Let's Talk Elephants

Send us Fan Mail Valeria Gurr is senior fellow for the American Federation for Children nonprofit organization, and she graduates this year with her PhD in Public Affairs. She is incredibly passionate about education, and we discuss why it is important for families to be able to choose schools that meet the unique needs of their children.  Some major topics covered: -how Nevada's education sy...

Send us Fan Mail Madisen Silva is a teacher at a public charter high school in Las Vegas, and she shares some of the challenges of teaching controversial topics such as sexual education & gender studies in the classroom. Some major topics covered: - teaching about STI's, gender pronouns, and sexuality - how much influence a teacher should have over a student in comparison to their parent...

Send us Fan Mail Stacy Thaxton worked for the Las Vegas Metro Police Department for 20 years, with the majority of her career being mental health-focused. She helped educate officers on mental health disorders and how to appropriately recognize and respond to these types of calls.  Some major topics covered: - how to respond to calls dealing with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, suicide attempts,...

Send us Fan Mail Tina Robinson lost her 15-year-old son, James, to suicide in 2011. James was a victim of bullying in school, and he committed suicide by firearm while his was family was home. Some major topics covered: - the guilt experienced by loved ones when someone close to them commits suicide - the lack of resources and attention regarding suicide and mental health in the Clark Count School...

Send us Fan Mail Ben Nevares has multiple degrees in Sports Nutrition & Exercise Science, and he also grew up in a town where 98% of the population was beneath the poverty line.  Some major topics covered: - the pros & cons of the body positivity movement - body dysmorphia in men - how genetics play a role in obesity - the way poverty limits the ability to live a healthy lifestyle

Send us Fan Mail Cynthia Catanzaro has known since she was little that she is psychic and she has been helping people communicate with their passed loved ones her whole life. Some major topics covered: - what it feels/looks like for her when she is communicating with loved ones that have crossed to the other side - why we are here on earth in human bodies - the similarities and differences between...

Send us Fan Mail Camryn Levert has had an open relationship since she was 15 years old and recently participated in her first polyamorous relationship in the form of a throuple.  Some major topics covered: - the difference between polyamory, swingers, and open relationships/marriages - how the concept of "jealousy" really did not exist in her relationship - why polyamory is not accepted...

Send us Fan Mail Mike Henderson returns to the show to give a more in-depth look at what he saw in his near-death experience and how it has impacted his life. Since my last episode with him, Mike has had his first child and lost his father. Some major topics covered: - how his own intimate experience with death has helped him in both of those experiences with new life and death - creatures from ab...

Send us Fan Mail Jenny Farrell is a senior lecturer at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and she extensive experience both personally and professionally in the area of long-distance relationships. She has maintained a successful 20 year marriage that was long-distance for the early half of them being together, and she also studied this type of relationship in graduate school.  Some major topics...

Send us Fan Mail My guests this week are Tahomar Gil Contreras and his daughter Ana Sophia. TG lived back and forth between Venezuela and the United States, and Ana Sophia was born in Venezuela and only recently moved to the United States three years ago. They both experienced the political turmoil that has unfolded in Venezuela over the last 20 years. Some major topics covered: - the devastating...

Send us Fan Mail Jasmine Garde had her baby over nine months ago, and she still struggles with many symptoms of postpartum depression to this day.  Some major topics covered: - what PPD looks like - the guilt associated with having PPD  - the societal pressures and expectations placed on mothers - the importance of de-stigmatizing mental health issues - the struggle for mothers to maintain an iden...

Send us Fan Mail Kyle Collins has been through an abortion on two different occasions with two different women, both of which he did not want to happen. He details his journey through each of these along with his experiences with ectopic pregnancy and miscarriages.  Some major topics covered: - the difficulty healing from an abortion on all ends - how race played a role in his abortions - death as...

