Podcasts about Southern Nevada

A teenager accused of stabbing horses could be tried as an adult, a massive water pipeline is coming to Southern Nevada, hear from a rock star as he breaks ground on a new office building in the southwest valley and more on 7@7.

Mitch Cloward, region president of Intermountain Health, shares a powerful story of leadership, compassion, and purpose in this inspiring episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast. From starting his healthcare journey as a hospital housekeeper to leading one of the region's largest healthcare systems and helping bring Nevada's first standalone children's hospital to Las Vegas, Mitch reveals how empathy, innovation, and service are transforming the future of healthcare in Southern Nevada.Intermountain Health: Intermountain HealthIntermountain Children's Health / Primary Children's Hospital: Primary Children's Hospital

Las Vegas may be known for entertainment, but it's also respected as a leader in water conservation. While the region continues to grow, Southern Nevada is using less water today than it did two decades ago—a testament to community-wide conservation efforts. In this episode, SNWA's Pietra Sardelli talks about the Water Smart Business Program and shares conversations with two local leaders who have stepped up their water efficiency efforts on the Water Smarts Podcast, “WATER WARRIORS: Las Vegas businesses are doing more with less.”https://www.snwa.com/https://www.snwa.com/ 

Fans in Las Vegas react to the death of Nascar driver Kyle Busch, the case against Summerlin private school students accused in a sex assault case is paused, a strip resort and a local nonprofit team up to help tackle food insecurity in Southern Nevada and more on 7@7.

 Scott Muelrath, president and CEO of the Henderson Chamber, shares the story behind Henderson's explosive growth and the vision helping shape Southern Nevada's future in this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast. From the arrival of Haas Automation and major development projects to workforce challenges, small business growth, and the rapid transformation of Henderson, Scott gives an inside look at the leadership and momentum driving one of the region's fastest-growing communities. Henderson Chamber of Commerce: Henderson Chamber of Commerce

Recently, a handful of works — mostly by local artists — have debuted in the Arts District, Chinatown, and Filipino Town.

