Washoe Life

Long before railroads and highways crossed the West, thousands of emigrants traveled through what is now northern Nevada in search of new opportunities. In this episode of Washoe Life's America250 Nevada series, we chat with Adam Michalski, Curator of History at the Nevada State Railroad Museum, to explore the history of the Emigrant Trail. Learn why Nevada was a vital crossroads during westw...

This episode shines a spotlight on two of northern Nevada's most ambitious young creators, brothers Dino and Waylon Parr. Waylon created a buzz with his recent short film “A15,” which debuted in May, while Dino will be entering his senior year in high school with radio and film credits to his name. These are two young visionaries and entrepreneurs whose stars are rising, and we are here to wi...

In this episode, we sit down with the co-founder and the program coordinator from Soulful Seeds to talk about their mission-driven work growing food, connection, and resilience across our community. They share how neighborhood gardens, inclusive programs, and partnerships help address food insecurity and support underserved residents in Northern Nevada. It’s a grounded, hopeful conversation about...

What does it really take to run an election? In this episode of Washoe Life , Registrar of Voters Andrew McDonald takes us behind the scenes of Washoe County’s 2026 election. We break down what’s changing this year, from how vote centers are chosen and made accessible, to new locations, curbside ADA voting, and updated ballot marking devices that blend technology with paper ballots. The conversati...

Growth can be a complicated, and often emotional, topic. In this episode of Washoe Life , we dig into how development really happens in Washoe County and across the Truckee Meadows, and why planning is about much more than approving or denying projects.  Joined by Assistant County Manager Dave Solaro and Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency Director Jeremy Smith, we explore how regional planni...

As we look ahead to America’s 250th anniversary, we’re reflecting on the industries and people that helped shape our communities. In this episode, Ferenc Szony, a longtime gaming executive whose career spans some of northern Nevada’s most iconic casinos and a period of tremendous change in the industry, shares about Reno’s golden era, the evolution of gaming in Nevada, and what those changes revea...

In this episode of Washoe Life , we sit down with Stephanie Kruse, a longtime community leader and marketing trailblazer, to talk about her journey to Reno and the career that made her a familiar name across northern Nevada. Stephanie reflects on founding KPS3 in 1991, navigating decades of rapid change in the marketing industry, and mentoring the next generation of professionals, especially women...

Washoe County Manager Kate Thomas joins Washoe Life for a conversation about leadership, public service and supporting the more than 3,000 employees who serve our community every day.  Thomas is not new to Washoe County, she joined the organization in 2017 as assistant county manager, overseeing departments that deliver some of the county’s most critical services, including human services, courts...

As part of Washoe Life’s America250/Nevada podcast series, this episode explores a chapter of Washoe County history that put Reno on the national map for more than six decades. Historian and author Dr. Alicia Barber joins the podcast to examine Reno’s rise as the Divorce Capital of the World, from the early 1900s through the 1960s. Barber discusses the laws that drew thousands to the city, what da...

Sergeant Garrett Bird and Deputy Sheriff Nicholas Ediss of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team share what it takes to locate and rescue people in Washoe County’s challenging terrain. From real-world missions to lifesaving safety tips, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the teamwork, training, and preparation that save lives in northern Nevada. 

America has a pretty big birthday this year, 250 years, and Washoe County is proud to kick off our America250/Nevada podcast series from a place steeped in our own local history: the Historic Washoe County Courthouse. During this episode of Washoe Life , we explore how history will be honored and preserved at the Courthouse this year from District Judge Barry Breslow to curator and first-time auth...

The Washoe Life Podcast returns for its fifth season and a brand-new lineup conversations with the people who make life in Washoe County so interesting. This year is also the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and we will be shining the spotlight on people, places, and cultures that have helped shape our state and country over the last 250 years. Join us for this...

