Join Assistant Editor Geoffrey Plant as he talks with Bernie Ellis, a Peñasco cannabis grower who gave away his crop this year instead of accepting the low price retailers offered him. Ellis believes federal cannabis prohibition is why he and other growers aren't fairly compensated for their pot. A former career public health epidemiologist who helped launch the nation's first state-level substance use disorder research program in New Mexico in the 1990s, Ellis discusses his underground weed-growing days in Tennessee, where for 15 years he donated his cannabis to AIDS and cancer patients. That, and his career in public health all came crashing down after federal agents busted his farm in 2002. On the day this episode was recorded, he received notice that the state is investigating what he calls his "Great Ganja Giveaway.”

Taos News article on the "Great Ganja Giveaway”

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Join Assistant Editor Geoffrey Plant as he talks with Bernie Ellis, a Peñasco cannabis grower who gave away his crop this year instead of accepting the low price retailers offered him. Ellis believes federal cannabis prohibition is why he and other growers aren't fairly compensated for their pot. A former career public health epidemiologist who helped launch the nation's first state-level substance use disorder research program in New Mexico in the 1990s, Ellis discusses his underground weed-growing days in Tennessee, where for 15 years he donated his cannabis to AIDS and cancer patients. That, and his career in public health all came crashing down after federal agents busted his farm in 2002. On the day this episode was recorded, he received notice that the state is investigating what he calls his "Great Ganja Giveaway.”
<a href="https://www.taosnews.com/news/local-news/ending-reefer-madness-pot-grower-hands-out-25-pounds-of-cannabis-in-protest-of-big/article_fa973abe-98c2-11ef-8811-4727ad690793.html">Taos News article on the "Great Ganja Giveaway”</a>
<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>

Bernie Ellis on why he gave away 25 pounds of cannabis and why New Mexico is the best state to grow pot

Join assistant editor Geoffrey Plant as he talks with Troy Clark, president of the New Mexico Hospital Association. Troy explains how medical malpractice insurance caps have continued to rise since 2001, making it challenging for doctors to get coverage. Caps for individual providers are currently set for at $750,000 per claim. Hospitals caps will rise from $5.5 million in 2025 to $6 million in 2026. But this is just the beginning of what prevents NM from being a destination for medical practitioners. Listen in to learn more. 

Join assistant editor Geoffrey Plant as he talks with Troy Clark, president of the New Mexico Hospital Association. Troy explains how medical malpractice insurance caps have continued to rise since 2001, making it challenging for doctors to get coverage. Caps for individual providers are currently set for at $750,000 per claim. Hospitals caps will rise from $5.5 million in 2025 to $6 million in 2026. But this is just the beginning of what prevents NM from being a destination for medical practitioners. Listen in to learn more.

Troy Clark, President of the New Mexico Hospital Association, on why medical professionals are not coming to NM

This week Voices of Taos producer Laura Martin Baseman interviews Dr. Colin Nicholls, professor at UNM-Taos. Laura and Colin discuss General Obligation Bond 3, which passed on November 5th and allocates 1.5 million dollars to the UNM-Taos Space STEM Center. This will help pay for the Cielo Centro Observatory that Colin has been actively working on. The observatory will house a thirty-six-inch diameter telescope, making it the largest publicly accessible telescope in the region. Colin tells us how he fell in love with the night sky as a child, remembering asking his parents’ permission to get up at 3am to watch the 1966 Leonid meteor shower. Finally, Laura and Colin talk about how important it is to preserve Taos' night skies for cultural as well as scientific reasons. 

Dr. Colin Nicholls is an Taos News Unsung Hero for 2024

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This week Voices of Taos producer Laura Martin Baseman interviews Dr. Colin Nicholls, professor at UNM-Taos. Laura and Colin discuss General Obligation Bond 3, which passed on November 5th and allocates 1.5 million dollars to the UNM-Taos Space STEM Center. This will help pay for the Cielo Centro Observatory that Colin has been actively working on. The observatory will house a thirty-six-inch diameter telescope, making it the largest publicly accessible telescope in the region. Colin tells us how he fell in love with the night sky as a child, remembering asking his parents’ permission to get up at 3am to watch the 1966 Leonid meteor shower. Finally, Laura and Colin talk about how important it is to preserve Taos' night skies for cultural as well as scientific reasons. 
<a href="https://www.taosnews.com/magazines/heroes-tradiciones/colin-nicholls/article_f862d358-54ae-5bdf-863e-b9a69a3fa68c.html">Dr. Colin Nicholls is an Taos News Unsung Hero for 2024</a>
<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>

Dr. Colin Nicholls on how he fell in love with the night sky and his hopes for the new UNM-Taos Cielo Centro Observatory 

This week on Voices of Taos, Taos News intern Angelina Burns Diaz interviews Rocket Holmes and Ari Kolman from Taos High on whether or not they plan to vote in the 2024 general election. The three eighteen year-olds discuss how little they know about local political races and their frustration with the presidential candidates not sharing enough about their polices on TikTok and other social media. They also discuss how schools could help educate students about elections and also help them register to vote when they turn eighteen. 

