FIERY FOODS

- New Mexico’s most Enchanting Video Podcast gets even hotter this week with a trip to the Fiery Foods & BBQ Show at the Sandia Resort and Casino in Albuquerque.

I first interviewed Dave DeWitt, Co-Producer of the Fiery Foods & BBQ Show, more than 10 years ago right after I moved to Albuquerque to work at KOAT-7. Back then I didn’t know the first thing about chile (or chili for that matter). That interview was a crash course in Southwestern cuisine for me. While I am still a certified “wimp” when it comes to spicy food, I have come to appreciate the fact that when people leave the state of New Mexico, they have friends mail them green chile because they miss the flavor so much. I hope seeing this story will give you just a “taste” of what this Land of Enchantment has to offer.

After watching the story, consider following Dave DeWitt on Twitter (@FieryFoods) or visiting the Fiery Foods and Barbecue SuperSite where he blogs.

Also, please take the New Mexicast survey. It is not very long and your feedback is so helpful. Plus, you could win a great New Mexicast gift bag with goodies from: Dave DeWitt himself, jewelry maker Gemstar Dezigns, Chavela’s Salsa …and lots of other great stuff from the Land of Enchantment.

Finally, I want to welcome all the spicy new friends from Taste the Fear.com, Twitter, Facebook and anywhere else that brought you to this Enchanting Video Podcast.

Now please go tell 5 friends to sign up for our email updates at: http://tiny.cc/NMemail before I post the next episode and they miss more of this fantastic fun! They, and I, will thank you!

Lots of love,
Rosa Linda

P.S. Don’t forget to watch the bloopers… the last one in particular makes me smile (hmmm… I wonder why! LOL!).

FALK FAMILY FINALE

- Dear Friends,

I am so excited to bring you the final installment of the Falk family story. This is part four of a series about Holocaust survivor Gabrielle Falk and her family. This episode focuses on how Gabrielle’s parents, Walther and Ellinor Freund survived the Holocaust and how the family reunited after the war.

While I know my work on this series can never really do the story justice, I hope it will at least give you a glimpse at an amazing person and help us all to never forget.

Thank you to Irene Uffrecht-Peters for the photos from Auschwitz. And, as always, thank you so much to Stephen and Gabrielle Falk for entrusting me with their story.

Lots of love,
Rosa Linda

P.S. Please help us keep New Mexicast the most Enchanting Video Podcast by taking a quick survey. Click here to start it now!

RAINFOREST EXOTICS

- Hello Friends!

I am excited to welcome all of the new viewers who have recently found New Mexicast through Podcast Pickle. I must admit that I have been so focused on getting the stories done that I have been very lax in the marketing and promotion departments of this podcasting venture. Being added to the Podcast Pickle directory was very exciting for me. Hopefully, if you like what you discover here, you can all help me spread the word about this bi-monthly video podcast.

While New Mexicast isn’t only about this great state of New Mexico, I do think this week’s episode is a good example of the many unexpected things you can find in this enchanting land. After all, who would expect to see exotic animals from the rainforest right here in the desert?

Specifically, the story is about two companies in Rio Rancho, New Mexico dedicated to helping protect birds and other rainforest critters. The first is “Exotics of the Rainforest” which is owned by Carolyn and Sparky Newell. They put on an impressive show for lots of different occasions and organizations with dozens of animals. They will even come to your child’s birthday party (which sounds like great fun to me)! Although they don’t have a website, you can get more information by emailing Carolyn at: carolynmacaw@connectionone.net

The other company is “Hatch’s Parrot Place” owned by Trina and Wayne Hatcher. They raise parrots as “companions” and try to match each bird with the right home.  If you’re in the market for a parrot, email them at: hatchsparrotplace@msn.com

As I mention in the tag, this week’s story was the only one that I didn’t shoot myself (normally, everything you see on this website is reported, hosted, shot and edited by me). Back in my broadcasting days one of the things I enjoyed the most was the camaraderie between reporter and videographer, so I thought I would see how it was to work with someone else on these New Mexicast reports. The videographer who worked with me on this story is Brandon Dent (He had done some work on a short film I directed). In his day job, Brandon is a realtor, so if you are in the market for a videographer or a home, contact him at: www.MyPropertyNow.com

Finally, let me say thanks to all of you who keep tuning in and checking out these stories every two weeks. There’s no way for me to express how much it means to me to have this opportunity to venture out on my own. As long as you keep watching I get to keep this dream alive.

See you again in two weeks!

