Up In The Mix

Just days before Election Day, Nevada Attorney General and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Aaron Ford joins Shaughn and Cesar for a special edition of Up in the Mix!

From teaching middle and high school math to becoming Nevada's first Black Attorney General, Ford shares his journey into politics and why he's running to become Nevada's next governor.

We discuss his work taking on social media companies, Nevada's affordability crisis, housing costs, prescription drug prices, and his vision for the state's future. Ford also responds to Governor Joe Lombardo's controversial comments about marginalizing communities during his law enforcement career and reflects on what it would mean to become Nevada's first Black governor.

And because this is Up in the Mix, you know we had to talk music! Ford shares his love for UGK and Southern hip-hop, and the classic Dr. Dre track that serves as his Attorney General theme song.

Plus, we bring back Rapid Fire for a special occasion!

With Election Day approaching on November 3, Ford makes his case to Nevada voters and reminds us that voting is only the beginning. Holding our elected officials accountable comes next.

Get informed. Make your voice heard. Get out and VOTE!

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Aaron D. Ford — Nevada Attorney General and Democratic candidate for Governor

Official Attorney General website: https://ag.nv.gov

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Early voting is underway in Nevada, and we're breaking down what's on the ballot!

This week on Up in the Mix, the boys are joined by returning guest Tara Webster of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) to talk about the 2026 election, PLAN's voter guide, and the issues shaping Nevada's future.

We discuss housing affordability, immigration, reproductive rights, voter ID, key statewide and local races, and how voters can make informed decisions. Tara also explains how PLAN evaluates candidates, why local elections matter, and how Nevadans can stay involved long after Election Day.

Plus, we get into Halloween traditions, Reno's best burgers and pizza, gardening adventures, and more in our Meandering Questions.

Early voting runs October 17–30. Election Day is November 3.

Fulfill your civic duty, educate yourself, and vote!

Explore PLAN's voter guide: https://planevada.org/vote

Stay informed, get involved, and make your voice heard.

This week on Up in the Mix, Shaughn and Cesar welcome Mariluz Garcia, Washoe County Commissioner for District 3, for another installment of their 2026 local election conversations.

First elected in 2022, Garcia represents communities across Reno, Sparks, and Sun Valley. An educator, community advocate, and longtime Northern Nevada resident, she brings decades of experience working with local families and expanding educational opportunities to her role in county government.

With the November election approaching, the boys sit down with Garcia to talk about her background, her experience in public office, the issues facing Washoe County, and her campaign for a second term. From housing affordability and community services to the challenges of local government, they explore the decisions that affect neighborhoods and the people who live in them.

All politics is local. Get informed, get involved, and make your voice heard.

• Mariluz Garcia: https://garciafornevada.com/

• Washoe County Elections: https://www.washoecounty.gov/voters/

• Nevada Secretary of State: https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/elections

Up in the Mix — New Episodes Weekly

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Joe Gorman, candidate for Department 1 of Nevada’s Second Judicial District Court, joins the boys for a wide-ranging conversation about courts, community, public service, and what it actually means to be a judge.

Joe talks about his unusual path from teaching and private practice to serving as Chief Judge for the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribal Court and, since 2019, as Washoe County’s Probate Commissioner. He explains what probate court actually does, his experience with a Healing to Wellness Court, why Nevada has become a destination for major trusts, what District Court judges do, and what voters should actually look for when choosing a judicial candidate.

Eventually they get to the important stuff: why court isn't really like Law & Order, people incorrectly yelling “I object!”, handwritten wills, bad science fiction, KWNK, Miles Davis deep cuts, My Cousin Vinny, and why sometimes the worst records from great artists are the most interesting ones.

Plus: What does Joe consider a successful six-year term? Why does he believe electing judges gives voters a “superpower”?

Learn more about Joe Gorman and his campaign:
Vote Joe Gorman

UP IN THE MIX
New episodes weekly.

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🎙️ Hosted by: Shaughn Richardson & Cesar
📍 Reno, Nevada

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Stay informed. Stay involved. Start local. Support local.

This week on Up in the Mix, the boys start by trying to settle an important question: what’s the greatest rom-com of all time? From Love & Basketball and Hitch to Crazy Rich Asians and You’ve Got Mail, they eventually build their Rom-Com Mount Rushmore.

Then it’s into the news: the Hawk Fire and its impact on Reno, the wild Penn State fraternity cocaine distribution case, Arizona State’s new influencer degree, and another round of tariffs on Canada.

For the Random Lesson in Social Studies, Cesar catches Shaughn completely off guard with a question inspired by Blade Runner: If we ever create truly conscious AI, will humans inevitably discriminate against it—and would AI discriminate against us?

