Vanguardia America

23/09/2025

- Chicano opera composer and librettist Hector Armienta reimagines Zorro as a revolutionary avenger -

Listen to the interview: tinyurl.com/3h776uup

The Arizona Opera premieres Zorro, Sept. 27-28 in Phoenix, and Oct. 4 in Tucson. Host James E. Garcia talks with Chicano composer and librettist Hector Armienta, baritone Armando Contreras and AZ Opera President and Managing Director Brian Demaris about this new take on the masked avenger.

Diego de la Vega comes home to a land ruled by oppression—and rises as Zorro, the swashbuckling defender of the people. Passions ignite and swords clash as he battles corruption, faces lost love, and sparks a revolution.

Performed in English and Spanish, Armienta reimagines Zorro in a crowd-pleasing opera that fuses Puccini-inspired melodies with a Latin flair and blazing sword-craft.

For details and tickets, visit ⁠azopera.org⁠.

Vanguardia Arizona airs every Saturday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. on La Onda, 99.5 FM/1190 AM, in Phoenix. To hear previous episodes of our show, and our sister program Vanguardia America, find us on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

23/09/2025

-AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes on her run for reelection, her statewide agenda, and pushing back against 'authoritarianism' in the White House-

Listen to this interview: https://tinyurl.com/3fmtpmre

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced her bid for reelection. Host James E. Garcia talks to Mayes about the more than 20 lawsuits — and counting — she’s filed against the Trump administration in the past nine months, and her broader statewide agenda, including countering housing fraud and preventing elder abuse.

We also get her take on federal immigration agents wearing masks when conducting arrests, the growing threat against democracy emanating from the White House, and the challenge of balancing her job as the state's top law enforcement office and motherhood. Mayes is the second woman and first mom to serve as Arizona Attorney General.

For information about her campaign, go to ⁠⁠⁠krismayes.com⁠⁠⁠.

22/09/2025

-Rep. Ansari condemns conditions at federal immigration detention centers and talks about her tenure in office to date-

Listen to this interview: https://tinyurl.com/ms5x8tyc

Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari talks to Vanguardia Arizona host James E. Garcia about the deteriorating conditions at U.S. immigration detention facilities across the country, many of which are now over capacity. After being blocked by authorities, Ansari recently visited the Eloy Detention Center in Arizona to meet with more than two dozen detainees about the center's overcrowded and substandard conditions.

The congresswoman, who took office in January, also discussed her tenure in office to date and her goal to make life more affordable for her constituents and all Americans.

To reach Ansari, visit ⁠https://ansari.house.gov/⁠

Vanguardia Arizona airs Saturday mornings from 9 to 10 a.m. Phoenix time on La Onda radio, 99.5 FM/1190 AM. To listen to previous episodes of Vanguardia Arizona, or our sister program, Vanguardia America, go to Spotify ot wherever you get your podcasts.

09/09/2025

- Meet the songstresses of Latinas Divinas II, coming to the Mesa Arts Center, Sept. 13 -

Listen to the Interview: https://tinyurl.com/bdvf9xuw

In this episode, host James E. Garcia talks to a group of local female vocalists and musicians scheduled to appear Sept. 13 at the Latinas Divinas II concert at the Mesa Arts Center.

The show pays homage to the talent and legacy of singer songwriters of the Americas, like Celia Cruz, Selena Quintanilla, Gloria Estefan, Lila Downs, Lola Beltran, Jenni Rivera and more.

Their music will be performed by some of the Phoenix Valley’s top musical talent: Carmela Ramirez, Mary Hurtado, Olivia Calderon, Diana Lee, Debi Dominguez and Angie Gomez-Byrd.
The show also features Mariachi Sonido de Mexico, Ballet Folklorico Quetzali, and Salseros On1.

Tickets at ⁠mesaartscenter.com⁠.

To hear previous episodes of Vanguardia Arizona or our sister program, Vanguardia America, find us on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. Vanguardia Arizona airs Saturday mornings from 9 to 10 a.m. on 99.5 FM/1190 AM in Phoenix. Or stream the show live on Saturdays at https://www.laondaradio.digital/

04/09/2025

The Latina advocacy group, Arizona Adelitas, says it's time to dump Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and elect Democrat Dr. Terry Leyba Ruiz.

