Join Voices of Taos producer Laura Martin Baseman as she talks with Luis Reyes, CEO of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. A native Taoseño, Luis shares how he became CEO of KEC, why Taos has an energy coop, and the new projects KEC is investing in, including the Amalia solar array. He also talks about new sustainable energy technology, like hydrogen, and why it's a good opportunity for the Enchanted Circle. 

Join Voices of Taos producer Laura Martin Baseman as she talks with Luis Reyes, CEO of Kit Carson Electric Cooperative. A native Taoseño, Luis shares how he became CEO of KEC, why Taos has an energy coop, and the new projects KEC is investing in, including the Amalia solar array. He also talks about new sustainable energy technology, like hydrogen, and why it's a good opportunity for the Enchanted Circle.

Join us for a new podcast from award winning weekly newspaper, The Taos News. Every week on Saturday we'll release a new episode featuring a voice from our Taos community. We'll cover the arts, current events, and sports on different episodes hosted by our talented reporting staff.

Join us for a new podcast from award winning weekly newspaper, The Taos News. Every week on Saturday we'll release a new episode featuring a voice from our Taos community. We'll cover the arts, current events, and sports on different episodes hosted by our talented reporting staff.

Voices of Taos

Want to know what's happening in Taos? Tune into the new podcast from award winning weekly newspaper, The Taos News! Voices of Taos will inspire you with the voices of our Taos community.

Want to know what's happening in Taos? Tune into the new podcast from award winning weekly newspaper, The Taos News! Voices of Taos will inspire you with the voices of our Taos community.

Luis Reyes on the importance of Taos grown leaders, Kit Carson Electric's new solar array in Amalia, and the future of hydrogen energy.

This episode is brought to you by the NCRTD Blue Bus.

This month on “Voices of Taos,” assistant editor Ellen Miller-Goins sits down with Rachel Leon, founder of Communities of Questa Mariachi, a non profit that offers accessible music education and cultural enrichment for youth in Northern New Mexico.

Rachel started Communities of Questa Mariachi in 2025 after retiring from teaching. Thanks in part to a grant from the LOR Foundation, the group welcomes students ages 10 and up free of charge. She started the group to help preserve the tradition of mariachi music in Northern New Mexico and to provide music lessons to students who may not be able to afford private classes.

Miller-Goins and Leon talk about Rachel’s experience growing up around mariachi music, the challenges involved in running a non-profit organization, and what inspires her to keep teaching music. They also talk about how the program helps foster confidence and pride for the students involved, and how the group has been welcomed by Questa locals.

To get involved, call 575-779-0565 or find the group on Facebook.

Subscribe to the Taos News

This episode is brought to you by the <a href="https://www.ncrtd.org/">NCRTD Blue Bus</a>.
This month on &ldquo;Voices of Taos,&rdquo; assistant editor Ellen Miller-Goins sits down with Rachel Leon, founder of Communities of Questa Mariachi, a non profit that offers accessible music education and cultural enrichment for youth in Northern New Mexico.
Rachel started Communities of Questa Mariachi in 2025 after retiring from teaching. Thanks in part to a grant from the LOR Foundation, the group welcomes students ages 10 and up free of charge. She started the group to help preserve the tradition of mariachi music in Northern New Mexico and to provide music lessons to students who may not be able to afford private classes.
Miller-Goins and Leon talk about Rachel&rsquo;s experience growing up around mariachi music, the challenges involved in running a non-profit organization, and what inspires her to keep teaching music. They also talk about how the program helps foster confidence and pride for the students involved, and how the group has been welcomed by Questa locals.
To get involved, call 575-779-0565 or <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/24530382523270337/">find the group on Facebook</a>.
<a href="https://www.taosnews.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to the Taos News</a>

Rachel Leon on Communities of Questa Mariachi

This episode is brought to you by the NCRTD Blue Bus.

This episode marks the beginning of our new, monthly release schedule. The next episode of Voices of Taos will be released on May 5, 2026.

