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Words and Work

Words and Work

By Ted Prezelski

Writer and activist Ted Prezelski talks to authors and labor leaders. A presentation of the National Writers Union - Tucson Chapter and Downtown Radio.
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Charlie Bertsch, writer and journalist

Words and WorkMay 31, 2022

00:00
27:40
Aneta Hebrová - Author of Essence of Tucson

Aneta Hebrová - Author of Essence of Tucson

Ted Prezelski talks to author Aneta Hebrová, author of Essence of Tucson.

Mar 28, 202429:12
McCracken Poston, Author of Zenith Man

McCracken Poston, Author of Zenith Man

Ted Prezelski interviews attorney and author McCracken Poston. His book Zenith Man is about the case of Alvin Ridley, who was accused of murdering his wife.

Mar 28, 202430:50
United Campus Workers

United Campus Workers

On this episode, we feature an interview with a member of the United Campus Workers (CWA 7065) as well as audio from their rally they held earlier this week.

Feb 12, 202429:31
Paul Hanley - Author of Sixteen Again

Paul Hanley - Author of Sixteen Again

Ted Prezelski interviews Paul Hanley. Hanley was a member of several Manchester area bands, most notably the Fall for five years. He's written three books about the rock scene in Manchester, most recently Sixteen Again, How Pete Shelley & Buzzcocks Changed Manchester Music (And Me).

Jan 17, 202429:60
Alexis Gunderson - National Writers Union, Part 2

Alexis Gunderson - National Writers Union, Part 2

A continuation of the discussion with National Writers Union member Alexis Gunderson, who worked on the union's response to artificial intelligence. The NWU's statement can be found at the link below:


https://nwu.org/issues-we-care-about/generative-ai/

Jan 11, 202429:38
Alexis Gunderson - National Writers Union, Part 1

Alexis Gunderson - National Writers Union, Part 1

In this episode, Ted talks to Alexis Gunderson, who was involved in the National Writers Union response to artificial intelligence or AI. In this episode, she talks about her work as a TV critic as well as the issues around AI.

The NWU's statement can be found at this link:

https://nwu.org/issues-we-care-about/generative-ai/

Jan 11, 202428:41
J. P. Riley - WGA West Pt. 2

J. P. Riley - WGA West Pt. 2

Part 2 of a discussion with WGA West member J. P. Riley about the recent writers' strike in Hollywood. In addition to being a writer, Riley has also worked on the production crew on Stumptown and Home Economics.

Dec 31, 202329:30
Lydia Otero - Author of L.A. Interchanges

Lydia Otero - Author of L.A. Interchanges

Tucson author Lydia Otero talks about her memoir, L.A. Interchanges. In the book, she discusses being queer, latinx and moving to Los Angeles. In the interview, she also discusses her time with IBEW Local 11.

Dec 14, 202329:50
J. P. Riley - WGA West, Part 1

J. P. Riley - WGA West, Part 1

The first half of my discussion with J. P. Riley, who has written and produced the television shows Lucky, Stumptown and Home Economics. We discuss the ins and outs of the entertainment business and the recent strike.

Dec 14, 202329:06
Ryan Mims - AFGE and Author of Easy Prey

Ryan Mims - AFGE and Author of Easy Prey

Ted Prezelski talks to Ryan Mims, who does legislative work for AFGE, about his new book Easy Prey.

Dec 05, 202329:58
Adiba Nelson, Author and Journalist

Adiba Nelson, Author and Journalist

Ted Prezelski interviews Adiba Nelson, author of Ain't That a Mother as well as several children's books. Nelson was recently named Writer-in-Residence by the Tucson-Pima County Public Library.

Oct 06, 202328:06
Tucson Comic-Con Panel - Latinx Creators

Tucson Comic-Con Panel - Latinx Creators

John Gomez, Henry Barajas, Jesse Hernandez, Beth Sotelo participate in a panel hosted by Cynthia Naugle on Latinx comic book writers and artists. The panel was held at Tucson Comic-Con on September 3, 2023.

