wirth also expresses optimism regarding an increase in state alcohol taxes, which haven't been revised in over three decades. He also talks about the need to protect the state's waters in response to recent Supreme Court rulings that have rolled back protections.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Randall Balmer is an Episcopal priest, historian, author and the John Phillips Chair in Religion at Dartmouth College. His book Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy Carter examines the 39th president’s political fortunes and how they mirrored the transformation of American religious politics. Balmer joined “Conversations Different” in the days after Carter’s death to talk about Carter’s legacy. He discusses how Carter would not tell a lie, how historians are reassessing Carter’s one-term presidency and accomplishments, and stresses the importance of Carter’s faith. Balmer also examines how Evangelicals who helped elect Carter also helped elect Donald Trump to the presidency, and shares his personal interactions with Carter while writing the book. Find Redeemer: The Life of Jimmy of Jimmy Carter and his Balmer’s other books on his website www.randallbalmer.com. This episode is sponsored by Homewise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has the responsibility of overseeing the management of the state’s wildlife species and their habitats. A diverse coalition of groups across the state are pushing for proposed legislation that would increase funding for the department, rename the department and clarify its mission, and fix the state Game Commission that some feel has been politicized.  Jesse Deubel and Judy Calman join “Conversations Different” to discuss the issues they feel are negatively impacting the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and share how a reform package that will be considered during the upcoming legislative session can help address these problems.  Deubel, the executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, talks about the department’s lack of funding and the need to reform the state Game Commission. The department relies on funding from hunting and fishing license fees, which haven’t been raised in 20 years. Deubel said raising fees is the quickest way to address what he calls a funding crisis. Calman, New Mexico policy director for Audubon Southwest, talks about the effort to change the department’s name to the New Mexico Department of Wildlife Conservation, and the need to clearly define the agency’s mission. She said the department’s limited resources are largely focused on game species. The legislation would give the agency authority to do what it needs to do based on science. Learn more about the reform package at https://www.wildlifefornm.org/. This episode is sponsored by Homewise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on “Conversations Different” we share a recent episode from “Voices of Taos,” a podcast produced by our sister paper The Taos News. Podcast producer Laura Martin Baseman sits down for a chat with longtime Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Robert Nott, who became communications director for the New Mexico Department of Health in June. Before leaving journalism, one of Nott’s last big projects was to contribute stories related to The New Mexican’s 175th anniversary. Nott talks about what stood out in his research as he flipped through nearly two centuries of the newspaper’s pages, including the murder of a fortune teller and the lack of stories related to Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. Nott also shares his memories of former newspaper owner Robert McKinney, reflects on the industry changes he noticed in his time as a journalist and talks about the importance of local newspapers to their communities. Visit santafenewmexican.com/175 to see The New Mexican’s 175th anniversary webpage filled with front pages from the past, historical photo galleries, commemorative magazines and articles on how the paper covered some of the biggest stories in New Mexico's history. Subscribe to The Santa Fe New Mexican Subscribe to The Taos NewsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every year around Christmas time, cultural traditions rise to the forefront as a force in Northern New Mexico’s holiday celebrations. It’s a time where families and communities come together. It's also a time to make and share traditional foods, including tamales, empanaditas and biscochitos. For former Santa Fe Mayor Larry Delgado and his family, this feeling is no different. Delgado, who grew up and raised his children in Santa Fe, remembers the impact that Christmas traditions have had on his upbringing and later relationships with his family. He joins "Conversations Different" with his daughter Cynthia to discuss the many things they cherish about Northern New Mexico’s festiveness this season and from season’s past.  This episode is sponsored by Homewise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ed Archie NoiseCat, a well-known Indigenous artist and former Santa Fe resident, was born and nearly died at the Indian residential school at St. Joseph’s Mission near Williams Lake, British Columbia. His son, Julian Brave NoiseCat, is co-director of “Sugarcane,” an award-winning documentary that investigates the abuses, deaths and missing children of the Canadian residential school system. The film made its world debut at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Julian Brave NoiseCat, who directed the film with investigative journalist Emily Kassie, joins “Conversations Different” to discuss the emotional experience of making the film and the fortuitous beginnings of the project. NoiseCat, a member of the Canim Lake Band Tsq'escen and descendant of the Lil'Wat Nation of Mount Currie, talks about how the death toll of the Indian residential schools is not just something of the past, but is still being experienced today. He also shares how working on the film impacted his relationship with his father, and talks about his family's ties to Santa Fe. He also touches on his role in the push to nominate Deb Halaand as Interior secretary, which led to her becoming the first Native American Cabinet secretary in U.S. history. Learn more about "Sugarcane" at films.nationalgeographic.com/sugarcane. This episode is sponsored by Homewise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2024 general election had many voters on edge, especially for those worried about the direction of immigration in this country. What may be next for the controversial issue under a second Trump presidency has drawn vocal opposition from local advocates like Marcela Díaz, who is the executive director of Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a statewide immigrant rights group. Díaz joins “Conversations Different” to discuss what her organization is doing to prepare for potential immigration policies that President-elect Donald Trump has openly embraced, such as mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Díaz also discusses the impact that immigrants have on New Mexico’s economy while emphasizing the need to build community coalitions again and educate people of their rights. