KZMU Public Affairs

On this episode we speak to Andrea Rodgers, Deputy Director of U.S. Strategy for Our Children’s Trust, and Utah Plaintiff Natalie Roberts about their climate lawsuit on behalf of the futures of Utah’s youth; and then we are joined by Steve Bloch, Legal Director of Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and Cory MacNulty, Campaign  Director for the Southwest Region of the National Parks Conservation Association about plans to open up areas around the Mighty Five National Parks to coal mining.

Conversations this week included Malcom Campbell-Taylor via MVMC sharing about this year’s Dia De Los Muertos Celebration and fundraiser; Alyssa Sherman from Grand County School District’s Student Career and Success Center sharing about their program’s growth and recent changes and Julie Nieman sharing about next week’s trunk or treat event!

On this episode of This Week in Moab, we discuss the November 14-15 2025 Bluff Dark Sky Festival (and International Dark Sky Community designation) with Sarah Burak, Education Director of the Bears Ears Partnership and Diana Davidson with the Business Owners of Bluff. Then Malcom Campbell Taylor of the Moab Valley Multicultural Center shares details about their food pantry and efforts to help those facing food insecurity in our listening area.

This episode of Codd’s World features three guests. Dan Lamont, Director of the Moab Celtic Festival: Scots on the Rocks, Dave Wardell, from Kilberry Bagpipes, and Maggie McGuire, Editor/ Publisher of the Moab Sun. This show took place during the Fall Radiothon for KZMU.

Dan Lamont was the first guest. He discussed the history of the Scots on the Rocks/ Moab Celtic Festival and what was lined up for the 2025 event. The festival is scheduled for October 17-19, 2025 at the City Ballfields on Center Street in Moab. Lamont noted that there would be a Tattoo of Bagpipe Bands attending the festival, athletic events, Clan tents, food and various clothing and souvenir booths. The Tattoo is an event where each bagpipe band marches on the field and plays a few songs for the gathered audience.

Lamont said this is the 9th year for the festival. He also noted that the festival has grown in recent years, and they hoped to continue the event in Moab for years to come.

In an interview recorded in July 2025, Dave Wardell from Kilberry Bagpipe makers from Edinburgh, Scotland, discussed the history of the bagpipes and how they are made. Dave was a master bagpipe player with national awards for his playing, who was now making bagpipes for one of the premier bagpipe makers in the United Kingdom.

Dave discussed the materials used in the construction of the instrument and how they have changed over the centuries. Most bagpipes today are made with rubber air bladders that produce the air that goes through the drones that create the unique sound of the pipes. Bagpipes can be traced back to the early 15th century in Scotland. It is believed that a type of bagpipe has been around for a few thousand years.

Mr. Wardell said it takes about two full days to complete a bagpipe. They cost around 1,000 pounds ($1,250 US) for a basic instrument and run well into thousands of dollars for fancier instruments with extensive decorations and more expensive materials. He also noted that the demand for bagpipes has grown significantly around the world over the past several decades. Interestingly, there is increased demand for bagpipes made with leather air bladders!

Since “Codd’s World!” was during Radiothon, Maggie McGuire, Owner and Publisher of the Moab Sun News, joined the show to talk about the importance of local public radio and local newspapers.

The guests on this show included Toni Sicola and Theresa Herd from the Moab Women’s Festival and Liam O’Hare, a member of the Scottish band “Definitely Oasis.”

First up were the organizers of the second Moab Women’s Festival: Decompress Fest 2025. The event took place on September 13-14, 2025. This year’s festival included ten different activities including off road driving, meditation and breathing techniques, yoga, and other stress reduction tools.

In addition to the presentations there was musci by Toni Sicola & The Enablers, Abby Posner, and Raye Zaragoza. The festival raised funds for WBC/Utah and Seekhaven Family Crisis & Resource Center in Moab.

Next up was (33:27) Mr. Liam O’Hare who is the drummer for the Scotland based Oasis tribute band, “Definitely Oasis.” O’Hare has been with the band for about 7 years. They play gigs throughout Scotland and the UK as well Europe. Liam talks about the popularity of tribute bans in general and their role in presenting live music at affordable prices. He also discussed how busy they are now that Oasis is touring again.

“Definitely Oasis” is one of about 37 Oasis cover bands in the UK. “DO” is considered by fans to be one of the best tribute bands in Scotland. O’Hare said he loves playing before the bigger crowds they are experiencing but the constant travel is tough to adapt to. O’Hare also teaches drumming to students ranging in age from 7 to 77!

In this episode, we open with a lively conversation featuring Tia Wood, a talented songwriter and Indigenous musician who shares her cultural insights and heartfelt perspectives on MMIR (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives). Together, we reflect on the deeper meaning behind this movement and the power of awareness in creating change.

I also share highlights from Moab’s Indigenous Peoples Day on October 13 — including a webinar I presented for Utah State organizations on working with Indigenous youth, and a local fundraiser supporting Native American students, where the Mayor of Moab read the official Indigenous Peoples Day proclamation.

We continue with updates from Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated at the middle school with host Jeremy Spaulding, and from the HMK Elementary Student Club, where students created moccasin ornaments and Christmas gifts for their Indigenous families.

We wrap up with the Cultural Fires event, featuring a drum-making workshop with Jacob Crane, traditional dancing, and cultural exchange — a beautiful close to a season of celebration, learning, and connection.

Stay tuned until the end for a few upcoming community events you won’t want to miss!

Stitch Please! The Scary Truth about Fast Fashion

This month on Trash Talk, Jessica and Lily unravel the horrifying secrets behind fast fashion—just in time for Halloween. From polyester costumes that outlive your great-grandkids to the gory truth about water waste and textile pollution, it's a fright-fest of facts you won’t find on a clothing tag.

With costume hacks, DIY mending groups, and maybe some ideas on what to do when you feel like you have nothing to wear, this episode is sew worth it.

Codd's World: Mayoral Candidate Interviews and Moab Folk Festival

Your hosts Jessie Magleby from Grand County Public Library, Nat Smith and David Everett from Back of Beyond Books take you on a whirlwind tour of what they've been reading: the good, the great and the ghastly. Plus, a chat with special guest author Michael Engelhard.

The Good and the Great:

Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides

Into the Hush: Poems by Arthur Sze

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

Margo's Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe

The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt by Toby Wilkenson

The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman

A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold

A Solitude of Wolverines by Alice Henderson

No Place Like Nome by Michael Engelhard

Didn't Love:

Katabasis by R.F. Kuang

The Devil is a Southpaw by Brandon Hobson (pub. Oct. 28)

Light on Bone: A Georgia O'Keeffe Mystery by Kathryn Lasky

Radio Book Club mentions in Library Catalog

On this episode of This Week in Moab we hear from Annie Watts about the work of Our Village Community Center, the beneficiary of this year’s Soup Bowl Fundraiser, taking place in Moab on Saturday November 8th in Moab at the MARC. Samantha Derbyshire, the lead organizer of Soup Bowl this year shares about the event and the efforts of CLAM (Clay Artisans of Moab) which works throughout the year to prepare for the event. In the second half of the show we speak to Zanna Stutz, Program Manager at Glen Canyon Institute, Dr. Brenda Bowen from the University of Utah’s Geology and Geophysics program and Mike DeHoff, Principle Investigator of the Returning Rapids Project about Glen Canyon, the Colorado River and their upcoming symposium in Moab at Star Hall November 13th: Rivers of Change: Reckoning with the Impacts of Glen Canyon Dam through Science, Art and Advocacy.