New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joins “Conversations Different” to share her thoughts on what was accomplished during the 30-day legislative session and talk about the possibility of calling a special session to address ongoing public safety issues in the state. Lujan Grisham also discusses her sense of urgency in tackling gun violence, talks about the ways the state is using oil and gas revenue with an eye toward the future, and looks ahead at the state’s energy future.

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Randall Balmer, an Episcopal priest, historian and the John Phillips Professor in Religion at Dartmouth College, joins "Conversations Different" to discuss the rise of Christian nationalism in U.S. politics. Balmer provides an overview of the movement on the religious right to break down the wall of separation between church and state, talks about the significance of Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson rising to Speaker of the House, and reviews some key terms used within the Christian nationalist movement.

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U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., joins “Conversations Different” to discuss legislation she's been pursuing in the House. She talks about what it's been like trying to get legislation passed amid Republican infighting and stresses the need for the U.S. to continue to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. She also hits on the progress of legislation and initiatives to help New Mexicans, from continued support for those impacted by the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire, to efforts to provide a path to home ownership for first-time homebuyers, to the work to expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include the Downwinders and other New Mexicans who have long been left out of the legislation.

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"The Stories We Carry" is an exhibit at the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts in Santa Fe that features contemporary jewelry created by more than 100 Indigenous artists across the decades. Tatiana Lomahaftewa-Singer, curator of collections at the museum, and IAIA assistant professor Brian Fleetwood, who guest curated the exhibit, join "Conversations Different" to discuss the process of putting together the exhibit and share some of the stories behind the pieces.

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Longtime Santa Fe New Mexican sports reporter James Barron joins "Conversations Different" to discuss what makes New Mexicans go crazy for high school basketball, especially in the north. He touches on how a lack of size for most teams has resulted in an emphasis on the fundamentals while also leading to an exciting brand of up-tempo basketball. Barron also talks about the passion for hoops on Native reservations, touches on some of most successful players and teams throughout history, and gives a brief outlook for local teams leading up to the state tournament.

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Sen. Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, joins "Conversations Different" to provide his thoughts on what lawmakers were able to get done during the recent 30-day legislative session. Wirth shares his positive feelings about the passage of two gun safety measures, talks about the need to work collaboratively with Republicans in the Senate even with a Democratic majority, and offers his perspective on a proposed state office building near the Roundhouse. 

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Gabe Tafoya, Santa Fe High School's orchestra director, is joined by violinists Emmarose Martinez and Alexis Mutz to discuss a standout year for the school's chamber orchestra, which was selected by the New Mexico Music Educators Association as the state’s 2024 Honor Orchestra. The chamber orchestra's 18 students performed at the 80th Annual All State Honors Concert at Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque on Jan. 11. Tafoya said he believes it's the first time any music group from Santa Fe Public Schools has been chosen for the honors concert. 

At the conclusion of the episode is a recording of the orchestra playing "Jesusita En Chihuahua,” one of the pieces the students performed at the honors concert.

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Author and historian Dr. Timothy E. Nelson joins “Conversations Different” to discuss Blackdom, N.M., a settlement of Black pioneers that formed in southeast New Mexico in the early 1900s.

Nelson, whose book “Blackdom, New Mexico: The Significance of the Afro-Frontier, 1900-1930” was published last summer, talks about the historical context in which the settlement existed and dispels the narrative that Blackdom was a failure. He also talks about what it’s been like to write about a history that many people were previously unaware of and what he’s noticed about how people respond when new information conflicts with popular understanding.

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Santa Fe’s newest sports team is in the midst of its inaugural season and has gotten off to a hot start on the court. David Fresquez, owner of the Santa Fe Gloom, joins ‘Conversations Different’ to talk about the appeal of futsal and the effort to integrate the team with the community. Fresquez also discusses the challenges of finding space for futsal and indoor soccer in Santa Fe.

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Youth soccer teams struggle to find field time in Santa Fe as teams in other sports compete over limited space. Scott Hussion, executive director of Northern Soccer Club, says there are 1,800 youth soccer players in the area who have to share five fields in the city. The 'Mucho Soccer' campaign seeks funding and support to get more fields built in Santa Fe for the youth of Northern New Mexico.

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