From the front lines of the Tallac Hotshots, battling California’s biggest wildfires like the Dixie and Caldor Fires, to the depths of the ocean helping restore coral reefs in Honduras. Jp has built a life defined by resilience, service, and purpose. 🌊🔥 Between fire seasons, he’s taught diving, hunted invasive lionfish, and volunteered with @CleanUptheLake, helping preserve local alpine ecosystems. Now, he’s preparing for his next chapter — studying to take his next step toward municipal firefighting. This is more than a comeback story, it’s a reminder that strength isn’t just surviving the fire, but learning to rise from the ashes. Hosted by his sister Amanda Avilla.

Machinist and small business owner Paul McCutcheon shares his journey from a junior high metal shop in Fontana, California, to running his own precision machining business in Fallon, Nevada. Through decades of hard work, Paul built a career for himself after being told he wouldn't be hired elsewhere. From aerospace manufacturing to entrepreneurship, he reflects on the challenges of starting out with little more than determination, a supportive partner, and a few savings bonds. His story is a testament to the enduring spirit of American manufacturing. Audio reporting by his daughter April McCutcheon.

Kelly August, an experienced dance instructor in Reno, shares how she teaches burlesque not just as a style of dance but as a way to empower people to become confident in their own skin. Burlesque was first used as a rebellious way to dance and challenge society norms; today burlesque dancers use it for a multitude of reasons. Not only does burlesque empower its dancers, but as Sara Ewing reports it’s a statement that allows the dancer to show they are in charge of their destiny,

The Old Washoe Club is one of the most notorious, and reportedly haunted locations we have here in the Northern Nevada Area. A hub for the social elites during the silver rush in Virginia City in the 1800s, the club is full of history, as well as alleged spirits. Come along with one of the club’s tour guides as she shows us inside “The Crypt” of the building and tells us all about its spooky history. Audio reporting by Natalie MacKay.

For 43 years, the Great Reno Italian Festival has transformed the streets of downtown Reno, Nevada into a cultural haven full of handmade raviolis, Italian music, the smells of slow cooking pasta sauce, and a stage with barrels full of grapes for stomping. The festival is one of Reno’s biggest cultural events, and attracts thousands of visitors each year for its authentic Italian food and wine, vendors, and free events. Mark your calendars for next year! Episode hosted by Natalie MacKay. Photo credit by Mackenzie Rankin.

After more than a year in Portland, 22-year-old Filipino-American artist Vivid Helene returned to her hometown stage, performing at RareTea to a crowd of devoted fans, close friends, and supportive family members. Amanda Avilla caught up with her to compare the two cities, and discuss being an artist in the Biggest Little City.

On this episode of the Our Town Reno Podcast, Nicolas Scolaro interview Dalton Debold, a Reno local who has lived in Reno all of his life. His family has owned a bike shop for over 15 years and he has experienced most of the changes of Reno first hand, from the perspective of growing up here, his family having a business, and now as a student, snow enthusiast and aspirant filmmaker.

In this episode, we go further afield in northern Nevada, as April McCutcheon interviews Ron Evans, a retired teacher and community member to discuss his work with the Fallon Daily Bread. The organization, founded in 2006 at the Epworth United Methodist Church, is focused on providing meals to the unhoused and food insecure in Fallon a town of about 10-thousand people. Evans shares how the need continues to grow amid rising costs and economic challenges and how the organization adapts to still serve the public, while focusing on giving a meal rather than food, and treating everyone like a human being.

Reno native Sage L. has lived in twelve places across the city, including student housing like dorms and apartments. For the Our Town Reno podcast, he speaks with Maddie Gauthier about his strategies for finding affordable places to live as a recent UNR graduate and young professional, comparing and contrasting all his experiences, and pointing out the bad and even the worse, while trying to improve his living situation.