Sep 13, 202331:20
Beatriz Topete - UNITE-HERE

Beatriz Topete - UNITE-HERE

Ted Prezelski interviews Beatriz Topete from UNITE-HERE Local 11. The local represents concessions workers at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport. The union voted to authorize an "unfair labor practices" strike on Friday and the issues that they are having are, unfortunately, very familiar.

Sep 04, 202328:55
Naomi Ortíz - Author of Sustaining Spirit: Self-Care for Social Justice

Naomi Ortíz - Author of Sustaining Spirit: Self-Care for Social Justice

Poet, writer and desert-dweller Naomi Ortíz talks about htheir writing as well as their activism on the part of mestizes and people with disablities.

Aug 15, 202329:31
Rafael Agustín - WGA

Rafael Agustín - WGA

Members of the Labor Radio/Podcast Network have a conversation with Rafael Agustín, a striking member of the WGA who recently wrote a piece for Mother Jones called "I'm a Striking TV Writer. Here's Why We Are Doing This." (https://www.motherjones.com/media/2023/07/im-a-striking-tv-writer-heres-why-were-doing-this/)

Agustín's credits include 32 episodes of the Golden Globe Nominated series Jane the Virgin.

Aug 08, 202329:24
Sally Shamrell - SAG-AFTRA

Sally Shamrell - SAG-AFTRA

Ted Prezelski speaks with Sally Shamrell, a SAG-AFTRA member that has had roles on The Young and the Restless and American Crime Story. Topics include how it is to be a working actress and the issues involved in the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

Aug 08, 202328:42
Richard Ruelas - Arizona Republic Guild

Richard Ruelas - Arizona Republic Guild

Ted Prezelski interviews long time Arizona Republic reporter Richard Ruelas. Ruelas is one of the organizers of the Arizona Republic Guild, an affiliate of the Newsguild - Communication Workers of America. Ruelas describes the situation that led his sister and brother reporters to organize and talks about the challenges facing reporters in the current economy.

Jun 20, 202327:43
Jeremy Bernick - United Campus Workers

Jeremy Bernick - United Campus Workers

Jeremy Bernick talks about the issues facing employees at the University of Arizona and his activism with United Campus Workers, a union of workers at both the U of A and ASU affiliated with CWA. He also talks about his recent elevation to the Graduate Council, an elected body that advocates for graduate student issues.

May 16, 202330:34
Minoru Yanagihashi - Author of The Japanese American Experience: Change and Continuity

Minoru Yanagihashi - Author of The Japanese American Experience: Change and Continuity

Ted Prezelski interviews Dr. Minoru Yanagihashi, a professor at the University of Arizona, about his book about the Japanese-American experience in the 20th and 21st centuries. Yanagihashi was born in Hawaii but moved to Arizona in the 1970s.

May 10, 202328:26
Cam Juárez - Community activist and son of farmworkers

Cam Juárez - Community activist and son of farmworkers

In honor of the upcoming Cesar Chavez holiday, Ted Prezelski speaks with Cam Juárez. Cam talks about growing up in a farmworker family as one of "Cesar's kids." Cesar Chavez and his movement led him into a life of public service, including his current work as a ranger at Saguaro National Park.

Mar 21, 202329:58
Ken Kennon, Author of Marriage of Earth and Sky

Ken Kennon, Author of Marriage of Earth and Sky

Ted Prezelski talks to Ken Kennon, whose recent book Marriage of Earth and Sky is about his parents who were leaders in education and the arts in the Ozarks. He also talks a bit about his activism and his previous book, Prisioner of Concience.

Mar 13, 202329:44
Erica Prather - Defenders United

Erica Prather - Defenders United

We chatted with Erica about her effort to organize workers at Defenders of Wildlife last year, but we are getting an update from her on what happend when her now-former employer had to face the National Labor Relations Board.

Mar 01, 202328:13
James Watson - IAMAW

James Watson - IAMAW

Ted Prezelski talks to James Watson of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. James is a one time Tucsonan and worked at the Ratheon facility south of Tucson for years. He talks not only about his work with the union, but about their new programs for veterans.

