Compassionate Las Vegas Podcast with Will Rucker

Alex Bybee sees educational equity as a moral imperative that is required to fulfill America's promise to our children. He brings this truth to his role as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Communities in Schools of Nevada—the fifth-largest state office of the nation's leading dropout prevention organization that serves over 70,000 students in 75 schools across the Clark, Elko, Humboldt,...

Joyce Bosen Creator and Founder of Trauma Recovery Yoga (TRY) Joyce Bosen received her 200 hour Yoga Alliance Certification in Ashtanga yoga after shadowing her mentor Ki F. Kosut at the Ki-Atsu LMT, CPT, RYT at the Institute of Healing Arts for 12 months. Joyce continued to hone her skills as an Ayurveda Consultant and certified T.M. (Transcendental Meditation). Shortly after Joyce created a clas...

Brittany DuPree Director of Individual and Foundation Partnerships Teach For America Las Vegas A Las Vegas resident since 1999, Brittany DuPree holds two degrees from the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) - a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Mass Media Studies and a graduate degree in Public Administration with a Non-Profit Management Certification. Brittany has worked within the Las Ve...

Compassionate Las Vegas Podcast's second season premiers on World Compassion Day with a special episode focused on making the Las Vegas Valley a more compassionate place to live, work, and play. Las Vegas City Councilman Brian Knudsen, County Commissioner Justin Jones, and State Assemblyman William McCurdy II come together to focus on deliverable outcomes as they relate to addressing systemic raci...

Compassionate Las Vegas' Conversations About Racism, Pathways to Systemic Change. Senator Jacky Rosen, Commissioner Justin Jones, discuss systemic racism, policing, and wha is needed to bring lasting change with community leaders Latoya Holman and Elizabeth Hunterton. Conversation recorded live on July 9, 2020. Thank you to Moonridge Group in collaboration with the Moonridge Foundation, Dr. Gard J...

Compassionate Las Vegas' Conversations About Racism, Pathways to Systemic Change. US Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Captain Sasha Larkin, Jose Melendrez, and Alexandria Evans discuss systemic racism, policing, and what is needed to bring lasting change with from a public health perspective. Conversation recorded live on July 16, 2020. Thank you to Moonridge Group in collaboration with the Moonrid...

Compassionate Las Vegas' Conversations About Racism, Pathways to Systemic Change. US Congresswoman Susie Lee, Organizer Jameelah Lewis, and Chair of LVMP Multicultural Advisory Council Mujahid Ramadan discuss systemic racism, policing, restorative justice, and what is needed to bring lasting change. Conversation recorded live on July 23, 2020. Thank you to Moonridge Group in collaboration with the...

While Hope Means Nevada is about raising awareness around mental health and teen suicide, we are also aware that COVID-19 has changed everyone’s life drastically. With these changes comes stress, anxiety, and the need for support. Hope Means Nevada's mission is to help provide access to mental health resources and a community of hope. This national pandemic has supercharged Hope Means Nevada's mis...

Evelyn Thompson-Hilbert graduated from University of Southern California (USC) with a BS in Public Policy and Development. She received her Professional Spiritual Practitioner License at the Agape University of Transformational Studies and Leadership in Los Angeles, CA in 2000. She was co-Director of Agape’s Peace Ministry for three years where projects included participat...

Scott Black, a native of Southern Nevada, was elected in June 2017 to represent residents of Ward 3 in North Las Vegas. He was born in Henderson and spent the majority of his childhood in North Las Vegas, attending Lincoln Elementary, Jim Bridger Junior High and Rancho High schools. Scott developed a love of country and democracy, and an appreciation and respect for the delicate balance of governm...

Ciara Byrne is a documentary filmmaker and entrepreneur who set up and ran a film production company, Lion Television, with offices in LA and New York. During that time, she managed over 60 employees and produced hundreds of films a year for PBS, The Discovery Channel, National Geographic, PBS, BBC, Fox, and E! A native of Dublin, Ireland, Ciara has traveled the world and decided it's her mission...