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rhetoric involving the LGBTQ+ community leading up to the 2024 election and the results of the election raised concerns for those in the community and their allies. Kevin Bowen, executive director of the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance, joins "Conversations Different" for a discussion on the possible impacts the results of the election could have for trans rights and for others in the LGBTQ+ community. Bowen addresses the unease felt by members of the LGBTQ+ community, discusses the state of LGBTQ+ rights in New Mexico, shares precautions LGBTQ+ community members can take to protect themselves and talks about what allies can do to support their cause. To learn more about the Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance, visit hrasantafe.org. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picuris Pueblo is among the most rural and smallest tribes in Northern New Mexico. Nestled in the high mountains between Taos and Española, the pueblo of about 300 residents has struggled to find long-term economic development and opportunities to sustain its community. Picuris Pueblo Governor Craig Quanchello and author Daniel Gibson join "Conversations Different" to discuss the large-scale venture the pueblo has successfully undertaken to address that economic struggle –– ownership of the Hotel Santa Fe. Quanchello reflects on the process that led to the Native and non-Native partnership that allowed the project to happen, while Gibson talks about his new book that documents it along with a focus on the Picuris people. The book will be available to the public at a special event at the hotel from 4-6 p.m. on Dec. 7. The event will include pueblo dancers, remarks, a short presentation and a book signing. For more details, call 505-982-1200. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chef Lois Ellen Frank, Ph.D, is a Native food historian, cookbook author and educator based in Santa Fe who runs Red Mesa Cuisine with Chef Walter Whitewater. Her cookbook Foods of the Southwest Indian Nations won a James Beard Award in 2003. Frank and Whitewater’s latest cookbook, Seed to Plate, Soil to Sky, was released earlier this year and features plant-based recipes using Native American ingredients. Frank joins “Conversations Different” to discuss the Native American food movement and the inspiration behind her new cookbook, which is broken into eight chapters based on “The Magic Eight” ingredients. She highlights the mission she shares with Whitewater to bring Native American cuisine into every kitchen and educate people to eat healthy. Frank also brings up the contributions that Native people made to the food we eat every day, and the impact Native ingredients have had in some of the world’s most popular cuisines. Find Seed to Plate, Soil to Sky on the Red Mesa Cuisine website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashley M. Biggers is the magazines editor at The Santa Fe New Mexican who leads the creation of multiple magazines year-round such as Legacy, Spanish Market and Bienvenidos. The New Mexican’s magazines provide a deeper dive into the culture, stories and traditions of Northern New Mexico otherwise not found on the daily news pages or in Pasatiempo. Special editions are also part of the magazine department’s work. This year's offerings include a commemorative magazine recognizing The New Mexican's 175 anniversary. Biggers joins this week’s episode of "Conversations Different" to discuss with host Inez Russell Gomez the upcoming Winter Life, Feliz Navidad and 175th edition publications that will be available to readers this November.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A year after considering closing its doors, the small and aging congregation of Christ Lutheran Church in Santa Fe was energized by applying for and becoming the city of Santa Fe’s first-ever safe outdoor space for homeless people. The city bought Pallet shelters and paid for their construction, the church is the host site for the shelters, and day-to-day services and staffing is provided by The Life Link. Christ Lutheran Pastor Joene Herr and Pallet shelter resident Povi join “Conversations Different” to discuss how the pilot shelter program has been going since residents began moving in in April. Herr talks about the positive experience of hosting the Pallet shelter community and the need for more action to help the city address its homelessness issues, while Povi shares how finding stability and safety in the small Pallet shelter community has helped restore a piece of her life that was missing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

J. Walter Sterling is the new president of St. John’s College's Santa Fe campus. He assumed the role in July of 2024 after previously serving at the institution as dean and on the faculty. Sterling joins "Conversations Different" to discuss St. John’s unique curriculum focused on reading and discussing the Great Books. He also talks about the school's efforts to recruit in state and how St. John's is looking to expand its community connections as it celebrates 60 years in Santa Fe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seems scams are ever-present in today's world, whether they show up in our email inbox, on our phone or in the mail. Julie Sakura, Division Director of Consumer Protection with the New Mexico Department of Justice, is working to make sure New Mexicans are informed about what scams are out there and how to keep your information safe. Sakura joins "Conversations Different" to talk about the main tactics scammers use, the most common types of scams, and what scams the state Department of Justice has been seeing recently. "If you’re being asked to give money in this really urgent way, it’s almost always a scam," Sakura says.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode of "Conversations Different," host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by Bill Church, The New Mexican’s new executive editor, to discuss his connection with Santa Fe and what drew him to the position. Church talks about how he views his responsibility as an executive editor, the important relationship between the newspaper and the community, and touches on his vision for the future for the 175-year-old newspaper. The longtime newspaperman comes to the Land of Enchantment from North Carolina, where he most recently served as executive editor of The News & Observer in Raleigh. His newsroom leadership spans many U.S. cities including Austin; Salem, Ore.; and Sarasota, Fla.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeanne Fair, Ph.D., is an infectious disease and climate scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory with an array of accomplishments in the science realm. In 2009, she was the lead analyst at the Department of Homeland Security’s modeling of the H1N1 influenza pandemic and also modeling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her research and her interest in the field, spanning 30 plus years, is aimed at how stress impacts our immune systems, especially through wildlife and its ecology. Fair joins “Conversations Different” to talk about her work at the lab, the recent headlines concerning bird flu, and how we can all do our part to stay informed in understanding infectious diseases. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.