Feb 19, 202329:39
Marcelino Flores - President, AFSCME 449

Marcelino Flores - President, AFSCME 449

Ted Prezelski talks to Marcelino Flores, newly elected president of AFSCME 449, which represents government employees. Flores talks about his labor advocacy, as well as the workforce development programs he manages for Pima County.

Feb 09, 202328:21
Evan Tuohy - American Federation of Musicians Local 33

Evan Tuohy - American Federation of Musicians Local 33

Ted Prezelski interviews Evan Tuohy, the newly elected vice president of AFM Local 33, which represents musicians in Tucson.

Jan 24, 202330:04
Striking Starbucks Workers

Striking Starbucks Workers

This week, workers at a Starbucks in Tucson had a one day strike to demand that management recognize their rights as unionized employees. Ted Prezelski talked to several of them.

Jan 16, 202329:17
Michael K. Ward - Author of Ghost Riders in the Sky

Michael K. Ward - Author of Ghost Riders in the Sky

Ted Prezelski interviews Michael K. Ward, author of Ghost Riders in the Sky, a biography of Stan Jones. The book is named for the popular song that Jones wrote during his time as a park ranger in Death Valley. Just like Jones, Ward was a park ranger at Death Valley as well as Tucson's Saguaro National Park.

Dec 19, 202229:60
Paul Ingram - Tucson Sentinel

Paul Ingram - Tucson Sentinel

Ted Prezelski talks to Paul Ingram of the Tucson Sentinel. Ingram covers many issues, most notably the border. He talks about that topic and what a lot of people get wrong about it.

Nov 01, 202228:08
Javier Soto - IBEW

Javier Soto - IBEW

Ted Prezelski talks to Javier Soto of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Javier talks about the work he does as an electrician as well as the work his union does training workers.

Nov 01, 202230:04
Ryan Kelly - NWU and Pima Area Labor Federation

Ryan Kelly - NWU and Pima Area Labor Federation

Ted Prezelski has another visit from Ryan Kelly, who gives an update on labor in Southern Arizona.

Nov 01, 202228:38
Chris Cheely - SMART

Chris Cheely - SMART

Ted Prezelski talks to Chris Cheely of SMART, a union that includes railway employees. Chris talks a bit about the history of the railroads as well as a recently averted strike.

Nov 01, 202229:15
Luci Messing - Arizona Education Association

Luci Messing - Arizona Education Association

Ted Prezelski talks to Luci Messing, a long time Tucson teacher.

Sep 17, 202227:26
Ryan Mims - American Federation of Government Employees and author

Ryan Mims - American Federation of Government Employees and author

Ted Prezelski talks to Ryan Mims. Mims is originally from Arizona but works on the staff of AFGE in California. He has written a novel called Midnight Train to Everywhere.

Sep 17, 202228:30
Sue Blakely - The Aftermath of the Bisbee Deportation

Sue Blakely - The Aftermath of the Bisbee Deportation

Ted Prezelski interviews Sue Blakely, who had family members on both sides of the Bisbee Deportation, an event that involved the arrest and deportation of 1700 striking miners and their supporters from Bisbee, Arizona in 1917.

Aug 18, 202230:10
Kaelon Fox - USL Players Association

Kaelon Fox - USL Players Association

Ted Prezelski interviews Kaelon Fox, who serves as the FC Tucson representative for the United Soccer League Players Association.

Aug 12, 202226:19
Bennito Kelty - Reporter, Tucson Sentinel

Bennito Kelty - Reporter, Tucson Sentinel

Ted Prezelski speaks with Bennito Kelty about becoming a journalist and what got him from Colorado to Tucson.

Aug 02, 202228:07
Jon Proudstar, SAG-AFTRA and author of Tribal Force

Jon Proudstar, SAG-AFTRA and author of Tribal Force

Ted Prezelski interviews one of the stars of Reservation Dogs, Jon Proudstar. Proudstar just finished an appearance at San Diego Comic-Con where he rolled out a new run of his series Tribal Force, a comic featuring Native American superheroes.