Nick Martocci, founder of Technical Training Academy in Las Vegas, joins to discuss expanding from wind technician training to other energy technologies and career pathways for veterans in energy. Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTube, Linkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us! Welcome to Uptime Spotlight, shining Light on Wind. Energy’s brightest innovators. This is the Progress Powering tomorrow. Allen Hall: Nick, welcome back to the program. We’re Tower Trading Academy. Now your technical trading Academy since we last spoke and we last spoke at OM and S in Nashville. Yep. Now we’re here in Orlando. A lot’s changed over the last year.  Nick Martocci: We went through a lot of growth and changes, if you will, to the point where, because I added the program from just wind turbine technician to battery energy storage technician as well. And obviously like always I’ve got something brewing behind the green curtain. Right, right. Uh, we’re, we’re always doing something and adding and changing training. And what we really did is get to a place where we’re getting really technical with some of the things that we’re doing. And what I did want to [00:01:00] do is rebrand, go through all of the, you know, uh, marketing and pieces again, and try to change things. And so I tried to find what was the most simplistic, easy pivot, but also kept us out in the people’s eye. Yeah. And we went to Technical Training Academy. So we really didn’t have to do a whole heavy rebrand. We didn’t have to change a lot, but those that are already working with us, it was just letting them know, Hey, we are still Legally Tower Training Academy. Even the Department of Labor recognizes that, uh, we just have a DBA in place and the DBA doing business as, uh, allows us to now really open that up as far as what are we capable of doing when it comes to. Deliverables for, you know, people in energy and those types of security places.  Allen Hall: Well, I’ve been watching your shorts. I, they’re on YouTube or on LinkedIn. They’re really good. The little clips about what you [00:02:00] guys are up to, they’re excellent. And the, what I follow, because I, I met you several times, it was just kind of cool to follow the progression there. The state of Nevada has recognized you. There’s a lot of, uh, congratulatory, uh, events that are happening and like, all right, Hey, Nick’s making this thing happen because it’s so hard to be in that training business. Mm-hmm. To get to where you have brought that whole company. Two is all right. This, this is a, this is a good spot.  Nick Martocci: Yeah. Uh, you’re  Allen Hall: making some progress  Nick Martocci: there. We had Susie Lee’s office last year help us announce the Battery Energy Storage Program, so there was a congressional recognition there as well. Uh, we’ve also been working with other local politicians and things of that nature to be able to showcase some of the things that not just TTA is doing, but veterans and energy. Because of my partnership with Project Vanguard, I am a state, uh, representative [00:03:00] for Project Vanguard in the state of Nevada. So it’s another piece of also being able to showcase, hey, this is not just what TTA is doing, but what are veterans doing in energy? And I want to be able to not only highlight, you know, obviously TTA, but those pieces as well. And whatever you state, you know, the veteran pieces, obviously legislators will listen, if that makes sense. That when you start saying, Hey, a veteran is speaking legislation. We’ll quiet down for a second to see, hey, what is this rumble that you guys are creating? And they start to see what we’re doing and they wanna be a part of that. Allen Hall: Well, I think that’s wonderful. And all the effort and time that you put towards veterans and veteran efforts. Mm-hmm. Thank you so much for doing that. You’re a veteran, you’re a helicopter pilot, you served Yep. Uh, for a number of years. That’s a difficult job. I, you know, obviously the US is involved in some activity at the moment, but. You know, shout out to all the veterans out there, [00:04:00] obviously. And, and there’s a lot of ’em in renewable energy right now.  Nick Martocci: Well, I mean, not just renewables, but energy, period. ’cause I, I speak to a lot of veterans throughout my downtime, if you’ll say I have that. And you know, the, there’s people that are PMs, program project managers, there are folks that are doing logistics, warehouse hr, and seeing that movement migration. Of transitioning individuals from active duty, even some folks that are in my program that are in the guard and now getting into a position where, hey, you know, I’m a technician. I’m in energy. Whether they’re a wind turbine tech, they’re in battery, solar, hydro, what have you. Uh, there are quite a number of veterans in the energy market and industry. Allen Hall: So if you’re a veteran right now or just exiting, uh, the military. I, I think a lot of opportunity is there. They may not [00:05:00] realize. Mm-hmm. Uh, so getting trained up is a lot easier than it used to be. I remember years ago, I think I, we knew people that came outta the military and, and they were just sort of tossed out the door and had to go find things for themselves. There’s a lot more resources now I would Right. I it feel like than there were even a couple of years ago. And it’s people like you that are kind of bridging that gap for the military to, to get people onboard, to get people trained, to get ’em out in. And doing work in the civilian world, that’s huge.  Nick Martocci: Yeah. There’s so many leadership traits and skills that veterans already bring to the table. It’s a matter of taking some of those skills that maybe they, you know, worked in motor T and uh, and the motor pools, and they were turning wrenches and fixing, you know, Humvees and other, you know, mechanical vehicles, or they were. Um, A and p, so airframe and power plant for, uh, aviation and things of that nature. Sure. So now they understand these different types of systems. Already it’s a matter of, oh, how, [00:06:00] how do I transition this over to wind? How do I transition this over to solar? How do I transition this to battery and such? And then be able to pick that up? It, it, it makes it easier for them because of the familiarity, if you will. To be able to say, Hey, this is very similar to that. All I gotta do is change this information here and now I’m good to go.  Allen Hall: Right. And Project Vanguard’s helping with that a a great deal.  Nick Martocci: Oh yeah. You talked about Project Vanguard, if you don’t know what that is, so Project Vanguard is an initiative to help veterans get into renewable energy careers, utilizing the network that we already have because. Um, America’s energy is our security as well, and so who better to help take care of the nation’s security of energy than veterans who have already been doing it. And so being able to help individuals, like I said, not always be a technician. Maybe they wanna be able to get into, uh, program or project management. Maybe they want to get into hr. And by utilizing the [00:07:00] vast network that Project Vanguard has, it, it gives them that ease of entrance and access that maybe they didn’t have before.  Allen Hall: Well, that’s the key. Finding out where those opportunities lie, and it’s hard to do that on your own. Right. Reaching out for some help is the right answer, I think all the time. And every, especially now, uh, there’s a lot of, uh, military focused companies that, like technical training Academy that are bridging that gap and, and absolutely. That’s fantastic. Now, the amount of training you’re doing on site is impressive and you’re, you’re growing. You’re into Best now, and you’re into more, more and more training, doing some OSHA training. So there’s a lot of resources available and the website’s been updated. Right. And I think a lot of people are, go to the website, just Google it. You can get there. But the offerings are getting more expansive. The, the technical details are getting deeper into the aspects of all parts of the industry,  Nick Martocci: right? We’ve worked with, uh, a few entities, uh, to name Drop Ner [00:08:00] and um, destructible. They’ve donated quite a bit of different pieces for our training programs, for blades, for brake systems and things of that nature. For us to be able to take our program to that next level and actually put what technicians are going to be putting their hands on in our training places rather than something as simple as a, uh, like an theory plate piece and actually putting something that a manufacturer is building for these entities. And saying, Hey, here, this is the exact same thing you’re gonna see, uh, they donated a, a unit that goes to a GE one X, but you know, if you go out to a four X, it’s gonna be the same thing, just a little bigger.  Allen Hall: Bigger. Right,  Nick Martocci: right. And, and so it, it makes it so that it goes from serious hands-on theory to, oh, I’ve seen something just like this, but it was a little smaller. This is just bigger. I get it. Same thing. And so with destructible being able to make those donations for blades and other pieces. Uh, we’re putting together a LPS program, lightning [00:09:00] Protection Systems. Oh,  Allen Hall: good.  Nick Martocci: And so that’s something That’s awesome. Yeah, it’s something that, it’s a  Allen Hall: lightning protection company. That’s fantastic.  