In a time of political division in our country, one Santa Fe man has made it his mission to bridge the divide through humanitarian work and sharing stories. His firsthand accounts with migrants, residents and federal agents, who all claim allegiance along the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, give a glimpse into the conditions in that region and how politics over policy is impacting everyday lives.  

Morgan Smith, a retired lawyer and governmental official, says he's been involved with Mexico since being a college student but has taken that task to heart in recent years with his visual and written reporting. He joins “Conversations Different” host Inez Russell Gomez in the latest podcast episode to share insight into his numerous trips to the border and what they have taught him about people and immigration.  

Smith also reflects on the volunteer aspect of his trips which involve him loading up his vehicle with items and donating them to local shelters or individuals in need in the El Paso/Ciudad Juárez area.  

Connect with Morgan to hear more of his stories or to donate for his next trip. He can be reached at [email protected]  

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In the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez welcomes Zia Singers artistic director John Tiranno and singer and composer Susan Anders, on the podcast to preview the group’s upcoming January concert.  

The concert is titled “Voices of Life, Voices of Light” and will feature exclusive musical works written by women, a choice Tiranno said was a clever idea of his and a way to honor the talents of The Zia Singers, an all-women based chorus.  

Throughout the episode, Tiranno and Anders share what concertgoers can expect from two of the pieces that will be performed: Everyday Wonders: The Girl from Aleppo by Cecilia McDowall and a "A Wave That Rocks Me,” a song composed by Anders.  

The concert will be on Jan.10th and 11th at Christ Church in Santa Fe. For more information and to get tickets, visit theziasingers.org.  

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In the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez chats with former TV meteorologist Jay Faught about everyone’s favorite subject — the weather. The two discuss Faught’s transition from camera life into private life and how his never-ending passion for meteorology inspired him to start posting his own weather forecasts online and on social media.  

Throughout the episode, Faught talks about the uniqueness of Santa Fe’s topography and how it motivated him to tap into localized weather forecasting that he says will help residents plan their days more efficiently. The local forecasts can also help residents be prepared during times of emergency and changing conditions, he said.  

Faught’s forecasts can be found by visiting his website santafewx.com or following his popular Facebook page and group Santa Fe Weather 

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Author and storyteller Joe Hayes has been traveling the country for more than 40 years to share the stories of the Southwest. As an established author, he has published over 25 books and was also a resident storyteller at the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe for 39 years.  

In the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez revisits this previously aired interview with Hayes that highlights how he made a career out of being a storyteller, what influences inspired his style of narration and why he feels it’s important to tell stories in both Spanish and English as somebody who was raised in a border town in Arizona.  

Hayes closes the episode by telling the story of The Wise Little Burro, a treat for listeners and viewers ahead of Christmas celebrations.  

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Legendary New Mexican sculptor Michael Naranjo is the face of a new documentary that highlights what it means to go through life’s struggles and still come out on top. His story is an inspiration to all because Naranjo, who lost his eyesight in battle during the Vietnam War, has had to adapt while learning his craft. His injuries didn’t stop him from living life and achieving his goals, according to Jenna Naranjo Winters, his daughter and producer of the documentary.  

Naranjo Winters joins “Conversations Different” host Inez Russell Gomez in discussing a behind-the-scenes look into producing the film, Dream Touch Believe. She discusses what inspired her to pursue the project and how the film has made an impact across festivals and communities, especially in New Mexico.  

Naranjo Winters also reflects on her background, growing up on the Santa Clara Pueblo and working at the Santa Fe New Mexican on her way to becoming a professional TV and film producer in Los Angeles, Calif.  

Learn more about the film by visiting its website, dreamtouchbelieve.com

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New Mexico is known for many things, but its public lands are unmatched if you ask some of the avid outdoors enthusiasts of our state and the ordinary people who have lived here for generations. Whether you're hiking the mountaintops of Santa Fe Baldy or basking in the white gypsum dunes at White Sands National Park, there is something special about our landscapes that have garnered deep appreciation on a personal level for people and on a public policy level for officials.  

Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project, a nonprofit based in Las Cruces, takes that appreciation to heart as one of its guiding principles.   

The nonprofit’s executive director Angel Peña joins the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” to discuss what led to the founding of his organization, the work he and his team are doing to preserve access to New Mexico’s public lands and what he hopes his group will accomplish in the near future as it navigates resource challenges and uncertainty at the federal level.  

Peña also reflects on the cultural significance that our lands have on the state’s diverse populations and why securing access for them is just as important.  

Visit nuestra-tierra.org to learn more about the organization and how to support its efforts. 

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When looking back at the history of the atomic bomb and its origins in New Mexico, the narrative often centers on American innovation and the United States as the first nation to create such a deadly weapon. There’s another essential perspective — that of the Japanese people. They endured the devastating consequences of the 1945 Hiroshima bombings and its long-lasting impact on the country in the years following.  

In the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez speaks with Eria Matsumae, a Hiroshima peace guide whose work is mostly in Hiroshima but is also international. The two discuss Eria’s efforts to inform people about the historical impact of the bombings and how to bring about future societal peace among nations to avoid another catastrophe from taking place.  

Eria also shares details about her visit to New Mexico, which was inspired by an encounter abroad with Rotary Santa Fe Centro Passport Club President Claudia Gerst. Eria and Claudia briefly reflect on the encounter that led to their friendship, a New Mexico trip and a one-day peace conference that was held in Santa Fe. 

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Confidence, discipline and resilience are all essential traits for living a fulfilling life, especially for kids searching for their place in the real world. In Santa Fe, Tony Potter is helping the next generation, and their families, build these qualities through the power of martial arts. 

As president of It All Matters Inc., Potter joined “Conversations Different” host Inez Russell Gomez in discussing the nonprofit’s mission to uplift children and create a space for them to strengthen their emotional, cognitive, physical and social skills, while emphasizing the importance of building people up rather than tearing them down.  

Potter also briefly shares on the personal journey he took to get to this line of work and how it has shaped his view of life thus far.  

The It All Matters Inc. martial arts program has been around for 23 years. Learn more about the program and an upcoming January gala by visiting ItAllMattersInc.com

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Not every student learns and comprehends the same. It's a shared reality among parents and educators struggling to get a student the instructional support that they need to stay on target with their education. And it’s a belief that Amy Miller, a former teacher, has known too well throughout her years in the classroom.  

Miller, a founder and director of the May Center for Learning based in Santa Fe, joins the latest episode of “Conversations Different” to explain how the center is helping kids in grades K-8 navigate their learning challenges, or as the center calls them, “learning differences.” She elaborates on some of the solutions the school provides, like a specialized curriculum, hands-on learning and a low student-to-teacher ratio environment. 

Miller also discusses the factors that led to her founding the school in 2011 and how she hopes it will serve as an alternative to traditional schooling practices.  

For more information about the May Center for Learning and its offerings, visit maycenter.org 

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How to hold to account criminals found to be incompetent in New Mexico is a divisive issue, especially to those who have been a victim of a crime.   

The state courts are jumping into that debate and hope to alleviate some of those concerns by implementing a new competency diversion pilot program that has launched in select jurisdictions. One of the program’s goals is to get eligible mentally ill offenders the resources and treatment they need to be able to fit within society instead of being circled through an already stressed legal system.   

Justice Briana Zamora of the New Mexico Supreme Court joins the latest episode of “Conversations Different” to discuss the diversion program, what kind of impact she hopes the program will have on our communities and the challenges she’s experienced when dealing with cases involving mentally incompetent individuals.  

Justice Zamora also elaborates on the need for agency and legislative collaboration for the diversion program to be effective, saying it will require significant long-term investment to see results.  

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