Will politics continue to get worse? What will be the fate of Martha McSally? What is the future of news? That&#39;s REAL news. Welcome to the politics issue of On the Grid! Now that the dust has settled on the 2018 election, we have Jim Small with Arizona Mirror to take a look back and a look forward. Jim has a long history of covering politics in Arizona, particularly at the state legislature. He spent more than a decade at the Capitol Times and was executive director of the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting. He now leads the state’s newest news organization Arizona Mirror, which focuses on public policy and how it affects YOU. Political junkies won&#39;t want to miss this one!

On the Grid

Episode 27: Jim Small of Arizona Mirror

The creators of the Phoenix Film Festival have something new up their sleeves and it is the inaugural Peoria Film Fest Oct. 19-21, at Harkins Arrowhead 18. The festival will include a curated collection of films ranging from full-length features and documentaries to shorts. The drama “What They Had” will kick off the festival, written and directed by Elizabeth Chomko, and starring Hilary Swank, Michael Shannon, Robert Forster, Blythe Danner, Taissa Farmiga and Josh Lucas. Listen to Episode 26 of the podcast and come on a filmic journey with us led by Executive Director Jason Carney and see how the Valley has made it on the map with a well-respected film festival and a community of cinephiles and filmmakers living their passion. 

Episode 26: Jason Carney of Peoria Film Festival

The #RedforEd movement rode a wave to the doorsteps of the Arizona Capitol with a falling crest resulting a budget approved by state lawmakers and Gov. Doug Ducey giving teachers a pay raise of about 20 percent by 2020. The movement won over broad support and the sea of red was a sight to see. But with a big election looming, what is next for public education in Arizona? Will their voice continue to be heard among all the other voices? Well, in our 25th episode of On The Grid, we have Allegra Fullerton on the show to fill us in. She’s with Arizona Save Our Schools, a local nonpartisan grassroots organization that has a big hand in the movement here in our state.

Episode 25: Allegra Fullerton of Save Our Schools Arizona

Valley resident Myrlin Hepworth has built his career on words, words that eventually evolved into hip-hop. The work of this poet and musician has been featured on NPR and after the release of two mixtapes, he just launched his first album called Remember Why on April 15. A new music video is due out June 1. But another side of his lifestyle is as a youth advocate and teaching artist, working with thousands of kids sharing his poetry, his experience as a Chicano and as a human. In episode 24 of On The Grid, we sit down with Myrlin and discuss art, the creative process and giving back.

Episode 24: Hip-Hop Artist & Teacher Myrlin Hepworth

Podcast lovers, this is the episode of On the Grid for you! In episode 23, we explore four local podcasts that make their subject matter the Valley of the Sun and all things in it. Consider this recording a podcast about podcasts. The meta episode if you will! Actually, the Valley is home to many cool podcasts, but unfortunately, we only had an hour to feature a few of the best. So … Sit back, relax and learn about all the things the following podcasts have to offer: Limited Engagement, Hoot N Review, The PHX podcast and Starving Artists PHX. Podcasters unite! 

Episode 23: The Phoenix Podcast Episode!

The March 5 deadline President Donald Trump set to essentially end the DACA program has come and gone. And little has changed. But that doesn’t mean DACA recipients are in any less limbo than before. So for our third and final episode of our DACA series, we have Phoenix immigration lawyer Juliana Manzanarez on the show. She shares her insights on what the law says about DACA recipients under today’s circumstances and what the future may hold for immigration under the Trump administration.

Episode 22: DACA Stories part 3: Immigration Attorney Juliana Manzanarez

At the young age of 21, Patrick Morales was elected to the Tempe Elementary School District Governing Board with a desire to change the status quo. But entering politics isn’t the only way to make a difference. He is also an activist for immigrant rights and our guest for the second installment of our three-part series on DACA. Like our previous guest, Morales is on the forefront of the movement to reform immigration in Arizona. And, now 25, he is running for re-election this year. But it is a delicate balance – fighting for immigration rights while operating within the world of politics. Take a listen to what it’s like trying to make a difference in seemingly divergent landscapes.

Episode 21: DACA Stories Part 2: Patrick Morales, Activist and Tempe Elementary School Board Member

Wishing deportation on an immigrant is really easy if you’ve never actually spoken to one. This sentiment comes from Karina Ruiz, Arizona Dream Act Coalition president. She instead urges people to learn about those who were brought to this country by no choice of their own. You may be surprised to learn she had no interested in being uprooted from her friends in Mexico City, where she grew up. Ruiz is our first On the Grid guest in a series of episodes about immigration and DACA. The mercury on this issue is bubbling and a movement supporting immigrants’ rights is afoot. But after a week of failed immigration talks in Congress, the movement remains in limbo. But Ruiz is one of its leaders in Arizona, and says she&#39;ll never give up on the movement. Her story is powerful. If you’ve never gotten to know a DACA recipient, this episode is a great opportunity to do so.

