City on the Edge

09/04/2024

100 years ago, an itinerant ox rancher named Mike Smith discovered the Sandia mountains and decided to make a podcast about them.

This episode, #100!!!, we celebrate that great day with a very self-indulgent ramble session of an episode. We talk City on the Edge history, highs and lows, the Simpsons and whatever else comes to mind over the course of an hour and 40 minutes.

100 years ago, an itinerant ox rancher named Mike Smith discovered the Sandia mountains and decided to make a podcast about them. Today, we celebrate that great day with a very self-indulgent ramble s

06/03/2024

Once every ten months! A new CITY ON THE EDGE episode is born!

Thanks for listening if you're still listening. This one is #100 and we talked about some of our favorite (and worst!) episodes. Do you have any!?

02/05/2023

Calling all West Mesa graduates of 1973!

We've been asked to post about the 50th Reunion of the class of 1973 - the dates are September 8th through 10th, 2023. They are hoping to get as many of the 700 students as they can!

All information can be found at www.westmesa1973.com - they also have an email [email protected] and a phone number 505 -361-4900.

Also, in Episode 19, we talk about another important event that occurred in 1973 - the five (escaped) research Sandia Mountain Monkeys! https://soundcloud.com/city-on-the-edge-podcast/episode-19-monkeys-in-ufos

Maybe the class of '73 remembers??

https://westmesa1973.classquest.com/main/default.aspx

The official class reunion website for Class of 1973 (West Mesa High School), West Mesa High Class of 1973 50th Reunion

19/04/2023

Episode 99 has Mike, Nora, and Ty talking about Mike's neighborhood, Snowheights. He shares some history and present day discoveries, as seen through his four part zine.

If you want Mike's zine, he has physical copies and pdfs - let us know!

Mike takes us on a deep dive into the history, meaning and mystery of his street in the suburbs.

21/03/2023

https://soundcloud.com/city-on-the-edge-podcast/dkb-sellers-the-father-of-nob-hill?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

A two time gold rusher, automobile booster and, well, a racist, DKB Sellers was a man with many facets even before he founded one of the most desirable neighborhoods in modern Albuquerque.

A two time gold rusher, automobile booster and, well, a racist, DKB Sellers was a man with many facets even before he founded one of the most desirable neighborhoods in modern Albuquerque.

25/01/2023

We are now on spotify, so spotify us today.

https://open.spotify.com/show/0GHmRqQbtWqxoxTiEftXBg

24/01/2023

CoE episode 97: Goodbye Mannie's, and other thoughts on the ephemeral. We talk about the history of our dearly departed greasy spoon, the impending loss of the Color Fence and remember Leisure Bowl.

RIP Mannie's. 1965-2020. And RIP to the building, 1940ish-2023.We also talk about the Colour Fence and Leisure Bowl.

09/01/2023

It's been a minute, hasn't it? But, after taking about 1 year off, we're back and ready to get back into the Albuquerque history game. We've got some cool episodes planned out for the near future--including our 100th episode spectacular!--and we hope that you guys are up for joining us on this next leg of our journey.

Join City on the Edge on Patreon to get access to this post and more benefits.

19/12/2022

New episode alert! We talk about an unexpected connection between Nora’s new Ohio home and Albuquerque.

Also, which future president did Southwest writer Mary Austin reportedly kick in the knees? There’s only one way to find out…

Our far-flung correspondent Nora Hickey finds a surprising connection to Albuquerque in her new town: a Madonna of the Trail statue.

28/11/2022

Hey, we've come back after a long break! And frankly, we need a refreshing drink of water, preferably from a beautiful, Giardia-free mountain spring. Fortunately, Mike knows where to find them.

‎Show City on the Edge Podcast, Ep The Seven Springs of Sandia - Nov 27, 2022

13/11/2022

21/09/2021

What do tacos, cults, and starvation in New Mexico have to do with each other? Listen to our latest episode to find out...

https://soundcloud.com/city-on-the-edge-podcast/93-tacos-cults-and-starvation

Some people like tacos. I don't get it. Some people like cults. I'm still not sure why. Some people... well, hardly anybody likes starvation. I get that.

25/08/2021

Episode 92! Albuquerque Pride 1970-1979

Inspired by the Pride Parade last weekend, Ty looks into the beginnings of the Albuquerque LGBTQ rights movement.

Inspired by the Pride Parade last weekend, Ty looks into the beginnings of the Albuquerque LGBTQ rights movement.

22/08/2021

In honor of Pride, here's the Albuquerque Social Club as it appeared in 1979. Gay Pride events were being planned there at least as early at 1983.

18/08/2021

Episode 91: The Slaver's March

Before the conquistador Juan de Oñate established the first Spanish colonies in New Mexico, another Spaniard attempted to do so. Why did Gaspar Castaño de Sosa fail? And why isn't he remembered today?

Before the conquistador Juan de Oñate established the first Spanish colonies in New Mexico, another Spaniard attempted to do so. Why did Gaspar Castaño de Sosa fail? And why isn't he remembered today?