Nick Martocci: You know, uh, there’s a lot of stuff coming down the pipe for all of those additional pieces. We, we even revamped our whole website when we did the name change back in July, and it allows people to be able to go in and see all those pieces that we’re doing. One of the things is we became a Sprat facility, so being able to do rope access, especially when it comes to those offshore technicians and things of that nature. So we’re gonna be able to. Help out the wind industry with a lot more of those pieces that they’re looking for. Uh, like I said, the rope access, they’re definitely gonna need, uh, for offshore and things of that nature. Uh, being able to do LPS training, there’s so many other pieces. I’m gonna try not to reveal that we’re working on that are in addition to just the apprenticeship program, but okay. Somebody went out to the field, I want to get a certification in. Become better SME in this piece and start putting building blocks into people’s [00:10:00]careers.  Allen Hall: Well, that’s the key, right? It it’s the industry’s grown to be more SMEs being on site.  Nick Martocci: Yep.  Allen Hall: And there you have your gearbox people, you have your electrical, diagnosing, debugging people that are out there. And I think as the industry evolves, we’re gonna have more subject matter experts on sites. Mm-hmm. Doing LPS systems, doing gear boxes, handling some of the electrical things that are happening, even in blades and blade repair. They’re becoming more of subject matter experts. ’cause you have people that, that’s what they do. They are the expert in fixing this particular kind of blade problem. And they make a great living doing that.  Nick Martocci: And uh, one of the other things that we’re doing is the complimentary training. Right. And what I mean by that is I’ve partnered with, uh, CSN  Allen Hall: Oh Good  Nick Martocci: College of Southern Nevada. Uh, I’m also partnering with some other universities and working on those pieces because I understand that technicians, as they grow in this industry, they want to be able to do other [00:11:00] things, whether that be be a pm, be an engineer. They want to be able to go and get that piece. And so if I can help refer through our partnerships. Hey, if you want to go get your construction management at CSN, we’re a preferred partner, go talk to. This individual and we can actually, rather than say, Hey, go forth and do great things, we can actually say, Hey, you need to speak to this person, and you know what? Better yet, let me do an email intro. Making it easier for the end user to actually now say, Hey, you know what? That was so much easier when you create that holistic program similar to what I’ve done, which doesn’t just say, Hey, here, you’re a technician. Bye. Um, you’re actually a part of their career. That, that’s one of the major big things that just really stuck out as far as a different difference maker from me to everybody else. I don’t just say, Hey, here you go. I, I create a program [00:12:00] with you and your career in mind. You can call back to either TTA or my other business, IFC, infinite Fidelis Consulting, and that is exactly what they do. They, it’s a nonprofit that does workforce development. That is exactly what they do, and they will help. And so through those partnerships, you now have access immediately to those resources. And I think some of the misnomers and steps that I’ve seen before me is, is exactly that of, hey, you know, we’re finished, right? We’ve taken care of your certs, we’ve taken care of your basic training. Bye-bye. And there there is no un until you see ’em in two years and you do their recertification. Then you don’t really get to interact with them. And so there’s two years of just what I call dead space. There’s just two, two years of I’ve never seen this person again. And that’s, if they come back to me, they might work for company A, B, or C. And that company might have an internal recertification program where now I’m not [00:13:00] able to still help them and they’re just on a maybe. Well, that’s where Technical Training Academy  Allen Hall: is doing something different. I, I think you’re right about. The, some of the training schools that exist today are very focused on getting technicians out on a site, and then that’s where it ends. The, the problem is those people tend to grow, especially if they’re from the military. They tend to go up and rank as they get out in the field a little bit because they do, are doing the right things and every, the, the management realizes I’ve got these people out there that know what they’re doing. I’m gonna promote them, I’m gonna make them the lead, I’m gonna make them the project manager, I’m gonna expand their role. But you have to also learn that skillset, right? And I think that’s where you’re thinking ahead and trying to help those people grow as they get more experience.  Nick Martocci: And I’m probably repeating myself from two years ago, but this is why I built it. I built it off of the similar frame of leadership style and progression piece that is familiar to us as veterans in the military. When you’re an E [00:14:00] one, you’re being groomed to be an E two. E two to be groomed to be an E three in, in the civilian world, there really is no grooming process to help you do that ladder climbing piece. And what I wanted to do was help bridge that gap,  Allen Hall: right?  Nick Martocci: And help put those support structures and pieces in place so that somebody could say, Hey, I want to do this. Who can help me? Well, you can come over to TTA or IFC and we’ll give you a hand. No problem.  Allen Hall: Well, that’s a part about TTA and I think if I was coming outta the military. I, and I wanted to get into renewables. I wouldn’t necessarily necessarily think Las Vegas. I would think Texas, Oklahoma, maybe Indiana, where there’s wind turbines and there’s solar and there’s batteries. But the reality is, is that the resources that Nevada is putting into veterans and into supporting you make your facility much more powerful than a lot of other places.  Nick Martocci: Well, and and I kind of remember this conversation we had last year about. [00:15:00] The negative connotation of a two mile square space in Las Vegas. Right. Right. And, and when people immediately think of Las Vegas, that two mile strip is what they immediately think of.  Allen Hall: Sure.  Nick Martocci: Without understanding. And they’re doing a little homework. And that’s why even, you know, tell people, Hey, come out for a tour, check this out and see where we are. Because we’re right across from Nellis Air Force Base right next to the speedway. One more exit from my, uh, my training center and you’re out of Las Vegas.  Allen Hall: A lot of people coming up in the industry just don’t think about outside that Midwest, that Texas spot. Mm-hmm. And they need to have their horizons open a little bit and realize that there are other places to get training that are high quality, that are gonna be caring about you as a person and the growth of you. Think about that when you’re applying to school, Joe. Absolutely. Just take whatever’s the closest. And head toward it.  Nick Martocci: We, we don’t play, and we’re going to treat this just like a career. That’s why [00:16:00] training at our school is a 12 hour training day. It’s not an eight hour day, it’s a 12 hour day.  Allen Hall: Right.  Nick Martocci: And that gets them acclimated to a 12 hour work day. Allen Hall: But that’s  Nick Martocci: what it’s gonna be. Exactly. So that way when you hit the field and some supervisor says, Hey, it’s gonna be a long day. We’re doing 10 hours today. Ah, part-time job. Got it. You know?  Allen Hall: Right. Right. That’s it. So I, I think there, uh, a lot of people have choices if they’re trying to get into renewables. Mm-hmm. And they need to be thinking about the choices they make. Technical training Academy should be high up on the list.  Nick Martocci: Absolutely  Allen Hall: high up on the list now, especially with veterans. I mean, that, that’s, that’s a no brainer that Do people get ahold of you? How do they contact you? Where should they start that process? Should they reach out to you on LinkedIn? Should they go to the website? What’s the best way?  Nick Martocci: Best way is really just to go to the website and, uh. O one of the misnomers I made was the Technical Training Academy, and there, there are so many in the United States, I did not realize that. But if you do Technical Training Academy Las Vegas, it narrows it down to four and [00:17:00] we’re the ones on top. And it makes it easier. And so if you do, uh, technical Training Academy in the Google Bar and just say, Hey, technical Training Academy, Las Vegas will pop up. Otherwise, on LinkedIn, you’ll find us under Technical Training Academy. Uh, Facebook and Instagram. Were still Tower Training Academy. I’m working on getting that changed over, uh, and then from there, yeah, the, I, I think that’s, oh no, we have a YouTube channel. Tower Training Academy. We’re also on YouTube. Yeah, YouTube. But as far as reaching us, go on our website. Hit enroll now. Uh, also on our website is our phone number, (725) 272-9495.  Allen Hall: There you go.  Nick Martocci: And so you can just ping that or you can even. Hit up my head of administration at admin1@towertrainingacademy.com. Allen Hall: Great. So everybody reach out, connect up with Nick, get started, figure out what your future looks like because Nick’s here to help and uh, it’s great to connect with you [00:18:00] again because year it’s something more exciting. Like, alright, this is, this is great. It’s expanding. You’re doing training, you got technicians out in the world, you’re going to the best. That’s fantastic. I’m always cooking. Congratulations because it’s hard. Your business is hard. Yep. And And that is amazing. It’s amazing.  Nick Martocci: I’ve always got something brewing behind the green curtain.  Allen Hall: Yes.  Nick Martocci: Always got something brewing back there.  Allen Hall: Thank you so much for being on the podcast.

