"Antiques Roadshow" producer Marsha Bemko talks about 25 years of making people's dreams come true.

AZPM | By Mark McLemore

Published June 10, 2026 at 7:52 AM MST

antiques roadshow attendees 5 — More brave fans of Public Broadcasting's "Antiques Roadshow" waiting their chance to have their treasures appraised at Old Tucson at an AZPM event.

antieus roadshow attendee 1 hero — Attendees to "Antiques Roadshow" taping at Old Tucson on May 19, 2026.

"Antiques Roadshow" producer Marsha Bemko talks about 25 years of making people's dreams come true.

Featured on the June 11th, 2025 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

A conversation with Marsha Bemko, who has been the producer of the PBS series “Antiques Roadshow” for 25 years. The show and their highly specialized staff visited Tucson on May 19th, 2026, and fans of the show and members of AZPM came out in droves to be part of the experience, Mark McLemore got the chance to talk with Marsha Bemko about the unique qualities of people finding out if their obscure flea market finds or their quirky family heirlooms have more than sentimental value attached.

antiques roadshow marsha bemko hero — Marsha Bemko has been producing "Antiques Roadshow" for 25 years, and has no current plans to stop.

antiques roadshow attendees 3 hero — Hopeful fans of "Antiques Roadshow" stand in lin eto have their items evaluated & assessed.

antiques roadshow appraisers 1 hero — The volunteer appraisers that travel with "Antiques Roadshow" are highly skilled in their fields.

antiques roadshow attendees 2 hero — Attendees to "The Antiques Roadshow" taping at Old Tucson on May 19, 2026.

And in this month's storytelling segment, retired educator, traveler and writer Jeff Hartman shares the story behind an unforgettable Alaskan adventure that went in a very different direction than he expected. Hartman's latest novel is "How to Win the Nobel Peace Prize" but he has also written other books.

Hartman is a fan of getting children and other people outdoors, and he has also volunteered for CEDO in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, as well as Ironwood Tree Experience in Tucson.

Hartman and another friend are planning a writing and travel adventure in Mexico City this October. They'll work on writing projects in the mornings and explore the city in the afternoons. Their wives and friends will join them at the end of the month and they'll all stay around for "Día de los Muertos" celebrations in early November.

"Sometimes you just have to create your own fun!" Hartman says.

hartman alaska hero 1 — The Brooks Mountain Range stretches for hundreds of miles from northern Alaska, east to Canada’s Yukon Territory.

hartman alaska campers spotlight 1 — Jeff and Chris had to ski more than 100 miles to get to the closest town while living their 1980 adventure in northern Alaska. This spot is over a frozen river.

hartman campers spotlight 2 — Chris, Jeff Hartman's friend, is seen here roasting a rock ptarmigan – a type of grouse - in a willow thicket during their adventure in Alaska in 1980.

hartman alaska spotlight 3 — Warming temperatures began to melt the snow in the Alaska valley where Jeff and the other men spent several weeks in 1980.

hartman alaska hero 2 — In the summer of 2025, Jeff and Chris returned to the valley in northern Alaska where they had spent several weeks decades earlier. In 1980, however, it was during a much colder part of the year.

hartman alaska return unsized — In the summer of 2025, Jeff Hartman and Chris revisited the valley in northern Alaska where they had spent several weeks in 1980. After 45 years, they recalled their unforgettable adventure and created new memories

jeff hartman novel unsized — Jeff Hartman's latest novel is "How to Win the Nobel Peace Prize".

Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.

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"Antiques Roadshow" producer Marsha Bemko talks about 25 years of making people's dreams come true.