Let's Talk Elephants

Send us a textLexie Engdahl has a complex relationship with her father, who is currently serving time in jail for an attempted homicide in a road rage incident. Lexie's dad is a Vietnam veteran who has struggled with PTSD his whole life as well. Some major topics discussed:- the difficulty of growing up in a divorced household & the pressure to pick sides- the nuance of people & how we all have lovable parts of us no matter who we are- the importance of choosing forgiveness and love over resentment and hate- the struggle of having older parents- issues in the judicial system

Send us a textNatalie Dempsey had her daughter when she was 21 years old and has been navigating life as a single mom for the last 5 years. There are many stigmas/stereotypes attached to being a single mom, some good & some not so good. Some major topics discussed:- the challenges of having a child while in a struggling relationship- the sacrifices you have to make for a child, financially and emotionally- modern society's lack of family values & the high divorce/separation rate- how growing up in a divorced/separated household or witnessing a divorce/separation affects children- troubles with dating when you have a child

Send us a textMy guest today is my brother, Caden Farley. Having a brother that is so close in age to me has been like having an inside look into the way men's heads work. Caden has always been honest with me when it comes to advice on dating, men, their intentions, etc. because he's been in both long-term relationships and casual flings with women throughout his life. Obviously, his experience is one of many, but we can all recognize certain patterns within our own gender, so one experience is still a valuable one. Some major topics discussed:- how a guy acts when he is genuinely interested in a girl vs. something casual- different attachment styles (anxious vs. avoidant) and how they handle intimacy- the way social media makes it difficult to commit because of the perceived limitless options- how a guy can tell when a woman has respect for herself or not

Send us a textJade Gutierrez is 23 years old and has practiced her faith for her entire life. Religion is something that has become less popular and more controversial amongst younger generations, but Jade has found a way to incorporate it into her life while still having fun and exploring herself. Some major topics covered:- our differences in beliefs when it comes to the afterlife- how she reconciles being Christian while also still engaging in some activities that have not been traditionally accepted in Christianity- her experience with betrayal/infidelity & the importance of forgiveness regardless of religious denomination- the difference between the ego and the soul

Send us a textDawn Bailey, who also happens to be my grandma, got married at a very young age, before she really knew herself or her partner (my grandpa). They were married for 49 years, up until my grandpa's passing three years ago, and they struggled through a tumultuous relationship for a good part of their lives. He was the only person she had ever been with.Some major topics covered:- signs of a controlling and possessive partner- how childhood development, abandonment issues, and attachment styles affect your relationships for the rest of your life (generational trauma)- the struggle to find your identity when you are too lost in a relationship

Send us a textSavannah Tuttrup grew up with two parents that battled addiction. She moved from Iowa to Las Vegas when she was 24 years old with her younger sister, who she has been a parental figure to for her entire life. Savannah and her sister are only 9 years apart, so she took on the role of a parent as a child herself.Some major topics covered:- what it was like for her to witness her parents struggling with addiction- the pressure of being a role model/guardian for a sibling- how she has become better equipped to be a parent when she does decide to have kids

Send us a textGlen Simpson is the Senior Director at Community Ambulance and has been a part of the EMS community here in Las Vegas since 2004. He shares some of the struggles of maintaining good mental health in a career where you are constantly expose to trauma and stress. Glen was a first responder at the Route 91 mass shooting in 2017, and he shared an in-depth account of that night and the impact it had on him. Some major topics covered:- some of the most tragic/impactful calls he's received over the years- the struggle of remaining emotionally available for the other people in your life when you have to turn your emotions off for work- the stigma around mental health & speaking up when you need help- how, despite witnessing atrocities, he still believes that 99% of people in the world are good

Send us a textRafael Arroyo is running for Nevada State Assembly in the upcoming 2024 election. He shares his vision for how he would be an ethical & effective representative if he were elected. Although Rafael is running under the Republican Party, he emphasizes the importance of representing ALL Nevada citizens. Some major topics covered:- corruption in both the state & federal government- what it looks like to fix a broken system- differences between the republican & democrat parties- his intentions behind running for office & what it takes to be a good leader

Send us a textAmeer 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

Send us a textRachel 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

Send us a textWhen 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

Send us a textValeria 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

Send us a textMadisen 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

Send us a textStacy 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

Send us a textTina 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

Send us a textBen 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 a textCynthia 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

Send us a textCamryn 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

Send us a textMike 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 above showing him future events in his life- naming his son "love" after his experience- specific details about visiting the spirit world- being told religion is used for control

Send us a textJenny 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 covered:- the fear of infidelity in LDRs (long-distance relationships) and the importance of defining what cheating actually looks like- how to meet sexual needs in LDRs- key things that do and do NOT work in LDRs- some ways that this type of relationship can be healthier than traditional ones