Voting resources:

Info on same day voter registration

League of Women Voters voting guides

Taos News endorsements

Santa Fe New Mexican election info and endorsements

This week on Voices of Taos, Taos News intern Angelina Burns Diaz interviews Rocket Holmes and Ari Kolman from Taos High on whether or not they plan to vote in the 2024 general election. The three eighteen year-olds discuss how little they know about local political races and their frustration with the presidential candidates not sharing enough about their polices on TikTok and other social media. They also discuss how schools could help educate students about elections and also help them register to vote when they turn eighteen. 
Voting resources:
<a href="https://www.sos.nm.gov/voting-and-elections/voting-faqs/same-day-voter-registration-faq/">Info on same day voter registration</a>
<a href="https://www.vote411.org/ballot">League of Women Voters voting guides</a>
<a href="https://www.taosnews.com/opinion/editorials/in-a-harris-victory-clarity-and-moderation-would-be-key/article_1380b0ae-7c12-5043-9254-e2b485d25421.html">Taos News endorsements</a>
<a href="https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/elections/">Santa Fe New Mexican election info and endorsements</a>

Are Taos Teens Voting? A conversation with teen reporter Angelina Burns Diaz, Rocket Holmes, and Ari Kolman.

This week on Voices of Taos, producer Laura Martin Baseman sits down with Taos News Editor John Miller to talk about the paper's editorial section and why the paper continues to print political endorsements. John and Laura discuss how important it is that newspapers stay as unbiased as possible in their reporting but also how newspapers can use their opinions for good in an editorial section. They discuss the differences between the Taos News editorial board and the editorial board at its sister paper, the Santa Fe New Mexican. John also shares some interesting facts about the history of newspaper political endorsements. 

This week on Voices of Taos, producer Laura Martin Baseman sits down with Taos News Editor John Miller to talk about the paper's editorial section and why the paper continues to print political endorsements. John and Laura discuss how important it is that newspapers stay as unbiased as possible in their reporting but also how newspapers can use their opinions for good in an editorial section. They discuss the differences between the Taos News editorial board and the editorial board at its sister paper, the Santa Fe New Mexican. John also shares some interesting facts about the history of newspaper political endorsements.

Why does the Taos News still print political endorsements? A conversation with Editor John Miller.

This week Voices of Taos producer Laura Martin Baseman interviews Marilyn Farrow, an organizer of St. James Episcopal's Empty Bowls fundraiser. Marylin shares with Laura how the fundraiser came to be nineteen years ago and how it helps fund the Food Pantry all year long. Currently St. James' Food Pantry donates approximately 1,500 bags of food a week to Taoseños in need. Empty Bowls takes place on Saturday Oct. 19th at St. James from 11am - 2pm. The $25 tickets can be purchased online or at the event. A ticket gets you a handmade bowl and a lovely meal from one of eight local restaurants who are catering. There is also a silent auction and a raffle. 

More information and tickets

This week Voices of Taos producer Laura Martin Baseman interviews Marilyn Farrow, an organizer of St. James Episcopal's Empty Bowls fundraiser. Marylin shares with Laura how the fundraiser came to be nineteen years ago and how it helps fund the Food Pantry all year long. Currently St. James' Food Pantry donates approximately 1,500 bags of food a week to Taoseños in need. Empty Bowls takes place on Saturday Oct. 19th at St. James from 11am - 2pm. The $25 tickets can be purchased online or at the event. A ticket gets you a handmade bowl and a lovely meal from one of eight local restaurants who are catering. There is also a silent auction and a raffle. 
<a href="https://stjamestaos.org/news-item/empty-bowls-october-19th/">More information and tickets</a>

Marilyn Farrow on how the Empty Bowls fundraiser came to be and how St. James' Food Pantry fights hunger in Taos

This week on Voices of Taos, producer Laura Martin Baseman gives listeners an inside look at the Taos News' biggest event of the year, Tradiciones. This annual event celebrates nine Unsung Heroes in the greater Taos Community and one Citizen of the Year. First Laura chats with Publisher Chris Baker on how the event came to be. The second part of the episode is brief interviews with the honorees of 2024 at the event.