1 in 5 children in our community may not know where their next meal will come from. Your support helps provide nutritious meals and critical resources to local families. Beth Martino, CEO of Three Square Food Bank, joins the show to tell us how we can make an impact in Southern Nevada. To help visit: .threesquare.org/bag-childhood-hunger

Send us Fan MailRent up, groceries up, wages stretched thin and somehow the “American Dream” keeps moving farther away. We sat down with Congressman Steven Horsford to talk about what that pressure looks like on the ground in Las Vegas and across Nevada's 4th District, and what government can actually do when working families feel boxed in. He shares his own path from being raised here by an immigrant mother to leading major job training programs, then taking that fight for opportunity to Congress. We get specific about housing affordability in Southern Nevada: how institutional investors and corporate hedge funds can buy homes with cash, outbid first-time buyers and veterans, convert neighborhoods into high-rent portfolios, and leave communities paying the price. Horsford breaks down his role as a representative, including constituent services many people never realize exist, like helping with VA problems, cutting through federal bureaucracy, and pointing small business owners toward SBA resources and capital. The conversation also goes bigger than policy. We talk about the sacrifice and scrutiny of public office, why he calls this a moral moment, what accountability should look like even for the powerful, and how the legacy of leaders like Jesse Jackson connects voting rights to economic justice today. If you care about Las Vegas, Nevada politics, small business, or the housing market, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with the one issue you want leaders to fix first.

Henderson's Ward 3 City Council race is shaping up to be one of the most chaotic contests in Southern Nevada, with a three-way primary fueled by personal feuds, a recording scandal, and deep divides over local issues. Beneath the drama, debates over affordability, policing, and an ICE detention contract reveal real stakes for one of the region's fastest-growing cities. Host Jesse Merrick talks with Nevada Independent reporter Oona Milliken to unpack how this race became the valley's most unpredictable showdown. Learn more about the sponsors of this Wednesday, April 22nd episode: Zen Leaf Taskrabbit TedXLasVegas Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Episode Summary Clark County, long known as the global epicenter of tourism and gaming, is rewriting its economic story. In this episode, Dennis Fraise sits down with Shani Coleman, Director of Community and Economic Development, and she shares how Southern Nevada is transforming into a diversified, innovation-driven economy. From attracting new industries to leveraging the explosive growth of professional sports, Shani breaks down the strategies reshaping the region. She also highlights the critical roles of small businesses, workforce development, and bold initiatives like the Micro Business Park in building a more inclusive and resilient economy. If you're an economic developer looking to reposition your region, this episode offers a real-world blueprint for diversification, collaboration, and long-term growth. Key Takeaways Clark County is actively shifting from a tourism-dependent economy to a diversified economic hub Professional sports have become a powerful catalyst for investment, identity, and regional growth Small and minority-owned businesses are central—not secondary—to economic strategy Infrastructure, workforce, and quality of place are critical in competing for new industries Innovative tools like micro business parks are helping remove barriers to entrepreneurship Regional collaboration is driving scalable, sustainable development Key Topics Covered Economic diversification strategies in a legacy tourism market The rise and impact of major league sports in Southern Nevada Supporting small and minority-owned businesses through policy and programs The Micro Business Park initiative and inclusive development models Workforce, infrastructure, and competitiveness in site selection Regional collaboration and long-term economic positioning

Can quality aged spirits be made in the deserts of Las Vegas? Hell yeah! In today's episode of Distilling the West, Dan and Dave sit down with Jonny VerPlanck, master distiller at Las Vegas Distillery, for a conversation about craft spirits, desert aging, and the unique approach behind the distillery's lineup. Along the way, they taste through three distinct expressions: a straight bourbon, a dark rum, and a coffee liqueur.The straight bourbon opens with notes of caramel, vanilla, toasted oak, and a touch of orange peel, leading into a palate of honeyed corn, baking spice, cocoa, and toffee. The dark rum brings a richer, drier profile with layers of molasses, oak, warm spice, and deep caramelized character. Rounding things out, the coffee liqueur offers bold roasted coffee up front, backed by cacao, vanilla, and a balanced sweetness that keeps it rich without becoming overly heavy.It's a flavorful and wide-ranging tasting that highlights both the craftsmanship and personality behind Las Vegas Distillery, while giving Jonny a chance to share what makes distilling in Southern Nevada so distinctive.

