The Forum with Jim Falk

Jim Falk

Where important issues of the day are discussed in a hard hitting but civilized manner.

  1. Jun 18

    The Archaeologists Who Became Spies

    It is one of the most remarkable, and least known, stories of World War II. Under the leadership of William “Wild Bill” Donovan, founder of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a group of American archaeologists set aside their scholarly pursuits to become intelligence operatives. After limited training at “The Farm,” they recruited Greeks and Greek Americans to carry out secret missions across Greece and the Middle East. During our conversation, Stephan Talty describes the extraordinary efforts undertaken to protect Greece’s ancient treasures from Nazi looters. He also explains how Hitler’s interest in Greece extended beyond military strategy. Hitler believed there was a racial and cultural connection between ancient Greece and the Aryan race, making Greece’s antiquities a matter of ideological as well as strategic importance. Host:            Jim Falk Guests:        Stephan Talty, Author, The American School of Spies: The archaeologists Who Fought the Nazis and Saved the Treasures of Ancient Greece

    28 min

  2. Jun 17

    Inside Santa Fe’s Summer Festival Season

    Each summer, Santa Fe becomes a vibrant center of cultural activity, fueled by an extraordinary series of festivals that draw both residents and visitors from around the world. From classical music presented by the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and the Santa Fe Opera, to celebrated arts traditions showcased through the Santa Fe Indian Market, Traditional Spanish Market, and the International Folk Art Market, the city offers a unique concentration of artistic experiences.  This show focuses on the Santa Fe Desert Chorale and the International Folk Art Market, while also surveying the broader landscape of Santa Fe’s festival season and the role these institutions play in shaping the city’s cultural life. Together,  these organizations create a rich cultural ecosystem with programming that complements and reinforces one another, while each maintains a distinct mission, history, and identity. At the same time, they share a common challenge: engaging the attention of both locals and tourists while exploring opportunities for deeper collaboration across the community. Co-hosts: Talitha Arnold and Daniel James  Guests: Emma Marzen, Executive Director, Santa Fe Desert Chorale               Nadia Hamid, Director of Artist Development, International Folk Art Market

    54 min

  3. Jun 11

    Under Threat: Women, Power, and Democracy

    Why are fewer women seeking political leadership today? In this episode of The Forum Plus, journalist and author Linda Robinson examines the growing threats, harassment, and intimidation that are driving many women away from public service both in the United States and around the world.  As threats, harassment, and intimidation increasingly target women leaders, and often their families, many are deciding that the personal cost of public service is simply too high. Robinson explores how attacks on democracy and gender equality frequently go hand in hand, particularly under authoritarian movements. Drawing on her extensive interviews with women who have led their countries' defense against authoritarianism, she describes similarities among these inspiring leaders. Host:            Jim Falk Guests:        Linda Robinson, Senior Fellow for Women and Foreign Policy, and author of Women in Power: Fighting for Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism

    28 min

  4. Jun 10

    After the Primary: New Mexico's Race for Governor

    The primary campaign is over. The general election campaign has begun. With just over 150 days until Election Day, New Mexico’s two gubernatorial nominees, Deb Haaland and Gregg Hull, join Jim Falk and Patrick Davis in separate recorded interviews to discuss the road ahead. They reflect on lessons learned during the primary, explain how they hope to win the support of independents and voters beyond their party base, and make their case for why they should become New Mexico’s next governor. Host:            Jim Falk Co-host:       Patrick Davis, KSFR News Reporter Guests:        Deb Haaland, Democrat Party Candidate for governor of New Mexico                    Gregg Hull, Republican Party candidate for governor of New Mexico

