Stuart Kelter interviews Amin Saikal, an emeritus Professor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at the Australian National University, where he was also the Founding Director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies. He has won several academic awards and is a member of many national and international academic organizations. In addition to numerous articles in international journals, he has also written feature articles in major international newspapers, including the International Herald Tribune, The New York Times and The Guardian and has been a frequent commentator on radio and television news programs. He has written several books about relations between Islam and the West and on political developments in Iran, Arab countries, and his home country, Afghanistan. This interview will focus on his most recent book, How to Lose a War: The Story of America’s Intervention in Afghanistan, published in 2024.
 Rose Ann Vasquez, Regional Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Mexico, joined Mike and Brian to preview one of Las Cruces' most beloved—and messiest—fundraisers: the 15th annual Mudd for Matches volleyball tournament, set for Saturday, September 13 at the Blue Moon Bar and Grill in Radium Springs. Vasquez discussed the event's impact, logistics, and colorful team traditions (from duct-taped shoes to names like “Mud, Sweat & Cheers”), as well as how the funds raised support mentoring programs for youth in Doña Ana, Luna, and Grant counties.
Former Las Cruces Symphony conductor Lonnie Klein joined the show to preview his upcoming four-part presentation for the Academy for Learning in Retirement, Music in Revolution and Evolution. He outlined the series, which traces the radical transformation of classical music from 1800 to 1940, including works by Beethoven, Berlioz, and Gershwin. Klein also reflected on his 22-year tenure with the symphony and his efforts to commission new works from contemporary composers.
New Mexico State Climatologist Dave DuBois joined hosts Peter Goodman and Walt Rubel for an in-depth discussion on the state of the climate. Topics included the increase in extreme weather events, the ongoing "mega-drought" despite a relatively normal monsoon season, and the near-record low water levels at Elephant Butte Reservoir. DuBois explained how federal funding cuts are forcing the National Weather Service to eliminate a large number of local weather monitoring stations, creating gaps in long-term climate data. He also discussed how state-level programs are working to fill that void, the future challenges for water use in agriculture, and what climate models predict for Southern New Mexico in the coming decades.
Co-hosts Peter Goodman and Walt Rubel opened the show with a look at candidates in the upcoming local elections. During the segment, Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin called in to explain the candidate filing process and the city’s use of ranked-choice voting. The hosts also discussed a controversial proposal for a large air-cooled AI data center in the county and its potential environmental impact. The conversation then shifted to recent state senate races in Iowa and Georgia as possible indicators of national political sentiment, along with concerns over the federal administration’s recent actions.
Greg Smith talks with David Senk, architectural historian and preservation advocate, about the restoration of the Amador Hotel and why historic preservation matters in Las Cruces. They discuss how technology like drones and 3D scanning can support preservation, the importance of honoring community stories, and how adaptive reuse can give historic buildings new life as cultural and economic hubs.
This Labor Day seems like a good time for a reminder that the minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour for those living in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee. The last time they saw a raise was 2009.
The costs of goods and services have increased by about 150 percent since the last time the federal minimum wage was raised, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Most states have taken it upon themselves to set a livable wage for full-time workers. But for those in states that have not acted on their own, prices keep going up while wages stagnate. We have an insightful and informative conversation today with Nicole Martinez, Executive Director of The Mesilla Valley Community of Hope. She shares with us a history of the organization and services they provide. She gives specific attention to "Camp Hope", a transitional housing program for unhoused people in our community, and the Tents to Rents annual fundraiser to support Camp Hope that's underway right now.
Stuart Kelter interviews Henry ("Hank") Greenspan, emeritus psychologist and oral historian in Holocaust studies at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, award-winning playwright and actor, lyricist, essayist, and poet, and social activist in the area of healthcare rights. During the interview he’ll be performing one of the monologues from his remarkable play, REMNANTS, in which he channels the personalities and pivotal experiences of holocaust survivors with whom he formed deep relationships over the course of 50 years. (A video of his performance of the complete play can be viewed, at no charge, here.) We’ll also be talking about his new book, released just last week, REMNANTS and What Remains: Moments from a Life Among Holocaust Survivors, which for the first time publishes the text of the play, as well as providing reflections on its history, production, and reception. (A long excerpt of another of his plays discussed during the interview, The Mad Jester of the Warsaw Ghetto, can be viewed, at no charge, here.)
 Longtime NMSU Volleyball Head Coach Mike Jordan joined Mike and Brian for a wide-ranging conversation about his 28 years leading the Aggie program. From taking over a team with just five players to building one of the most consistent winners in NMSU athletics, Jordan has guided the Aggies to 27 consecutive winning seasons and 10 NCAA tournament appearances.
In this candid and thoughtful interview, Coach Jordan reflects on early challenges, breakthrough moments, and his outlook for the 2025 season. |
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