Skywatcher Leo T Sounds the Alarm on NASA Archives + Best of Nick at 6 2025

Fresh tonight, a conversation with KRCL's own Skywatcher Leo T about some cool NASA pictures and the possible fate of archives dating back to the early days of the space race.

Wednesday, Dec. 31: Best of RadioACTive with Nick @ 6. Instead of looking back, RadioACTive looks ahead at ways to build community in the new year. We're talking third spaces with the League of Utah Writers, Tell Yer Tale, and BookishSLC. Ink Stick military-industrial complex reporter Taylor Barnes is on a quest for public records about the subsidies Utah paid to Northrop Grumman. And Salt Lake Harm Reduction brings receipts for 2025.

Get More Local, More Vocal with Tonight's Guests, Organizations & Community Events

Skywatcher Leo T Sounds the Alarm on NASA Archives

Fresh tonight, a conversation with KRCL's own Skywatcher Leo T about some cool NASA pictures on social media, but also a NYT story, NASA’s Largest Library Is Closing Amid Staff and Lab Cuts." Time to call your Congressman and Senators!

• Curiosity Views Earth Setting, Phobos Rising. Seeing this post prompted tonight's conversation with Skywatcher Leo T.

Rallies & Resources Spotlight (full list here):

Happy New Year's Eve. Be safe out there. More than 40 law enforcement agencies will be on the road tonight looking for impaired drivers. So party responsibly, call a friend or a ride share, and let's get into 2026 safe and sound. Below are some of the festivities tonight:

• Last Hurrah 2025 | 8P-12A @ The Gateway, 400 W 200 S, SLC. FREE. Event by The Gateway and Downtown Alliance: "The Gateway transforms into the hottest spot in Salt Lake City with nonstop entertainment, electric energy, and an unforgettable countdown experience. And of course… Downtown SLC’s only New Year’s Eve fireworks show lighting up the sky at midnight!" For a full list of activities, click here.

• Big Boom Bash Early Eve | 4-8 PM at The Grandview (6th Floor of City Hall) & Plaza at Millcreek Common. Celebrate without the midnight meltdown. Tickets!

• Big Boom Bash Out Late | 9P-12:30A at The Grandview (6th Floor of City Hall) & Plaza at Millcreek Common. Join us to ring in the New Year - all ages. Tickets!

• DOME LZR: Laser Maestro's Cosmic Countdown| 110 S 400 W, SLC. "Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Laser Maestro’s Cosmic Countdown at Clark Planetarium. Experience mind-bending laser visuals set to music from U2, Prince, Alice in Chains, Kate Bush, Depeche Mode, and more. Shows begin at 6 PM and run every hour on the hour until 10 PM." 

• Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point’s Ashton Gardens | 3900 Garden Dr, Lehi. "Celebrate the New Year in style at Luminaria with our Fireworks and Ice spectacular. Bring your family or friends for a festive, family-friendly evening as fireworks light up the sky at 7:30 pm alongside our Fire & Ice show (weather permitting)."  

• Ski resorts hosting torchlight parades, fireworks, and other festivities include Alta, Brian Head, Park City Mountain, Powder Mountain, Snowbird, Solitude, and Sundance. Check with each resort for details, or visit Ski Utah's resort calendar listings.

Best of RadioACTive Nick @ 6 2025

Harm Reduction vs Weapon of Mass Destruction

Mackenzie Bray of Salt Lake Harm Reduction Project returns to share receipts from 2025, as well as forecast into the new year with a president who reviles harm reduction but declares fentanyl a "weapon of mass destruction."

• SERVICES: "A quiet, judgement-free space for your care. Syringe exchange, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, HIV and Hepatitis C testing, linkage to care, case management, PEP and PrEP referrals, sex and drug use education, and COVID-19 information and resources in a confidential, private neighborhood home converted to an office space." 

• HOURS: Tuesday - Friday 10A- 3:30P

• CALL: (801) 702-3539 | TEXT: (385) 434-9324

• ADDRESS: 1400 S 1100 E, SLC

A New Year + New Ways to Build Community

As we face the start of a new year, RadioACTive wants to highlight ways — other than bars and churches — to engage with one another and build community. If you have ideas, email radioactive@krcl.org. Tonight, we talk with folks building something unique and inviting you to check them out.

• Brian Higgins of Mental Healthy F.I.T. has long used film as a way to talk about and work through mental health challenges with individuals and communities. Just last week, he launched a new idea, Tell Yer Tale, a live, themed storytelling show where people from all walks of life take to the mic to share true, unfiltered stories that are "raw, real and wildly human."

  • Jan. 15: Next Tell Yer Tale Event. Theme: Refresh. To get updates, be sure to follow Higgins on IG: @mentalheathen.

• Bryan Young is an award-winning podcaster, journalist, filmmaker, and author. As a journalist, he’s written regularly for StarWars.Com, Syfy, /Film, and HowStuffWorks, and many more. He is past-president of the League of Utah Writers (2021-2023), which has more than two dozen chapters across the state. Follow him across social media @swankmotron or visit swankmotron.com.

  • April 18: The Pre-Quill Conference | 9:30A-6P @ Utah Cultural Celebration Center, WVC. A one-day version of the larger conference in August. Registration now open.

  • Aug. 6-9: The Quills Conference in SLC. Event by League of Utah Writers: "Come learn from industry professionals what you need to be successful in writing and publishing. Whether you're looking for traditional publishing or exploring indie publishing, find insider tips from top professionals." Registration now open.

• Sisters Whitney and Amanda Warren started Bookish SLC in 2024 to answer the question: "What if reading could be social? "Not quite a book club, but definitely not just another night out." 

  • Jan. 8: Study Hall @ The Shop | 9a-5p @ The Shop, 350 E 400 S, SLC. "Come hang with us for Study Hall, Bookish’s co-working day for those who like their productivity with a side of community. We've teamed up with The Shop to offer $20 day passes (normally $34) every Thursday, because getting things done just feels better when you’re not doing it alone. For more details and to register, click here.

  • Jan. 13: Bookish x Norkova: Dear Future Me | 7-9 PM @ Kiln Holladay, 1895 E Rodeo Walk Dr Suite B200, Holladay. "nstead of bringing whatever book is next on your TBR, arrive with the personal development title that’s been nudging you — the one you’ve been meaning to start, return to, or finally take seriously. We’ll begin with 30 quiet, focused minutes of reading. No pressure. No performance. Just you, your book, and a room full of people doing the same. Then comes the good part. You’ll write yourself a letter—part reflection, part manifesto—hyping up the year you’re about to have. The risks you took. The boundaries you set. The wins you refused to downplay. The version of you who showed up anyway. We’ll wax-seal your letter, keep it safe, and mail it back to you in December 2026—twelve months later — as a reminder of exactly who you decided to be at the start of the year." For details and tickets, click here.

How You Like Us Now?

• Share your thoughts, suggestions and observations by calling the RadioACTive hotline: ‪(385) 800-1889. Or, send a voice memo to radioactive@krcl.org. Tell us your name and neighborhood, and leave a short message that we may air on the show. 

• The views, opinions and statements expressed on RadioACTive are solely those of the respective speakers and do not represent or reflect the views, opinions or positions of Listeners' Community Radio of Utah, nor its hosts, sponsors, or partners.

Tonight's RadioACTive Team:

• Executive Producer, Host: Lara Jones
• Volunteer Host: Nick Burns
• Producer, Host: Connor Estes