A Healthier Tomorrow

What if you're not “just tired”? What if your mind has been trying to tell you something? We celebrate pushing through. We praise people for being strong. We say, “I’m good,” even when we’re running on empty. But at what point does resilience become survival mode—and what is it costing us? In this episode of A Healthier Tomorrow , hosts Will Rucker and Ciara Owens sit down with Dinisha Mingo and C...

What happens when vaccines work so well that we forget what they were protecting us from? Measles. Polio. Whooping cough. Diseases that once terrified families have become unfamiliar to many of us—not because they disappeared on their own, but because generations of vaccination dramatically changed the public health landscape. Now, as vaccine hesitancy grows and preventable diseases reappear in co...

Can a fashion show help save lives? What do ballroom culture, high fashion, and HIV prevention have in common? More than you might think. In this episode of A Healthier Tomorrow , hosts  Will Rucker and Ciara Owens  sit down with Kiande Jakada and Juan Tejada from The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada to explore how they're breaking stigma, reaching young people, and changing the conversat...

Why do 10% of Las Vegas roads account for 60% of crashes—and what can we do about it before another life is lost? In this episode of A Healthier Tomorrow , hosts Will Rucker and Ciara Owens are joined by Lia Grimaldi , Project Manager with the City of Las Vegas Public Works Department, to explore the city’s ambitious Vision Zero initiative and its goal of eliminating traffic fatalities and serious...

What if one of the most important factors affecting your health isn't your doctor... but your address? Most people think health begins in a hospital or doctor's office. In reality, it starts much closer to home. In this episode of A Healthier Tomorrow , Will Rucker sits down with Nellie Pelaez of the Southern Nevada Health District and Brittani Gray of Nevada HAND to explore why housing is one of...

Health doesn't just happen in exam rooms - it happens in boardrooms, leadership meetings, and community spaces. Dr. Maia Carter joins A Healthier Tomorrow to explore why leadership may be one of the most overlooked public health interventions of our time. If you've ever wondered how better leaders create healthier communities, this conversation is for you. Join Will Rucker and Dr. Maia Carter as t...

Did you know the world's deadliest animal is thriving right here in the Las Vegas desert?   From deploying natural predators like bats to the strategic release of genetically modified mosquitoes, discover the cutting-edge science and "biological hacking" being used to protect Southern Nevada from unpredictable diseases like the West Nile virus. Whether you thought mosquitoes couldn't survive...

What would happen if everything you thought was helping you relax… was actually keeping you trapped? In this episode of A Healthier Tomorrow , we uncover how menthol tobacco is engineered to hook communities, why what you eat might be shaping your mental clarity more than you realize, and how Las Vegas is quietly building a blueprint for a healthier future. From No Menthol May, to the surprising c...

Join hosts Will Rucker and Ciara Owens as they explore heart health in this informative episode. Featuring guests Angel Garcia, Amineh Harvey, and Daidre Gamboa from Dignity Health and Southern Nevada Health District, the discussion covers essential topics such as hypertension, heart disease prevention, and practical lifestyle adjustments. Discover the benefits of a 20-second hug, low sodium tips,...

Everyone has a status—and knowing it can save lives.  Clark County continues to see HIV diagnosis rates higher than the national average, with disproportionate impact on Black and Hispanic/Latinx communities. Yet stigma, silence, and misinformation still keep too many people from getting tested or accessing prevention tools that already exist. In this powerful year-end conversation, the Healt...

Teen mental health in Nevada is in crisis, but the story doesn’t end there. In this powerful episode, Jana Velasco shares how Hope Means Nevada is equipping teens with the tools to regulate emotions, choose joy, and build resilience long before a crisis emerges. Through human connection, socio-emotional learning, and community support, we explore how young people can reclaim their power—becoming t...

What do nicotine, diabetes, and your daily habits have in common? More than you think. Today, we’re diving into two of the biggest — and most preventable — health threats facing our community. If you’ve ever wondered how to quit for good, or how to avoid a lifetime of medications, this episode is for you. About the Guests: Cassandra Miraz is a dedicated health educator with the Southern Nevada Hea...

