The Miami Herald's new executive editor, Alex Mena, started working at the paper when he was 19 years old. He's now the first immigrant in his position.

Winsome Bingham's new book The Walk tells the story of a woman taking her granddaughter to knock on doors in their neighborhood to get out the vote. Her children's books teach kids important lessons about family, community and civic action.

This week on the South Florida Roundup we discussed the clash between the proposed Miami Wilds water park at Zoo Miami and conservationists (1:01); the Parrothead culture that “tropical rock” music legend Jimmy Buffett left in Key West and beyond (19:02); and Cuba’s sudden — and questioned — claim that it’s broken up a smuggling ring sending Cubans to fight for Russia in Ukraine (36:10).

Xavier Cortada, Miami-Dade County’s first artist in residence, wants to tackle the big issues that affect his home in South Florida with his art.

Justin Eggen is an award-winning poet and U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran studying war poetry at Florida Atlantic University. He joins us to talk about using poetry to unravel his war experience.

When Precious Symonette became a creative writing teacher at Miami Norland Senior High, she brought in the principles of the Freedom Writers — a movement started in California in the 1990s to teach students to write through their troubles.She started the Viking Freedom Writers, named for the high school’s mascot. She’s now taught more than 3,000 students these principles. Some have gone on to become professional writers.The creative writing teacher has been named a Miami-Dade County teacher of the year. And the County Commission named April 18, 2023, Viking Freedom Writers Day.On this Best Of episode of Sundial, Symonette joined us to talk about why the vocations of writer and educator go hand-in-hand.

Michel Hausmann is the artistic director and founder of Miami New Drama, one of the largest bilingual theater companies in the country. He joins us to talk about his love for the stage and his motivation to stay true to his art—despite pushback from those in power.

Filipina-American author M. Evelina Galang joins us. She’s a professor of English at the University of Miami and directed their creative writing program for 10 years.

Here in South Florida, the rent is high, traffic is bad … and it’s hotter than the sun, but we’re going to laugh about it with comedian Mario Ramil.

In a world of knee-jerk reactions, Miami Herald columnist Fabiola Santiago provides the exception: the calm, considered opinion. She tells us about her journey to becoming a prominent voice in South Florida.