Sticky Note Conversations

In this post-midterm episode of Sticky Note Conversations, host Erika Washington sits down with Dawn Blagrove, Executive Director of Emancipate NC, to unpack the aftermath of the 2026 midterm elections — what many are calling a "blue tsunami." Recorded the day after Election Day (November 4th), the conversation covers the historic wins across the country, from flipped state senates and congression...

In the final candidate conversation before the 2026 midterm elections, host Erika Washington sits down with Sherri Struthers — a 30-year Navy veteran, grandmother, and real estate agent running for North Las Vegas City Council, Ward 1. Sherri shares her journey from Chicago to military service to planting roots in Nevada, and lays out her ambitious vision for the city she now calls home. From tack...

A special crossover episode of Talking While Black and Sticky Note Conversations ! Hosts Derek Washington and Erika Washington sit down with Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17) for a wide-ranging conversation about the Democratic Party's identity crisis, taxing billionaires, AI's threat to Black communities, autonomous vehicles replacing workers, the Gaza genocide, the Epstein files, and what the Americ...

Gone Till November — Sticky Note Conversations with Erika Washington As the midterm elections approach, host Erika Washington welcomes back fan-favorite guest Alvin Hill for a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred conversation about politics, identity, and the state of Black America. Why don't we spend more time engaging with Black men in the political space? Alvin doesn't hold back — sharing his perspect...

With the 2026 midterm elections just weeks away, host Erika Washington revisits a powerful conversation from earlier this season with former Nevada Assemblywoman Claire Thomas (District 17). Claire shares her journey from Brooklyn to Las Vegas by way of the U.S. Air Force, her experiences with racism and sexism in the military, and how she unexpectedly stepped into public office after the passing...

With midterm election season in full swing, host Erika Washington sits down with North Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem Scott Black, who is running to become the city's next mayor. Born and raised in southern Nevada, Black shares his vision for a "complete city" — one where residents can live, work, play, go to school, and thrive without ever leaving North Las Vegas. From his fourth-grade book project titl...

This week on Sticky Note Conversations, we're revisiting our conversation with award-winning journalist Michael Lyle — a discussion that feels more urgent than ever. As press freedom faces unprecedented challenges, Erika and Michael dig into what it really means to be a truth-seeker in today's America. From covering the October 1 mass shooting on the Las Vegas Strip to interviewing people experien...

Kelly Garrett is back on Sticky Note Conversations for a second time, and she's not holding back. The former mayor of Lathrup Village and current mayor pro tem is now running for the Michigan House of Representatives in District 18 — and she's already cleared the primary. In this episode, Kelly sits down with host Erika Washington to talk about what drove her to run for state office after 15 years...

This week on Sticky Note Conversations, Erika Washington sits down with Gerald Mayes, Executive Director of NAACP Las Vegas Branch #1111. From growing up on the west side of Las Vegas to serving in the Marines and becoming a father at 21, Gerald shares how his personal journey shapes his approach to community leadership. They discuss rethinking Black parenting for the next generation, the NAACP's...

In this episode of Sticky Note Conversations , host Erika Washington sits down with Kamilah Bywaters , a Las Vegas native, educator, and community leader running for Nevada Assembly District 2. Kamilah shares her journey from special education teacher to political candidate, discussing the systemic challenges plaguing the Clark County School District, the workplace politics that drive good teacher...

Episode Description: Assembly member Reuben D'Silva (District 28 — East Side & North Las Vegas) joins Sticky Note Conversations for a wide-ranging discussion about his dual life as a public school teacher and state legislator. Reuben shares stories from 14 years in the classroom at Rancho High School, his path from immigrant kid to Yale graduate to elected official, and why he believes the Dem...

This week, Erika sits down with Brenda Zamora — deputy director of Make It Work Nevada, Clark County School Board trustee, and one of Erika's favorite people — for a wide-ranging conversation about wearing many hats and staying human while doing it all. Brenda opens up about life as a caregiver, a mom of teenagers, and an elected official navigating the realities of the sandwich generation. She an...

