Episodes

The past, present and future of the Bristlecone Pine, a preview of the new school year and tribes get a seat at the table with federal agencies. This week host Joey Lovato dives into the world of the Bristlecone Pine, one of the oldest living trees on the planet. He talks to experts about what makes the trees unique, what we can learn from them and what threats they face. After that, education reporter Rocío Hernández discusses what students, parents and teachers can expect from the upcoming sc...

Airport growth in Nevada, the fight for better air quality in East Las Vegas and a Nevada professor’s dream fulfilled at Comic-Con. This week host Joey Lovato has a story about how an increase in air traffic could mean a second airport in Las Vegas as well as major upgrades coming to the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. After that, reporter Carmen Landing explores why East Las Vegas is disproportionately affected by poor air quality and what’s being done to combat that problem. At the end of t...

Queer artists talk about identity and expression, what you need to know about the new COVID variant and the impending demise of several Nevada casinos. This week host Joey Lovato has a story about how queer artists are using their creative work to examine issues related to expression and identity. After that, reporter Tabitha Mueller goes over the new COVID BA.5 variant and what it means for Nevadans. At the end of the show, reporter Howard Stutz talks about demolishing casinos and a few other ...

Safety when recreating in the Nevada wilderness, the new mental health hotline and talking about citizen legislators. This week host Joey Lovato chats with Lacey Hankin, a volunteer with the Washoe County Search and Rescue Hasty Team, about safety when enjoying Nevada’s diverse landscape. After that, reporter Carly Sauvageau explains the new 988 suicide prevention hotline. At the end of the episode, we feature a segment from our friends over at City Cast Las Vegas about citizen legislatures and...

Why a therapist uses music to help heal, how COVID changed what we wear and one radio station servicing central rural Nevada. This week we are rewinding to hear some of our favorite podcast stories from the past, starting with a story video producer Tim Lenard did about a musical therapist. After that, host Joey Lovato interviews a fashion expert at UNLV about how COVID changed the way we dress. At the end of the show, Joey has a story about Radio Goldfield, a small station in rural Nevada that...

Inmates fighting wildfires, a sustainable ranch outside of Elko and microplastics in our environment. This week we are rewinding to hear some of our favorite podcast stories from the past, starting with a segment former intern Zach Bright did on inmate firefighters and their meager pay. After that, we have a story from former reporter Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez and photographer David Calvert on a ranch outside of Elko that is looking to operate in a more sustainable way. At the end of the show, re...

Why more tiny homes could be coming to Nevada, a dive into “The Big Lie” and candidates that are embracing it and a breakdown of everything going on in D.C. right now. This week we have a piece from reporter Carmen Landinger on a bill that will open up more zoning for tiny homes in Nevada. Then, we have a piece we did in partnership with our friends over at KUNR on the idea that the election was stolen and republican candidates embracing the position. At the end of the show, reporter Humberto S...

Primary election winners and losers, the history of rent control in Reno and summer reading recommendations. This week we have an overview of Nevada’s primary election, with analysis about what happened and what to watch for heading into the general election. After that, historian Dr. Alicia Barber and reporter Tabitha Muller come on the show to talk about the history of rent control in Reno. And we end on a fun note, with Jeff Scott from Washoe County Libraries recommending adds to your summer...

Veterans carry dog tags to remember fallen comrades, Clark County boosts teacher pay and meet our two newest interns. Video Producer Tim Lenard recently walked with some veterans and talked to them while they participated in a Memorial Day event called A Ruck to Remember. He shares more about that experience in our first segment this week. Afterward, reporter Rocío Hernández talks with host Joey Lovato about teacher raises in Clark County and why it has caused a stir within the district. At the...

An overview of Nevada’s congressional races and an interview with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg about infrastructure funding. This week we go over all the House races before the 2022 primary election. Reporters Humberto Sanchez and Sean Golonka chat with host Joey Lovato about the stakes of each race, and you’ll also hear from some of the candidates themselves. After that, reporter and co-host Jacob Solis talks with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on funding fr...

A worker shortage in Nevada’s labor market, an on-the-record discussion with Republican gubernatorial candidate Dean Heller and more babies entering the foster care system. This week host Joey Lovato has a story about the labor shortage affecting Nevada. In the wake of the so-called “great resignation” more and more businesses are hiring, but there aren’t enough people to fill the job openings. After that, Republican Dean Heller talks about his bid for governor. It’s one of several candidate in...

Uncertainty surrounding student loan debt, an on-the-record discussion with Republican gubernatorial candidate Joe Lombardo and a few important things to know about water in Nevada. This week reporter Da Yeon Eom has a story about the growing pool of debt caused by student loans and efforts at the state and federal level to help. After that, Republican Joe Lombardo talks about his bid for governor, one of several candidate interviews we’ll be sharing over the next few weeks. And at the end of t...

