Speaking Personally

James Reel - AZPM's Classical 90.5 Music Director

Fans of classical music in Southern Arizona are no strangers to James Reel's voice, but we get to know him on a deeper level in this episode. From humble beginnings in Yuma, Arizona, Reel has become an important figure in Tucson's artistic community, leading multiple organizations such as Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, Tucson Pops and the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra over years. In conversation with Tom McNamara, Reel discusses developing his own passions without much guidance, the evolution of Tucson's cultural offerings, and why he thinks more people should listen to classical music.

Marc Shaiman - Composer, Lyricist and Author

Marc Shaiman is a Grammy, Emmy, Tony and BAFTA-award winning composer and lyricist who has also been nominated for seven Oscars - so far. If you've seen a movie since the late 1980s, there is a good chance you have heard his work. He recently sat down with AZPM's Mark McLemore to discuss his long-serving friendship and career with Bette Midler, the more than 20 projects he worked on with his close friend Rob Reiner, scoring The Addams Family films, and why he doesn't rewatch the South Park movie. Shaiman recently slowed down long enough to write a memoir called "Never Mind the Happy: Showbiz Stories from a Sore Winner".

Leslie Tolbert Ph.D. Dept. of Neuroscience University of Arizona

Leslie Tolbert spent most of her career studying neuroscience and the mysteries of the brain, which makes her frank discussion about a recent Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis all the more interesting. Tolbert received her Ph.D. in Anatomy from Harvard in 1978; in 1987 she arrived at the University of Arizona where she has held several positions including Professor, Acting Director of the Arizona Research Laboratories, Senior Vice President for Research and Regents’ Professor, among others. In this discussion Tolbert tells Tom McNamara how being exposed to different cultures at a young age expanded her mind, how she fell in love with the brain and her husband at the same time, and how after years of studying there is still so much to learn about the human brain.

2026 Guggenheim Fellow and Astrophysics Professor Dr. Erika Hamden

In April of 2026, Dr. Erika Hamden was named a Guggenheim Fellow, adding to her long list of accomplishments. In conversation with AZPM's Tom McNamara she discusses how public broadcast opened her eyes to the universe, dropping out of MIT, the difficult decision between cooking and astrophysics and how anyone at any age can learn science. Over the past few years, Hamden has exploded as one of the best science communicators on social media with over 125,000 followers on Instagram alone. She recently published the book "Weird Universe: Everything We Don't Know About Space (and Why It's Important)" that explores the complicated mysteries of the cosmos. Along with her myriad accomplishments and fascination with space, she is also extremely down to earth.

The Woman Leading Tucson Electric Power: Susan Gray

Susan Gray started off at Tucson Electric Power as a student and has risen through the ranks, achieving many notable firsts on her way to becoming CEO. In conversation with AZPM's Tom McNamara, she discusses her supportive upbringing, being known on the front lines as "The Girl" and falling in love with Tucson along the way. She shares stories about walking on to University of Arizona's swim team, why its forbidden to disparage math in her house, and why she feels a personal responsibility to the community.