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This week on Voices of Taos, join Editor John Miller as he talks with Rick Romancito, former Tempo editor, fine artist and former actor.

Romancito tells stories of his career as a young actor starring alongside John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn in  "Rooster Cogburn," as well as both the glamour and difficulties of making it as an actor.

Miller discusses the recent growth of the industry in New Mexico, and Romancito shares 
how New Mexico's diverse topography makes for a "one-stop shop" for production companies. A film office in Taos, he says, would be a natural fit.

Miller and Romancito discuss artificial intelligence's impact on the industry, as well as
Romancito's process for reviewing movies for Tempo.

This episode is part one of a series exploring the film industry in New Mexico.

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This week on Voices of Taos, join Copy Editor and Reporter Emery Veilleux as she talks with Nan Fischer, lifelong grower, founder of the Taos Seed Exchange and author of "A Monthly Guide to Growing a Sensational Garden in Northern New Mexico and the Rocky Mountains."

Fischer discusses growing food in Northern New Mexico, from difficult environmental conditions to well-suited plants to best practices for conserving water. As Taos comes out of a dry winter, Fischer and Veilleux discuss adapting to growing food in a changing climate. Fischer, who has kept garden journals for 20 years, shares some of the climactic trends she's tracked over time.

"It used to be challenging here but predictable, and now it's challenging and unpredictable," Fischer says.

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This week on Voices of Taos, Sports Editor Blynn Beltran talks with Taos Cheer coach Lisa Abeyta-Valerio and Taos Cheer captains Alexis Etzel and Amadea Gallegos.

Beltran and Taos Cheer talk about the team's preparations for the 2025 Cheerleading State Championship, which Taos Cheer has won four years in a row.

Abeyta-Valerio discusses her training methods as a coach, and Etzel and Gallegos reflect on team dynamics and leadership, and offer advice for younger athletes and cheerleaders.

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This week on Voices of Taos, Deputy Editor Geoffrey Plant talks with Eric Odell, Wolf Conservation Program Manager at Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Eric and Geoffrey talk about how the program to re-introduce the gray wolf to Colorado came to be. They also discuss details of the plan, including what happens when wolves migrate to other territories.

Eric also explains what measures have been taken to minimize conflict between wolves, ranchers and livestock, as well as the importance of keeping natural predators on the landscape.

Learn more about the Colorado Gray Wolf Restoration and Management Plan

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This week on Voices of Taos, Tempo editor Lynne Robinson speaks with author, editor and creativity coach Allegra Huston.

Allegra co-founded the Imaginative Storm writing method with Jim Navé, as well as the co-author of the book and online course “Write What You Don’t Know.” She discusses the free Writing Prompt of the Week workshops that are held on Thursdays and Saturdays via Zoom. 

Allegra also talks about how tight time constraints, reading your own work aloud and using a pen and paper to write (instead of typing on a computer) are powerful tools to help anyone develop a writing practice.

Learn more about the Imaginative Storm Method

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This week on Voices of Taos join Sports Editor Blynn Beltran as he talks with Taos High School boys basketball head coach Hernando Chavez. Coach Chavez sits down with Beltran before the Tiger's first game for the 4A state basketball tournament. Taos has to beat Pojoaque High School on Saturday, March 8th, or they won’t make it to the quarter finals at The Pit in Albuquerque. Chavez speaks to his team’s strengths and their strategy for this first round. 

Chavez also talks about his career and how he became the head coach for boys basketball. He also celebrates the two seniors on his team, Trevor Tibljas and Mateo Salazar, who have added a lot to the team this season. Finally, Chavez discusses some of the metro schools who will be playing in the state tournament playoffs. "We've overcome the fear of Albuquerque Schools. We understand how good they are but we also understand how good we can be," Chavez says in the interview.

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This week on Voices of Taos join producer Laura Martin Baseman as she talks with J.R. Logan, Taos County Forest and Watershed Health Program Manager. Logan shares how his experience at the Taos News and the LOR Foundation laid the groundwork for his current role managing natural resources through contracts with Taos Soil and Water Conservation District and Taos County.

One of the projects Logan helps coordinate is the Forest Mayordomo Program, which employs locals adjacent to Carson National Forest to thin areas at risk of severe fire. Even with good management, Logan candidly warns that Taos County will likely see a catastrophic fire in the near future. He hopes this honesty won't paralyze people with fear, but encourage them to prepare. There are a lot of things people can do to protect their homes and land, including visiting the New Mexico State Forestry website on defensible space.

Logan and Martin Baseman also discuss climate grief. In February the Conservation District hosted Maud Powell who helped local land managers grapple with losses due to climate change. Logan emphasizes how the event was important for people in the community to share their grief, especially after the Calf Canyon—Hermits Peak fire. 

How to protect your home from wildfire

Climate Grief Resources

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This week on Voices of Taos, join Copy Editor and Reporter Emery Veilleux as she talks with Keith King, mortgage broker and president of King Mortgage and board member for Taos Municipal Schools.

King discusses the founding of Black History Month and his experience as an African-American in Taos. Veilleux and King also discuss the importance of engaging with varied perspectives, as well as the complexity of celebrating Black History Month as diversity, equity and inclusion programs are being dismantled at the federal level. King recommends a few books and thinkers for the general public to engage with Black history.

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This week on Voices of Taos, join Deputy Editor Geoffrey Plant as we talks with Jonah Reynolds, founder of Pangea Biotecture.

Reynolds shares a proposal for a new development on the 330-acre Tarleton Ranch called the 'Pangea Community.' Unlike the TREV development, which failed to get approved by the Taos County Commission in 2024, Reynolds believes his project is a better fit for Taos' environment and values.

Reynolds lays out the development strategy and prospective timeline for the development, including prioritizing affordable housing. He also discusses new technology that will help build durable, economical dwellings faster than traditional building methods.

Learn more about the Pangea Community

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Trigger warning: This episode mentions suicide. If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call or text the free Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. 

This week on "Voices of Taos," join Editor John Miller as he talks with Taos County Sheriff Steve Miera. Miera discusses his journey into law enforcement and his commitment to serving the Taos community, regardless of immigration status and despite recent developments in federal policy. Miera shares recent developments for safety infrastructure at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. John also asks Miera about the most common calls the sheriff's office responds to and best practices should you get pulled over by a Taos County deputy.

New Mexico’s 988 crisis hotline: a confidential suicide and crisis lifeline.

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