Life Along The Streetcar

What happens when leaders, artists, athletes, and neighbors all come together with one mission, Service Above Self? In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we step inside Rotary Club Tucson, Arizona’s largest and one of its most historic service clubs. Discover how Rotary builds lasting friendships, supports local nonprofits, and creates ripple effects that strengthen Tucson’s community. From...

What happens when a downtown musician trades the mic for a mash tun? James Owens, co-founder of Brick Box Brewery, takes us on his journey from performing on Tucson’s beloved stages to creating one of the city’s most versatile and community-driven spaces. We explore how James' years in the local music scene shaped his vision for a brewery that’s a place where artists, musicians, and creators can g...

In this milestone 350th episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we revisit the story that launched the show, Mission Garden, but with a fresh and powerful perspective. Our guest is Alyce Sadongei, the current director of Mission Garden and a nationally recognized voice in Indigenous cultural preservation. With a background that includes years at the Smithsonian Institution, where she supported tribal...

In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we meet Pen Macias, the vibrant muralist and creative force known as Desert Pen. From painting her parents’ walls as a teenager to transforming public spaces across Tucson, Pen’s journey is one of passion, place, and profound artistic vision. We talk about how a pandemic project launched a career, how Fourth Avenue felt like home at first sight, and how...

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...

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 accessi...

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...

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...

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 visu...

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 Ce...

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...

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...

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....

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,...

🎬 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 filmi...

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 lizar...

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...

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 workin...

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,...

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...

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 pe...

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...

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...

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 t...

What happens when a dream collides with an unexpected roadblock? For photographer Nicci Radhe, failing trigonometry meant saying goodbye to her aspirations of becoming an astronomer. But when one door closed, another opened—through the lens of a camera. In this episode of Life Along the Streetcar, we explore Nicci’s incredible journey from studying the cosmos to capturing the stars of Tucson’s vib...