Episode 21: They Call You Back: A talk with Tim Z. Hernandez about his new memoir

12/31/24 • 66 min

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, or seeker, this discussion offers a deeply moving exploration of love, loss, and the enduring impact of stories.

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Episode 20: Introducing "The Storykeeper" from host Tim Z. Hernandez

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 storytelling is medicine - that sharing our stories builds understanding and connection across communities. The Storykeeper promises to deliver compelling narratives that reveal our shared humanity.

This introductory episode showcases the intimate, thoughtful approach listeners can expect from The Storykeeper when it debuts in 2025 on KTEP 88.5 FM, as Hernandez and his team work to demonstrate how "one story shared with another is medicine, but many stories shared in community is transformation.”

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Episode 22: Big Time: a talk with author Rus Bradburd

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 author of four acclaimed books, including 40 Minutes of Hell, the biography of El Paso sports icon and former University of Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson. After 16 years as a writing professor at New Mexico State, Bradburd brings his insider perspective to his first foray into fiction.