Episode 20: DACA Stories Part 1: Karina Ruiz of Arizona Dream Act Coalition

Cult film phenomenon The Room has become so influential that James Franco made a movie about it called The Disaster Artist which opens nation-wide next Friday. Tommy Wiseau&#39;s "so bad it&#39;s good" movie stars Phoenix resident and host of On the Grid Philip Haldiman. Well, for this episode of the podcast the tables are turned. Producer Chris Ayers interviews Haldiman about his experiences in The Room and his thoughts on The Disaster Artists. Cult film lovers won&#39;t want to miss this.

Episode 19: On the Grid Host Philip Haldiman in "The Room"

Kimber Lanning might be the quintessential On the Grid guest. She’s spent most of her life in the Valley and from a young age she started contributing to the character of our metropolitan area. At 15, her first job was Zia Records, and at 19, she opened local independent record store Stinkweeds, later opened venue/art gallery Modified Arts and then formed nonprofit Local First. And she is our guest for the 18th episode of On the Grid. Come with us on her journey from music to economic development. You’d be surprised to learn how flawlessly connected these things are. Oh, and we have an announcement about the rescued Wurth House.

Episode 18: Kimber Lanning of Stinkweeds and Local First Arizona

There are so many reasons to listen to this, our 17th episode of On the Grid! Not only because we have playwright/actor/etc./etc. Ashley Naftule on to talk about his new play “Ear,” based loosely on painter Vincent Van Gogh. But also because it marks a point of closure. This will be Space 55’s last major production at its 7th Street and Pierce location. Like so many downtown venues before it, Space 55 is being forced to move because the land it sits on was recently bought. The venue has been a safe haven for locals to cut their teeth performing and a place for seasoned actors to try new and experimental things. In this episode, we pay homage to a place that has been a refuge for artists since its creation in 2006. And we take a peek at what may be in store for it. If you’ve ever had any involvement with Space 55, this is worth a listen!

Episode 17: Playwright Ashley Naftule

Consider this episode of On the Grid a precursor to the weekend. For our 16th installment of the podcast we sat down with Valley resident and all around multi-faceted artist Ali Tomineek. At the young age of 20 years old, Ali’s newest album Friday Flow peaked at the #1 spot on the Billboard Heatseeker Mountain chart in May. A true child of the new millennium, he’s a master on social media and has thousands and thousands of hits on YouTube. And he’s currently working on his next album, expected to be released in the fall. Take a listen, and get to know one of Hip Hop's most promising young artists. 

Episode 16: Hip-Hop Artist Ali Tomineek

You don't have a thriving metropolis without arts and culture, and that includes a vibrant literary scene. Well, the city of Phoenix recently took a big step in that direction by creating their first poet laureate. That would be OUR poet laureate, and On the Grid is honored to have her on the show. In December, Rosemarie Dombrowski was chosen for the post, and she has hit the ground running trying to boost the appreciation of the reading and writing of poetry. On the 15th episode of the podcast, we discuss the power of the pen with Rosemarie and her plan to spread the good of words throughout the Valley.  

Episode 15: Phoenix Poet Laureate Rosemarie Dombrowski

Sesame Street just introduced its first new Muppet to the show in more than a decade. Her name is Julia and she is autistic. The 14th episode of On the Grid is here for your listening pleasure and we talk to the puppeteer who brings her to life, Stacey Gordon. Hang out with us as we dig deep into the evolution of Julia and dissect the anatomy of a dream of a lady who never stopped fantasizing about being on Sesame Street. Only now, it's real! Press play and we'll tell you how to get, how to get to ...

Episode 14: Stacey Gordon, Sesame Street Puppeteer

Remember when pretty much the only place to see stand-up comedy in the Valley was the Improv in Tempe? Well, now you can see it every night of the week at dozens of venues throughout this sprawling land. The stand-up comedy scene has taken off in the last decade, from wannabe comics coming out of the woodwork at open mics to national names commonplace on local marquees. And now we have Bird City Comedy Festival, April 6-9, in its second year featuring more than 100 funny performers from around the country. You'll see stand-up, improv, sketch, storytelling and more. Founder Genevieve Rice sits down with us to discuss comedy and its place in the Valley. LOL!

Episode 13: Genevieve Rice of Bird City Comedy Festival

On the Grid is a podcast about the makers, creators and entrepreneurs that are helping to transform Phoenix, AZ into the thriving cultural metropolis we know it can be. Hosted by Philip Haldiman and produced by Chris Ayers for Halftone Audio.

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