Washoe County Manager Kate Thomas joins Washoe Life for a conversation about leadership, public service and supporting the more than 3,000 employees who serve our community every day. 

Thomas is not new to Washoe County, she joined the organization in 2017 as assistant county manager, overseeing departments that deliver some of the county’s most critical services, including human services, courts and elections. 

In this episode, she reflects on her path in public service, her leadership philosophy of empowering employees and maintaining work-life balance and why supporting the people who deliver services is key to serving the community. 

As part of Washoe Life’s America250/Nevada podcast series, this episode explores a chapter of Washoe County history that put Reno on the national map for more than six decades. Historian and author Dr. Alicia Barber joins the podcast to examine Reno’s rise as the Divorce Capital of the World, from the early 1900s through the 1960s. Barber discusses the laws that drew thousands to the city, what daily life looked like for temporary residents waiting out the six-week residency requirement, and how the divorce industry reshaped Reno’s economy, culture and identity. The conversation also looks at the broader social changes reflected in this era and why this history remains an important part of Nevada’s story as the state marks the nation’s 250th anniversary through America250 Nevada. 

Sergeant Garrett Bird and Deputy Sheriff Nicholas Ediss of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team share what it takes to locate and rescue people in Washoe County’s challenging terrain. From real-world missions to lifesaving safety tips, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the teamwork, training, and preparation that save lives in northern Nevada. 

America has a pretty big birthday this year, 250 years, and Washoe County is proud to kick off our America250/Nevada podcast series from a place steeped in our own local history: the Historic Washoe County Courthouse. During this episode of Washoe Life, we explore how history will be honored and preserved at the Courthouse this year from District Judge Barry Breslow to curator and first-time author Tammy Buzick’s deep dive into the legacy of the Bowers family and the Comstock era. Recorded inside this iconic courthouse, these conversations connect Nevada’s past to its present as we begin a yearlong celebration of America’s story, told through a Washoe County lens. 

The Washoe Life Podcast returns for its fifth season and a brand-new lineup conversations with the people who make life in Washoe County so interesting. This year is also the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and we will be shining the spotlight on people, places, and cultures that have helped shape our state and country over the last 250 years. Join us for this new season of Washoe Life!  

This episode of Washoe Life features Mike Wilden, longtime Nevada health and human services leader, as he shares the fascinating history of the Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services campus. From its opening in 1882 as the Nevada Insane Asylum to its evolution into modern mental health and disability services, Mike reflects on the people, policies, and stories that shaped this landmark institution. 

In this episode of Washoe Life, we welcome Rick Edwards, the new Fire Chief of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. Chief Edwards comes to Washoe County after more than two decades with the Stockton Fire Department in California, where he rose through every rank to become Fire Chief. 

He shares his leadership journey, lessons learned from California’s wildfire seasons, and his vision for fire prevention and preparedness in our region. Listeners will also get to know him personally — from his family’s move to Nevada to his excitement about exploring our community, including which mountain he plans to ski first. 

When crime happens, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Division steps in to uncover the truth hidden in the evidence. In this episode of Washoe Life, we sit down with Division Director Steven Johnson and Supervising Criminalist Dr. Lisa Smyth-Roam for a behind-the-scenes look at the county’s crime lab. From separating TV drama from reality, to the evolving role of DNA and forensic technology in solving cold cases, learn how science and teamwork bring justice to our community. Johnson and Smyth-Roam also share surprising stories from the lab, clear up common misconceptions, and highlight the vital role of forensic experts in Washoe County and beyond. 

Explore the awe-inspiring Fly Ranch: 3,800 acres of hot springs, wetlands, and desert beauty just north of the Black Rock Desert. Hear from Burning Man Project’s Marnee Benson and Fly Ranch General Manager Zac Cirivello as they share the story behind this unique landscape, the values guiding its care, and how community, art, and ecology are shaping its future. 

Hot August Nights isn’t just an event, it’s a 10-day celebration of nostalgia, community, and classic car culture that draws more than 500,000 people to Northern Nevada each year. In this episode, Executive Director Deny Dotson shares how his decade in Virginia City tourism prepared him to steer one of the nation’s most iconic car shows. From the behind-the-scenes logistics and $100 million economic impact to preserving automotive history while appealing to new generations, Deny gives us a front-row seat to what makes Hot August Nights an unforgettable experience.