The Last Word: Conversations with Writers
by Carly Newfeld
Are you an aspiring author, do you hope to write your memoir one day? Do you have a story bursting to be told? Or do you just simply love to curl up with a good book, a beloved volume of poetry, or a thrilling page turner? What do writers think? What do writers really do? Find out – listen to THE LAST WORD: Conversations with Writers every Thursday at 5:30 pm with host, Carly Newfeld.Carly is the 2022 recipient of the “Book In Hand Award" from the New Mexico Book Association for her work on The Last Word.
Episodes
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John Brandi
Mining for diamonds just became far more accessible and environmentally clean with the presence of one of New Mexico’s most gifted, lifelong poets and artists, John Brandi, in the studio. His 27th collection, The Diamond Other: Mountain Poems, celebrates decades of John’s observations of the raw...
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Priyanka Kumar
You may feel deeply nourished and relaxed after listening to renowned naturalist, Priyanka Kumar, discuss her newest book, The Grassland Queen: An Avian Love Story in The American Plains. If you can’t easily reach wetlands, a shoreline or our magnificent vast prairies, simply sit peacefully with...
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Aziz Abu Sarah and Tomorrow’s Women
A rare opportunity to hear Palestinian peace activist and author Aziz Abu Sarah who co-authored "The Future is Peace" with his Israeli “brother of the heart,” Maoz Inon after both men lost family in the horrific conflicts. How did they turn their respective grief and rage into close friendship…
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Stan Biderman
A brilliant, focused conversation with retired Texas lawyer and “serial creative,” Stan Biderman who, as the son of Holocaust survivors, confronts fundamentalism head on yet surprisingly through humor in his book, The Secularist’s Bible And Other Astonishing Absurdities. Meet Stan at Collected...
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Rebecca Lee Kunz and Jen Loren
Two Cherokee Nation sisters join me today to honor their Great-Great Aunt, poet and Native American Rights activist Ruth Muskrat. Together they have written and illustrated a gorgeous book, Ruth Muskrat and The So-Called Indian Problem. Jen Loren’s gifted storytelling and Rebecca Lee Kunz’ superb...
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Dr. Thomas E. Chavez
An honor today to talk with renowned historian, Dr. Thomas E. Chavez. Former long-time Director of The Palace of The Governors and The National Hispanic Cultural Center, Dr. Chavez discusses his 14th book, A Soliloquy of Some Disconnected Tales. The slim, pocket-size “Soliloquy” reveals intimate...
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Barbara Rockman
A return visit by beloved award-winning Santa Fe poet and long-time teacher of poetry, Barbara Rockman. Here with her most personal and pertinent collection yet, “Night said,” she explores the yearning to know her roots and ancestral wisdom. Together, we recognize how the uncertainties and...
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Anna Sochocky
Now in its thirty-third year, New Mexico Book Association supports and brings together, “Dedicated people whose lives and livelihoods involve producing books and providing them to the public.” If you’re an avid reader that means you! If you’re a published author or simply enjoy writing with a…
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Demetria Martinez & Zach Hively
Poet and lifelong activist Demetria Martinez and author, publisher and good-natured humorist Zach Hively return to the KSFR studio for a big celebration. On Saturday, August 15, the wonderful anthology, A Year of New Mexico Poetry launches with 190 local poets side-by-side between its covers:...
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Emily Hyland
In today's episode Emily Hyland takes us on an intimate, poignant journey through poetry and prose in her new book, My Wise Little Ghost. Created as a dialog between herself and her unborn baby girl, Daisy. We experience loss and grief and one of the hardest choices Emily, and women around the...
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Deborah Santana
An inspiring interview with author, filmmaker, philanthropist and advocate for women’s empowerment, Deborah Santana. Her memoir, Loving The Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom details the challenging path she took to find her soul’s purpose and true identity during her 34-year marriage and...
