The Atlas Obscura Podcast Kelly McEvers and New Mexico: A Love Story
Feb 12, 2026
Denise Kuhn, a chili researcher at New Mexico State University who helps farmers and breeds peppers. Chris Naka, a reporter who narrates his visit to Walter De Maria’s Lightning Field. Dylan Thuras, Atlas Obscura co-founder and reporter who covers place-based stories. They explore the Chili Pepper Institute’s history and breeds, then recount the secretive, meditative experience of visiting the Lightning Field.
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From Psych Major To Chili Researcher
- Denise Kuhn left a psychology major after one semester and took a job in the chili breeding program at NMSU.
- That student job led her to a career studying and improving chili peppers for farmers.
Chilies Traveled From Amazon To New Mexico
- Chili peppers originated in the Amazon and spread via birds that ate the fruit and dispersed the seeds.
- Fabian Garcia bred local varieties into the larger, thicker New Mexican pod type that defined the region's cuisine.
A Single Breeder Shaped A State's Chili Culture
- Fabian Garcia's breeding created the New Mexican pod type and launched a century-long program at NMSU.
- Dr. Paul Bosland later formalized that program into the Chili Pepper Institute to expand outreach and preservation.