Want to add keynote speaking to one of the things you offer in addition to consulting or coaching, but lack the clarity and confidence to make that happen? Find out how to overcome that with my guest, Dr. Christina Madison, on today's Consulting Matters podcast. This episode is for anyone who wants to take the stage as a keynote speaker but holds themselves back, feels shy or introverted, and wants to overcome it. Dr. Christina Madison shares how she went from being a pharmacist and academic to where she is today – a sought-after keynote speaker with 200+ TV appearances and multiple appearances on the TEDx stage. On the show she shares practical advice on how to take the stage with confidence, even if you're an introvert and aren't a natural performer. She also shares how to find your core message and the purpose that drives you as a speaker and the change you want to see in the world. So, whether you want to use speaking to get more consulting or coaching clients or become a paid keynote speaker, this episode is for you. Where to dive in: 00:00 - Introduction to Christina Madison 00:35 - Pharmacy Background and Transition 01:47 - From Clinical Work to Advocacy 02:09 - Entertainment Background and Stage Presence 04:19 - Storytelling and Personal Trauma 12:31 - Leaving Academia for Entrepreneurship 16:14 - TEDx Opportunity and New Chapter 19:01 - Personal Stories in Public Health Messaging 23:16 - Addressing Systemic Biases in Healthcare 27:24 - Developing Stage Presence 30:31 - Practical Advice for Aspiring Speakers 34:03 - Roadmap for Building a Speaking Career 39:58 - Crafting a Message Rooted in Issues 44:19 - Bias and Healthcare Advocacy 50:40 - Healthcare as a Human Right 52:11 - Final Words on Opportunity and Passion Next Steps Clarify the message you feel called to share Christina's journey didn't start with confidence, it started with conviction.Ask yourself what you've experienced or observed that feels like, “this shouldn't be this way.”That's often the beginning of a message worth speaking about. Start practicing your voice in low-stakes spaces Before the big stages, Christina practiced in smaller, safer environments.Look for opportunities to share your ideas… whether that's with peers, small groups, or local organizations, so you can refine both your message and your presence over time. Align your message with a clear brand position Once your message starts to take shape, the next step is making sure your brand reflects it. This is where working with Betsy can help you connect the dots, so your speaking, your content, and your offers all reinforce the same clear, compelling position in the market. Book a discovery call or explore my services. Other articles you may enjoy: Do You Love Consulting or Coaching but Hate Marketing? The Consultant or Coaches's C.U.R.E. for Fear & Self-Doubt Starting a Consulting Business: How to Get It Right from Day One The Trust Factor: Why Brand Clarity Matters for Consultants and Coaches with Dr. J.B. Adams The 3 Types of Expertise Every Consultant and Coach Needs to Name and Claim About the guest: Dr. Christina Madison, PharmD, FCCP, AAHIVP is a TEDx speaker, clinical pharmacist, and Founder and CEO of The Public Health Pharmacist®, a public health consulting firm. She specializes in communicable diseases and has over 15 years of experience in public health, along with 200+ national TV appearances sharing her expertise. A recognized leader and award-winning advocate, she has played a key role in vaccine education and distribution, including administering over 12,000 COVID-19 vaccines in Southern Nevada. Dr. Madison is also an Associate Professor at Roseman University and a passionate advocate for underserved and vulnerable communities. https://www.thepublichealthpharmacist.com/ About the host: Betsy Jordyn is a business mentor, brand messaging strategist, and former Disney consultant who helps purpose-driven consultants and coaches build profitable businesses rooted in their unique strengths. With over 20 years in the industry and a knack for turning big ideas into clear positioning, she's your go-to for strategy that aligns with your calling. Work with me: https://www.betsyjordyn.com/services

A judge rules prosecutors can argue sexual assault played a role in a high-profile murder, how many young adults in Nevada still live with their parents, some popular tails in Southern Nevada will close for the summer and more on 7@7.

Making the most of seven-minutes of one-stop, local news streaming at 7 am and 7 pm and updated throughout the day and night, powered by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Listen to news headlines, weather, business, entertainment, breaking news, and more across seven digital platforms, delivered by the most trusted source in Southern Nevada. It's a no-frills approach to staying informed, giving you more content and information in a shorter amount of time to fit your busy schedules, 24/7. Your news, your way, any time, any place.

Dr. Amber Lopez Lasater, interim president of Nevada State University, leads a powerful story shaped by service, education, and a defining moment for Nevada's future. In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, she shares how her journey through public service, labor, and higher education led her to one of Southern Nevada's fastest-growing institutions. She highlights efforts to expand access, strengthen workforce pipelines, launch Nevada State's first-ever athletics program, and build a new North Las Vegas campus, showing how saying yes, showing up, and staying curious can transform both a career and a community.Nevada State University:https://nevadastate.edu/Nevada State Athletics:https://nevadastate.edu/athletics

More tech companies are eyeing Southern Nevada for data centers, as the state's AI boom continues. But new proposals are getting local pushback over water and power usage, and raising questions about how to regulate these companies. So just how resource-draining are data centers, and is this boom actually a good thing for Nevada? Host Sonja Cho Swanson is getting the details from Review-Journal reporter Alan Halaly.  Learn more about the sponsors of this April 7th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority L.V. Academy of the Arts Taskrabbit Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

A pair of Democratic Socialists of America candidates are trying to unseat establishment Democrats in two Southern Nevada assembly races, betting that a message centered on affordability can break through. Nevada Current reporter Matthew Mondschein explains to host Sonja Cho Swanson how the candidates are rejecting corporate money, leaning on grassroots organizing, and tapping into voter frustration. But can that strategy translate into wins in Nevada's political landscape? Learn more about the sponsors of this April 7th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority L.V. Academy of the Arts Taskrabbit Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

Find out how the effects of high fuel prices could reach beyond the pump, when is the best time to sell a home in Vegas, Southern Nevada's Jewish community observes one of its most important holidays and more on 7@7.

Southern Nevada residents could face higher bills, what one utility company wants to do. Plus, a longtime breakfast and brunch spot is closing another location after nearly 30 years. And, Costco is trying out a new method to speed up checkout times. Tune in to 7@7 weekdays on any of your favorite streaming platforms for your Las Vegas news updates.

The Super Bowl is returning to Las Vegas, how the big event will impact Southern Nevada. Plus, what experts say can help support your brain's longevity. And, this contact sport involving armor and weapons is growing in the Las Vegas Valley, where you can check it out. Tune in to 7@7 weekdays on any of your favorite streaming platforms.

High school football in Nevada is at a crossroads—where politics, resources, and tradition collide. If you think the sport is simply about kids playing on Friday nights, think again. Joe Arrigo, a straight-talking expert on Nevada sports, pulls back the curtain on a fierce battle over fairness, fairness, and future in Southern Nevada's high school football landscape. You will not find a more blunt more unedited interview regarding Nevada Prep athletics.Check out Joe's Substackhttps://thejoearrigoshow.substack.com

Making the most of seven-minutes of one-stop, local news streaming at 7 am and 7 pm and updated throughout the day and night, powered by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Listen to news headlines, weather, business, entertainment, breaking news, and more across seven digital platforms, delivered by the most trusted source in Southern Nevada. It's a no-frills approach to staying informed, giving you more content and information in a shorter amount of time to fit your busy schedules, 24/7. Your news, your way, any time, any place.

Bryan Stewart is the Chief of Marketing and External Relations at Goodwill of Southern Nevada (GoodwillVegas.org), a nonprofit organization dedicated to workforce development, job training, and community support through retail operations and programs that help individuals overcome barriers to employment (often summarized as "saving the waste in people and things").He joined the organization in late 2021 (initially as Vice President of Marketing and Communications) and has since led major initiatives including:Launching the “Goodwill Works” brand platform and guidelines.Building in-house creative/publication services, standard signage, and multi-channel campaigns.Orchestrating the organization's 50th anniversary celebration.Creating internal programs like awards/recognition, customer compliments portal, leadership development fellowship, and an in-store fundraising initiative supporting local nonprofits.

Making the most of seven-minutes of one-stop, local news streaming at 7 am and 7 pm and updated throughout the day and night, powered by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Listen to news headlines, weather, business, entertainment, breaking news, and more across seven digital platforms, delivered by the most trusted source in Southern Nevada. It's a no-frills approach to staying informed, giving you more content and information in a shorter amount of time to fit your busy schedules, 24/7. Your news, your way, any time, any place.

In this episode of KRA's The Hub, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Jaime Cruz, Executive Director of Workforce Connections in Southern Nevada, to discuss how Las Vegas is transforming its workforce system to meet a rapidly evolving economy. Jaime shares his journey from hospitality to workforce leadership and highlights how a demand-driven approach, strong business engagement, and innovative partnerships are building talent across key industries. As NAWB's 2026 Forum heads to Las Vegas, this conversation offers a preview of what's ahead and what it takes to ignite innovation and drive real workforce impact.

Making the most of seven-minutes of one-stop, local news streaming at 7 am and 7 pm and updated throughout the day and night, powered by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Listen to news headlines, weather, business, entertainment, breaking news, and more across seven digital platforms, delivered by the most trusted source in Southern Nevada. It's a no-frills approach to staying informed, giving you more content and information in a shorter amount of time to fit your busy schedules, 24/7. Your news, your way, any time, any place.

Making the most of seven-minutes of one-stop, local news streaming at 7 am and 7 pm and updated throughout the day and night, powered by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Listen to news headlines, weather, business, entertainment, breaking news, and more across seven digital platforms, delivered by the most trusted source in Southern Nevada. It's a no-frills approach to staying informed, giving you more content and information in a shorter amount of time to fit your busy schedules, 24/7. Your news, your way, any time, any place.