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Gary Paul Nabhan
Celebrated ethnobotanist, biodiversity pioneer and MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellow, Gary Paul Nabhan joins me today with his life’s work of epic tales, Water in The Desert: A Pilgrimage. Seemingly born with an understanding of interspecies belonging, his youthful adventures and observations…
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Christopher Murphy
Do you experience synchronicities, take a last-minute chance or change your mind for the better (or worse)? Then Christopher Murphy’s memoir, Close Calling: An Unplanned Life is a book you will relish and nod along with. Funny, true and a bit naughty, filled with his life of adventurous...
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Elaine Pinkerton Coleman
Today, we celebrate the 40th Anniversary edition of Santa Fe on Foot: Walking America’s Favorite City with locally-beloved author, Elaine Pinkerton Coleman. Now in its brand new fifth edition, Santa Fe on Foot has been diligently updated to include newer neighborhoods and near-town trails. The...
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Arthur Sze and Kareem James Abu-Zeid
An honor to be with the twenty-fifth Poet Laureate of the United States, Arthur Sze, to discuss his extraordinary signature project as Poet Laureate, Transient Worlds: On Translating Poetry. A beautiful and concise volume that celebrates the language of poetry from ancient to modern times around...
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Deb Haaland
An insightful and very relatable conversation with thirty-fifth generation New Mexican, Deb Haaland, discussing her memoir, “A Voice Like Mine.” Before she led the State Democratic Party to victory, served in the US House of Representatives and was appointed by Joe Biden to Secretary of Interior,...
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Jane Buyers
Twenty-five years ago, Jane Buyers held a critical banking position with J.P. Morgan Chase in Lower Manhattan and witnessed the horrific attacks on the World Trade Center. Her intimate and gripping memoir, Eight Septembers: A Woman on Wall Street from 9/11 to Lehman, chronicles not only that…
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don Miguel Ruiz Jr.
Is there really a difference between actual physical fear and everyday irrational fears? Our body may not recognize any difference and prepares to defend itself in the same ways. So surmises Toltec Nagual, don Miguel Ruiz Jr. in his new book The Poisoned Arrow: A Toltec Guide to Overcoming Fear…
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Stacia Raymond
A gorgeous show today exploring the life and music of the brilliant Henry Mancini. Santa Fe author Stacia Raymond takes us on a journey with The Pink Panther, Peter Gunn and gracefully along Moon River in her delicious biography, Grace Notes, a novel based on the life of Henry Mancini. Known as...
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Andrew Guthrie Ferguson
Pay close attention listeners because Your Data Will Be Used Against You. That’s the alarming title of George Washington University Law School Professor Andrew Guthrie Ferguson’s extremely timely new book. With the subtitle, Policing in The Age of Self-Surveillance, we explore the growing dangers...
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Hafeez Lakhani
Make sure you have some tasty food to look forward to when you listen to today’s interview with noted author Hafeez Lakhani. His new novel, Abundance, is in many ways an honoring of all the hard-working immigrant families who form the backbone of our cities and towns and contribute to our rich...
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Donald Levering
Fascinating conversation with multi-award-winning poet Donald Levering ahead of the multi-media production of Man-Moth & The Gospel of Possibility. Collaborating with artist Barbara Mehlman, musicians Gary Barton and Joe West, Donald Levering and a creative team plan to intrigue, astonish and...
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Wayne Lee
Honoring National Poetry Month beginning with Santa Fe's own Wayne Lee making a return appearance to the KSFR studios. Wayne has been writing his entire adult life and includes a piece from 1972 in his evocative new collection, Beautiful Foolishness. Listen deeply as his voice resonates…
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Jack Ratliff
Hold on tight listeners because today I'm joined by Jack Ratliff with his debut memoir Riding The White Bull: The Making of A Navy SEAL. What kind of bravado possessed a young man to take on several of the most dangerous occupations in the world from riding the rodeo circuit, battling wildfires…
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Carol Calvert
As spring approaches, an intriguing and light-hearted conversation with singer, harpist, composer and author Carol Calvert. As an ordained Bishop in the Independent Catholic Church, a scholar of ancient Celtic spirituality and a member of The Order of Ovates, Bards and Druids, we explore this…
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Annie Bloom
In the midst of today’s terror and turmoil these 23 minutes with Annie Bloom may help you breathe a little easier as you drop deeply into stillness. Annie, who has been a wilderness guide for 35 years, tells some of her stories in Buffalo Dreamer: A Lifetime of Wilderness Vigils. How do we face…
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Terry Tempest Williams
“Stronger than hope,” is one way that the incisive and yet gentle writing of NYT best-selling author Terry Tempest Williams has been described. So I am honored to interview Terry to drop deeper with her into the natural world discussing The Glorians: Visitations from the Holy Ordinary. Her...