Ever wonder what funk band Honey Plant gets up to behind the scenes? Lauren Juillerat and her media team with Biggest Little Bands caught up with the local group, Robin Low (vocals and bass), Noah Jeffery (saxophone), Matthew Nist (drums) and Sam Putney (guitar, synths, vocals) to chat about fun traditions, their practice spot, and how they define their sound.

Reporter and local concertgoer Kade Collins highlights some great local bands, including Charity Kiss, Worm Shot, In the Works? and Pissmixer, shares a few personal anecdotes about the local scene, and gives an assessment of Reno's place in the greater west coast music scene.

Luke Hill is a born-and-raised Renoite, a waiter at a local sushi restaurant, and a musician with the band Kings Row.  In his bedroom, under a make-shift tent made from his comforter, he chats with Kade Collins about what it’s been like growing up in Reno and nearby suburbia through many economic shifts, including the current population and gentrifying development boom, how he barely avoids committing arson, his favorite areas of Reno, and Kings Row house concerts. 

Our special episode reporters Lexi and and Jadee interview local Bollywood dance intructor Chhavi Bhalla about her experiences teaching Bollywood dancing in south Reno, her passion for this evolving dance scene and future projects to keep it growing.

Lexi Waisanen and Alysha Cancino interview Richie Bednarski about his experiences cycling in Reno as a green commuter and what he thinks could be better. Bednarski also explains the multitude of cycling communities in Reno that he is a part of and why he loves cycling in Reno. The photographer and filmmaker is also working on a project documenting the rich history of cycling and bicycle culture in the 775.

Hosts Derek Raridon and Dominic Gutierrez talk with local northern Nevada artists Hosway Valadaze, Chris Kepley and Doomed Movement about their current projects giving back to the community, their ongoing collaboration with the O’Brien Middle School art program and other trends in the Reno art scene.

In this Our Town Reno episode, reporter Lauren Juillerat interviews a local Reno band, Faded Shawties, on their experience and perspectives on the local music scene. Nico, Eduardo and Daniel share their opinions on lighthearted topics such as their favorite foods to eat before a show, to more serious topics concerning the recent cancel culture in the Reno scene, as well as their mission as a band to be welcoming and more inclusive to communities around the Biggest Little City.

In this Our Town Reno episode, our music reporter Lauren Juillerat hosts Reno photographer and videographer Jake Erwin on his experience in the local music scene. Jake only started pursuing photography and videography in 2021 and rapidly learned new skills that helped him gain new opportunities in northern Nevada. Success this early on in a photographer’s career is rare. Jake shares his advice on how to be successful in this creative field as well as his back story. Listen in for an inspiring tale, essential tips and tricks, and guidance when it comes to thriving in photography and making music videos.

A resident of Curti Ranch, now in Ward 6, since 2005, a mom who battled to get one of her son’s to overcome childhood leukemia, and a professional in marketing for decades, Brandi Anderson wants south Reno to no longer be overlooked in terms of parks and recreation, public safety, and solutions-based infrastructure. Listen to her interview as she begins her campaign for a seat on Reno's City Council.

Before his mother passed away at the end of 2022, Michaelangelo Aranda remembers she used to call him “Mayor Michael.” His father, who is currently struggling with health challenges, set the bar even higher. “When I had shared with him that I'm running for city council,” Aranda says, he told him he hopes to stay alive to see him as president. “I don't know if I will career that far,” Aranda told Our Town Reno during a recent podcast interview. For now he’s one of many candidates for our city’s new Ward 6, with a campaign website extolling “Reno Born Reno Ready.” Listen to Aranda make his case for his campaign by listening to this episode which is part of our political series on 2024 northern Nevada candidates.

Heather Goulding, running for District 27 of the Nevada State Assembly, rides bikes whenever and wherever she can, including on her commutes, and with big tires, she handles all weather and steep inclines. Goulding, currently a senior project manager in utility energy efficiency programs, is bringing that can do spirit to her campaign to become a representative for a district encompassing portions of the North Valleys including Panther Valley and Sun Valley. Listen to her reasons for running in our latest in a series of political episodes ahead of 2024 voting.