    56 min

  5. Jun 3

    Forum Plus: How USAID Was Fed Into the Wood Chipper and Why It Matters

    In this episode of The Forum Plus, Nicholas Enrich and Rebecca Black discuss the far-reaching consequences of the dismantling of USAID, arguing that the loss of the agency will have lasting effects on global public health, including within the United States, and significantly damage America’s international standing. Enrich’s book, Into the Wood Chipper, has drawn praise for its detailed account of how DOGE systematically dismantled what had long been regarded as an effective and respected agency founded in 1961 to provide humanitarian and development assistance around the world. Drawing on both firsthand experience and broader analysis, Black and Enrich explain why many experts believe the loss of USAID funding and infrastructure has already contributed (and will continue to contribute) to preventable deaths and humanitarian suffering worldwide. Host:               Jim Falk Guests:            Nicholas Enrich, Author, Into the Wood Chipper: A Whistleblower’s Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID                         Rebecca Black, USAID Senior Foreign Service Officer (ret.)

    28 min

  6. Jun 3

    New Mexico's Wealth Paradox

    New Mexico is not poor because it lacks resources. As the nation’s second-largest oil and gas producer after Texas, it has benefited from revenues that many states would envy. Yet New Mexico continues to struggle with persistent poverty, lagging educational outcomes, and slow population growth. A recent report, Economic Freedom in the Land of Enchantment, argues that a lack of economic freedom is preventing the state from reaching its full potential. Co-authors Paul Gessing and Matthew Mitchell contend that reducing regulations, lowering taxes, expanding school choice, and limiting government spending would create the conditions for stronger economic growth and greater prosperity. Their report draws heavily on research from the Fraser Institute, a Canadian public policy organization that publishes the annual Economic Freedom of the World and Economic Freedom of North America indexes. An especially interesting part of the conversation centered on environmental regulation which while it can discourage investment, New Mexico is a state where residents are keenly aware of the environmental costs that often accompany resource extraction.  We apologize for the technical problems that occurred during the broadcast of this program. Host:               Jim Falk Co-host:          Peter Smith Guests:            Paul J. Gessing, President, Rio Grande Foundation                         Matthew D. Mitchell, Mercatus Center, George Mason University  Show Notes: Economic Freedom in the Land of Enchantment by Matthew D. Mitchell & Paul Gessing

    54 min

  7. May 27

    Honoring Service: From Ike and Winston to America’s Overseas Cemeteries

    To commemorate Memorial Day, this program begins with a conversation with historian and author Jonathan Jordan, where we discuss the extraordinarily consequential relationship between two pivotal leaders of World War II and the Cold War: Dwight D. Eisenhower and Winston Churchill. The similarities between the 1956 Suez Crisis and today’s tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz are a reminder that history may not repeat itself, but it often rhymes. This conversation is followed by one with Tina Young, who, after a distinguished career with the U.S. Navy and NATO, joined the American Battle Monuments Commission, where as director of cemetery operations, she was responsible for managing 26 overseas U.S. military cemeteries and 31 federal memorials and monuments. In addition to discussing the history and mission of the ABMC, Tina shares moving stories about meeting family members visiting the burial sites of their loved ones. On this Memorial Day, the program serves as a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and service of the men and women of the U.S. military on behalf of our nation. Host:               Jim Falk Co-host:          Peter Smith Guests:            Jonathan Jordan, author, Ike and Winston: World War, Cold War, and an Extraordinary Friendship. Tina Young, Director of Cemetery Operation, American Battle Monuments Commission (2010-2021)

    54 min

  8. May 20

    Forum Plus: What Do Billions Of Google Searches Reveal Abou Who We Are?

    In this episode of The Forum Plus, I speak with Simon Rogers, data editor at Google and author of What We Ask Google. Drawing on search data from around the world, Rogers shows how our questions about grief, cooking, relationships, and countless everyday concerns reveal that people everywhere share remarkably similar hopes, fears, and curiosities. Simon also explains how anyone can use Google Trends to see what is capturing public attention in real time and discusses how artificial intelligence is changing the way we search, making our queries longer, more conversational, and increasingly interactive. Host:               Jim Falk Guests:            Simon Rogers, Google’s data editor; author, What We Ask Google: A Surprisingly Hopeful History of Humankind

    26 min
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