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Shelley Noble
Celebrating the beginning of Women’s History Month with bestselling historical novelist Shelley Noble. Her newest book, The Sisters of Book Row, honors the courageous women of Manhattan’s famous Book Row in the early 20th Century. Margaret Sanger was founding Planned Parenthood and many women she...
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Lauren Camp
An ever-deepening conversation with New Mexico Poet Laureate Emeritus Lauren Camp who brings her beautifully resonant poetry to the studio. Her new collection, Is Is Enough, honors her dear father’s life as he gentles into the memory loss of Alzheimer’s Disease while also celebrating his…
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Elaine Pinkerton
A heart-opening interview with much loved Santa Fe author Elaine Pinkerton celebrating the re-publishing of From Calcutta with Love: The World War II Letters of Richard and Reva Beard. Twenty-five years ago, Elaine rescued hundreds of her parents’ love letters as they were about to be thrown out...
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Christopher C. Gorham
A disturbingly timely 23 minutes with acclaimed author Christopher C. Gorham on his vivid new biography, Matisse at War: Art and Resistance in Nazi-Occupied France. Why timely, you ask, listen to Christopher’s insights during this far-ranging interview that compare the harrowing time in Europe…
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Anne Hillerman & Anna Sochocky
A wonderful interview with bestselling mystery author Anne Hillerman prior to receiving another award, this time the Richard Harris Award on behalf of her father, legendary author Tony Hillerman. Listen for an especially personal moment when Anne answers the question about whether her Dad knew…
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Richard Brady
A deep, intimate and gentle dive into the journey of a mathematician, loved educator and writer into the Buddhist teachings of mindfulness. Richard Brady joins me with his new book, Short Journey Home: Awakening to Freedom with Thich Nhat Hanh. Richard’s immersion in Judaism, Buddhism and the...
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Molly O’Sullivan
What makes a fantasy writer tick, how does imagination soar and land on the pages of a real, live book? Molly O’Sullivan joins me with her debut novel The Book of Autumn hidden away among the red mesas of northern New Mexico at a mysterious college of magic and witchcraft. Somewhere near Taos she...
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John Biscello
Fascinating insights into the “storied and wild mind” of author, playwright, poet and performer John Biscello with his latest book The Last Furies. Our far-ranging conversation takes us from his home in the “grunge-wonderland” of Taos to lands of fables and myths and even deeper into lucid...
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Renata Golden
From her Irish roots to living remotely in Arizona’s Chiricahua Mountains to perceiving the beauty in New Mexico’s Land of Enchantment, Renata Golden’s essays bring us home to what really matters in each of our lives. Her exquisite collection, Mountain Time: A Field Guide to Astonishment deserves…
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Priyanka Kumar
A true joy to be joined in the studio today by internationally acclaimed naturalist, filmmaker and contributor to numerous respected journals and news media, Priyanka Kumar. Today, she brings her treasured and beautiful volume, Conversations with Birds described by Publishers Weekly as, “A...
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Julia Cameron and Joel Fotinos
For more than 30 years, Julia Cameron has inspired boundless creativity among artists, writers, musicians, filmmakers and especially those who didn’t believe they had a creative bone in their bodies. Today, she joins me with her long-time friend, publisher and minister, Joel Fotinos, with her…
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David Abbey
David Abbey was the Director of the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee for 26 years until his recent retirement. Today, I welcome him to the KSFR studios with his memoir Forty Years in The New Mexico Roundhouse. Respectfully called “the budget genius,” David Abbey served during the...