What keeps a pediatric surgeon up at night on Halloween? It’s not the ghosts—it’s what ends up in the ER.” In this special Halloween episode of A Healthier Tomorrow , Dr. Erik Pearson joins Will Rucker and Ciara Owens to share real stories, expert tips, and surprising truths about keeping kids safe—from glow stick hacks to the dangers of costume fabrics and magnets. This is the conversation every...

Can better data, breastfeeding support, and health education reshape Nevada’s health future? These three women say yes—and they’re leading the way. Episode Summary: In this enlightening episode of A Healthier Tomorrow , hosts Will Rucker and Ciara Owens sit down with three changemakers shaping Nevada’s public health landscape: Cristina Hernandez from UNLV’s School of Public Health, Rikki Jenkins f...

Can a child really save a parents life? In this powerful episode of A Healthier Tomorrow , pediatrician and health visionary Dr. Jerry Reeves reveals the surprising ways children are becoming health champions for their families — and how we can equip them to lead the charge. About the Guest: Dr. Jerry Reeves is a distinguished pediatrician with an extensive career in both the medical and academic...

Can you actually prevent Alzheimer’s? These experts say yes—and it starts earlier than you think. Join Will Rucker and Ciara Owens for an enlightening episode of A Healthier Tomorrow as they explore how brain health, public policy, and community equity intersect. Featuring leaders from the Alzheimer’s Association and SNHD, this conversation breaks down 10 healthy habits, modifiable risk factors, a...

Opioid overdoses are on the rise in Southern Nevada—but every overdose is preventable. Join Will Rucker with experts from the Southern Nevada Health District as they uncover life-saving tools, community strategies, and powerful insights on substance misuse, overdose prevention, and mental health.   About the Guests: Tamera Travis is an epidemiologist with the Southern Nevada Health District,...

About the Guests: Dr. Stephen Shane : Dr. Shane is a pediatrician at Renown Health and a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. He runs the Healthy Lifestyles Clinic at Renown Children's Hospital, focusing on good lifestyle habits and healthy weight. Additionally, he collaborates with the Nevada 5210 program and the American Academy of Pedi...

Listen on your favorite platform - https://pod.link/1687031374 About the Guests: Jazzmin  Robled : Jazzmin is a dedicated community health professional who has been working with the Southern Nevada Health District for nearly five years. She began as a community health worker focusing on assisting mothers with children under the age of one and later advanced to a program coordinator role. Jazz...

Will Rucker and Ciara Owens celebrate June's vibrant health and cultural observances with insightful discussions on "A Healthier Tomorrow." Guest Mekale Holmes shares her experiences in tobacco prevention and the impactful "Because We Matter" initiative. Zarina Washington introduces the Nevada Creative Arts Collective, highlighting improv's role in stress management and resilience. The episode hig...

Explore Nevada's mental health landscape as Will Rucker and Ciara Owens discuss the state's last-place ranking in mental health access with Anna Bobb, MPH, Executive Director of the Path Forward coalition and Dr. Mason Turner from Intermountain Health. Discover collaborative care models, barriers to mental health support, and stress management strategies. Later, Minjia Yan unveils the re...

About the Guests: Trinh Dang-Mai is the Executive Director of NAMI Southern Nevada. With a background stemming from personal experiences with mental health challenges and the impact of trauma, particularly as the child of refugees from the Vietnam War, she has dedicated her career to mental health advocacy. Originally starting in education, Trinh’s journey into mental health work began when she so...

About the Guest: Mai Tran serves as the Nevada Area Director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). With a profound personal connection to the cause, Mai has been a passionate advocate, having volunteered as a crisis counselor for over a decade before joining AFSP. Her work at AFSP focuses on suicide prevention through research, education, advocacy, and support, mobilizing comm...

About the Guests: Tina Dorch is the manager of the Office of Minority Health and Equity for the state of Nevada. With a tenure spanning seven years, Tina has been an advocate for health equity and literacy, striving to ensure access to healthcare resources for underrepresented communities. She has experience leading initiatives that address the social determinants of health, focusing on systemic c...

About the Guests: Chelsea Bishop Chelsea Bishop is a registered nurse with significant experience working on a pediatric floor in Las Vegas. After her daughter was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, she dedicated six and a half years to securing the necessary care, which inspired her advocacy work. Chelsea is a co-founder of Act for Kids Nevada, an organization formed to elevate the fami...