Send us Fan Mail My guest this week is Sophia Cavaleri, and she is transgender. In the midst of pride month, she shares what it has been like to conquer the mental battle surrounding her identity. Some major topics covered: - how she has known from an early age that she was different - the stigma around past identities/dead names - different gender affirmation surgeries and hormone therapy - some...

Send us Fan Mail My guest this week is Russell Wright, and after a very traumatic relationship consisting of infidelity, he decided to commit to 26 months of celibacy.  Some major topics covered: - how cheating is perceived in modern culture - how eliminating sex from our lives can help us grow and teach us discipline - the difference between men and women in relationships - how spirituality plays...

Send us Fan Mail Jimmy Durbin struggled with addiction in the form of pills, pornography, and alcohol for 10 years. He has now been sober for 12 years and is a licensed clinical social worker and alcohol and drug counselor working with others to help reach sobriety. Some major topics covered: - a very intimate and vulnerable account of what it is like to reach the point of a suicide attempt - the...

Send us Fan Mail Kenya Richey has just graduated with her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy and begins her official position as a pediatric occupational therapist next month. This week, she shares with us some very important information regarding people who fall on the autism spectrum. Some major topics covered: - the most evident signs of autism - ways that both societal systems and in...

Send us Fan Mail My guest, James Visser, has been hunting since he could walk and maintains a youtube channel dedicated to ethical hunting and archery shooting in the United States that has over 4,000 subscribers and 1,000,000 views. Some major topics covered: - how hunting contributes to the overall well-being of species and their ecosystems  - the difference between ethical and unethical hunting...

Send us Fan Mail My guest this week, Faith Conover, lost both of her parents to cancer between the ages of 10 and 12. Some major topics covered: - her initial reluctance to therapy and how it ended up changing her life - her battle with depression that led to a suicide attempt - how her relationship with religion/god changed after this trauma - how members of her church were frightened by her stor...

Send us Fan Mail My guest this week, Dre Smith, has substantial experience in black and youth mental health, both as a black male and as a healthcare worker. On this episode, we discuss just that: mental health in the black community. Some major topics covered: - the effects of the Covid pandemic on mental health - the impact of slavery as a form of generational trauma on the black community - the...

Send us Fan Mail Amy-Marie Merrell is the executive director of a nonprofit organization in Las Vegas, Nevada called "The Cupcake Girls." This organization assists sex workers, victims of sex trafficking, etc. with needs ranging from getting back on their feet to simply maintaining a healthy, functional lifestyle.  Some major topics covered: - mental health impact of working with trouble...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Shayna Markle opens up about what it is like running a successful OnlyFans account.  Some major topics covered: - the mental health implications of staying consistent on the account - how much money she makes on a monthly basis - her experience with the Nelk Boys - her social circle's reaction to starting her account - strange requests from subscribers Shayna'...

Send us Fan Mail My guest this week, Trenton Lomprey, was raised in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He shares an incredibly authentic and deeply vulnerable story of what it was like to grow up in this community while also being gay.  Major topics covered include: - strange, unexplainable spiritual experiences not previously shared on social platforms -  conceptualizations of the d...

Send us Fan Mail On the last episode of the season, Dr. Daniel Bubb shares a very personal account of what it was like to lose his father to stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He addresses some of the reasons why the "Death with Dignity" bill should have been passed here in Nevada. It is a bill that would allow competent adults with a terminal illness to request a prescription that would allow t...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Marta Meana, former president of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is an accomplished scholar who has made numerous contributions to the fields of psychology, romantic relationships, and human sexuality. Her ground-breaking research even earned her a spot on The Oprah Winfrey Show.  On this episode, we discuss the following topics: whether or not sex ed should be taught in...

Send us Fan Mail This week's episode is a continuation of the theme from the last episode: explaining political parties. My guest, Angelo Robledo, has extensive experience within the Democratic party. This episode dives much deeper than just a political party. We get into political theory, the history of political parties, discuss the state of human nature as a whole, while also talking about...