Bob Booker led the Arizona Commission on the Arts for decades and now happily retired can range from the spice shop in Tumacácori to Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff and places in between, loving that Arizona has respected the arts and diversity even before statehood.

Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been telling stories of Arizona people and events starting as a cub reporter in Green Valley more than forty years ago. She moved through radio, television, magazines, opinion pieces, magazines and books, until now she hosts the podcast Celebrating Arizona. Each of her guest interviewees has their own Arizona, and more.

Lisa and Mark McMahon grew up in the same neighborhood and both embraced Arizona road trips and hikes, but Mark added some incredible trips in the wide world he talks about in today's show along with great Mexican food, best hikes around Tucson, and letting loved ones go.

Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been telling stories of Arizona people and events starting as a cub reporter in Green Valley more than forty years ago. She moved through radio, television, magazines, opinion pieces, magazines and books, until now she hosts the podcast Celebrating Arizona. Each of her guest interviewees has their own Arizona, and more.

A deep and wide Arizona author himself, Greg McNamee shares a half-dozen of his favorite Arizona works. He describes being in grad school with author Barbara Kingolver, describing spending Saturday nights with beer in the pool and hearing her typewriter clacking away, "which probably explains our positions in the literary constellations," a stellar sentence with many others describing wonderful Arizona writers. He will return for the second half in a future episode, which makes Lisa feel fortunate.

Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been telling stories of Arizona people and events starting as a cub reporter in Green Valley more than forty years ago. She moved through radio, television, magazines, opinion pieces, magazines and books, until now she hosts the podcast Celebrating Arizona. Each of her guest interviewees has their own Arizona, and more.

Description: Lisa has known Bob Cika since before she could talk. Her parents made a lifelong friend when they were his head residents in a Flagstaff dorm. Lisa says he's the only person she knows who has rappelled off the South Rim in training exercises. He loves the stark scenery and small-town charm of Winslow and will drive hundreds of miles out of his way to stay at La Posada.

Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been telling stories of Arizona people and events starting as a cub reporter in Green Valley more than forty years ago. She moved through radio, television, magazines, opinion pieces, magazines and books, until now she hosts the podcast Celebrating Arizona. Each of her guest interviewees has their own Arizona, and more.

An accomplished author and writing teacher, Laurie Schneby lives and breathes for books; since libraries are brimming with abundant choices, and all free, libraries are her happy places.

Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been telling stories of Arizona people and events starting as a cub reporter in Green Valley more than forty years ago. She moved through radio, television, magazines, opinion pieces, magazines and books, until now she hosts the podcast Celebrating Arizona. Each of her guest interviewees has their own Arizona, and more.

It would be challenging for anyone to run for the Arizona senate, but taking your eight-year-old twin boys knocking on doors shows how much Kristie O'Brien believes in what she is doing. For her, being a good mother also includes hatching butterflies every spring and road trips geared to the interests of young sons. Even living in Australia didn't dim her deep love for her home state.

Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been telling stories of Arizona people and events starting as a cub reporter in Green Valley more than forty years ago. She moved through radio, television, magazines, opinion pieces, magazines and books, until now she hosts the podcast Celebrating Arizona. Each of her guest interviewees has their own Arizona, and more.

Guest Paul Maynard lives deep in Tucson and says he navigates by bike shops, and also knows more than 700 pieces of art in the Old Pueblo; today we also have a rare guest coffee mug.

Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been telling stories of Arizona people and events starting as a cub reporter in Green Valley more than forty years ago. She moved through radio, television, magazines, opinion pieces, magazines and books, until now she hosts the podcast Celebrating Arizona. Each of her guest interviewees has their own Arizona, and more.

An Arizonan who self-described as "weird" because he loves the heat, Steve Chandler. Is not only a songwriter, but has written 40 published books, which he said started by accident.

Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been telling stories of Arizona people and events starting as a cub reporter in Green Valley more than forty years ago. She moved through radio, television, magazines, opinion pieces, magazines and books, until now she hosts the podcast Celebrating Arizona. Each of her guest interviewees has their own Arizona, and more.

Spending her high school years in Kingman gave Dawn Reid insights into the incredible outdoor opportunities there, from hiking and climbing to acess to the Colorado River beaches people rarely find. Now a Goodyear resident working for the city as it explodes with new growth, she sees Arizona growth from a different perspective.

Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been telling stories of Arizona people and events starting as a cub reporter in Green Valley more than forty years ago. She moved through radio, television, magazines, opinion pieces, magazines and books, until now she hosts the podcast Celebrating Arizona. Each of her guest interviewees has their own Arizona, and more.

Description: Editor of the Green Valley News shares wonderful stories added to Arizona history of fascinating people, making it fun for me because my time at GV News is forever special.

Lisa Schnebly Heidinger has been telling stories of Arizona people and events starting as a cub reporter in Green Valley more than forty years ago. She moved through radio, television, magazines, opinion pieces, magazines and books, until now she hosts the podcast Celebrating Arizona. Each of her guest interviewees has their own Arizona, and more.