Reno Street Audio

Tyler Colton, the owner of the Emerson, a craft and cocktail destination in Midtown, discusses being an entrepreneur and bar owner, surviving the pandemic, the community of local business owners, medians in Midtown, drag brunch and bingo, expansion plans and more.  

Our guests this week are Evelyn Klatt and Matt Clark from the Reno Philharmonic. Evelyn will sell you on the value of classical music and they will both explain how the Reno Philharmonic is also much more than just that with two big shows right around the corner, to close their season 54 and open their season 55. They’ll also give us some of the fascinating history which started the Reno Philharmo...

People we encounter on the streets often have complicated family histories. One family relationship can send them into a downward spiral. In this episode we’ll look into fathers or more precisely their absence. From our archive interviews we will hear from Jody who says she is a millionaire’s daughter now fending for herself on the streets. We’ll also hear from JD who says he is from a broken fami...

As the Food Bank of Northern Nevada commemorates 40 years, its tag line this year is "Imagine Ending Hunger." Jocelyn Lantrip, its Director of Marketing and Communications, outlines ways to help and volunteers as well as current challenges for our community.

Comedian Sara Rooker steps into our studio to discuss the Reno comedy scene, tips for audiences, organizing big shows such as an upcoming June 10th Don't Tell Comedy secret show doubleheader, and why she has such a big heart for our community.

Jeff Bogue recently moved back with his parents, but is trying to fix up his van to live in it again, for more independence. He believes it should be allowed to sleep in your vehicle amid this affordable housing crisis. “The cops shouldn't always go after the homeless that are not causing problems and just because they’re sleeping,” Bogue said. “[Sleeping] should not be a crime, in my opinion. For...

Stephen George, a graduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno, David Lynch afficionado and filmmaker, talks to reporter Ariel Smith about the eccentricities of the local film scene, difficulties of promotion, and how he finds inspiration. Learn about the inner workings of a film set, the director’s creative process and more on this week's episode.

Our reporter Vanessa Ribeiro speaks to coordinators and participants of a recent event at the Holland Project, bringing together the best in Reno's non profit and mutual aid communities.

Love and maintaining relationships always has challenges. What about if you are living on the streets? We’ll hear from a couple Renee and Steven staying in love despite being unhoused. We’ll also hear from Melissa whose husband had recently gotten out of jail, putting a strain on their life, and how to take care of their kids, sending them into separate shelters. Still they were staying together t...

Elaine Sargent – also known by her penname, E.M. Starr – is the author of Rhinestone Confidential, a memoir she wrote of her memories and experiences working behind the scenes in the showroom at Harrah’s, Reno. Within the pages, Elaine recounts the golden days when Reno was a casino town full of late-night shows. She shares the juiciest moments and mishaps from backstage at Sammy’s Showroom, Harra...

Reporter Ariel Smith interviews Lisa Martin the manager of The Melting Pot World Emporium in Reno, which brings burner culture year round to the Biggest Little City and much more. They discuss the importance of fair trade, sustainable fashion, and navigating selling smoking accessories after the legalization of marijuana in the state.

Peter Menchetti is back on the podcast to explain how he's celebrating 30 years of Sticker Guy with a special edition of Debauch-A-Reno.

On this episode, we have a bead maker, a man who gets by selling his blood, and a day laborer, all trying to survive with odd jobs amid rising prices in Reno. When we interviewed her, Paula said she was a starving artist who lived in a motel. She was often seen along Truckee river near Sierra Street, selling necklaces and bracelets. We'll also listen to Josh. He was sleeping outside city limits to...

Reporter Jacob Kostuchowski talks to several community members from a Stop Cop City teach-in which recently took place at the Holland Project. Hear about what cop city might become and the possible implications it could have in Reno and other localities across the United States.

Kingkini Sengupta, a graduate student at the University of Nevada, Reno, has completed her reporting work for Our Town Reno. Before her departure, she took the time to speak with Reynolds School of Journalism colleague and fellow Our Town Reno reporter Gaia Osborne to share what her experience has been like reporting for our street collective.

We recently had an episode on old men on the streets of Reno, Nevada avoiding the Nevada Cares campus and trying to survive despite the cold winter we’ve gone through. We wanted to do an episode about unhoused women, why are they living on the streets, do they stay safe , what are their hopes , what is their message to the community. All of the women you’ll hear on this episode were along the Truc...

Cameron Rose was recently unhoused, and being arrested for sleeping outside. Just a few years later, he's now a student at UNR running for ASUN student body president. The reporter for this episode is Gaia Osborne.

Kenneth Scherr, a UNR grad in psychology starting a business in Reno, is also an author whose new book Behaving as US has as its subtitle The Art of Cooperation. He discusses politics getting in the way of friendships, in real life and online, and how to find a better way. 


With Tesla enabler Mike Kazmierksi, president and CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, now stepping down, we went into our archives to hear from different residents of Reno who have felt "Teslafied," in recent years, as in kicked to the curb, now living on the streets due to higher rent prices, gentrification, motels being torn down, inflation ... not directly due to Tesla...

Dustin is trying to help his wife get her kids back from Child Protective Services, after they were victims of abuse from her incarcerated ex-husband and more family troubles. The reporter for this episode in Reno, Nevada, is Brad Vincent.

Seniors in Reno, including Jeff a former chiropractor who now lives in his car share their plight living on the streets and explain why they avoid the Nevada Cares Campus despite the cold weather.

Slovenly Records and Sticker Guy are teaming up with Spitting Image and Austin Pratt to release their first Reno punk album. Our episode includes songs from Full Sun and discussions about the local punk scene, punk influences, gentrification, the lack of venues and the value of hard work.

Lynette Eddy, the founder of the Eddy House, to help street young adults in Reno, Nevada, recently published a new book called The Fight Inside, Winning the Battle Between Your Ego and True Spirit. She shares how her own life, full of turbulence and tragedy, has guided her own path doing good for society, and how the Eddy House has grown since it was an idea she had as a graduate student.

Anwar, 24, a 2021 transfer, is the only Afghan student pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. When Anwar first came to the United States in 2019, he still had plans to go back to his country and help explore the mineral wealth there. However, when the Taliban took over in 2021, his dreams of going back and setting up a business there were sha...

Chris Reynolds has owned and operated numerous Cold Stones in Reno since February 2003, but the one in the former Shoppers Square, now the Reno Public Market, has been his most successful. He hopes the new space will bring in new customers without losing the regulars. After a lengthy construction process and tough adjustments during the pandemic, he's finally moved into the shiny new location acro...