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 impact of Hugo Chávez
- specific examples of governmental and institutional corruption
- discrimination towards immigrants
- the immigration process as a whole
- similarities and differences between Venezuela and the United States
Ameer Abdullah has played in the NFL for the last 9 years, having played for the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and currently plays for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Some major topics covered:
- common stereotypes of pro athletes (unintelligent, superficial, bad with money, cheaters)
- the demanding nature of the job, both mentally and physically
- if race plays a role in choosing pro sports
Rachel Macias has experienced two different instances of sexual assault: once when she was 7 and again when she was 16.
Some major topics covered:
-how experiences of sexual assault/harassment affect sexuality
-the way trauma is non-linear & some days are more triggering than others
-the difficulty in trusting others after being assaulted
-losing faith in the legal system to handle sexual assault cases appropriately
When Michael Richter was just 15 years old, his mom Wendy was killed by her husband. Since then, Michael has turned to music as both a creative outlet and coping mechanism to share his story and connect with others.
Some major topics covered:
- warning signs of an abusive relationship
- how substances exacerbate domestic violence
- coping after a traumatic event/death
- how his mom inspires him as a musician to this day
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 system continues to fail children across the state
-the importance of school choice particularly for kids from low-income and/or minority families
-the way that political party lines prevent us form moving forward as a people
-governmental/political corruption & bureaucracy
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
-if there is a place for opinion/value-based learning in the classroom
- the perks of having the flexibility to create your own curriculum as a teacher
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, etc.
- how the 2020 George Floyd killing affected law enforcement officers & their training
- PTSD, depression, & anxiety in officers themselves after traumatic calls
- women in law enforcement
- consequences for officers if they respond inappropriately to a call
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 District
- sometimes there are warning signs, and sometimes there are not
- how you continue on in life after experiencing such a tragedy
- ptsd, depression, and anxiety after trauma
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
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 religion, spirituality, and atheism
- the struggle between feeding the ego and feeding the soul
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 by mainstream culture
- the importance of open communication and boundaries in making poly relationships work
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