In this wide-ranging conversation, host Daniel Chacón speaks with poet Matt Sedillo— called “America’s greatest political poet”—about his poetic mission, international travels, and deep commitment to social justice. Sedillo reflects on the legacy of revolutionary poets like Roque Dalton and Pablo Neruda, and shares his experiences participating in international poetry festivals, including a recent trip to Cuba where he read a poem to Olympic gold medalist Mijaín López. The episode explores Sedil...
Jun 15, 2025•57 min•Season 16Ep. 45
In this episode of Words on a Wire , host Daniel Chacón speaks with UTEP math professor Lawrence Lesser and digital humanities scholar Elisabet Takehana about the surprising connections between poetry, mathematics, and data. What starts as a discussion about a poem on the number π unfolds into a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, meaning, and the human role in interpreting both language and numbers. Together, they explore how algorithms, literature, and mathematics all reflect a deeply ...
Jun 08, 2025•1 hr 38 min•Season 16Ep. 44
In this thought-provoking episode of Words on a Wire , host Daniel Chacón welcomes author and theologian Keith Giles for an engaging conversation about his book The Quantum Sayings of Jesus: Decoding the Lost Gospel of Thomas . Giles shares his spiritual journey from being a Southern Baptist pastor immersed in conservative evangelicalism to becoming what he calls “mystic-curious.” The episode dives deep into the Gospel of Thomas, a non-canonical collection of Jesus’ sayings that Giles argues hol...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr•Season 16Ep. 43
In this episode of Words on a Wire , hosts Daniel Chacón and Tim Z. Hernandez sit down with Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz—award-winning author, respected curandera, and revered herbal educator—whose healing practices are rooted in the traditions of the Sonoran Desert. Known affectionately as the “Kitchen Curandera,” Felicia shares stories from her journey into traditional healing, from her great-grandmother’s teachings in Old Town Albuquerque to her own transformative work with food, dance, and plant me...
May 25, 2025•54 min•Season 16Ep. 42
In this episode of Words on a Wire , host Daniel Chacón welcomes back poet Adela Najarro to discuss her powerful new collection, Variations in Blue , published by Red Hen Press. With warmth, candor, and insight, Najarro reflects on how art, memory, and community shape her work. Najarro also pays tribute to her literary influences, including Pablo Neruda, while critically reimagining their legacies through a feminist lens. This moving dialogue is a testament to the power of poetry to confront sil...
May 18, 2025•42 min•Season 16Ep. 41
In this episode of Words on a Wire , host Daniel Chacón sits down with veteran journalist Robert Moore, founder and CEO of El Paso Matters , a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to high-impact local reporting. Together, they trace Moore’s career from writing obituaries at a small-town paper to leading one of the most respected independent news organizations on the U.S.–Mexico border. Moore shares why he walked away from his role as editor of the El Paso Times , how the 2019 Walmart mass shooting and C...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 44 min•Season 16Ep. 40
In this special episode of Words on a Wire , host Daniel Chacón sits down with four graduating creative writing students from his Senior Seminar at the University of Texas at El Paso: Diego Cerda, Cristina Flores, Sophia Ortega-Carlos, and Jesus Morales. What unfolds is a spirited, funny, and deeply personal roundtable conversation about life, art, and what comes after college.
Apr 28, 2025•30 min•Season 16Ep. 39
In this episode of Words on a Wire , host William Alfred Rose speaks with journalist and author Kyle Paoletta about his new book, American Oasis: Finding the Future in the Cities of the Southwest . Paoletta takes listeners on a journey through the urban heart of the American Southwest—El Paso, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Tucson, and Las Vegas—exploring how these desert cities reflect the challenges and possibilities of a rapidly changing climate and culture. Paoletta, a New Mexico native, shares his p...
Apr 20, 2025•30 min•Season 16Ep. 38
In this special episode of Words on a Wire , host Tim Z. Hernandez brings listeners into a moving panel discussion recorded live at the Tucson Festival of Books. Joined by acclaimed authors Rex Ogle ( Abuela, Don’t Forget Me ) and Melani “Mele” Martinez ( The Molino: A Memoir ), the conversation dives deep into the role of storytelling in shaping identity, healing generational trauma, and reclaiming cultural narratives. Through personal reflections and powerful anecdotes, the panelists explore h...
Apr 20, 2025•21 min•Season 16Ep. 37
In this episode of Words on a Wire , host Daniel Chacón sits down with acclaimed poet, translator, and world traveler Liliana Valenzuela for a rich and reflective conversation recorded just after her return from a silent meditation retreat. Liliana discusses her journey as a “reverse Chicana”—a Mexican-born writer shaped by both Mexican and Chicano cultural traditions—and the ancestral and creative forces that shape her work. From her fascination with Aztec codices to solo travels through West A...
