Life Along The Streetcar
Exploring the social, cultural, and economic forces shaping life in Tucson’s urban core. On the air since October 2017 with over 350 episodes and counting. Catch us Sundays on Downtown Radio 99.1 FM, stream on your favorite podcast platform, or watch full episodes on our website. LifeAlongTheStreetcar.org
Episodes
July 21, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we dive into the inspiring journey of Riva Mackie, a world-ranked padel athlete whose passion for the game spans continents and decades. From her early racquet-sport roots in Canada to intensive training in Monaco and years on the competitive circuit, Riva has lived and breathed padel.
Now, that passion has a new home, The Pad Tucson, a state-of-the-art indoor racket sports club located...
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In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we sit down with Drew Humphrey, CEO and Producing Artistic Director of Saguaro City Music Theatre, a bold new voice in Tucson’s performing arts scene. Drew shares how his company is building a Tucson-rooted cultural hub by producing full-scale musicals, supporting local artists, and offering tuition-free arts education that is both inclusive and accessible. From reimagining space-age roc...
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July 7, 2025 • 28 mins
Tucson is turning 250... and you’re invited to the party of the millennium (or four of them, actually)! 🎉
In this vibrant episode of Life Along the Streetcar, host Tom Heath chats with Jannie Cox from Rio Nuevo about Tucson’s upcoming 250+ Celebration—a community-wide event packed with public art, rich history, and a whole lot of local pride.
🎨 Discover the story behind four stunning new murals created by Tucson artists Ignacio...
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June 30, 2025 • 28 mins
In this week’s episode of Life Along The Streetcar, we sit down with Anne Miskey and Jennie Grabel of Social Venture Partners Tucson to explore a bold and collaborative mission: ending intergenerational poverty in our community.
Discover how SVP Tucson is building a city-wide coalition that includes nonprofits, government leaders, businesses, and artists—working together to break systemic barriers and create lasting opportunity fo...
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June 23, 2025 • 28 mins
In this second installment of our conversation with Dr. Becky Senf, Chief Curator at the Center for Creative Photography (CCP), we explore how Tucson’s most iconic photographic institution is celebrating its 50th anniversary — and preparing for the future.
Dr. Senf gives us a behind-the-scenes look at “Picture Party,” the CCP’s anniversary exhibition that transforms the gallery into a vibrant visual celebration. Learn how this uni...
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In this special episode of Life Along The Streetcar, we sit down with Dr. Becky Senf, Chief Curator at the Center for Creative Photography (CCP), to uncover the fascinating story behind one of Tucson’s most significant cultural institutions.
Dr. Senf shares how the vision of then-UArizona President John Schaefer and legendary photographer Ansel Adams gave rise to the CCP in 1975. We explore the Center’s unique role as both an arch...
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June 9, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, host Tom Heath sits down with Stephen Paul, co-founder of Hamilton Distillers and the creative force behind Whiskey Del Bac, Tucson’s award-winning, mesquite-smoked single malt whiskey.
Discover how a backyard BBQ, a spark of inspiration from his wife, and a deep love for the Sonoran Desert led Stephen from mesquite furniture to crafting one of the most unique whiskeys in the U.S. We ex...
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June 2, 2025 • 28 mins
Most of us shy away from bugs, snakes, and all things creepy crawly. But for Tucson artist and zookeeper Courtney Christie, these misunderstood creatures are a source of wonder, inspiration, and beauty. In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, host Tom Heath sits down with Courtney to explore her unique journey. From studying criminal justice to caring for reptiles at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, she has transformed her lo...
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June 2, 2025 • 26 mins
In honor of Memorial Day, we revisit a powerful conversation with David Carter, the visionary designer behind the USS Arizona Mall Memorial on the University of Arizona campus. This striking tribute—a life-size outline of the battleship’s deck and 1,177 medallions representing each life lost—serves as both a physical and emotional connection to one of the most pivotal moments in American history.
Originally aired in 2018, this epi...
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May 19, 2025 • 26 mins
What happens when you mix downtown energy, 94 performers, and a relentless love of laughter? You get the Improvathon—a 28-hour comedy marathon hosted by the Tucson Improv Movement (TIM)! 🎭
In this episode, Tom Heath sits down with Justin Lukasewicz, founder and CEO of TIM, to talk about:
- How improv became a life philosophy, not just a performance style
- Why TIM has become a hub for community, creativity, and connection in Tuc...
