Home Means Podcast

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, what role will education play in shaping the nation's future? In this special Home Means episode, Heather Brown sits down with four leaders from Nevada's community college system: Kyle Dalpe (Western Nevada College), Stacy Klippenstein (College of Southern Nevada), Jeffrey Alexander (Truckee Meadows Community College), and Amber Donnelli (Great...

Jon Ralston joins Home Means to discuss Nevada politics, journalism, leadership, and the future of the Silver State. As founder and CEO of The Nevada Independent, Ralston reflects on four decades covering Nevada's most influential leaders, the evolution of the state's political landscape, and the importance of trusted local journalism. The conversation also explores his book The Game Chang...

Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown joins Home Means to discuss leadership, education access, and the importance of building opportunity directly within communities. Drawing from decades in education and public service, she reflects on listening to constituents, solving real problems, and helping North Las Vegas continue to grow while staying connected to the people who call it home. The conversation also e...

In this episode of Home Means Podcast, Heather Brown sits down with Guy Martin to talk about leadership, diplomacy, work ethic, and why Nevada’s culture of possibility still matters. From starting construction work at 13 years old to helping grow Martin-Harris Construction into one of Nevada’s leading construction companies, Guy reflects on building a company culture centered around people, accoun...

Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar joins Home Means to explain how his office supports business, elections, transparency, and public trust. From making it easier to start a business in Nevada to protecting election systems and modernizing government services, Aguilar shares why technology and accessibility matter in public service. He also reflects on Nevada’s “yes, how can we?” culture,...

Las Vegas reinvents itself again and again. But reinvention only works when it is paired with responsibility. In this episode of Home Means, Diana Bennett, CEO & Co-Founder of Paragon Gaming, reflects on the evolution of Nevada’s gaming industry, the bold ideas that shaped Las Vegas, and why our city thrives when leaders are willing to take risks and think differently. This conversation explor...

Nevada does not wait for change. It creates it. In this episode of Home Means, Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony reflects on Nevada’s culture of reinvention, from the early days of gaming and quickie marriages to becoming a global destination for fine dining, professional sports, and large-scale entertainment. He also shares a message for young Nevadans about leadership: it begins with character...

Nevada has built its identity on resilience. In this episode of Home Means, Megan Jones reflects on the grit that has allowed Las Vegas and Nevada to reinvent themselves again and again. From water innovation to rapid population growth, the state has repeatedly found ways to adapt and move forward. She also shares how the community responded after the October 1 tragedy, coming together not only to...

Henderson’s growth did not happen overnight and it did not happen by accident. In this episode of Home Means, Mayor Michelle Romero shares how thoughtful planning, regional collaboration, and long-term decision-making helped shape Henderson into one of the highest-ranked cities in the nation for quality of life. From working across jurisdictions to attract the right businesses, to investing in inf...

Keeping the lights on in Nevada isn’t about having the TV on. It’s about safety, survival, and responsibility. On this episode of Home Means Podcast, host Heather Brown talks with Tony Sanchez , Executive Vice President of Business Development & External Relations at NV Energy, about leadership, listening more than talking, and what it means to power a state where extreme heat makes reliabilit...

Building a great city takes more than growth. It takes intention. In this episode of Home Means, Jan Jones Blackhurst , former Mayor of Las Vegas, reflects on leadership, risk-taking, and what it means to design communities where people want to live, work, and raise families. From infrastructure and education to healthcare and workforce development, Jan explains why long-term thinking matters and...

Las Vegas is one of the most welcoming cities in the world—and that hospitality comes from the people who call it home. In this episode of Home Means , Heather Brown sits down with Heather Harmon, Executive Director of the Las Vegas Museum of Art, to discuss how a world-class museum can reflect community, care, and belonging. They explore how Las Vegas’s culture of hospitality is shaping the museu...

