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.

What happens when the world’s fastest race meets the world’s brightest city?

Lori Nelson-Kraft, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, joins Home Means to pull back the curtain on how F1 found its perfect home in Las Vegas and how the event has become more than a spectacle.

From global brand strategy to community impact, Lori shares how the Grand Prix creates opportunities for local students, nonprofits, and businesses while redefining what legacy means for our city. She also talks about sustainability, civic pride, and the shared vision that could make Las Vegas the “Monaco of North America.”

It is a story about speed, vision, and staying power, and how the lights on the Strip reflect something deeper about who we are as Nevadans.

🎧 Listen November 18 on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

What does it mean to leave a mark on Nevada? In this episode, host Heather Brown sits down with Senator Richard Bryan, one of the Silver State’s most enduring leaders. From his early days as Nevada’s first public defender to serving as Attorney General, Governor, and U.S. Senator, Bryan has spent a lifetime shaping the future of his home.

He shares insights from decades in public service, from the realities of running for office in Nevada to the financial and personal sacrifices that come with leadership. With humor and candor, Bryan reflects on the lessons he carried with him from his upbringing, his mentors, and the people who influenced his path, values that guided him through some of the most pivotal moments in Nevada’s history.

This conversation is part history, part inspiration, and all Nevada. It’s a reminder that legacy isn’t just about the offices we hold, but the community we build and the values we leave behind.

Higher education isn’t known for speed, but Chris Heavey wants to change that. As Interim President of UNLV, he’s leading a university that’s learning to move faster, think bigger, and grow alongside the community it serves.

In this episode of Home Means, Heather Brown talks with Heavey about what it means to lead during transformation — from building new programs in medicine, engineering, and cybersecurity, to reshaping education around real-world skills. He shares how UNLV is breaking the “slow university” stereotype by staying experimental, entrepreneurial, and deeply connected to Nevada’s needs.

Heavey also calls out one uncomfortable truth: family income still predicts college success more than test scores. His answer? Give every student the chance to succeed through practical experience, internships, and meaningful learning that prepares them for what’s next.

🎧 Home Means Forward premieres October 21 on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

Higher education isn’t known for speed, but Chris Heavey wants to change that. As Interim President of UNLV, he’s leading a university that’s learning to move faster, think bigger, and grow alongside the community it serves.

In this episode of Home Means, Heather Brown talks with Heavey about what it means to lead during transformation — from building new programs in medicine, engineering, and cybersecurity, to reshaping education around real-world skills. He shares how UNLV is breaking the “slow university” stereotype by staying experimental, entrepreneurial, and deeply connected to Nevada’s needs.

Heavey also calls out one uncomfortable truth: family income still predicts college success more than test scores. His answer? Give every student the chance to succeed through practical experience, internships, and meaningful learning that prepares them for what’s next.

🎧 Home Means Forward premieres October 21 on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

In this episode of Home Means Unity, we sit down with Sallie Doebler, CEO of the Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, to explore how unity across sectors creates real community impact.

Sallie thinks like a civic matchmaker. She pairs donor priorities with city needs, fills budget gaps without duplicating what nonprofits already do, and chooses projects where collaboration creates big results. From making sure unhoused individuals can safely keep their pets while seeking resources to aligning businesses and government around shared goals, her work is all about partnerships that stick.

She also offers advice to emerging civic leaders: build trust, seek mentors, and avoid reinventing the wheel. The smartest move is often adapting what already works and making it fit your community.