Ever wonder what resorts and businesses are doing to conserve water, or how Southern Nevada can continue to grow under drought conditions? Crystal and Bronson talk about those topics and more on this special episode of the Water Smarts Podcast, “TAP THE TRUTH: Crystal and Bronson answer your questions about all things water in Southern Nevada.”Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelkehttps://www.snwa.com/https://www.snwa.com/

Save 10% on a Las Vegas Advisor 2026 membership and book with code MTM.  https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/shop/products/lva-membership-platinum/ Episode Description This week Station Casinos finally revealed a portion of what their new phase 3 at Durango will look like. With the property nearly doubling in size, does it look like a Frankenstein casino? We also dive into the new burgers coming to GVR and how to save 20% at the property with an Amex Offer. In other news yet another union may be coming to Southern Nevada, but it isn't quite what you think. We also discuss: the Vegas balancing act, Wrestlemania struggles, Circa's insane keg room & beer stats, the new name for Poker Palace and where you can now play bingo on the Las Vegas Strip! Episode Guide 0:00 The Vegas balancing act 0:39 Las Vegas airport marriage licenses 1:53 Wrestlemania struggles & no watch parties? 4:23 Poker Palace's new name and branding 6:33 A new look at Durango Phase 3 7:58 Irv's Burgers expanding to GVR 8:58 New Amex Offer for Green Valley Ranch 9:38 Palms free pool cabanas for locals returns 11:49 Circa's INSANE keg room & Super Bowl beer stats 12:49 Circus Circus bingo - First look! 14:35 Sheri's Ranch unionizing? 16:09 Employees or contractors? Can they unionize? Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. We do two news shows weekly on YouTube with this being the audio version. Never miss out on the latest happenings in and around Las Vegas! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or by searching "MtM Vegas" or "Miles to Memories" in your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to check out our travel/miles/points podcast as well!

The federal funding whiplash has left Nevada's nonprofit sector bracing for impact, with cut programs, lost staff, and unanswered questions about what comes next. We zoom out on why uncertainty can be just as damaging as outright cuts, and how shaky federal dollars ripple through healthcare, housing, and food access across Southern Nevada. Miles Dickson, founder of Nevada GrantLab, joins host Sonja Cho Swanson to break down the overall state of nonprofits in Las Vegas and what locals can do to help. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

A verdict is reached in the case of the 'Dancing with Wolves' actor accused of sexual assault, Southern Nevada food pantries saw a surge in need last year, a specialized hospital in Henderson is the first of its kind in Nevada and more on 7@7.

Making the most of seven-minutes of one-stop, local news streaming at 7 am and 7 pm and updated throughout the day and night, powered by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Listen to news headlines, weather, business, entertainment, breaking news, and more across seven digital platforms, delivered by the most trusted source in Southern Nevada. It's a no-frills approach to staying informed, giving you more content and information in a shorter amount of time to fit your busy schedules, 24/7. Your news, your way, any time, any place.

While Nevada has a long history of old family names in politics (think the Goodmans, the Reids), the list of candidates that have filed to run in 2026 in Southern Nevada contains a shockingly low number of legacy names. How much power do these famous families still hold? Co-hosts Sarah Lohman and Dayvid Figler talk with UNLV history professor Michael Green to talk about the political dynasties of Las Vegas and if a legacy last name still matters as much as it used to. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Ira sits down with Alan Snel, founder and writer of LVSportsBiz.com, the insider source tracking how sports, business, and politics collide in Southern Nevada. Alan takes us inside the controversial world of public-private partnerships, where taxpayer funding helps build private sports palaces — and sparks big questions about priorities. Should public money go to stadiums when schools, roads, and transportation need funding too? From the moment Las Vegas turned into a major-league sports capital, Alan has been riding the wave — and reporting every twist. He breaks down the arrival of Major League Baseball and the A's stadium, the explosive growth of sports tourism, and the historic first boxing match at Allegiant Stadium, where 70,000 fans packed the house and 96% were visitors, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The conversation also dives into how Formula 1 put Las Vegas on the world stage, and why the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is hiring new sports tourism exec-utives. If you want to understand how Las Vegas became the global crossroads of sports, enter-tainment, and business — and what it's costing us — this episode is a must-listen. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

Earlier this month, the CDC dropped several vaccines from its list of recommended childhood vaccinations. What does that mean for us here in Southern Nevada, and should we be concerned? Host Sonja Cho Swanson talks with medical epidemiologist Dr. Rosanne Sugay from the Southern Nevada Health District about how Nevada's vaccination rates stack up against neighboring states, and the challenges that providers face when talking about vaccines here in our purple state. Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

What does it take to support thousands of high school students experiencing homelessness—every single year?In this episode of Agency for Change, Lyn sits down with Kelli Kristo, Executive Director of Project 150, an organization providing hope, dignity, and essential resources to homeless, displaced, and disadvantaged high school students across Southern Nevada.Kelli shares how Project 150 began as an “accidental charity” after a single news story—and grew into a lifeline for more than 7,000 students annually. From food and hygiene products to a year-round clothing boutique that gives teens autonomy and confidence, Project 150 meets students where they are and responds to their unique needs.Connect with Kelli and Project 150 at: ·       Website – https://www.project150.org/·       Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Project150lv/·       Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/project150lv/·       LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/project-150/

Joanne Urioste is an American rock climber who was inducted into the elite group of Honorary Members of the American Alpine Club which includes 136 climbers worldwide “who have had a lasting and highly significant impact on the advancement of the climbing craft.” In the late 1970s and early 80s, she and her husband, Jorge, established many internationally-recognized long technical climbs in the Red Rocks of Southern Nevada. She was the first woman to publish the first guidebook—ever—to a major climbing area that was previously unknown. She also contributed to pioneering ultra-distance adventure running in the 1990s. She lives with Jorge in Las Vegas, NV, and continues to establish first ascents, even in her seventies.Episode Intro:Welcome back to the Female Guides Requested. Happy New Year! This is your host Ting Ting from Las Vegas. Today's guest is a legendary figure whose name is etched into the very sandstone of Red Rock Canyon. Joanne Urioste is a pioneering rock climber, author, and guide who re-imagined what was possible on the towering walls of the American Southwest.Starting her climbing journey in the early 1970s—a time when female climbers were often sidelined—Joanne sought out the high-risk, death-defying situations that most would avoid to prove her independence and mastery. Alongside her husband Jorge, she established hundreds of first ascents that are now world-renowned classics, including Epinephrine, Crimson Chrysalis, and Levitation 29.Joanne didn't just climb; she literally wrote the book on the region, publishing the original Red Rock guidebook in 1984. After a ten-year hiatus to raise her children—a period where she channeled her drive into becoming an elite ultra-runner—she returned to the rock with a renewed passion. Today, we sit down in her home to discuss her ‘renegade' early days, the evolution of climbing ethics, and why she believes that taking risks is the only way to truly stay alive.Links:Book: Collages of Rock & Desire: Re-imagining Climbing in Red Rock, Risk in the Andes & Running into Dreams (amazon)Quotes:On the spirit of climbing: “It doesn't matter if you are physically disabled or not perfect. If you have the spirit and love of climbing, there are different ways that you can climb.”On her ‘renegade' beginnings: “We were just absolute renegades, just you know, shooting from the hip. Boom, boom! Let's do this! Let's do that!”On the intensity of managing risk: “Calculation, risk assessment was the game… you had very strong consequences if you did not calculate correctly.”On the purpose of pushing limits: “This was not about enjoyment. This was about managing the risk in a way that was where you would survive. Pitting yourself against very strong elements and succeeding.”On the ‘Bolting Police': “As we started putting up better and better routes that were like amazing, then people started recognizing that… they started having tremendous hatred for us. As a matter of fact, that type of hatred actually pushed us to do more outrageous things.”On climbing as a spiritual act: “I wanted to really put yourself out there so that you would calculate as humbly as you could with nature and lay yourself down… almost as a form of worship to the natural forces.”On the unique wisdom of female climbers: “The groups of men will absolutely plug their ears and not listen to my advice… it's actually detrimental to the men because they would benefit from the wisdom that they're not listening to.”On why she continues to seek risk: “Having some risk in everything that I do… just keeps me alive. It expands my humanity. Looking at my weakest points and trying to work on them a little bit… it's just such a beautiful way to live.”