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Erica Elliott
A joy to be joined today by Erica Elliott, MD, with the third part of her memoir, From Doctor to Healer: The Mountain Lion’s Gift. Fifty years after a Navajo elder’s prophecy that, “…if she survived life-threatening obstacles” she would have “powerful medicine to bring to the people” Dr. Elliott...
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Elyn Aviva
Yes! It’s the annual Halloween week show and this year we go further back than ever in our adventure into the paranormal. Yet, is it paranormal or could mediumship actually be normal? Cultural Anthropologist Elyn Aviva, who has a Masters degree in Divinity, joins me with her new book The…
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Joyce Salisbury
A lovely, relaxing show today along the verdant Acequias of Albuquerque with noted medieval historian, Great Courses professor and author Joyce Salisbury whose work weaves history and geography wherever she travels. Her beautiful book, Acequias of Albuquerque: Walking Ancient Waterways is...
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Peter Beinart
I’m joined today by contributor to The New York Times and editor-at-large of Jewish Currents, Peter Beinart, Professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York to discuss his provocative new book, Being Jewish After The Destruction of Gaza. Joining me in the studio is...
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Mark Small
A delight to chat with composer, guitarist, and music journalist Mark Small about his biography of Lee Berk, the former president of Berklee College of Music where Mark was on staff for many years. Lee Berk: Leading the Berklee Way covers the life and vision of Lee and his father Lawrence and why...
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Priyanka Kumar
Nationally-acclaimed naturalist, Priyanka Kumar, praised for her luminous book Conversations with Birds and often compared to Rachel Carson, joins me with her new book, The Light Between Apple Trees: Rediscovering The Wild Through A Beloved American Fruit. A delicious book to savor from an author...
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Nathan Brown
A musical treat today with author, singer, songwriter and 2014 Oklahoma Poet Laureate emeritus Nathan Brown. With 30 volumes of poetry and prose to his name and uncountable songs, Nathan delights, informs and inspires audiences wherever he goes. Lucky for us, he has recently relocated to Santa Fe...
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Karen Chase and Matthew Chase-Daniel
Mother and son, Karen Chase and Matthew Chase-Daniel intrigue the airwaves with me to discuss art, writing, poetry, imagination and historical “facts.” Karen Chase comes to town to read her “re-imagined” story, Two Tales: Jamali Kamali and ZundelState, the first tale set in 16th Century India...
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Demetria Martinez and Susan Sherman
New Mexico poet and activist Demetria Martinez in dialogue with playwright, poet and co-founder of IKON magazine Susan Sherman, light up today’s episode with powerful insights and sensitivity. Their collaboration, Poetry in Dangerous Times, gives a voice to those who have been silenced and a...
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Carlyn Montes de Oca
Animal lovers stop scrolling now and click the Listen button. Here’s another informative, and this time poignant, interview with nationally-respected animal advocate Carlyn Montes de Oca following the passing of her beloved dog, Grace. Award-winning author of Junkyard Girl and Dog As My Doctor…
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Deborah Taffa and Anna Sochocky
A special episode honoring New Mexico Book Association‘s superb work on behalf of our local writers, book designers and small publishing houses. NMBA’s President, Anna Sochocky joins me with National Endowment for The Arts recipient Deborah Taffa who will be the keynote speaker at NMBA’s Annual...
About this show
Are you an aspiring author, do you hope to write your memoir one day? Do you have a story bursting to be told? Or do you just simply love to curl up with a good book, a beloved volume of poetry, or a thrilling page turner? What do writers think? What do writers really do? Find out – listen to THE LAST WORD: Conversations with Writers every Thursday at 5:30 pm with host, Carly Newfeld.Carly is the 2022 recipient of the “Book In Hand Award" from the New Mexico Book Association for her work on The Last Word.
Hosted by
Carly Newfeld