Businesses on wheels, the first female Paiute fly fishing guide and how one 16-year-old got a bill passed in the 2021 legislative session. This week we are rewinding to hear some of our favorite podcast stories from the past, starting with a story host Joey Lovato reported about mobile businesses in Reno. After that, we meet Autumn Harry, Nevada’s first female Paiute fly fishing guide. At the end of the show, Joey and reporter Tabitha Mueller talk with Samantha Glover, a Reno teenager who helpe...

Growing grapes in the desert, an exit interview with the Washoe County School District superintendent and abortion laws in Nevada. This week host Joey Lovato has a story about growing grapes for wine in Nevada and why the industry may be poised for growth. After that, reporter Rocío Hernández and assistant editor Jackie Valley interview the outgoing superintendent of the Washoe County School District, Kristen McNeill. At the end of the show, reporters Humberto Sanchez and Tabitha Mueller talk a...

A trash problem along the Lake Tahoe shoreline, a Fallon tribe’s fight to preserve ancestral land and big crowds and new beginnings in Las Vegas This week host Joey Lovato talks with members of Clean up the Lake, a group whose mission is –you guessed it–cleaning up Lake Tahoe’s shorelines. Divers have been pulling out thousands of pounds of trash and they are almost done making their way around the lake. After that, we have a story about the Fallon Paiute Shoshone Tribe’s fight to preserve publ...

Event industry changes, poll results and climate change in Nevada This week host Joey Lovato sits down with Julia Reed Nichols, the creative director of The Event People, which is — you guessed it — an event planning business in Las Vegas. The industry saw business dramatically drop off at the beginning of the pandemic, but as COVID restrictions eased, demand for events has grown. . After that, Humberto Sanchez, Jacob Solis and Jackie Valley all join to chat about results from a poll The Indy c...

Formula One’s planned pit stop in Las Vegas, a scourge of school violence and a plan that could move Nevada ahead in presidential primary contests. This week hosts Joey Lovato, Jacob Solis and reporter Howard Stutz have a story on a Formula One race coming to the Las Vegas Strip in 2023. They talk about the growing world of sports in Southern Nevada as well as the economic boon the event could bestow on the region. After that, reporter Rocío Hernández joins the show to talk about violence in K-...

A rise in substance abuse in the Hispanic community, more COVID-19 booster shots and data and a history lesson about Nevada’s quirky state symbols This week, host Joey Lovato talks to reporter Jannelle Calderón about a rise in Hispanic overdose deaths during the pandemic. Afterward, we talk about another health issue: Reporters Tabitha Mueller and Da Yeon sit down with Joey to go over who can get a second COVID-19 booster shot and why the state is changing how it reports on COVID numbers. Lastl...

Highlights from our IndyTalks event with CCSD leaders and a teacher, the Culinary Union complaints against Station Casinos and the head of higher ed in Nevada steps down. This week, The Indy hosted a live IndyTalks event with the Clark County School District superintendent, an English teacher and the executive director of the teachers union to discuss issues in K-12 education in Nevada. We have some highlights from the nearly two-hour conversation. After that, reporter Howard Stutz reports that...

The shifting Latino electorate in Nevada, a Carson City couple’s experience helping Ukrainian refugees and proposed election changes across Nevada counties. This week, reporter Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez has a story exploring what the shifting Latino electorate means for the midterm elections. After that, host Joey Lovato and Assistant Editor Jackie Valley are joined by Carson City resident and political operative Jon Staab and his wife Lidia Karasinska, who recently traveled to Poland and Ukraine...

A Las Vegas master sommelier, Reno’s ordinance banning whips in downtown and an introduction to our new education reporter. This week we have a story from reporter Da Yeon Eom, who chats with Douglas Kim, one of only three Korean master sommeliers. After that, a story from a local Reno podcast, The Wind, about a law in Reno that banned whips in downtown. At the end of the show, host Joey Lovato sits down with new education reporter Rocío Hernández to talk about growing up in Clark County and he...

The role of music therapy in Nevada’s health care landscape, teacher recruitment and retention problems and a chat with the Indy’s new intern This week, Video Producer Tim Lenard talked with Elizabeth Lenz, a musical therapist, about working with patients and how music can be used for healing. After that, Assistant Editor Jackie Valley and reporter Jacob Solis have a story on why teachers are departing and what’s being done to shore up the educator pipeline. At the end of the show, host Joey Lo...

The history of the death penalty in Nevada, the story of Zane Floyd and his 20 years on death row, and what the future may hold for capital punishment. This week, host Joey Lovato and Assistant Editor Michelle Rindels bring listeners the history of the death penalty in Nevada. After that, Joey sits down with reporter Sean Golonka to break down the crimes and punishment of Zane Floyd, who killed four people in Las Vegas in 1999, and why he’s been on death row for 20 years. At the end of the show...

The Nevada Rail Coalition pushes for more trains in the state, Gov. Sisolak gives his State of the State address and volunteers in Las Vegas participate in the Homeless Census This week, host Joey Lovato is joined by Ron Kaminkow and Anne Macquarie, two members of the new Nevada Rail Coalition, which seeks to boost train travel and freight in the state. After that, reporter Jackie Valley comes on the show to talk about her coverage of Gov. Steve Sisolak’s State of the State address. At the end ...