Michael Naft is a Clark County Commissioner for District A, overseeing some of Southern Nevada's most complex and high-profile areas, including parts of the Las Vegas Strip, unincorporated communities, and regional infrastructure. Appointed in 2019 and later elected, he has become a key civic leader—helping guide landmark moments like Las Vegas hosting its first Super Bowl while modernizing how local government serves a rapidly growing region.

Today we're joined by Dr. Paige Figanbaum, executive director of Nevada Preservation Foundation (NPF), to discuss Nevada's landscape, the "Endangered Sites” list, and the preservation of the Howard Hughes House.  Prior to her current role at NPF, she served as lead historian and program manager for the organization's Home + History Las Vegas festivals, where she researched, curated, and developed a range of walking tours, bus tours, and educational events throughout Southern Nevada. Paige continues her advocacy, collaborating with organizations statewide to preserve Nevada's cultural heritage.

Discover how Kate Wik, CMO of Las Vegas, drives bold innovation and storytelling to transform the city into a global destination brand. Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio. Damian Fowler (00:00):I'm Damian Fowler.Ilyse Liffreing (00:01):And I'm Ilyse Liffreing.Damian Fowler (00:02):And welcome to this edition of The Big Impression.Ilyse Liffreing (00:09):Today we're joined by Kate Wik, chief Marketing Officer at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. The team behind the city's newest brand campaign, which launched in September,Damian Fowler (00:20):Las Vegas, is known around the world for its energy, its entertainment, and its edge. But this ladies' campaign takes a closer look at what the city means today beyond the casinos and into its growing identity as a cultural and sports destination.Ilyse Liffreing (00:34):We'll talk with Kate about the ideas behind the campaign, how Vegas is connecting with new audiences, and what it takes to evolve one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Q,Damian Fowler (00:45):Frank Sinatra. It's okay. You have an unusual role in that you represent a city as an iconic one, but could you tell us about the role?Kate Wik (00:56):That's exactly right. So I work for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Nobody knows what that is or what that means. So really, I shorthand it and I say I am the CMO of four Las Vegas. Las Vegas is my product, which is very unique. It is a city, it's a destination. It's unbelievably dynamic. And what's so unique and thrilling for a CMO of Las Vegas is that our product is always changing, always evolving. If you think back, we were known as the gaming destination. We've evolved into, we're the number one hospitality destination in the US with more hotel rooms than any other destination. And we are the entertainment capital of the world. You've got the world's best artists coming and performing on stages across destination every single night. And we've worked really hard to evolve ourselves into the sports destination as well through a lot of recent things. So really the exciting thing for me in this role is no one day is ever the same. Our product is constantly iterating and evolving, and that is a marketer's dream come true.Damian Fowler (02:10):Just on that point about the evolution of the city and the perception of it, how fast has that happened in the last, say, five, 10 years?Kate Wik (02:20):Yeah, absolutely. Incredibly fast. And so today we are known as the sports and entertainment capital of the world, but less than 10 years ago, we did not have any sports teams. Yes, sports has kind of always been in our DNA. We'd host major boxing matches in the eighties, NFR we've had for decades. NBA, we hosted their in-season tournament, NBA Summer League, but really it was through infrastructure development that really led to the explosion of sports today. So what I mean by that is we had T-Mobile Arena, which was a joint venture between MGM resorts and a EG that enabled NHL to come to town with the Vegas Golden Knights in 20 17, 20 18, we purchased the WNBA team, which we renamed the Las Vegas ACEs. And so now we've got A-W-N-B-A team. And then in 2020, of course with Allegiant Stadium, we welcome the Raiders. And so now we've got the Las Vegas Raiders, and we are, so actually in four years, we went from having zero professional sports teams to having three, and we're actively working to bring our fourth to town, which is the major league baseball. We're welcoming the Las Vegas a,Damian Fowler (03:34):Not to mention Formula One.Kate Wik (03:36):Yes, exactly. And Formula One now an annual event on our calendar. So it's a lot. It's a lot. And it creates new reasons to come to Las Vegas for our visitors. And what we found through research actually, is that the sports traveler, number one, we know sports tourism has just exploded the sports traveler. Through our research, we found that it creates a new reason to come to Las Vegas for those that haven't been here before. It creates a reason to explore the destination, see it, consider it, and then ultimately come. And then most importantly, we find that they spend more money than the average leisure traveler. So it's a really rich new audience for Las Vegas. And F1 has definitely exploded that for us too.Ilyse Liffreing (04:24):Do you know by just how much more do they spend?Kate Wik (04:27):It's usually anywhere from 500 to 800 more per trip.Ilyse Liffreing (04:31):Wow, that's a lot. And the rest on gambling,Kate Wik (04:36):AnythingIlyse Liffreing (04:36):Extra? It'sKate Wik (04:37):Funny. Gambling hasn't been, revenue from gaming hasn't been the primary source of how consumers are spending their budget while they're in town. Hasn't been that for over a decade.Ilyse Liffreing (04:51):AndKate Wik (04:51):I think it speaks to the diversification of the experience in Las Vegas. And when I say we're the entertainment capital of the world, we absolutely are. People come here to see shows, to see comedians, to experience not just like a touring show, but unbelievable residencies where our property resorts will build these amazing theaters where Lady Gaga performs, Bruno Mars performs, Adele performs, they'll create these residencies, which is unlike nowhere else in the US or world.Damian Fowler (05:26):I mean, I've been aware of that. I mean, obviously it goes right back to the Rat Pack, but more recently, like Sting had a residency there. I've been aware, IKate Wik (05:34):Just saw Backstreet Boys at the Spear, which was probably mind blowing, which was mind blowing. That's a whole nother level to the entertainment experience where it's just completely immersive that has changed the game for live music.Damian Fowler (05:48):The perception of Vegas has changed or is changing, and maybe that teases up to talk a little bit now about the new brand campaign and why this is the right moment to do it.Kate Wik (06:00):Yeah, absolutely. So we just launched a new campaign September of this year, so just a couple of weeks ago really. And the intent behind it is this notion that there are so many different reasons to come to Vegas, but there are also so many different vacation options. What we wanted to do was break through the noise and make sure that people understood that Vegas is the ultimate destination regardless of the experience you're looking for. We have it all, the breadth and depth that exists within our destination iss, it's uncomparable to any other destination. So we needed to get out there and get that message out there in big form. And why now what we found was through a lack of big brand messaging over the summer, we actually took a hit with a lot of negative headlines. And so we needed to get in front of that. And I think one of the big takeaways for marketers out there is that if you're not actively talking about your brand day in and day out, you create room for others to create their own narrative. And so after we launched the campaign, it's been about a month in market, we've seen a lot of that negativity drop because now everybody's covering, oh, here's the new elements, here are the new promotions they're doing, here are the new experiences that you can find. So it's really about driving the narrative that you want for your brand.Ilyse Liffreing (07:29):Very cool. And could you tell us a little bit about the campaign itself, maybe the creative, and then what channels are you leaning into?Kate Wik (07:36):Yeah, absolutely. In looking at how we were going to develop the work around this new brand campaign, what we wanted first and foremost was to be really authentic about Las Vegas and be very unique to a message that only Las Vegas can deliver. And so we took inspiration from our iconic welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign. So it's the sign that exists literally on Las Vegas Boulevard as you drive into town. And that sign, it's 65 years old today, but it is more iconic. And the awareness on that is it puts it as one of the highest elements assets within our portfolio. So you think Las Vegas, you think of Bellagio, you think of Wynn, even Luxor or all these amazing resorts. When we show that sign, the amount of awareness of what that is and where it is and what it's for just exceeds every other asset that we have out there. So we took inspiration from that. We took the neon, the lights, the really, the notion of setting the example of fabulous Las Vegas. That's the experience that our visitors can come to expect when they come to Las Vegas. So it truly has been our brand promise for over 65 years. So that's the inspiration behind the campaign.Damian Fowler (08:57):Yeah, I can see that sign now.Ilyse Liffreing (08:59):Yes,Kate Wik (08:59):That's right.Ilyse Liffreing (09:00):Yeah, that's right. Do you have a sense of the audience that you're trying to reach and through, I guess, which channels are you trying to reach them?Kate Wik (09:10):Yeah, so we have a really diverse audience set, which is very unique for a marketer, which usually has a single product or they've got a very specific audience for that product. Vegas is really the 21 and older adult playground. And so if you look at just an average audience, it's like a 45-year-old split, 50 50 male, female, et cetera. But what we offer is an unbelievable unbeatable experience at every single price point. So we absolutely cater to that high-end luxury market, that luxury traveler, all the way down to the entry level budget conscious traveler. And so we've got products from a circus circus all the way up to a win Las Vegas. And so for us, our audience is very broad, but generally it's adult travelers, people that have traveled in the past year looking to travel again,Ilyse Liffreing (10:11):We just had Marriott on the podcast and we were talking about how more travelers now are singles and single people. And I would think that might be particularly true for Vegas. For some reason, people are coming for a new experience and to get away.Kate Wik (10:28):I think that's exactly right. Not necessarily single travelers, but the idea of it's a getaway, it's a new experience. What we find from our visitors is number one, it's really high repeat visitation because every time they come, they're finding something new. So we usually get at least 80% repeat visitation from our visitors and really high satisfaction rate, but it's that mindset of wanting to try something new. For sure. Yeah.Damian Fowler (10:56):One thing that just occurs to me as we are talking is how the awareness of Las Vegas has been so kind of embodied in so many movies and TV shows. I was just thinking, I watched the studio recently, the Seth RoganKate Wik (11:09):Show,Damian Fowler (11:09):Which I think that has a combination in Vegas whileKate Wik (11:12):I actually haven't seen it yet. So no spoilers on my list.Damian Fowler (11:16):I mean, I was thinking about Oceans 11, you can go back and back. I have to see it. But that is all kind of part of the kind of braided cultural iconography as it were of the city, I guess.Kate Wik (11:27):Yeah, I think movies represent, you almost have to think of it as a channel for marketing. It represents an amazing opportunity to penetrate culture, reach new audiences that you wouldn't normally get to talk to. And so we have a history of iconic movies. Actually this past summer, you might've seen it, but the F1 movie, that was a partnership that we did with them to make sure that they filmed in Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Grand Prix circuit. That was really important. But again, reaching new audiences, keeping us sort of at the pinnacle and sort of leading culture. Also really awesome to have Brad Pitt lead in that. I'm not going to lie. That was pretty awesome. But a ton of movies. And it's kind of interesting to think of it as almost like a marketing channel, not a traditionalIlyse Liffreing (12:17):One, but yes. Yeah, like free marketing too sometimes, because a lot of things are based in Vegas,Kate Wik (12:22):Right? On the marketing channel front, I know you had sort of asked about how do we launch the campaign, and it was very much an integrated multi-channel approach. We did everything from brand marketing, product marketing, I call it value, but it's really promotional as well as experiential. So of course, from a brand marketing point of view, TV or movies are wonderful, but there's also tv. And we launched the campaign actually with NFL kickoff, so September 4th. We know that when people tune into tv, they're tuning in really into an NFL game. That's where the most eyeballs are at any single time. So from a marketing point of view, it's great return on your investment there. So we launched with a 62nd ad on September 4th on kickoff, but really it was about making sure that this is not just a TV campaign, but it's a platform that reaches the consumer at every different touch point throughout their travel journey or through their daily life.(13:27):And so we maximized the viewership by making sure that, yes, we had a TV spot, but we partnered with the Raiders to actually take over the tunnel walk. And so when players arrive at the stadium, any stadium across the us, it's usually sort of this gray back of house space. And what we did was we installed neon all over the wall as the backdrop. And so it gave our players the sense of pride as they're walking in where they see this huge fabulous Las Vegas neon sign, and then they get a bit of a swagger. And then we partnered with GQ to cover sort of the fit that the players are wearing because that's a whole thing, this sort of new cultural moment where you've got the intersection of professional sports and these athletes in fashion. And so GQ wants to cover that. And so now the backdrop for all of this is the fabulous Las Vegas neon sign that we installed.