Sincerely,
Rosa Linda

NHL DREAMS

Hello friends!

For those of you that are watching the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, you should appreciate this week’s episode of New Mexicast. It is about a 14 year old hockey player with big dreams. Sure there are plenty of amazing hockey players his age who have big dreams, but this is Jade Castello’s story. He works hard and with his mother’s help, he is overcoming lots of obstacles as he pursues his goal of making it to the NHL.

I hope you enjoy meeting this young man and his mom. I certainly did.

To my loyal viewers, as always your support is greatly appreciated. In addition to watching the episodes, there are a few other ways you can help support this video podcast. You can (click on any of the list items for more info):

• Buy a t-shirt
• Subscribe to the podcast
• Take a survey
• Sponsor an Episode (just email me: RLR@NewMexicast.com )
• Tell all your friends

Thanks again for all your support as I work to keep New Mexicast going strong.

Lots of love,

Rosa Linda

BUG HUNT

Hello everyone!

I have to admit I didn’t know how tough it would be to juggle full-time mommying with reporting, editing and podcasting, but it’s a challenge I’m certainly enjoying. And, based on the number of people who subscribed to New Mexicast after just one episode (“End of Trail“), it seems you’re enjoying the end results too!

This week’s story is about a program at the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center in the mountains outside of Albuquerque called “Insects, Arthropods and Arachnids.” When I saw a notice for the class in the local paper, I pictured lots of kids chasing bugs and thought it would make a great story. After you view it, let me know if you agree by adding a comment (just click the “comments” button above the video).

By the way, if you want more information about the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center’s programs, check out their website at: www.nmnaturalhistory.org/smnhc

I also wanted to mention that there are two versions of this video uploaded here on the site, so if you are playing it on your iPod, click the “iPod” button below the player. Otherwise it will play the larger, QuickTime version.

Thanks again for watching, subscribing and for all of the comments you’ve posted so far.

See you again in two weeks (even though I say “next week” in the video).

Happy viewing

Sincerely,

Rosa Linda

P.S. For those of you who are having trouble seeing the stories, please make sure you have the latest version of QuickTime. Some people have had to completely uninstall QuickTime from their computers and then reinstall it from scratch. The latest version can be found at: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/ (Then click on “Download QuickTime.”)

END OF TRAIL

From reporter to mommy and back again…

Hello friends!

After more challenges than I expected, (and more fun than anyone deserves) my new video podcast is READY FOR LAUNCH!!! So, let me officially welcome you to the New Mexicast! (Crowd goes wild!)

Now on to the first episode…

Have you ever dreamed of being a cowboy, or imagined what it would have been like to live during the pioneer days? If so, you’re certainly not alone. Did you know there is an entire organization for people who enjoy reliving the Wild West? In this inaugural edition of the New Mexicast, I introduce you to some of these colorful characters at an event called “End of Trail.”

And, by the way, “End of Trail” is coming up in just a few weeks (June 13 – 22, 2008), so if you enjoy the story, you may want to check out the event for yourself. For more information visit their website at: www.SASSnet.com

As for the New Mexicast podcast itself, this is just the beginning. There will be a new story posted every other week, so please subscribe to the New Mexicast. It’s absolutely free, and will allow you to get updated whenever I post a new episode.

Here are three easy ways to subscribe:

1. By email: This is the easiest way. Just enter your email address in the white box to your right and click “subscribe.” Your email address will be safeguarded and you will get an email whenever I post an episode.

2. Through iTunes: This is the most fun way (in my opinion at least). Just go to this link:

http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=280402262

…and click “subscribe.” (In case that link doesn’t work, you can also find New Mexicast by searching in the iTunes store) Then, every time I post a new episode, it will be automatically sent to iTunes on your computer (which is the best part… the episodes will be waiting for you when you are ready to enjoy them).

3. In a reader: Just click where it says “Click here to subscribe to New Mexicast in a Reader” to your right, and subscribe through your favorite reader. (I would say this is for those of you that already know what a reader is.)

And finally, let me thank a few people who have helped me make this awesome video podcast:

The New Mexicast logo is created by: Craig Stickler at Foundation Imaging. Visit him at: www.csp-media.com or www.FoundationImaging.net

New Mexicast’s theme song is “New Mexico” by Dorian Spencer. Visit him at: www.DorianSpencer.com

Thanks to both Craig and Dorian. And, finally, thanks to you for watching! If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a comment here on the website or on iTunes.

See you in two weeks!

Sincerely,
Rosa Linda