The Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) is a beloved institution that for nearly four decades has brought creators and enthusiasts together to celebrate art forms of all kinds.

Founded as a grassroots organization in 1979, CCA has evolved into a welcoming meeting place in Santa Fe for everyone to experience some of the best in cinema, chamber music, poetry, immersive theater and more.

On the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by the CCA’s Jaime Herrell, board chair, and Matthew Cannella, cinema director, to reflect on the mission of the nonprofit and on the impact it has in the community.

Throughout the episode, Herrell and Canella outline what their roles consist of at CCA, from selecting films for screening to connecting with local artists to showcase their work and talents. The two also discuss the CCA’s efforts to expand programs and events, which unfortunately comes with a price tag.

An inaugural Fine Art Flea sale on June 14 is one way they hope to raise the funds. Herrell explains how you can support their cause.

For more information, visit ccasantafe.org

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The Zia Singers return this week for a concert in Santa Fe honoring the legacy of women who have shaped American politics across administrations, movements and branches of government.

John Tiranno, artistic director of The Zia Singers, said the concert is titled “She the People” and will be a 12-movement choral song cycle that features the writings and perspectives of 16 influential women from both political parties. He said the concert isn't focused on partisanship but will showcase a greater message of hope, unity and togetherness.

Featured figures include Abigail Adams, Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice and Sandra Day O’Connor.

On the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different,” Tiranno joins host Inez Russell Gomez to discuss what people can expect from the performance, why the all-female chorus chose to focus on political women for this concert and what lies ahead for The Zia Singers as they head into their seasonal break.

“She the People” will be performed May 30–31 at Christ Church in Santa Fe.

Visit theziasingers.org for tickets.

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A new edition of Bienvenidos magazine is now available, and this year’s theme pays homage to Route 66, the beloved highway that has connected travelers and towns near and far for a century.

To discuss the magazine’s release, Ashley M. Biggers, magazines editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican, joins host Inez Russell Gomez on the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different.”

Biggers shares her editorial process of putting the new edition together and talks about the people and places featured along the historic route in New Mexico. Among the subjects profiled are Miss New Mexico USA Dominique Ehrl, Meow Wolf and Santa Fe’s Margarita Trail.

In the episode, Biggers also previews what readers can expect in Legacy and International Folk Art Market magazines ahead of their summertime release. The magazines serve as guides to Santa Fe's Native and Spanish arts scene that is put on full display during the International Folk Art Market and SWAIA’s Indian Market.

To read Bienvenidos and all Santa Fe New Mexican magazines, visit enewmexican.com

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There’s a lot to love during this year’s Santa Fe International Literary Festival which takes place May 15-17 at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.

Authors from around the country and of diverse literary backgrounds will descend on the City Different to engage in conversations around their beloved works. They will also participate in literary day trips for festivalgoers to experience some of Northern New Mexico’s scenic places.

To preview the 2026 festival, organizers Megan Mulry and Susan Burks join host Inez Russell Gomez on the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different.”

In the episode, Mulry and Burks discuss the lineup of events both leading up to and on the official days, who will be headlining and the work it takes to plan and execute a large-scale event that has proven success since its inception. Mulry and Burks also talk about some of the new festival features that will make peoples’ experience safe and enjoyable.

Isabel Wilkerson, Rebecca Solnit, Ocean Vuong and Judy Blume are among this year’s festival talent. Visit sfinternationallitfest.org for more information.

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Santa Fe is a place of rich cultural traditions that are honored each year because of people who care deeply about the city’s history and preservation. One group that is part of that mission is La Sociedad Folklórica, a nonprofit organization that has been around for 90 years.

First started in 1935 by Cleofas Jaramillo, the organization was originally a small meet up for other women to showcase their historic fashions with relationship building and putting on shows. It has since evolved into a women’s group that provides opportunities for the community to experience traditional folklore through its dances, language, recipe books and more.

On the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by La Sociedad Folklórica’s past president and current member Gloria Kahn. Kahn discusses the group's efforts to preserve Spanish Colonia-era traditions in Santa Fe, the challenges of attracting younger members and shares about its upcoming Baile de Cascarones event happening Saturday, May 9, at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.

In the episode, Kahn also talks about some of the Northern New Mexico recipes and sayings that have been published by La Sociedad Folklórica and how they still draw interest from today’s generations.

Editor’s note: This episode of “Conversations Different” happened to be Ms. Kahn’s first time ever on a podcast — and she’s in her 90s! We commend her for the enthusiasm and willingness to talk about one of her life passions.

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The feeling of impending doom is an emotion that many Americans have felt since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Not knowing what’s next for the country as this administration carries out a high velocity of policy changes in such a short period of time has left some people’s spirits very low. The worries come as prospects of Democrats retaking Congressional power surge, but is that enough to reassure people?

As best-selling author and progressive activist Rebecca Solnit puts it in the title of her new book — the beginning comes after the end.

Solnit, who will be appearing at this year’s Santa Fe International Literary Festival, joins the latest “Conversations Different” podcast episode to discuss with host Inez Russell Gomez her newly released book The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change.

According to the book’s summary, Solnit writes about the political and social movements over the last few decades to share how people have responded to change and how the common takeaway from those movements has been to create a new world that embraces community, culture and diversity. It’s advice Solnit says is extremely relevant in today’s political times.

In the episode, Solnit also talks about the state of our current politics, explains how her essay inspired the term “mansplaining” and what her message for this year’s literary festival — May 15-17 — will be.

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Political conflict between the United States and Venezuela has been an issue for quite some time but within the past year, tensions have been especially high.

What started off as U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean that were alleged to be transporting drugs transpired into a military operation months later to capture and jail Venezuelan President Nicholás Maduro on narcoterrorism charges. The capture of Maduro came as a surprise to many, especially for retired foreign diplomat Brian Naranjo.

Naranjo, who served in the U.S. Department of State and at embassies in Venezuela, Canada and Mexico, said he was “utterly horrified” to see Maduro’s capture on the news and warned Maduro’s succesor may usher in his same radical agenda.

On the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by Naranjo to discuss his views on the U.S.-Venezuela conflicts ahead of his talk at the World Affairs Forum in Santa Fe that runs April 30–May 1. He shares what the conflicts have meant to him as a former official who has experience dealing with these types of relations.

In the episode, Naranjo also talks about his ties to Northern New Mexico and how his grandfather Emilio Naranjo, known as one of the last political patrónes, inspired him to pursue a life of public service.

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On the latest podcast episode of “Conversations Different,” host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by New Mexico Public Education Secretary Mariana Padilla.

Secretary Padilla joins the podcast to discuss the state’s free summer reading program and how it has correlated to literacy improvements among children — a problem area New Mexico has struggled with for years. Padilla says the initiative is part of a larger goal, championed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, to get kids reading at a proficient level at an early age, so they are set up for future academic success. And this year, free math tutoring is in the works for students as well.

In the episode, Padilla also shares how parents can best support their kids at home and why keeping them engaged during summer months matters when back-to-school time rolls around in the fall.

To learn more or register for the free summer reading program, visit literacy.nm.gov

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