New "Smart Talk" Radio Show Showcases Educational, Political, And Social Issues

On Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, the talk radio show “Smart Talk with Robin and Al” premiered on Tucson’s 1030 KVOI AM, The Voice. Airing live on Saturdays at 8 a.m., the show will offer a lively and provocative discussion of today’s educational, political, and social issues.

The show’s first guest was Keith Allred, the new executive director of the UA’s National Institute for Civil Discourse (NICD). Heated rhetoric and a lack of bipartisan collaboration are leaving many voters frustrated and worried about our political process. Allred has expertise in conflict resolution and mediation as well as a successful track record of bringing people from different political groups together to solve problems. During the show, Allred answered questions from listeners and discuss his vision for how the institute can partner with people across the country to tackle incivility and divisiveness.

The show’s co-hosts are Robin Hiller and Albert Bergesen. Hiller is the founder and former executive director of Voices for Education and previously hosted the “State of Education” radio program on KVOI. Albert Bergesen is a professor and former director of the School of Sociology. He previously hosted the public-access television show “Center Stage,” sponsored by the Udall Center.

“Smart Talk” is a co-production of University of Arizona’s College of Education and College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Listen live or catch up on old episodes at the KVOI website.

May 2019 update: Smart Talk with Robin and all is moving to Saturdays at 9 a.m. starting May 4.