Welcome to 🌵 Arizona Unscripted — the show all about Arizona: the people, the places, the food, the fun, and the stories that make the Grand Canyon State unlike anywhere else.

In this episode, host Bart is joined by co-hosts Kathryn and Jim for a conversation with Brian McMahan, the Democratic nominee for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 30, representing communities across Mohave and La Paz Counties and the Wickenburg area.

Brian shares what he's hearing as he travels throughout the district, where affordability, water, rural healthcare, public safety, education, and government spending are among the issues on residents' minds.

Water takes center stage as the group discusses Arizona's increasingly urgent need for a comprehensive plan to protect its limited water resources. From agricultural use and groundwater to the enormous demands of new data centers, the conversation explores some of the difficult choices Arizona may face as communities plan for continued growth in an increasingly dry state.

The discussion also turns to rural healthcare, where access to doctors, specialists, hospitals, emergency medical services, and affordable care can be very different from what residents experience in Arizona's larger cities. Drawing on his experience as a retired fire chief, Brian discusses the connection between healthcare, fire districts, EMS services, and the challenges of providing essential services across Arizona's vast rural areas.

Brian also talks about government spending, public education, term limits, and why he believes Arizona needs to start planning for tomorrow's challenges before they become full-blown emergencies.

It's another wide-ranging Arizona Unscripted conversation about the issues facing Arizona's rural communities—and the people working to shape the state's future.

🌵 Arizona Unscripted — exploring Arizona one conversation at a time.

Welcome to 🌵Arizona Unscripted — the show all about Arizona: the people, the places, the food, the fun, and the stories that make the Grand Canyon State unlike anywhere else.

In this episode, host Bart is joined by co-hosts Kathryn and Jim for a lively conversation with Miranda Lopez, a candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 21, which stretches from southeastern Tucson through Sahuarita, Rio Rico, Tubac and Nogales, with a portion extending east toward Bisbee.

Miranda shares her journey from growing up in Phoenix and attending the University of Arizona to becoming a community organizer, working with the Pima County Democratic Party, advocating for students, becoming involved with organized labor, and ultimately deciding to run for public office.

Joining the conversation is returning guest Eric Robbins, a resident of the district, who helps bring a local perspective to the discussion.

The conversation tackles some of the major issues facing Southern Arizona and the state as a whole. Miranda discusses her views on public education and Arizona's school voucher system, the shortage of affordable housing, renters and homeownership, and the role she believes state government should play in addressing these challenges.

The group also heads south to the Arizona-Mexico border, discussing proposed construction and changes affecting border communities, including concerns raised in the conversation about neighborhoods, businesses, the environment, and plans for the Nogales port of entry.

Along the way, Miranda talks about her experience finding areas of agreement with people across the political spectrum and why meaningful conversations and common ground can still play an important role in getting things done.

It's another wide-ranging Arizona Unscripted conversation about the people, policies, communities, and challenges shaping the future of the Grand Canyon State.

🌵 Arizona Unscripted — exploring Arizona one conversation at a time.

Welcome to 🌵 Arizona Unscripted — the show all about Arizona: the people, the places, the food, the fun, and the stories that make the Grand Canyon State unlike anywhere else.

In this episode, host Bart is joined by co-hosts Diane, Kathryn, and Jim for an inspiring conversation with Eric Robbins from Pima County, who shares a grassroots effort aimed at doing something many of us could use a little more of these days — talking with our neighbors and actually listening to one another.

What started simply as a few people getting together for Saturday morning coffee has grown into an effort to strengthen community connections, encourage meaningful conversations, and find common ground in a time when Americans often seem more divided than ever.

Instead of telling people what they should think, Eric's group is taking a different approach: asking questions. What makes you proud to be an American? What would make our country better? Have you simply had enough of some of the division? And can empathy, kindness, and respect actually be signs of strength rather than weakness?

Those questions lead the 🌵 Arizona Unscripted team into a thoughtful—and sometimes very personal—conversation about patriotism, healthcare, politics, community, empathy, and the importance of being willing to listen even when we don't agree.

Eric also discusses plans to bring these conversations into communities through signs, radio messages, social media, and eventually face-to-face gatherings where neighbors can sit together and reconnect.

It's a reminder that perhaps bringing people together doesn't always require a complicated solution. Sometimes it can start with a cup of coffee, a good question, an open mind—and a willingness to listen with the heart of a neighbor.

🌵 Arizona Unscripted — exploring Arizona one conversation at a time.