July 3, 2024 / Modified jul 4, 2024 9:22 a.m.

Why "Breaking Bread" is a different approach to political discussion.

Also on Arizona Spotlight: How art can help with in-hospital healing; Luis Alberto Urrea on how his literature career began; and "Stories That Soar!" considers the meaning of love.

Mark Kelley Breaking Bread
Courtesy of Alexander Heffner

Arizona Spotlight

July 4, 2024

NPR
(Download MP3)

Featured on the July 4th, 2024 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

  • Sonoran hot dogs, a Columbia 400 aircraft, and Democratic Senator Mark Kelly. That’s what audiences can find on season two’s opening episode of “Breaking Bread with Alexander”. This public affairs docu-series explores what’s important to some elected officials and their constituents from across the country, and the conversations begin with a shared meal. The goal is bringing humanity back into politics, as host Alexander Heffner (also host of PBS's "The Open Mind") explains in an interview with AZPM’s Katya Mendoza. This Bloomberg Originals series, hosted by journalist & author Alexander Heffner, premieres on Thursday, July 4th. New episodes drop weekly.

Mark Kelly and Alexander Sonoran dogs
Courtesy of Alexander Heffner

  • Learn how a Southern Arizona hospital has been helping patients’ to heal and ease anxiety by displaying inspiring artwork and providing live emotional music. Tony Paniagua speaks to Lauren Rabb, the curator of the Healing Art Program at Tucson Medical Center which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

lauren rabb healing art hero Lauren Rabb, the curator of the Healing Art Program at Tucson Medical Center, standing with some new art at the TMC Rincon Hospital.
Jillian McCleary.

  • Acclaimed, best-selling novelist and poet Luis Alberto Urrea shares the story of how it all began for his career, from meeting Ursula K. LeGuin (the first published author to recognize his potential), to being asked for his first impromptu autograph in a mall bookstore.
Luis Alberto urea spot Luis Alberto Urrea was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for his 2004 book "The Devil's Highway: A True Story", about a group of Mexican men who cross the border into the United States.
Joe Mazza/Little Brown
  • And, the Tucson non-profit Literacy Connects sponsors a group of performers and musicians called “Stories That Soar!”. They help young writers realize the power and potential of bringing their stories to life, for the stage, video, and radio. We are now presenting these stories on the first Thursday of every month here on Arizona Spotlight.

This Stories That Soar! was written as a collaboration between an entire 2nd grade class. When asked "What does the word love mean to you?,” the students shared that love is something that can be found anytime, in everyday moments with their family, friends, pets and the world around them.

Aspiring student-age writers can submit their stories to The Magic Box Story Portal now!

stories that soar spot Literacy Connects presents “Stories That Soar!”, a program where the Tucson non-profit empowers students of all ages by bringing their stories to life with professional actors and musicians.
Arizona Spotlight
Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Saturday at 3:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.

Web page by Alecia Vasquez.

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