Apr 05, 2025•51 min•Season 16Ep. 36
In this episode of Words on a Wire , host Daniel Chacón talks with debut author Eugenie Montague about her novel Swallow the Ghost , a genre-bending narrative that plays with the conventions of crime fiction, digital life, and storytelling itself. Montague shares how the novel began as a writing experiment that grew into something larger—originating with the character Jane and evolving into a story told in three interconnected parts. Set in New York City, Swallow the Ghost follows characters nav...
Mar 29, 2025•57 min•Season 16Ep. 35
Mikhail Carbajal es un escritor y educador que ha desarrollado una obra que explora la identidad en la frontera norte de México, y su cultura. Desde hace algunos años también está a cargo de un proyecto muy particular que combina literatura y redes sociales en una plataforma que ha trascendido, hablamos de “La gramática del Meme”. Mikhail Carbajal is a writer and educator who has developed a work that explores the identity and culture of Mexico's northern border. For the past few years, he has a...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 16Ep. 34
This week, our host Tim Z. Hernandez shares a live recording of a panel he was recently on at the Tucson Festival of Books, which took place March 15 & 16. The panel was titled "Unexpected Legacy of History," and features a conversation between Jason De Leon, Lee Hawkins, Tim Z. Hernandez, and moderator, Jill Jordan Spitz.
Mar 23, 2025•54 min•Season 16Ep. 33
In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Will Rose speaks with journalist and former El Paso news anchor Stephanie Valle. They talk about Stephanie’s two-decade career at KVIA ABC-7 and her new role at the El Paso District Attorney’s Office. During her career, Stephanie anchored morning and evening newscasts and often reported her own investigative stories. She turned her passion for reporting into the Borderland Crimes Podcast, which received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Nation...
Mar 16, 2025•29 min•Season 16Ep. 32
In this engaging episode of Words on a Wire , host Daniel Chacón sits down with acclaimed poet and author Gume Laurel III to discuss his journey into poetry, the power of storytelling through verse novels, and the inspiration behind his works. From his early resistance to poetry to discovering its rhythm and depth through spoken word, Gume shares how he found his literary voice and carved a space in the young adult fiction landscape. The conversation explores Samson and Domingo, a modern, queer ...
Mar 09, 2025•58 min•Season 16Ep. 31
Mijail Lamas, poeta, traductor y crítico, egresado de nuestra Maestría en Escritura Creativa en El Paso, conversa con nosotros sobre su trayectoria. Nacido en Culiacán, Sinaloa, Lamas ha publicado numerosos poemarios y se ha adentrado en la traducción poética. En esta entrevista, reflexiona sobre su relación con la poesía y la riqueza de su formación en UTEP. Mijail Lamas, a poet, translator, and critic, and graduate of our MFA in Creative Writing program in El Paso, speaks with us about his car...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 16Ep. 30
In this episode of Words on a Wire , host Will Rose sits down with author Luis Jaramillo to discuss his novel The Witches of El Paso . Jaramillo delves into his connection to El Paso, a city that has inspired his storytelling through family history, cultural richness, and a sense of magic woven into everyday life. He shares insights into his writing process, the influence of the region’s bicultural and historical landscape, and how the supernatural elements in his book reflect the blurred border...
Feb 23, 2025•30 min•Season 16Ep. 29
In this episode of Words on a Wire , host Daniel Chacón sits down with investigative journalist and author Lise Olsen to discuss her chilling yet deeply compelling book, The Scientist and the Serial Killer: The Search for Houston’s Lost Boys . The book unearths the harrowing story of the Candyman Killer, Dean Corll, who preyed on teenage boys in 1970s Houston, and the relentless efforts of forensic anthropologist Dr. Sharon Derrick to identify his forgotten victims. Olsen delves into the failure...
Feb 16, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 16Ep. 28
In this episode of The Storykeeper , from Words on a Wire, host Tim Z. Hernandez sits down with author Cristina Herrera to discuss her book Welcome to Oxnard: Race, Place, and Chicana Adolescence in Michelle Serros's Writing . The conversation delves into the legacy of Michelle Serros, an influential writer whose work captured the complexities of growing up in Oxnard, California. They explore themes of belonging, assimilation, and the power of storytelling in shaping cultural narratives. Cristin...
Feb 09, 2025•30 min•Season 16Ep. 27
In this special Words on a Wire episode, hosts Daniel Chacón and Tim Z. Hernandez sat down with painter, writer, professor, and cultural historian Maceo Montoya at a recent public event at the University of Texas at El Paso. With a live audience in attendance, the trio discusses Montoya’s upbringing in a small California town, his dynamic artistic career, and the ever-evolving narratives of the Chicano and Latinx experience. From his rebellious mural-making days at Yale to his reflections on ide...