Eboni Taylor joins Sticky Note Conversations to reflect on her first run for Michigan State Senate District 3 — what she learned on the doors across Detroit's east side, Highland Park, and Hamtramck, and why she made motherhood the centerpiece of her campaign. Erika and Eboni dig into the affordability crisis, DTE's monopoly and record profits, the "progressive" label, Michigan's role as a swing s...

Host Erika Washington sits down with Leo Murrieta — former Executive Director of Make the Road Nevada and proud "recovering executive director" — to talk about what real organizing looks like, the price of citizenship, and why staying moderate is a losing game. Leo shares his journey from arriving in the U.S. as a week-old baby to navigating notario fraud, discovering he'd been a citizen for a dec...

Time is flying — Erika Washington can't believe we're already halfway through the year. In this special roundup episode, host Erika Washington revisits the most powerful conversations from Season 3 of Sticky Note Conversations, a season that explored what it takes to build stronger, more resilient communities while defining and demanding democracy. From organizers to writers, historians to communi...

In this episode of Sticky Note Conversations, host Erika Washington sits down with actress, director, theater educator, and MFA artist Vanecia Boone for a wide-ranging conversation about building a creative, fulfilling life on her own terms. Vanecia opens up about raising her eight-year-old son as a single Black mother — from navigating hypermasculinity and code-switching to the tough decision to...

This week on Sticky Note Conversations, host Erika Washington sits down with Athar Haseebullah, Executive Director of the ACLU of Nevada, for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation. Athar shares his journey as the son of Pakistani immigrants growing up Muslim in Las Vegas, the loss of his father as a teenager, and how his faith and community shaped his commitment to justice work — leading...

What starts as a lighthearted catch-up between host Erika Washington and the shows editor, Wil Black quickly turns into one of the most honest conversations yet. Erika recounts an unsettling encounter she witnessed at a Las Vegas hotel — a young hostess being harassed by an older male guest — and unpacks the discomfort, complicity, and responsibility that come with bystanding. From there, the two...

Host Erika Washington revisits powerful moments from past guests to tackle one big question: What is democracy, and do we really have it? From a mother teaching her toddlers about voting through dance-party elections, to a candid late-night conversation with her friend Derek about Trump, free speech, and why Black voters need to show up decisively — this episode weaves together perspectives on equ...

In this episode of Sticky Note Conversations, host Erika Washington sits down with Cecia Alvarado, an independent political consultant who has spent years organizing within Nevada's Latino community. Cecia arrived in the United States from Costa Rica at 16 — alone, with limited English, and quickly placed in ninth grade despite her age — and has been navigating broken systems ever since. Erika and...

What is the price of a Black child's life? Host Erika Washington sits down with returning guest Alvin Hill — entrepreneur, formerly incarcerated father, and constraint navigation researcher — to unpack two cases that shook the internet: the not-guilty verdict in South Carolina v. Rick Chow , where 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton was shot and killed over a suspected dollar water bottle, and the 35...

In this  episode of Sticky Note Conversations, host Erika Washington and Derek Washington record from the new West Las Vegas Library podcast room, discuss Dr. Ruby Duncan’s legacy and her emphasis on voting, and review Nevada’s recent primary election. They criticize campaign misinformation and union political tactics—particularly around efforts to unseat incumbents over opposition to the film tax...

Host Erika Washington interviews Washoe County Commission Chair and gubernatorial candidate Alexis Hill during Nevada’s midterm primary season. Hill shares her background as a mother and career public servant and explains why she decided to run for office. She highlights county efforts to address homelessness by shifting to a coordinated regional model focused on housing outcomes, reporting reduct...

This revisiting episode of American Dreams: Reproductive Justice continues examining how the carceral system affects families and communities through the story of Jovan Jackson, a 32-year-old Las Vegas entrepreneur and community advocate who became a convicted felon after methamphetamine use, mental health crisis, and a robbery tied to suicidal desperation. His parents describe his compassionate c...

In this replay episode, host Erika Washington talks with Claytee White, recently retired founding director of UNLV’s Oral History Research Center, about how the center was built through training and fundraising to preserve Las Vegas history and how the public can access UNLV’s library archives and digitized oral histories. They revisit Ruby Duncan’s life and impact following her recent death, incl...