Listen to the interview on Vanguardia Arizona: https://tinyurl.com/mry8pxjx

The next election for Arizona Superintendent for Public Instruction is more than a year away, but the group, Arizona Adelitas, wants you to know now why they're backing Democrat Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz for the post and vehemently opposing the reelection of incumbent Republican Tom Horne.

Host James E. Garcia interviewed two representatives from the organization, Hilda Ortega-Rosales and Guadalupe E. Sosa about the race and their organization's wider goals.

Arizona Adelitas advocates for public education, voting, civil rights and Latina empowerment.

To learn more about Arizona Adelitas, email ⁠[email protected]⁠.

Vanguardia Arizona · Episode

03/09/2025

On this week's episode of Vanguardia Arizona, host James Garcia interviews Carlos Montufar and Laura Arellano of Phoenix World Arts Collective and Mario Zapien and Teresa Velasquez of Teatro Mechico about their upcoming performance: De Poesia y Duenda, A Flamenco Tribute to the Soul of Federico Garcia Lorca.

Listen to the interview: tinyurl.com/nhduzvw9

Buy tickets: https://phxworldarts.org/events/

Vanguardia Arizona airs Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. on La Onda, 99.5 FM. To hear this and previous episodes of this show, or our sister program, Vanguardia America, find us on Spotify or wherever you hear your podasts.

James Garcia

08/08/2025

-Helios Education Foundation marks 20 years and $350 million in 'investments' in public education initiatives-

Listen to this interview - tinyurl.com/5n7xtjye

Helios Education Foundation President/CEO Paul J. Luna discusses what he calls the organization's "investments" over the past 20 years aimed at ensuring "all students, including those from low-income, historically underserved communities and those forging nontraditional paths" succeed after high school.

Since its founding, Helios has invested more than $350 million in a wide range of innovative education initiatives and partnerships in Arizona and Florida that have impacted nearly 2.4 million students and more than 520,000 education professionals, while providing more than 41,000 scholarships to complete postsecondary education.

To learn more about the Helios Education Foundation, visit ⁠helios.org⁠.

Follow Vanguardia Arizona and Vanguardia America on Spotify to listen to our podcasts. The radio show airs Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. in Phoenix on 99.5 FM and 1190 AM. Or you can stream it live at https://www.laondaradio.digital

Vanguardia Arizona · Episode

11/07/2025

Vanguardia Arizona interviews Congressional District 7 candidate Daniel Hernandez

Listen to the interview: tinyurl.com/32f9pju8

Vanguardia Arizona talks to Congressional District 7 candidate Daniel Hernandez about the upcoming primary race on July 15. Hernandez is a former state legislator and former aide to ex- Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

To learn more about Hernandez's campaign, visit: ⁠danielhernandezforcongress.com

11/07/2025

Vanguardia AZ interviews Congressional District 7 candidate Adelita Grijalva

Listen to the interview: tinyurl.com/mwh77h2s

Adelita Grijalva, daughter of the late Congressman Raul Grijalva, talks to host James E. Garcia about her run for Southern Arizona's Congressional District 7 on July 15, 2025.

To learn more about Grijalva, visit her campaign website:⁠ adelitaforcongress.com

27/06/2025

-Report finds gross domestic product of U.S. Latinos tops $4 trillion-

Listen to the interview: https://tinyurl.com/2eu3f94m

The 2025 Latino GDP Report finds that the gross domestic product of U.S. Hispanics has surpassed $4.1 trillion, meaning if they were their own country they would constitute the fifth largest economy in the world, larger than that of India, the United Kingdom, or France.

Host James E. Garcia speaks to two of the report's authors, Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health & Culture at UCLA, and Dr. Matthew Fineup, Executive Director of the Center for Economic Research & Forecasting at California Lutheran University, about the rapidly growing influence of Latinos on U.S. job growth, population, housing, education and more.

To read the report, go to www.⁠LatinoGDP.us⁠

About the Show
Vanguardia America and Vanguardia Arizona are hosted by James E. Garcia. The shows focus on long-form interviews covering politics, business, arts, and culture from an American Latino perspective. The radio show is in English and airs live on Saturdays, 8 to 9 a.m., on 99.5 FM / 1190 AM in Phoenix. Podcast episodes post Mondays at 9 a.m. Eastern to Vanguardia America and Vanguardia Arizona on Spotify.