Feb 02, 2025•1 hr 29 min•Season 16Ep. 26
In this episode of The Story Keeper , from Words on a Wire , host Tim Z. Hernandez welcomes visual artist and educator Lorena Williams. Lorena shares deeply personal stories of her family's history, including the impact of the Mexican Repatriation and the intergenerational effects of migration on identity and belonging. Drawing inspiration from her upbringing in El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Mexico, Lorena's art reflects the narratives of her community and heritage. The conversation touches on her...
Jan 27, 2025•30 min•Season 16Ep. 25
In this episode of The Writer and the Brain , from Words on a Wire, host Daniel Chacón welcomes author Richard Z. Santos to discuss his novel Trust Me and its rich exploration of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Santos reflects on the city’s paradoxical energy, where ancient history meets contemporary wealth, and how this unique environment inspired his storytelling. Together, they delve into the challenges of navigating multiple characters’ perspectives and balancing plot with poetic nuance. The conversat...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 16Ep. 24
In this captivating episode of The Writer and the Brain , a Words on a Wire production, host Daniel Chacón sits down with poet and artist Octavio Quintanilla at the Texas Book Festival to explore his latest poetry collection, The Book of Wounded Sparrows . This deeply personal collection delves into themes of family separation, dislocation, and the transformative power of memory and time. Octavio reflects on his journey as a poet, from his debut collection If I Go Missing to this profoundly inti...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 16Ep. 23
In this episode of Words on a Wire , host Will Rose sits down with Rus Bradburd—former UTEP and NMSU assistant basketball coach turned author—to discuss his debut novel, Big Time (Etruscan Press, 2024). This sharp satire delves into how money and sponsorships are reshaping higher education in America, all through the lens of the fictional Coors State University. Bradburd, who coached Division I basketball for 14 seasons (including eight at UTEP), is no stranger to compelling stories. He’s the au...
Jan 05, 2025•29 min•Season 16Ep. 22
In this episode, host Daniel Chacón sits down with his longtime Words on a Wire co-host, Tim Z. Hernandez, to discuss Tim’s latest book, They Call You Back . Diving into themes of search, memory, and connection, the conversation unravels the deeply personal and poetic journey behind Hernandez’s work. This episode delves into the liminal spaces between the living and the dead, storytelling as a portal, and the profound power of objects and places that hold memory. Whether you’re a writer, mystic,...
Dec 31, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 16Ep. 21
In this episode of Words on a Wire, longtime host Tim Z. Hernandez introduces "The Storykeeper," an exciting new segment on Words on a Wire. Drawing from his extensive experience from his years of gathering stories, Hernandez explains how The Storykeeper will bring powerful, transformative narratives to listeners. He offers a preview of upcoming episodes, including an interview with a family affected by the Mexican Repatriation Act of the 1930s. The segment emerges from Hernandez's belief that s...
Dec 15, 2024•23 min•Season 16Ep. 20
In this engaging conversation, Host Daniel Chacón speaks with California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick. They discuss his latest work "In Praise of Late Wonder: New and Selected Poems," a collection that marks a profound exploration of his identity as a Korean adoptee. While Herrick has long been known as an adopted poet, this book represents his deepest dive yet into themes of adoption, identity, and belonging, featuring intimate pieces about his birth family search and letters to his birth parents....
Dec 12, 2024•51 min•Season 16Ep. 19
In this episode of Words on a Wire , host Will Rose sits down with Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker staff writer and author of the New York Times Top 10 Book of 2024, Everyone Who Was Gone Is Here . Blitzer delves into the intricate and often overlooked ties between U.S. foreign policy in Central America and the modern immigration crises at the southern border. Drawing on years of immersive reporting and personal interviews, Blitzer highlights the human stories behind the headlines, including the tr...
Dec 08, 2024•30 min•Season 16Ep. 18
In this episode of Words on a Wire, host Tim Z. Hernandez speaks with poet Yaccaira Salvatierra. Yaccaira’s poems have appeared in POETRY Magazine, The Nation, Prairie Schooner , and Rattle among others. Her collection, Sons of Salt , was published with BOA Editions September 2024. She has been an organizer for the San Francisco International Flor y Canto Literary Festival and is currently translating Estancias de Emilia Tangoa , a poetry collection by Peruvian poet Ana Varela Tafur. Some of her...
Nov 26, 2024•30 min•Season 16Ep. 17
Host Daniel Chacón talks with mystery writer Teresa Dovalpage about her thirteenth novel, Last Seen in Havana (Soho Press, 2014).
Nov 20, 2024•51 min•Season 16Ep. 16