Jul 26, 202227:26
Ivan Modesto, Starbucks Workers United

Ivan Modesto, Starbucks Workers United

There has been a wave of organizing by Starbucks employees (known as "partners" in the company's parlance) and Tucson has its first unionized location. Ted Prezelski speaks with Starbucks worker Ivan Modesto about the issues that led to their organizing.

Jul 18, 202228:09
Christopher Garlock, Harold Phillips - Labor Radio Podcast Network

Christopher Garlock, Harold Phillips - Labor Radio Podcast Network

Ted Prezelski interviews the two founders of the Labor Radio Podcast Network, an online clearinghouse, organization and help desk for various labor podcasters and radio shows across the country.

Jul 11, 202229:16
ENCORE - Henry Barajas, Comic Book Author

ENCORE - Henry Barajas, Comic Book Author

Henry Barajas recently announced that he will be appearing at Tucson ComiCon in September and will also be having a Batman story published around that time. Given that, we are revisiting last year's interview with him.

Jun 23, 202230:27
Dylan Smith - Editor and Publisher, Tucson Sentinel

Dylan Smith - Editor and Publisher, Tucson Sentinel

Ted Prezelski interviews Dylan Smith about the Tucson Sentinel, an online publication he started after the Tucson Citizen shut down. Smith is also the founder of LION, an association of publishers of community-based online newspapers.

Jun 14, 202228:38
Becky Pallack - Arizona Luminaria

Becky Pallack - Arizona Luminaria

Ted Prezelski talks with Becky Pallack, operations executive of Arizona Luminaria, an online newspaper serving Tucson.

Jun 07, 202226:12
Charlie Bertsch - Bonus Episode 1

Charlie Bertsch - Bonus Episode 1

Ted Prezelski asks Charlie Bertsch about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and we get to hear a lot of unexpected insights.

Jun 02, 202207:20
Jefferson Carter, Poet

Jefferson Carter, Poet

Ted Prezelski speaks with Jefferson Carter, a Tucson-based poet and educator.

May 31, 202229:47
Charlie Bertsch, writer and journalist

Charlie Bertsch, writer and journalist

Ted Prezelski talks to Charlie Bertsch about his recent article about the Tucson music scene for the Battleground and a number of other topics.

May 31, 202227:40
Erica Prather - Defenders United

Erica Prather - Defenders United

Ted Prezelski interviews Erica Prather who organized a union at Defenders of Wildlife. She talks about her work there, labor issues at the organization as well as how she became active in union organizing.

May 26, 202228:22
Ryan Kelly - National Writers Union and Pima Area Labor Federation

Ryan Kelly - National Writers Union and Pima Area Labor Federation

Ted Prezelski interviews Ryan Kelly about actions for workers at both Amazon and Starbucks in Tucson. He also talks about love for Scabby the Rat.

May 11, 202226:43
Patrick Whitehurst - Journalist and Author of Murder & Mayhem in Tucson

Patrick Whitehurst - Journalist and Author of Murder & Mayhem in Tucson

Ted Prezelski interviews Patrick Whitehurst, an author that recently moved to Tucson. Whitehurst discusses the book Murder & Mayhem in Tucson along with his crime fiction.

Apr 05, 202228:52
Alejandro Chavez - Executive Director of DMU and grandson of Cesar Chavez

Alejandro Chavez - Executive Director of DMU and grandson of Cesar Chavez

This is the week that many of us honor Cesar Chavez, so Ted Prezelski has a chat with the UFW leader's grandson Alejandro Chavez. They talk about the legacy of his grandfather, how he got into community organizing in Arizona and his current work in Washington.

Mar 28, 202229:30
Anakarina Rodriguez, Arizona Cesar Chavez Holiday Coalition and the National Domestic Workers Alliance

Anakarina Rodriguez, Arizona Cesar Chavez Holiday Coalition and the National Domestic Workers Alliance

Ted Prezelski talks to Anakarina Rodriguez about the upcoming Cesar Chavez holiday in Tucson and the meaning of the holiday for her. She also discusses her work with the National Domestic Workers Alliance, which seeks to extend labor protections to domestic workers.

Mar 24, 202231:20