Tahil Sharma is an interfaith activist based in Los Angeles who was born to a Hindu father and a Sikh mother who works as the North American Coordinator for the United Religions Initiative, the world's largest, grassroots interfaith network. Following the Oak Creek, WI shooting of a Sikh temple in 2012, Tahil became involved in efforts for interfaith literacy and social justice and has been doing...

“I think it's very important at a time like this for us to be reminded that diversity is a strength, not a weakness. Equality matters, and so does equity.” — Patricia Spearman Doctor Patricia Spearman's courage, commitment and dedication for the rights of the people, started before becoming Senator of Nevada District 1. For 29 years, she was on the front line, serving in the Army Operations Center...

Mario Lemons is a native of Detroit, and was educated in the Detroit Public Schools system. He graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, and a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Curriculum, with a Specialization in English and Language Instruction. Mario is passionate about empowering young people to be their best selves and is excited to bring his exp...

Dr. Dominique Hammonds is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. She earned her Ph. D. in Counseling from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Co...

Nadia Krall graduated from the Boyd School of Law at UNLV right here in Las Vegas in the year 2000. For the past 12 years, she has had a successful law practice and now, Nadia is running for District Court judge. Nadia’s many roles have included Judge Pro Tem, Mediator, Arbitrator, Appeals Officer and more. When she is not working, Nadia loves to rock climb in the beautiful rock in Red Rock Canyon...

This episode features a special COVID-19 rendition of Coldplay's "Fix You". Aaron Abke was born and raised as a Pastor’s Son in the Silicon Valley of California. He desired to work in Church Ministry like his father and went to college at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa Oklahoma, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Music and Theology. He spent one year working as a full time worship pastor...

Rick Sperling is a world-renowned Arts Education, Community Arts and Creative Youth Development pioneer. He is the founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit which he began as a way to address what he calls, "gaps in arts education through the metro Detroit area." During Rick’s 27 years of leadership, Mosaic became a fixture on Detroit's arts scene while frequently e...

Dr. Annie Weisman is the Director of Wellness & Integrative Medicine with the UNLV School of Medicine. She is working to develop wellness and integrative medicine curriculum and workshops for the medical students, faculty and residents.  Previously Dr. Weisman worked in the field for thirteen years as a massage therapist in HIV/AIDS clinics and hospices. She was awarded the Jefferson Awar...

From President Barack Obama to Pastor T.D. Jakes, Jamal Simmons has served as a trusted advisor at the highest levels and on the most complex situations. While all of our shows feature important topics, today’s show is especially timely given all of the attention Las Vegas is receiving in the news. Jamal is a unique interviewer and voice on the American political and media landscape. He worked for...

Catherine Scherwenka, a successful entrepreneur, a globally recognized Spiritual/Mental Health and Wellness guide, a workshop facilitator, and a mentor for the youth, has led thousands of people through transformational experiences both in person as well as virtually. She focuses on bringing balance and stability into the Body. Mind. Spirit. Most recently, she has been pioneering a recovery wellne...

ALICE VO EDWARDS is a translational psychological scientist who is passionate about using social capital and technologies as levers to increase human thriving.  She is an expert in understanding and aligning employer and employee needs for the best win-win outcomes so employees can be happy and productive, and organizations can be more profitable.  Alice has a passion for how technology...

On this episode of Compassionate Las Vegas, we talk about having church at the bar, conversations amongst strangers, political disagreement, and why we all need bigger tables. Jeremy Martin is the founding pastor of Downtown Faith, a community of faith in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. He is married to his beautiful wife and partner in life and ministry, Martha, and they have two amazing childre...

Rico Ocampo was born in Morelos, Mexico and immigrated to United States in 1992. He is an undocumented/DACAmented community organizer and activist. He has engaged in local, statewide, and national platforms to advance advocacy and justice for homeless youth and immigrant communities. He serves as the Director for Camp Anytown’s Social Justice and Leadership program. Through his decade of experienc...

Fear, anger, and anxiety represent qualities of emotional energy at separate us from that which matters most… Every species of life on the planet carries the instinct of security and survival.… What we come to realize on the spiritual journey is that we are, in fact, dual-origin creatures. We have biological roots, we also have spiritual roots. The great paradox of life is that what we need to pro...