This episode of Washoe Life features Mike Wilden, longtime Nevada health and human services leader, as he shares the fascinating history of the Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services campus. From its opening in 1882 as the Nevada Insane Asylum to its evolution into modern mental health and disability services, Mike reflects on the people, policies, and stories that shaped this landmark insti...

In this episode of Washoe Life , we welcome Rick Edwards, the new Fire Chief of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. Chief Edwards comes to Washoe County after more than two decades with the Stockton Fire Department in California, where he rose through every rank to become Fire Chief.  He shares his leadership journey, lessons learned from California’s wildfire seasons, and his vision for...

When crime happens, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Division steps in to uncover the truth hidden in the evidence. In this episode of Washoe Life, we sit down with Division Director Steven Johnson and Supervising Criminalist Dr. Lisa Smyth-Roam for a behind-the-scenes look at the county’s crime lab. From separating TV drama from reality, to the evolving role of DNA and forensic...

Explore the awe-inspiring Fly Ranch: 3,800 acres of hot springs, wetlands, and desert beauty just north of the Black Rock Desert. Hear from Burning Man Project’s Marnee Benson and Fly Ranch General Manager Zac Cirivello as they share the story behind this unique landscape, the values guiding its care, and how community, art, and ecology are shaping its future. 

Hot August Nights isn’t just an event, it’s a 10-day celebration of nostalgia, community, and classic car culture that draws more than 500,000 people to Northern Nevada each year. In this episode, Executive Director Deny Dotson shares how his decade in Virginia City tourism prepared him to steer one of the nation’s most iconic car shows. From the behind-the-scenes logistics and $100 million econom...

In this episode, we take a nostalgic trip under the Big Top with Phil Campbell, a gifted musician whose early career took him on the road with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. For a decade, Phil played trumpet and piano for “The Greatest Show on Earth,” performing live alongside acrobats, clowns, and exotic animals in arenas across the country.  Known for his ability to recreate...

The 152nd Airlift Wing – the High Rollers – is a special division within the Nevada Air National Guard that can fight fires as well as it fights enemies. Lt. Col. David McNally has been flying his whole adult life, but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of defending his country from the cockpit of a C-130. We sit down with McNally and Capt. Emerson Marcus to learn about the rich history of the...

Scott Oxarart has become an advocate and ambassador for a disease he didn’t even know existed just a few years ago. Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) affected his dad quickly – just as it did to the most famous face of this disease, Bruce Willis – and gave Scott and his family a crash-course in understanding this aggressive type of dementia.  Scott shares the signs to watch for and how to help a l...

For the first time in many years, Washoe County has opened a new recreation site, and Trails Coordinator Christina Thayer explains how and why a new recreation site comes to be. Join us on the banks of the Truckee River for a first look at the new Riverbend Trailhead, a brand-new access point to the river and portage area for rafters. 

The Washoe County Senior Center has been a cornerstone of our community since 1978—and now, it’s getting a much-needed refresh. In the latest Washoe Life podcast, we take you inside the $2.8 million renovation that’s transforming this vital space. Hear from Washoe County Human Services leaders about what’s changing, why it matters, and how it supports the seniors who rely on it every day.  Listen...

We go behind the scenes of the CrossRoads program with Frankie Lemus and Jimmie Drury to talk about what makes this place work—from case management to community support. Hear how structure, connection, and care are helping residents rebuild their lives.

In part one of this two-part Washoe Life podcast, we’re on site at the Men’s Crossroads facility, where up to 70 residents live in a structured, sober community while receiving case management, life skills training, and health care support. During this powerful sit-down with residents – some of whom are now staff members—find out what led them to Crossroads, how the program has shaped their recove...

In honor of National Donate Life Month, this episode features Aleah Hartung, a two-time kidney transplant recipient, and her boyfriend and kidney donor, Blake Lalli. Aleah shares her lifelong health journey, and Blake—former Reno Aces manager and now third base coach for the Miami Marlins—talks about becoming her perfect match.  Their inspiring story of love, strength, and second chances is one yo...