Kids don’t show up to school as blank slates. They show up hungry, tired, caring for siblings, navigating trauma, or quietly carrying responsibilities most adults never see. In this episode of Home Means Podcast, host Heather Brown sits down with Tami Hance-Lehr, CEO of Communities In Schools of Nevada, to unpack what it really means for students to be “ready to learn.”

Tami explains why academic improvement cannot happen until basic needs are met and how Communities In Schools brings wraparound services directly onto school campuses across Nevada. From food and clothing to mental health care, transportation, and family support, this conversation highlights a model that removes barriers instead of blaming students.

They also talk candidly about leadership, empathy, and why asking for help is a skill, not a weakness, especially for women leading complex organizations.

This is a conversation about education, opportunity, and the Nevada way of opening doors so students can imagine, access, and move toward futures they may not yet know exist.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

This special year-end episode brings together the most meaningful lessons and standout moments from the guests who joined us throughout 2025. Each conversation offered something different, including stories of resilience, leadership, community, creativity, and the unique ways people build their lives here in Nevada.

In this compilation, we revisit the experiences that stayed with us, the perspectives that challenged us, inspired us, and deepened our understanding of what it means to call this place home. Whether you followed every episode or are joining us for the first time, this highlight reel captures the wisdom and heart our guests shared over the past year.

These are the voices that shaped our conversations and the lessons we are carrying forward into the year ahead.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music.

In this episode of Home Means, host Heather Brown sits down with Stephanie Goodman, Vice Chair of the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents and Executive Director of the Dr. Robert Hunter International Problem Gambling Center. Las Vegas-born and UNLV alumna, Stephanie brings a uniquely grounded perspective on how education, health, and industry must align for Nevada’s next chapter.

From expanding workforce-pathways and shaping a diversified economy to elevating problem-gambling awareness tied to the heart of Nevada’s gaming industry, Stephanie shares what it takes to fuel real momentum for our state. She challenges us to rethink what meaningful jobs look like, to hold policymakers accountable for education, and to bring bold solutions into the community.

🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music.