Labor Day weekend 2024 kicks off Friday night with a major milestone for one of Santa Fe's biggest and most beloved annual events. The buildup for the 100th burning of Zozobra has been years in the making. Ray Sandoval, the event chair for the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, joins "Conversations Different" along with 9-year-old volunteer David Kesler to preview the big event. Sandoval talks about his early beginnings with the event and the promise he made as a teenager to Harold Gans, the longtime voice of Zozobra, to get Zozobra to its 100th burning. Sandoval shares some of the history of the event, talks about how it has grown and evolved over the years to keep the public's interest, offers an overview of the security that's needed to put on such a large-scale event, goes over some misconceptions about Zozobra, and teases what Old Man Gloom will look like this year.

To learn more about Zozobra and find ticket information, visit burnzozobra.com.

Labor Day weekend 2024 kicks off Friday night with a major milestone for one of Santa Fe's biggest and most beloved annual events. The buildup for the 100th burning of Zozobra has been years in the making. Ray Sandoval, the event chair for the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe, joins "Conversations Different" along with 9-year-old volunteer David Kesler to preview the big event. Sandoval talks about his early beginnings with the event and the promise he made as a teenager to Harold Gans, the longtime voice of Zozobra, to get Zozobra to its 100th burning. Sandoval shares some of the history of the event, talks about how it has grown and evolved over the years to keep the public's interest, offers an overview of the security that's needed to put on such a large-scale event, goes over some misconceptions about Zozobra, and teases what Old Man Gloom will look like this year.
To learn more about Zozobra and find ticket information, visit burnzozobra.com.

Conversations Different is presented by the Santa Fe New Mexican and features host Inez Russell Gomez in provocative talks with local and regional personalities shaping the landscape of Northern New Mexico.

Inez Russell Gomez is Opinion Page Editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican with decades of experience writing and editing the news in America's oldest capital city.

Conversations Different is presented by the Santa Fe New Mexican and features host Inez Russell Gomez in provocative talks with local and regional personalities shaping the landscape of Northern New Mexico.
Inez Russell Gomez is Opinion Page Editor at the Santa Fe New Mexican with decades of experience writing and editing the news in America's oldest capital city.

Conversations Different with Inez Russell Gomez

The 100th burning of Zozobra: A Santa Fe spectacle keeps evolving

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

A new edition of&nbsp;Bienvenidos&nbsp;magazine&nbsp;is now&nbsp;available,&nbsp;and this year&rsquo;s theme&nbsp;pays homage to&nbsp;Route 66,&nbsp;the&nbsp;beloved&nbsp;highway that&nbsp;has&nbsp;connected&nbsp;travelers&nbsp;and&nbsp;towns&nbsp;near and far&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;century.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To discuss the magazine&rsquo;s&nbsp;release, Ashley M. Biggers,&nbsp;magazines&nbsp;editor at the&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican, joins&nbsp;host Inez Russell Gomez on&nbsp;the latest podcast episode of &ldquo;Conversations Different.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Biggers&nbsp;shares&nbsp;her&nbsp;editorial process of&nbsp;putting the&nbsp;new edition&nbsp;together and&nbsp;talks about&nbsp;the people and places featured&nbsp;along the historic route&nbsp;in New Mexico.&nbsp;Among the subjects profiled are&nbsp;Miss New Mexico USA Dominique Ehrl,&nbsp;Meow&nbsp;Wolf&nbsp;and&nbsp;Santa Fe&rsquo;s Margarita Trail.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the episode, Biggers&nbsp;also&nbsp;previews&nbsp;what&nbsp;readers&nbsp;can expect&nbsp;in&nbsp;Legacy&nbsp;and&nbsp;International&nbsp;Folk Art Market&nbsp;magazines&nbsp;ahead of&nbsp;their summertime&nbsp;release.&nbsp;The&nbsp;magazines&nbsp;serve as guides to&nbsp;Santa Fe's&nbsp;Native and Spanish arts&nbsp;scene that is put on full display during&nbsp;the International Folk Art Market and SWAIA&rsquo;s Indian Market.&nbsp;&nbsp;
To read&nbsp;Bienvenidos&nbsp;and&nbsp;all&nbsp;Santa Fe New Mexican&nbsp;magazines, visit <a href="https://enewmexican.com/">enewmexican.com</a>

New ‘Bienvenidos’ magazine cruises Route 66, featuring people and places along the historic highway 

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.