18/08/2021

A podcast exploring New Mexico's history. We tell stories from this state's fascinating past, from pre-European colonization to Route 66. Listen and subscribe via the link below.

‎Society & Culture · 2021

11/08/2021

Episode 90!
In 1933, an Iowa boy left his home and family to seek out his pen pal, who lived at the Pueblo of Santo Domingo. Nora walks us through this strange, forgotten story.

https://soundcloud.com/city-on-the-edge-podcast/90-the-runaway

In 1933, an Iowa boy left his home and family to seek out his pen pal, who lived at the Pueblo of Santo Domingo.

10/08/2021

On Aug. 10, 1680, New Mexico's Pueblos rose up in a successful revolt against their Spanish oppressors.

https://newmexiconomad.com/the-pueblo-revolt-of-1680/

Happy Pueblo Independence Day!

The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was one of the most significant events in New Mexico’s history. The revolt wasn’t successful in terms of permanently driving the Spanish from New Mexico. It was successful in terms of curtailing the cruelty and exploitation exhibited by the Spanish prior to the revoluti...

04/08/2021

Episode 89 has hit the podwaves!

The CCC and the Boys of Camp F8N- In the depths of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps to both provide relief jobs to unemployed men and improve the nation's historic and natural resources. The men of Camp F8N came from all over the country to live and work in our own Sandia Mountains, and their legacy remains visible today.

In the depths of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt created the Civilian Conservation Corps to both provide relief jobs to unemployed men and improve the nation's historic and natural resources

29/07/2021

New episode! I interview author John Gram about New Mexico's Indian boarding schools.

An interview with Professor John Gram, author of "Education at the Edge of Empire: Negotiating Pueblo Identity in New Mexico's Indian Boarding Schools.

21/07/2021

What's our pal/cohost Nora Hickey been up to? Why, she's writing about comics, of course! Check out her new substack here.

It was 1970 and the scene on Haight-Ashbury was groovy--hippies and straights buzzed in and out of headshops with new wares. Trina Robbins flipped through her issue of Zap Comix, the underground comic book curated and published by R. Crumb. She was newly arrived from New York and as an artist and lo...

20/07/2021

Have you ever heard of Elfego Baca?

On this episode, we talk about the only Albuquerque resident to have a Disney mini-series made of his life... as far as we know. And this story has all the makings of a true legend. So sit back and here the tale of one New Mexican who stood up against a legion of drunken, gun-slinging Texans and not only lived to tell the story, but emerged victorious.

After talking about his less-savory side, we return to Elfego Baca, this time to tell of his legendary gunfight against a legion of drunken Texans.

30/06/2021

New episode!

We take a look at some of the more colorful characters from Albuquerque's past, including Elfego Baca, followed by an interview with local author and ghost hunter (!) Cody Polston, about his book Wicked Albuquerque, which examines the seamy underside of the city's history.

A look at some of the more colorful characters from Albuquerque's history, including Elfego Baca, and an interview with local author and ghost hunter (!) Cody Polston

28/06/2021

Our friend Megan says "this little number is still on the market, if your decor taste is akin to puking an everlasting gobstopper...."

For sale: $710,000. Journey to the 70's in this quintessential custom brick home built to the nines by Duane Burnside for HB & Lucille Horn; Built of authentic New Orleans brick, iron & oak, this approximately 6,570 sq. ft. Sought after Ridgecrest area; 4 BRs, 5 BA, 4 CG, formal liv/din, den w/fp, m...

22/06/2021

New episode! What's the deal with Los Lunas's "Mystery Stone?"

About a half-houri west of Los Lunas, an inscribed stone rests on the side of Hidden Mountain. Could it be evidence that New Mexico was visited by Hebraic tribes in Old Testament times? No. The answer

15/06/2021

Maybe you want to look at our faces while you listen to our podcast? I mean, there's gotta be somebody, right? Then check out the youtube version, still banned in North Korea.

On February 26, 1986, New Mexico state investigators discovered 150 human skulls in a “hand dug cave” beneath a home in Albuquerque’s North East heights.

14/06/2021

Newest episode!

Another week, another scoundrel. We look at the cons of Howard Elam, one of which led him to stash 150 human skulls beneath his Northeast Heights home in Albuquerque.

On February 26, 1986, New Mexico state investigators discovered 150 human skulls in a “hand dug cave” beneath a home in Albuquerque’s North East heights.

12/06/2021

Well, this is the weirdest analogy of the day.

The neuroscientist, broadcaster and author on the evolution of the brain, the mystery of consciousnesss, and why the next generation will be much smarter than us

10/06/2021

Episode 83: It starts simply enough: A foul-mouthed furniture salesman buys a gold mine in New Mexico. Next thing you know, law enforcement officials are bribed, a man dies under suspicious circumstances and two people mysteriously disappear.
This is the story of Ed Barbara and the Golden Gulch Mine.

https://soundcloud.com/city-on-the-edge-podcast/83-the-furniture-salesman-and-the-empty-goldmine

A foul-mouthed furniture salesman buys a gold mine in New Mexico. Next thing you know, law enforcement officials are bribed, a man dies under suspicious circumstances and two people mysteriously disap