This week on Voices of Taos, producer Laura Martin Baseman gives listeners an inside look at the Taos News' biggest event of the year, Tradiciones. This annual event celebrates nine Unsung Heroes in the greater Taos Community and one Citizen of the Year. First Laura chats with Publisher Chris Baker on how the event came to be. The second part of the episode is brief interviews with the honorees of 2024 at the event.

Introducing the Taos News' 2024 Unsung Heroes and Citizen of the Year

This week on Voices of Taos join Taos News' Tempo editor Lynne Robinson as she chats with Bill Shapiro, former editor-in-chief of LIFE magazine and Moriah Stanton, owner of MoMo. MoMo's Taos location has just opened a photo show titled 'In the Time of Spirits' that was curated by Bill. During the podcast, Moriah and Bill share how they came to collaborate on the show and why they believe Taos is such an excellent venue for these photos. The show features five artist from five different countries and is on view at MoMo until November 23rd. 

Exhibit Details

This week on Voices of Taos join Taos News' Tempo editor Lynne Robinson as she chats with Bill Shapiro, former editor-in-chief of LIFE magazine and Moriah Stanton, owner of MoMo. MoMo's Taos location has just opened a photo show titled 'In the Time of Spirits' that was curated by Bill. During the podcast, Moriah and Bill share how they came to collaborate on the show and why they believe Taos is such an excellent venue for these photos. The show features five artist from five different countries and is on view at MoMo until November 23rd. 
<a href="https://www.momotaos.com/happenings/2024/6/19/in-the-time-of-spirits-a-photography-exhibition">Exhibit Details</a>

Bill Shapiro, former editor-in-chief of LIFE magazine and Moriah Stanton, owner of MoMo on their new photo show.

This week Voices of Taos producer Laura Martin Baseman interviews Joe Barry, owner of Taos Wools and organizer of the Taos Wools Festival. Joe shares with Laura how he discovered a love of yarn dyeing during the pandemic when he was trying to spend as much time with his young daughter as possible. He uses acid dye recipes that he inherited from Weaving Southwest and Rachel Brown. With the move of the Mountain and Valley Wool Festival to Santa Fe, Joe created the Taos Wools Festival which occurs the first weekend in October. This year's festival is taking place on October 5th and 6th at the Revolt Gallery. 

Taos Wools Festival Information

More about Taos Wools

Navajo-Churro Sheep Association

This week Voices of Taos producer Laura Martin Baseman interviews Joe Barry, owner of Taos Wools and organizer of the Taos Wools Festival. Joe shares with Laura how he discovered a love of yarn dyeing during the pandemic when he was trying to spend as much time with his young daughter as possible. He uses acid dye recipes that he inherited from Weaving Southwest and Rachel Brown. With the move of the Mountain and Valley Wool Festival to Santa Fe, Joe created the Taos Wools Festival which occurs the first weekend in October. This year's festival is taking place on October 5th and 6th at the Revolt Gallery. 
<a href="https://taoswoolsfestival.com/">Taos Wools Festival Information</a>
<a href="https://taoswools.com/">More about Taos Wools</a>
<a href="http://www.navajo-churrosheep.com/">Navajo-Churro Sheep Association</a>

Joe Barry of Taos Wools on how he became a yarn dyer and the upcoming 2nd annual Taos Wools Festival at Revolt Gallery

This week Voices of Taos producer Laura Martin Baseman interviews Taos County Extension Agent Will Jaremko-Wright. Will became Taos' extension agent in the summer of 2023 after being an educator at Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM. He shares with Laura how a backpacking trip when he was fifteen to Wheeler Peak inspired him to seek a career outdoors. "On the final assent above the lake I ran into a Forest Service Biologist who was up there above tree line with a butterfly net." Will says in the interview. It blew his mind that such a job existed. 

This week Voices of Taos producer Laura Martin Baseman interviews Taos County Extension Agent Will Jaremko-Wright. Will became Taos' extension agent in the summer of 2023 after being an educator at Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM. He shares with Laura how a backpacking trip when he was fifteen to Wheeler Peak inspired him to seek a career outdoors. "On the final assent above the lake I ran into a Forest Service Biologist who was up there above tree line with a butterfly net." Will says in the interview. It blew his mind that such a job existed.

County Extension Agent Will Jaremko-Wright on how he came to Taos and his love of New Mexico

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

Voices of Taos

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