Let's Talk Elephants

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Glen 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

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Rafael 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

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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

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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

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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

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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 

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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

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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

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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

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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