Alcoholism impacts the lives of many individuals and their families across the country and in New Mexico. According to the New Mexico Department of Health website, the state has been a leader in alcohol deaths since the 1980s with domestic violence, crime, poverty and unemployment also surging as related negative impacts.

Ted Alcorn, a writer/researcher and native New Mexican, joins “Conversations Different” to discuss his previous reporting on New Mexico’s alcohol problem from the individuals who consume it to the lawmakers who haven’t budged much on reform.

Alcorn shares insight into his news series “Blind Drunk,” featured in the news outlet New Mexico In Depth and The Santa Fe New Mexican. The series explores New Mexico’s alcohol crisis by looking at the state’s weaknesses and providing possible solutions.

Alcorn’s bylines include The New York Times, The Atlantic and Washington Post Magazine. He is a graduate of New York University and John Hopkins University.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sen. Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico’s junior U.S. senator, joins the latest episode of “Conversations Different” to discuss what he’s working on in the Senate, from a bill that would help families take care of their aging loved ones to holding hearings on the implications of President Donald Trump’s tariffs on everyday Americans. Luján also discusses congressional Republicans’ proposed spending bill deemed “The Big Beautiful Bill.”

In the middle of the interview, Sen. Luján had to step away to go vote and was also briefed on a situation involving U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla of California being escorted out of an immigration press conference and later handcuffed after he tried to ask a question to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

“Conversations Different” was provided a courtesy clip of Sen. Luján’s Senate floor speech where he spoke on Sen. Padilla’s forceable removal from the press conference.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Catching up with former students came with an element of sadness for longtime Santa Fe music educator Marilyn Barnes as she found they lacked opportunities to showcase their talents in front of an audience after graduation. So she and her husband, Cris Barnes, did something about it. They created a musical theater company to give young adults the chance to retake the stage — and the result has been a hit.

“We had the incentive, seeing our students on the street, and saying ‘What are you doing? Are you singing?’,” Marilyn Barnes said. “And they hadn’t opened their mouths except in their cars and in the shower since high school, and it just broke our hearts. That was our incentive to start Tri-M, but it has just grown way beyond that.”

In the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” Marilyn and Cris Barnes speak with host Inez Russell Gomez about how Tri-M (Millennial Music Makers) Productions has not just been a way for young adults to share their musical talents with the public but has also developed into somewhat of a social club that helps them form connections in the city.

The pair talk about how they’ve prioritized paying the talent for productions, and the struggle with finding venues in Santa Fe.

They also discuss their upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods,” which will run June 12-22 at the Santa Fe High School Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit trimsantafe.org.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Students Demand Action is an organization of high school and college students across the United States advocating against gun violence. The organization reports to have active volunteers in every state and 900 groups across the U.S.

During New Mexico’s 60-day legislative session earlier this year, Students Demand Action activists had a presence in the Roundhouse advocating for gun safety legislation. In the latest episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez speaks with two of the members on their recent experience in the legislature and what it’s like growing up in a time of school shooter drills and elevated levels of youth gun violence in the state.

Recent high school graduate Wesley Clum and University of New Mexico student Bo Wilson discuss the legislation they were advocating for during the session and how they feel their message has been received by legislators.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singing, performance and community. Those are the traits that make up The Zia Singers, a local nonprofit women’s choir in Santa Fe. The concept originated in the living room of voice teacher Marilyn Barnes, who founded the group in 1993 with the goal for women to come together to share their love of music, according to its website. Now, that mission still stands under the new leadership of artistic director John Tiranno, who brings years of musical experience.

Tiranno joins “Conversations Different” to discuss the group, some upcoming June performances open to the public, and how other women can get involved.

The upcoming performances are part of “June Is Busting Out All Over,” a two-day concert on June 7 at 7 p.m. and June 8 at 3 p.m., both held at Cristo Rey Catholic Church in Santa Fe.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What should I recycle? What can't be recycled? Where does the city send the items that we recycle?

Peter Olson, outreach director with the city of Santa Fe's Environmental Service Department, joins the "Conversations Different" host Inez Russell Gomez to answer those questions and more on an episode focused on recycling.

Olson talks about how residents can be more effective at recycling and how to be more sustainable in everyday life. He offers recycling tips, clarifies the city’s guidelines and preferences in what and how to recycle, and discusses the biggest mistakes Santa Feans make when it comes to recycling. Olson also talks about the impact people can have before they put their blue bins on the curb, sharing how our choices as consumers can impact what and how much we recycle and throw away.

To get more tips on what can and can’t be recycled, he suggests using the city’s recycle coach app that can be found at https://app.my-waste.mobi/US/NM/Santa_Fe.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather Cox Richardson is an author, historian and professor of American history who has examined the presidency of Donald Trump since his rise to power in 2016. During his first term in office she launched the popular newsletter “Letters from an American” to share her insight on his and the Republican Party's policies while offering the history behind the country’s current political climate.

Cox Richardson joins “Conversations Different” ahead of speaking at the Santa Fe International Literary Festival to discuss Trump’s presidency, her optimism for the future of the country and what festival-goers can expect from her upcoming appearance.

This episode is sponsored by Homewise.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Santa Fe International Literary Festival is returning to the City Different May 16-18, with esteemed and award-winning writers from around the world slated to speak about their work and take questions from audience members.

According to the festival’s website, the experience is meant to bring writers, readers and free thinkers alike into one space for an interactive and inclusive weekend experience. The lineup features authors from the New York Times Best Sellers list to Pulitzer Prize winners.

Megan Mulry, the festival’s executive director, and Susan Burks, its executive producer, join “Conversations Different” to discuss some of this year’s lineup, what attendees can do outside of the festival and how it has expanded throughout the years.

Learn more about the Santa Fe International Literary Festival at www.sfinternationallitfest.org.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.