Hometown boy turned Hollywood actor, Kristoffer Polaha was in town premiering his new movie Mimics, and dropped by for a conversation about his career and the role Reno played in shaping it.  

How do you create characters and mysteries from just your imagination?  In the second of two parts (begun on Wild Nevadacast, Jack Kelly discusses his freshly published novellas, Cahill’s Journal, which came out in mid 2025, and The Pallbearer, just released.  

Celebrating the best of PBS Reno Arts with this re-posting from February 2025.   2024 Silver Pen Award winner Laura Newman had a new book releasing in March 2025.  She treated us to readings from a story in The Darling of the Black Rock Desert and discussed her work, which is partially informed by her insatiable desire to travel and experience the world.  

Director Stacey Spain and Actor Bradford Ka'ai'ai are about to open Lonely Planet, presented by Brüka Theatre.  This examination of grief, fear, and how they affect our behaviors should be a fascinating show to experience.  Spain and Ka'ai'ai explain in depth the work that goes into putting together a theatrical performance, considering all facets.  

Celebrating the best of PBS Reno Arts with this re-posting from April 2025.   Jessica Santina has been writing theater reviews for the Reno News & Review for years, and in a smaller city like Reno that can be sensitive work.  It can also be difficult working with your spouse, and since Jessica is married to this podcast’s host it might make for an unusual episode.   

Celebrating the best of PBS Reno Arts with this re-posting from November 2024.  It’s the 50th anniversary of Dr. Donald Johanson’s discovery of the Australopithecus afarensis Lucy in Ethiopia.  We learn how Dr. Johanson continues to emphasize the importance of science communication at the Institute of Human Origins at ASU, which he founded.  His continuing mission is to advance our understanding of human history.

Chuck Reider is a regular contributor to ART VIEWS and a longtime member of the Reno Jazz Orchestra. He talks about the art of writing about music and promotes Home for the Holidays, the upcoming December 7 RJO performance.  

ARTEFFECTS Season 11 has begun and Producer Rebecca Cronon tells us of the stories that launched the season and the exciting upcoming projects that we'll be able to see in December and beyond.  

Dave Mencarelli was a well-loved comic who we featured in an ARTEFFECTS story about standup comedy.  Dave passed away in September 2025, leaving a legacy of laughter, kindness and generosity.  Two of his friends, host Dave Santina and new PBS Reno Development Officer Connie Wray, share their memories.  

Watch the story on ARTEFFECTS here: https://www.pbs.org/video/episode-515-vhnuav/

Watch Dave's reaction to the story winning an award here: https://www.pbs.org/video/episode-629-9ea7y0/

This month sees the start of the 2025/26 season for Brüka, and Producing Artistic Director Mary Bennett is here to introduce us to the incredible variety of performance that is about to unfold this year, beginning with the wildly creative musical Club Inferno.