Kids don’t show up to school as blank slates. They show up hungry, tired, caring for siblings, navigating trauma, or quietly carrying responsibilities most adults never see. In this episode of Home Means Podcast, host Heather Brown sits down with Tami Hance-Lehr , CEO of Communities In Schools of Nevada, to unpack what it really means for students to be “ready to learn.” Tami explains why academic...

This special year-end episode brings together the most meaningful lessons and standout moments from the guests who joined us throughout 2025. Each conversation offered something different, including stories of resilience, leadership, community, creativity, and the unique ways people build their lives here in Nevada. In this compilation, we revisit the experiences that stayed with us, the perspecti...

In this episode of Home Means , host Heather Brown sits down with Stephanie Goodman, Vice Chair of the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents and Executive Director of the Dr. Robert Hunter International Problem Gambling Center. Las Vegas-born and UNLV alumna, Stephanie brings a uniquely grounded perspective on how education, health, and industry must align for Nevada’s next chapter. F...

What happens when the world’s fastest race meets the world’s brightest city? Lori Nelson-Kraft, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, joins Home Means to pull back the curtain on how F1 found its perfect home in Las Vegas and how the event has become more than a spectacle. From global brand strategy to community impact, Lori shares how the Grand Prix create...

What does it mean to leave a mark on Nevada? In this episode, host Heather Brown sits down with Senator Richard Bryan, one of the Silver State’s most enduring leaders. From his early days as Nevada’s first public defender to serving as Attorney General, Governor, and U.S. Senator, Bryan has spent a lifetime shaping the future of his home. He shares insights from decades in public service, from the...

Higher education isn’t known for speed, but Chris Heavey wants to change that. As Interim President of UNLV, he’s leading a university that’s learning to move faster, think bigger, and grow alongside the community it serves. In this episode of Home Means , Heather Brown talks with Heavey about what it means to lead during transformation — from building new programs in medicine, engineering, and cy...

Higher education isn’t known for speed, but Chris Heavey wants to change that. As Interim President of UNLV, he’s leading a university that’s learning to move faster, think bigger, and grow alongside the community it serves. In this episode of Home Means , Heather Brown talks with Heavey about what it means to lead during transformation — from building new programs in medicine, engineering, and cy...

In this episode of Home Means Unity, we sit down with Sallie Doebler, CEO of the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, to explore how unity across sectors creates real community impact. Sallie thinks like a civic matchmaker. She pairs donor priorities with city needs, fills budget gaps without duplicating what nonprofits already do, and chooses projects where collaboration creates big results. From mak...

Nevada’s future isn’t just about degrees, it’s about access to skills, jobs, and opportunity. In this episode Lauri Perdue (University of Phoenix, Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, and Serving Our Kids) shares why building workforce pipelines is the real infrastructure of change. From retooling education around skills-based hiring, to helping families find sustainable career pathways, to fightin...

What does it take to build an economy as bold as Las Vegas itself? In this episode, host Heather Brown sits down with Shani Coleman, Director of Community & Economic Development for Clark County, to explore adaptability, innovation, and inclusion in Nevada’s future. Shani shares what growing up in Las Vegas taught her about resilience, why the sports industry could be the region’s next economi...

What do you get when you combine decades of public service, a love for Las Vegas, and a front-row seat to the city’s transformation? You get Mayor Shelley Berkley and she has stories . In this episode of Home Means Progress , Shelley walks us through the wins, lessons, and challenges from her time in Congress to her current role as Mayor. She shares how the city has changed, what keeps her up at n...

In this episode of Home Means , host Heather Brown sits down with Sean Parker, CEO of the Center for the Future of Learning, to explore how Nevada can reimagine education to support a thriving, diverse economy. From empowering teen “Futurescapers” to confronting tough perceptions around healthcare and schools, Sean shares bold ideas for building a system that reflects the unique strengths of our c...

I tried to do rapid fire questions with Bo Bernhard… Spoiler: they weren’t so rapid. But they were too good to cut. So here’s your bonus round. Starting with future episodes, we’ll wrap every show with Rapid Fire questions, short, fun, and full of surprises. Bo just gave us the warm-up.