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🎬 In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we sit down with Tucson’s creative power couple, Julie Bonner and Jeff Brack, to explore the journey behind their breakout short film, 'Over Again.'
Recorded in the heart of Downtown Tucson, this conversation dives into the creative process, local inspirations, and emotional depth that shaped the film. From writing sessions at Cartel Coffee, to filming at iconic spots like Hotel Cong...
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May 5, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, host Tom Heath sits down with Anthony Aldinger—better known around Tucson as Mr. Nature. From recycled instruments at Bookmans to soulful Sunday mornings on Little Leaf Radio, Mr. Nature has spent over a decade nurturing the minds and hearts of Tucson’s youth through music, storytelling, and joy.
Discover how a passion for nature, a pocket full of lizards, and a knack for rhythm blossom...
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April 28, 2025 • 28 mins
In this special episode of Life Along the Streetcar, hosts Tom Heath and Amanda Mourelatos sit down with Tyler Meier, Executive Director of the University of Arizona Poetry Center, to explore how poetry breathes life into the heart of Tucson.
Tyler shares his personal journey — from being inspired by a high school teacher, to writing poetry while working construction, to leading one of the largest and most vibrant poetry centers i...
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April 14, 2025 • 27 mins
In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we sit down with Arthur Vint, drummer, visionary, and the creative force behind the Century Room, Tucson’s very own slice of New York’s jazz scene.
Nestled inside Hotel Congress with its own discreet entrance off Congress & 5th, the Century Room blends NYC basement-club charm with a warm Sonoran welcome. Arthur shares how his years performing and working at the iconic Village Vanguard i...
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April 6, 2025 • 28 mins
This week on Life Along the Streetcar, we're diving into one of Tucson’s most vibrant celebrations—The Agave Heritage Festival! 🌵✨
Festival director Todd Hanley returns to the show to give us the inside scoop on the 2025 lineup, kicking off April 10th–13th. From educational workshops to culinary tastings and the world-class Agave Renaissance Summit, this four-day celebration blends conservation, culture, and community like only T...
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March 30, 2025 • 29 mins
This week on Life Along the Streetcar, we reconnect with one of Downtown Tucson’s true originals—Margo Susco. As the visionary behind Hydra Leather & More, Margo spent over two decades bringing bold fashion, fierce energy, and unwavering community spirit to the corner of 6th and Congress.
Now, she’s bringing that same passion back to downtown as part of the 33rd Arizona International Film Festival. In this episode, Margo reflects ...
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March 23, 2025 • 27 mins
This week on Life Along the Streetcar, we're honoring Women's History Month with a powerful look at two trailblazing women who helped shape Tucson's culinary and cultural identity—Monica Flin, founder of El Charro Café, and her niece, Carlota Flores, who elevated the brand into a nationally recognized empire.
We revisit a 2021 conversation with Ray Flores of Flores Concepts, as he shares deeply personal stories of his family's leg...
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March 18, 2025 • 26 mins
In this second installment of our Women’s History Month series, we continue celebrating Cele Peterson, a woman whose impact on Tucson stretched far beyond fashion. While she made a name for herself as a visionary designer and retailer, Cele was also a savvy entrepreneur, a cultural influencer, and a fierce advocate for her community.
What made Cele’s business empire last for over 80 years?
How did she shape downtown Tucson’s evolu...
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March 7, 2025 • 28 mins
This week on Life Along the Streetcar, we kick off Women’s History Month by honoring a true Tucson icon—Cele Peterson. More than a fashion trailblazer, Cele was a fierce advocate for Tucson’s cultural and civic development. From founding businesses to shaping institutions like the Children’s Museum Tucson, her legacy runs deep in the heart of our city.
In this episode, we sit down with Dan Buckley, a celebrated Tucson storyteller,...
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February 28, 2025 • 26 mins
Tucson’s festival season is here, and we’re diving into four of the biggest cultural celebrations happening in the urban core! In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we bring back our annual tradition, inFESTed, to highlight the can’t-miss events shaping our city this spring.
📚 Tucson Festival of Books (March 15-16) – A literary paradise with hundreds of authors, panels, and activities at the University of Arizona.
🎬 Arizo...
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