About the host
James E. Garcia is a veteran journalist and playwright. As a journalist, James has worked as a reporter, columnist, editor, foreign correspondent and radio reporter and host. He was the first Latino Affairs correspondent for KJZZ, 91.5 FM, in Phoenix, and the first Latino editor of a major progressive news weekly, The San Antonio Current. Today, he hosts Vanguardia Arizona and Vanguardia America on La Onda radio in Phoenix and writes commentary and analysis for Arizona Mirror. He is also the founder and producing artistic director of New Carpa Theater Co. and the author of more than 30 plays.

Contact: [email protected]

20/06/2025

-Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro and Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes call Trump's use of troops an intimidation tactic- Listen to the interview: https://tinyurl.com/4vhencyx

Our guests are onetme presidential candidate and Former HUD Secretary Julian Castro and Vanessa Fuentes, Mayor Pro Tem of Ausin, Texas. Host James E. Garcia spoke to them as millions of Americans took to the streets nationwide as part of the massive No Kings Day marches and rallies against the policies of President Trump, including his decision to send National Guard troops and Marines to California help quell protests against roundups led by federal immigration authorities. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has also deployed National Guard soldiers to "keep the peace."

About the Show
Vanguardia America and Vanguardia Arizona are hosted by James E. Garcia. The shows focus on long-form interviews covering politics, business, arts, and culture from an American Latino perspective. The radio show is in English and airs live on Saturdays, 8 to 9 a.m., on 99.5 FM / 1190 AM in Phoenix. Podcast episodes post Mondays at 9 a.m. Eastern to Vanguardia America and Vanguardia Arizona on Spotify.

About the host
James E. Garcia is a veteran journalist and playwright. As a journalist, James has worked as a reporter, columnist, editor, foreign correspondent and radio reporter and host. He was the first Latino Affairs correspondent for KJZZ, 91.5 FM, in Phoenix, and the first Latino editor of a major progressive news weekly, The San Antonio Current.

Today, he hosts Vanguardia Arizona and Vanguardia America on La Onda radio in Phoenix and writes commentary and analysis for Arizona Mirror. He is also the founder and producing artistic director of New Carpa Theater Co. and the author of more than 30 plays.

Contact: [email protected]

06/06/2025

Valeria Fernandez of AltavozLab talks about supporting community journalists, her career, and honoring the memory of photographer Nick Oza

Listen to the interview on Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/42mytjk3

Host James Garcia talks with Valeria Fernandez, founder and executive director of ⁠Altavoz Lab⁠, which mentors, trains, and supports local journalists to pitch, produce, and publish impactful accountability and service-oriented journalism at community outlets covering historically disinvested audiences across the U.S. Also a journalist, filmmaker, and producer, Fernandez started her career at a small Spanish-language newspaper in Phoenix, before transitioning to English-language media and writing for The Guardian, Pacific Standard, Latino USA, and PRX’s The World.

We also talk about ⁠Altavoz Lab's new fellowship⁠, created in memory of Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Nick Oza.

⁠⁠About the Show
Vanguardia America and Vanguardia Arizona are hosted by James E. Garcia. The shows focus on long-form interviews covering politics, business, arts, and culture from an American Latino perspective. The radio show is in English and airs live on Saturdays, 8 to 9 a.m., on 99.5 FM / 1190 AM in Phoenix. Podcast episodes post Mondays at 9 a.m. Eastern to Vanguardia America and Vanguardia Arizona on Spotify.

About the host
James E. Garcia is a veteran journalist and playwright. As a journalist, James has worked as a reporter, columnist, editor, foreign correspondent and radio reporter and host. He was the first Latino Affairs correspondent for KJZZ, 91.5 FM, in Phoenix, and the first Latino editor of a major progressive news weekly, The San Antonio Current.

Today, he host Vanguardia Arizona and Vanguardia America on La Onda radio in Phoenix and writes commentary and analysis for Arizona Mirror. He is also the founder and producing artistic director of New Carpa Theater Co. and the author of more than 30 plays.

Contact: [email protected]