The Best Dam Podcast

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Congresswoman Dina Titus, who represents Boulder City and Southern Nevada in the U.S. House of Representatives. Dina shares how a politically active Georgia upbringing, a proud Greek immigrant grandfather, and 35 years teaching political science at UNLV shaped her path to public service. Dina opens up about the decline of civility in pol...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Angie Rafferty, owner of The Bourbon Babe and office administrator for the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce. Angie shares how she delivers unique mobile bartending, mocktail services, and mobile mixology classes, bringing both custom menus and entertainment to private, corporate, and community events across town. Angie also opens up abou...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Ihla Crowley, Project Director for the Boulder City Chautauqua. Ihla shares how the organization brings history to life through immersive living history performances, gearing up for this year's theme, "Spark of a New Nation," in honor of America's 250th anniversary. Ihla opens up about the rich history of Chautauqua i...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Nick Weir, an amazing guide with Boulder City Ghost Adventures and a frontline ambassador at the Lighthouse Inn. Nick shares how he combines fascinating local history with spooky storytelling, using modern phone projectors to bring archival media to life right on the historic buildings of Boulder City. Nick also opens up about his fascin...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill catches up with Riley Knudsen, a student at Empowered Leaders Micro School and winner of the local "I Voted" sticker contest. Riley shares her experience designing the winning sticker, her love for art, and her dream of becoming an animator. Riley also reflects on the unique environment of attending a micro school, going on memorable field tr...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill catches up with eight-year-old Madison 'Maddie' Hensala, winner of the "I Voted" sticker contest. Maddie shares her excitement about designing the winning sticker, her love for art, and her goal of becoming an art teacher one day. Maddie also reflects on moving from Wyoming to Boulder City, balancing third grade with competitive swi...

Welcome to The Best Dam Podcast! In this episode, Jill Lagan, CEO of the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce, turns the spotlight on her own business coach and mentor, Howard Fox. Listeners will hear the story of how a well-timed cold call from Howard sparked the launch of this very podcast and helped Jill overcome her imposter syndrome to become a confident host. Together, they delve into the power...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill catches up with Mike Murphy, candidate for Clark County Public Administrator. Mike shares his journey from his early days in law enforcement to his extensive career as Boulder City's first juvenile officer, Clark County Coroner, lead lobbyist, and national public safety consultant. Mike also reflects on his deep roots in Boulder City, his decades...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast , Jill catches up with Michael Paxinos, founder of Pax Academia and developer of the CommonPlace App. Mike shares his journey from navigating high school struggles to discovering a passion for logic, mathematics, and classical education in college. Mike also reflects on his deep roots in Boulder City, his 17-year career in education, and his work supporting...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill catches up with local advocates and business figures Grant Turner, Celeste Interrante, and Hava Brown. The panel shares their insights on the evolving data center debate in Boulder City, exploring how smart lease parameters, modern technological advancements, and revenue sharing can directly benefit residents.   Grant, Celeste, and Hava reflect on the...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill catches up with Curt Gebers, owner and founder of Natural Blum. Curt shares about his journey, his commitment to pure health and wellness, and his line of CBD/CBG products  Curt also reflects on his eclectic life experiences—from breaking out in the oil fields at 15 to breeding national champion Cane Corsos and even acting in major film productions—all...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill catches up with Pearl Johnstone, owner of Professional Pet Room and Groom. Pearl shares about her nearly three decades of dedicated pet care, community service, and the evolving world of pet grooming and boarding in Boulder City. Pearl also shares how her journey from Palmerston, Ontario, to launching a business in Boulder City in May 1995 shaped her l...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill catches up with Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony. Jill and Stavros explore public service, community pride, and the shifting landscape of civic responsibility across Southern Nevada and the Silver State. Stavros shares how his 29-year career in law enforcement and time on the Las Vegas City Council led to his state leadership role, while refl...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill catches up with Chris Unger, owner of Ragtown Tattoo, and tattoo artist Steve "Scuba" Iwinski. Jill, Chris, and Steve explore the history, craft, and shifting culture of body art in Southern Nevada. Chris shares how his journey from a small desert town led to founding Boulder City's first tattoo studio, while Steve reflects on growing up...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill catches up with Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo at the 78th Damboree in Boulder City. Jill and Gov. Lombardo explore the unique spirit and bright future of the Silver State. Gov. Lombardo shares how his childhood as a military kid and his decades of service as sheriff and governor shaped his deep appreciation for the liberties of this nation and the tight...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen to explore the unique "frontier spirit" that drives the Silver State. Senator Rosen shares how her faith and upbringing instilled a lifelong commitment to leaving her corner of the world better than she found it. This isn't just a story about political leadership; it's about a mission-driven a...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with the Magon and Shawn Peuker, the strategic masterminds behind The Rae of Hope Foundation. Together, unpack the world of nonprofit advocacy and explore how a basic plan of infrastructure and personal persistence can transform a chaotic, high-stress environment into a highly manageable roadmap for bringing next-generation support and commun...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with the multi-talented CJ Sattler, the strategic mastermind behind isp.net and a seasoned professional in the internet service provider industry. Together, they pull back the curtain on the world of telecommunications and explore how a basic plan of infrastructure and technical persistence can transform a chaotic, high-stress environment int...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with the multi-talented Allison Ruiz Shafer, the strategic mastermind behind the Dam Dog House and a seasoned professional in the veterinary field and animal behavior. Together, they pull back the curtain on the confusing world of pet care and explore how a basic plan of calm can transform a chaotic, high-stress environment into a highly mana...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast , Jill sits down with the multi-talented Remso Martinez, the strategic mastermind behind Marketer on the Run and a seasoned fractional Chief Marketing Officer. Together, they pull back the curtain on the confusing world of digital marketing and explore how a basic plan can transform a chaotic, never-ending task list into a highly manageable roadmap for small...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast , Jill sits down with the multi-talented Holly Wittwer , the mastermind behind Events with Holly and the newly launched Home Educated Foundation . Together, they pull back the curtain on the invisible art of event planning and explore how a local need sprouted a rapidly growing national initiative to support homeschool families. The discussion dives deep int...

Best Dam Podcast Exclusive: Inside the Data Center Debate - Part II with Brynn Delormier, Kendra Dyson, and Fred Boltz  -  In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Boulder City advocates and local community members Brynn Delormier, Kendra Dyson, and Fred Boltz to pull back the curtain on a massive, fast-tracked tech proposal. Together, they break down the critical issues surrou...

Best Dam Podcast Exclusive: Inside the Data Center Debate - Part I with Ned Thomas - In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Ned Thomas, the City Manager of Boulder City, to discuss the ongoing community conversations surrounding data centers. Moving past the rumors, Ned pulls back the curtain on the multi-step "gatekeeping" process of land management, the reality of...

Boulder City Critter Sitter - In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Michelle Carroll , the founder of Critter Sitter LLC , to discuss the impressive growth of her professional pet care business. From starting as a solo entrepreneur to managing a team of four independent contractors, Michelle shares how her passion for animals has evolved into an essential service for Boulder...

In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast , Jill sits down with Leslie Woodbury , the Director of the Boulder City Hospital Foundation , to discuss the vital role the foundation plays in maintaining local healthcare. From its historic roots established by Sarah Denton in the 1960s to its modern-day impact, Leslie shares how community-driven fundraising ensures Boulder City keeps its hospital. Leslie...