There&rsquo;s&nbsp;a lot to love&nbsp;during&nbsp;this year&rsquo;s Santa Fe International Literary Festival which takes place May&nbsp;15-17&nbsp;at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Authors&nbsp;from around the country and of diverse&nbsp;literary&nbsp;backgrounds&nbsp;will descend on the City Different&nbsp;to&nbsp;engage in&nbsp;conversations&nbsp;around their beloved&nbsp;works. They will also&nbsp;participate&nbsp;in literary&nbsp;day trips&nbsp;for festivalgoers to experience&nbsp;some of&nbsp;Northern New Mexico&rsquo;s scenic&nbsp;places.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
To preview the 2026&nbsp;festival,&nbsp;organizers Megan Mulry&nbsp;and Susan Burks join&nbsp;host Inez Russell Gomez on&nbsp;the latest podcast&nbsp;episode&nbsp;of &ldquo;Conversations&nbsp;Different.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;
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&rsquo; experience safe and enjoyable.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Isabel Wilkerson,&nbsp;Rebecca Solnit,&nbsp;Ocean&nbsp;Vuong&nbsp;and&nbsp;Judy Blume&nbsp;are among this&nbsp;year&rsquo;s festival&nbsp;talent.&nbsp;Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sfinternationallitfest.org/">sfinternationallitfest.org</a>&nbsp;for more information.

A preview of the 2026 Santa Fe International Literary Festival with the event’s organizers 

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.

Santa Fe is a place of rich cultural traditions that are honored each year because of people who care deeply about the city&rsquo;s history and preservation. One group that is part of that mission is La Sociedad Folkl&oacute;rica, a nonprofit organization that has been around for 90 years.&nbsp;&nbsp;
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&rsquo;s group that provides opportunities for the community to experience traditional folklore through its dances, language, recipe books and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;
On&nbsp;the latest podcast&nbsp;episode of &ldquo;Conversations Different,&rdquo; host Inez Russell Gomez is joined by&nbsp;La Sociedad&nbsp;Folkl&oacute;rica&rsquo;s&nbsp;past president and current member Gloria Kahn. Kahn&nbsp;discusses&nbsp;the group's efforts to preserve Spanish Colonia-era&nbsp;traditions in&nbsp;Santa Fe,&nbsp;the challenges of attracting younger members&nbsp;and shares about&nbsp;its&nbsp;upcoming&nbsp;Baile de Cascarones event happening&nbsp;Saturday,&nbsp;May 9,&nbsp;at the Santa Fe&nbsp;Community&nbsp;Convention Center.&nbsp;&nbsp;
In the episode, Kahn also talks about some of the Northern New Mexico recipes and sayings that have been published by La Sociedad Folkl&oacute;rica and how they still draw interest from today&rsquo;s generations.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Editor&rsquo;s note: This episode of&nbsp;&ldquo;Conversations Different&rdquo;&nbsp;happened to be&nbsp;Ms. Kahn&rsquo;s&nbsp;first&nbsp;time&nbsp;ever on a podcast&nbsp;&mdash; and&nbsp;she&rsquo;s&nbsp;in her 90s!&nbsp;We commend her for&nbsp;the&nbsp;enthusiasm and&nbsp;willingness to&nbsp;talk&nbsp;about one of her life&nbsp;passions.

The 100th burning of Zozobra: A Santa Fe spectacle keeps evolving

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