This week on “Voices of Taos,” reporter Olivia Lewis sits down for a conversation with Ted Wiard, licensed therapist, certified grief counselor, and  founder and director of Golden Willow Retreat in Arroyo Hondo. He was also the Taos News Citizen of the Year in 2020.

Ted retired on April 1,  25 years after opening Golden Willow retreat with his wife, Marcella, and says that it’s time to open things up for change — both for him and for the nonprofit. He plans on travelling, and is working with Genevieve Oswald on a second book about “emotional sobriety” and how balancing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of life can help us make better decisions and be better people.

Lewis and Wiard discuss the importance of recognizing loss as a natural part of life that teaches us about transition and growth. Golden Willow Retreat aims to provide a space for healthy grieving and healing for anyone experiencing a loss. 

Learn more about Red Willow Retreat

Subscribe to the Taos News

This episode is brought to you by the <a href="https://www.ncrtd.org/">NCRTD Blue Bus</a>.
This episode marks the beginning of our new, monthly release schedule. The next episode of Voices of Taos will be released on May 5, 2026.
This week on &ldquo;Voices of Taos,&rdquo; reporter Olivia Lewis sits down for a conversation with Ted Wiard, licensed therapist, certified grief counselor, and &nbsp;founder and director of Golden Willow Retreat in Arroyo Hondo. He was also the Taos News Citizen of the Year in 2020.
Ted retired on April 1, &nbsp;25 years after opening Golden Willow retreat with his wife, Marcella, and says that it&rsquo;s time to open things up for change &mdash; both for him and for the nonprofit. He plans on travelling, and is working with Genevieve Oswald on a second book about &ldquo;emotional sobriety&rdquo; and how balancing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual parts of life can help us make better decisions and be better people.
Lewis and Wiard discuss the importance of recognizing loss as a natural part of life that teaches us about transition and growth. Golden Willow Retreat aims to provide a space for healthy grieving and healing for anyone experiencing a loss.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.goldenwillowretreat.org/">Learn more about Red Willow Retreat</a>
<a href="https://www.taosnews.com/subscribe/">Subscribe to the Taos News</a>

Ted Wiard on retirement and Golden Willow Retreat

This episode is brought to you by the NCRTD Blue Bus.

This week on Voices of Taos, please enjoy this repeat presentation of a conversation between former  copy editor and reporter Emery Veilleux and Nan Fischer, lifelong grower, founder of the Taos Seed Exchange and author of "A Monthly Guide to Growing a Sensational Garden in Northern New Mexico and the Rocky Mountains." This episode originally aired on March 29, 2025.

Fischer discusses growing food in Northern New Mexico, from difficult environmental conditions to well-suited plants to best practices for conserving water. As Taos comes out of a dry winter, Fischer and Veilleux discuss adapting to growing food in a changing climate. Fischer, who has kept garden journals for 20 years, shares some of the climactic trends she's tracked over time.

"It used to be challenging here but predictable, and now it's challenging and unpredictable," Fischer says.

Subscribe to the Taos News

This episode is brought to you by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncrtd.org/">NCRTD Blue Bus.</a>
This week on Voices of Taos, please enjoy this repeat presentation of a conversation between former&nbsp; copy editor and reporter Emery Veilleux and Nan Fischer, lifelong grower, founder of the Taos Seed Exchange and author of "A Monthly Guide to Growing a Sensational Garden in Northern New Mexico and the Rocky Mountains." This episode originally aired on March 29, 2025.
Fischer discusses growing food in Northern New Mexico, from difficult environmental conditions to well-suited plants to best practices for conserving water. As Taos comes out of a dry winter, Fischer and Veilleux discuss adapting to growing food in a changing climate. Fischer, who has kept garden journals for 20 years, shares some of the climactic trends she's tracked over time.
"It used to be challenging here but predictable, and now it's challenging and unpredictable," Fischer says.
<a href="https://www.taosnews.com/site/subscribe/subscribe-to-the-taos-news-digital-online-website-print-home-delivery-out-of-state.html">Subscribe to the Taos News</a>

Luis Reyes on the importance of Taos grown leaders, Kit Carson Electric's new solar array in Amalia, and the future of hydrogen energy.

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