Plus, For All Mankind and House of the Dragon get the Binge or Skip treatment, road trips battle flying, and the Deep Dive looks at how Sears went from one of the most powerful companies in America to bankruptcy—and what its downfall tells us about financialization, corporate incentives, and capitalism.

Finally, Shaughn’s Final Word asks a simple question for adults who complain that kids today don’t know how to do anything:

Who was supposed to teach them?

Another week, another mix. 🎙️

School is back, summer is winding down… or is it? This week on Up in the Mix, the boys debate when summer actually ends in Reno and whether the more iconic young-adult experience is a huge house party or a long night of bar hopping with friends.

They also get into the latest sports and news stories, including the Lakers’ latest sale, FIFA and private equity, the continuing Kawhi Leonard/Clippers drama, and questions surrounding Trumpito's health.

For the Deep Dive, they take a look at the decline of literacy in America. Why are both adult and student literacy rates falling? We talk about changes in education policy, the reading instruction controversy highlighted in Sold a Story, the effects of phones and short-form media, and what AI could mean for the future of reading and writing.

Plus: The Pitt, Spider-Man, relegation in American sports, X-Men vs. Avengers, and a Final Word on climate change, hotter summers, and why climate policy matters.

Lastly, Shaughn unveils his plan to fix College Football.

Another week, another mix. 🎙️

This week on the show, the boys are joined by Daniel Vargas from Reno City Guide to talk about the city we call home. They get into how Reno City Guide got started, Daniel’s connection to the community, his favorite places around town, and some of the people, businesses, and experiences that make the Biggest Little City unique.

They also talk about how Reno has changed, what’s happening around town, and what makes this such an interesting time to be here.

Whether you’ve lived in Reno your whole life or you’re still discovering the city, this is a conversation about getting to know the place we call home.

This week on Up in the Mix, Shaughn and Cesar sit down with Reno photographer and Half Lit founder Rachel Dickson for a conversation about photography, creativity, and building an artistic community.

Rachel shares how she got her start behind the camera, the first camera she ever owned, the photographers who have inspired her work, and the styles of photography she's most passionate about. We also take a deep dive into Half Lit, her independently produced photography zine, discussing what inspired her to create it, the challenges of publishing an independent magazine, and some of the unexpected lessons she's learned along the way.

Whether you're a photographer, an artist, or simply someone who appreciates creative storytelling, this episode offers an inside look at the passion and dedication behind documenting the world through a lens.

🎧 Listen, subscribe, leave a review, and help us keep sharing the artists, creatives, politicians, and others who are helping to improve our community and world.

Follow Up in the Mix for new episodes, and catch our radio show every Friday at 9 PM on 97.7 KWNK FM.

This week on Up In The Mix, the boys break down who actually wins when the public's resources get handed over for private gain. From right here in Nevada to all across the country, they take a look at what the Public is actually getting from these private subsidies.

Also in this episode:

• They dissect the US Men’s overall World Cup performance. Are we building a soccer powerhouse, or just spinning our wheels on the world stage?

• The News: Lindsey Graham’s passing, Mitch McConnell’s future, and the active corporate threats to Utah's stunning National Parks.

• The Deep Dive: Corporate tax breaks are the ultimate shell game. They explain why "incentivizing business" is actually a multi-billion-dollar scam on the taxpayer.

• Take It or Leave It: No more "hot take culture". Plus, a hard look at how extreme capitalism is actively eroding our public spaces and peace of mind.

• The Final Word: No. More. Remakes. Unless a piece of media is at least 75 years old and mostly forgotten, let it lie. We need original human ideas more than ever—especially with the current trajectory of AI.

All of this, plus a random social studies lesson, a quick look at the racism storm surrounding Argentina, and Binge or Skip picks for X-Men '97, Sleeping with Other People, and Supergirl.

Up In The Mix is an independent, corporate-free podcast. If you love the show, hit that follow button on wherever you get the podcast, leave us a 5-star rating, and share this episode with a friend.

With November’s election locked in and no opposition on the ballot, Zee Bogale is officially set to become Reno’s next City Attorney. But what does that actually mean for the community, and what is his vision for the city’s legal future?

In Episode 204, the boys sit down with Zee to go beyond the campaign talking points. We dig into the actual mechanics of the City Attorney’s office, his priorities for accountability, and how his leadership will impact the day-to-day lives of Reno residents starting this winter. He also explains the local court systems here in Nevada and how they function, and he talks about his side job teaching at the University of Nevada, Reno. Whether you follow local politics closely or just want to know who is running the city's legal landscape, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

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