(14:22):And so then CVS and ESPN want to cover it because they're like, oh, what's going on with the Vegas tunnel walk? And so every time Vegas shows up, we want to make sure that we're sort of breaking through the clutter. We're doing something very unique, bold and different, and whatever we do, it's sort of Vegas worthy. So I guess another channel is outdoor. We don't just buy outdoor. We worked with media partners to find these super high impact spectacular units that just command attention. So around the corner, in Times Square, we have this huge 3D board where you've got a 3D view of the iconic welcome to Las Vegas sign that rotates and dice come out, chips come out, an F1 race car comes out, right? It's a showstopper. And when you walk into Times Square, you see people taking pictures of advertising and that blows your mind.(15:21):And then on the other side of the country, we've got an actual neon installation on Sunset Boulevard. So we took, quite frankly, one of the ideas behind the campaign is let's take the neon and export it. Let's take our Neon National. And so we've got these big neon relics all across the us and so this one on Sunset Boulevard is spectacular. And then you walk across any of our resorts in Las Vegas and you see our Neon Signs Launch week. We took over all of our, well in our top 10 markets, we took over our digital outdoor boards and we had a roadblock for the whole week of launch. So just doing these big spectacular moments to capture the attention of our viewers. Wow,Damian Fowler (16:08):That's a lot that you're doing a tremendous amount, but on the other side of it, how are you kind of measuring and tracking all of these moments that you've created?Kate Wik (16:18):Yeah, I think measurement is incredibly important for any brand. We are actually consistently in market every single week with a research tracker, a brand health tracker. We've been doing it for decades. Making sure that we're keeping a finger on the pulse of our consumer is really important to us. So before we launched the campaign, obviously we tested it to see, number one, does it break through? Does it resonate? Does it deliver on the message of escape? Does it make people want to go to Las Vegas? It actually tested stronger than any other campaign that we've tested, and we test all of our campaigns. So that was pretty exciting. And then post-launch, again, we're in the market every single week. We found that we continue to uptick in terms of likability of the campaign, the campaign that makes you want to travel to Las Vegas. Those metrics are really important to us, intent to travel, and so it's continued to climb every single week since we've been in market. That's really strong. I think outside of traditional campaign testing, something that we consistently do is social listening, and so understanding what the current conversation is on social, I had mentioned this summer was a little bit rough. There was a lot of negativity out there for us. What we found was we had peaked in terms of negativity online in, gosh, in August. We launched Campaign in September, and that number has dramatically reduced, which is fantastic. It goes back to this point of you have to constantly be talking and driving your own narrative.(18:01):Otherwise if there's a void, others are going to fill it for you. That's was aIlyse Liffreing (18:05):Quick turnaround time too fromKate Wik (18:07):InIlyse Liffreing (18:07):August to launching inKate Wik (18:08):September. Absolutely. So a couple weeks. So I would say early August was peak and then Campaign formally launched September 4th, but working with our property partners to seed components of the campaign before, that was a big part of it as well. And then I think a very tactical measurement is we launched actually the first ever destination wide sale, so we called it the Fabulous Five Day Sale. Our campaign is Welcome to Fabulous, so fabulous five day sale. We wanted to make sure that we were putting a spotlight on the value that exists across the destination. And what we found was we drove four times the amount of website volume that we normally do to visit las vegas.com and that we actually were driving more referrals, so people were coming in to see what these deals were, what the sale was, this first ever limited sale, and then the traffic, the referral traffic that we were sending out to the booking engines of each of our property partners. That was 120 times the normal weekly average that we have in terms of, oh my gosh, yeah, referral, wait. So really unbelievable. It was kind of mind blowing for us in terms of the results of that. Nice.Ilyse Liffreing (19:28):And what was the reception from businesses in Las Vegas too, because that involved all of them?Kate Wik (19:34):Absolutely. Yeah. We don't launch a campaign without the support of our property partners. The reception was fabulous to use a cliche, incredibly fabulous. They leaned into it, you'll see part of the campaign. We created these neon elements and literally handed over this toolkit to our property partners so they can push out on all of their digital signage, on all of their marketing elements, sort of reflections of the campaign work as well and tie into it.Damian Fowler (20:05):Great. Just out of curiosity, is the campaign driven from the ground up by businesses or does it come top down as it were, from what your office, what's the kind of interaction?Kate Wik (20:19):Yeah. Well, the interaction is we are the DMO, the destination marketing organization for Las Vegas. So what we do is we work closely with our property partners to understand what's the business needs, what are the trends they're seeing. We do research and provide them top level trends, and then we work with them on what do we need the advertising to accomplish, and then we develop the campaigns. We're funded by them. We're actually funded by a room tax, which is paid by our visitors. And so there is complete coordination with our property partners, and we really do all of the upper funnel marketing for them. That's kind of the role we play for them.Damian Fowler (21:00):Interesting. Yeah. Yeah. I want to ask you, actually, I guess this is a big picture question. Are there other big cities that kind of have similar outreach or similar marketing campaigns, or are you unique in lots of ways?Kate Wik (21:15):I think the big destinations like New York, la, they will have a tourism authority within their destination that we'll do it for them. I think what's unique about Las Vegas is how we're funded. Again, it is through this room tax. And so generally, I'm not out there every day trying to drum up membership funds or anything. Our job is to go market the destination 365 days a year. That is why we exist. And so I think other destinations have something similar, but not quite the structure or the support behind it. And I think what is unique for Las Vegas is tourism is the number one economic driver for southern Nevada, and so we're the engine behind that. We have to make sure we're continuing to fuel that. Tourism represents 55 million or 55 billion, excuse me, in direct economic impact. That's visitors coming, spending fueling the local economy. And so the role we play matters. The advertising that we do matters because it fuels the entire ecosystem and the economic climate for Southern Nevada. Wow.Damian Fowler (22:33):Another quick question, follow up question there because you keep making me think of things. You have a lot of international visitors. Do you have a sense of where the majority of them are comingKate Wik (22:42):From? Yeah. Yeah. So international visitors are really important to us. Interesting. Canada's typically is our number one market. We have seen a decrease this year from our Canadian visitors. That's true for the US overall. We love our neighbors to the north and we welcome them back. But Canada is generally number one. Mexico is number two. Mexico is still going strong. They've actually seen growth year over year. UK is our number three market. We love our UK visitors and our partnership with F1 continues to grow that, which is phenomenal. And then interesting, our fourth market is actually Australia, and we don't have a direct flight there today, but it's an easy stopover from la. But the Australians and the Aussies, they love coming to Las Vegas. Great cultural alignment, but in general, we love all of our international visitors, and it's about anywhere from 10 to 15% of our overall visitor mix,Damian Fowler (23:46):So Cool.Ilyse Liffreing (23:47):Well, so along with just how many changes Las Vegas has seen, how would you, I guess, describe the expectations around hospitality and how that has changed over the years?Kate Wik (23:59):Gosh, hospitality, not unlike marketing, it's really fueled by tech innovation. Everything from keyless check-in, you can check in on your phone, you can use your phone as your key. All of these things have been unbelievable accelerants to a great experience, but that's across the board in every city, across the world. Technology has fueled that. I think what's unique for Las Vegas is actually doubling down on the core of who we are. And that's about service, and that's about kind of going back to the brand promise of the campaign where the welcome to fabulous Las Vegas isn't just a sign. It is the brand promise of the experience you're going to have here. And before we launched the campaign, we actually went around to all the CEOs and all the presidents of all our resort property partners to say and to remind them, we're going to launch this campaign, we're going to go back to the roots of Las Vegas. And the roots of that is hospitality, and it's about making every individual feel like somebody special that is so uniquely Las Vegas. You can walk into a circus, circus, an Excalibur, and have this mind blowing unbelievable experience. You could also walk into a Bellagio, an aria, a fountain blue, and have a mind blowing unbelievable experience. It's not based on your economic value or your financial worth. It's based on who you are as a visitor coming. We're going to deliver that unbelievable experience, and that is service related, hospitality related for us.Ilyse Liffreing (25:39):Very cool. So what's next then? How are you planning to build on the success?Kate Wik (25:44):I think for us, welcome to Fabulous is not just like an A Flash in the Pan ad campaign. What we intended to do was create a marketing platform that will just stand the test of time that will continue to iterate off of it. We have three big announcements, not yet announced, but still coming out later this year that just continue to build on this platform. So it's a platform for us as the DMO, but it's also a platform for our property partners to continue to iterate because it is so unique to us.Damian Fowler (26:20):Now we've got some kind of quickfire questions now we've looked at that bigKate Wik (26:24):Picture.Damian Fowler (26:25):What are you obsessed with figuring out right now?Kate Wik (26:29):I am obsessed with figuring out how you hack the social algorithms. And I think what's super interesting is something that can go viral that isn't necessarily representative of the brand or the experience that you have. And so really making sure that for us, it's fueling a ton of content out there to make sure that we're dominating what that narrative is. And that's not just from brand voice, it's influencers or whatever, but that social algorithms I think is really important forDamian Fowler (27:05):Brands. Yeah, absolutely. I would love to figure that out too. It seems like a kind of a magic unlock.Ilyse Liffreing (27:11):Yes. Right.Damian Fowler (27:14):Okay.Ilyse Liffreing (27:15):This year you are included on the Forbes list of 50 Fierce Global leaders.Kate Wik (27:20):Yes.Ilyse Liffreing (27:20):Congratulations. Thank you. What is one piece of wisdom you'd pass on to other marketers?Kate Wik (27:27):Oh gosh. Constant learning, constant iteration. Nothing is ever done, right? You put something out in the world, there's always a chance to continue to iterate and learn and get feedback and continue to push it further. Yeah.Damian Fowler (27:44):Another is ai, a marketer's friend.Kate Wik (27:46):Yeah, absolutely. But actually, let's be careful with that. It's a friend, but it's like a starting point, right? I think using it as information, as research, as sort of an input but not a final output is really important.Damian Fowler (28:01):I like that. That distinction is important.Ilyse Liffreing (28:03):One last fun one for you, maybe outside of the Brad Pitt movie from the summer. What's your favorite movie set in LasKate Wik (28:12):Vegas? Oh, gosh. I love Oceans 11. I mean, how can you not? I mean, it's still Brad Pitt, butDamian Fowler (28:20):Oh, yeah.Kate Wik (28:20):But it's an icon. He can be at anything, everything.Ilyse Liffreing (28:27):And that'sDamian Fowler (28:27):It for this edition of The Big Impression.Ilyse Liffreing (28:29):This show is produced by Molten Hart. Our theme is by Love and caliber, and our associate producer is Sydney Cairns.Damian Fowler (28:36):And remember,Kate Wik (28:37):If you're not actively talking about your brand day in and day out, you create room for others to create their own narrative.Damian Fowler (28:45):I'm Damian, and I'm Ilyse, and we'll see you next time. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This holiday season, more families than ever are turning to Three Square Food Bank for support. Rising costs and tough times mean many of our neighbors are struggling to put food on the table. But Southern Nevada has always been a community that shows up when it matters most. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Nevada Gold Mines operated by Barrick and Boyd Gaming, every dollar donated now through the end of the year will go twice as far. That means every $1 can double to provide up to 6 meals for families right here in our community. If you'd like to get involved or learn more, visit threesquare.org. Together, we can make this season brighter and create hunger-free holidays across Southern Nevada. ❤️

Plus: What to see, hear, and do in Southern Nevada. That and more in the latest episode of KNPR's State of Nevada.

You probably never think about what happens when you flush the toilet, but a team of dedicated staff at the Clark County Water Reclamation District (CCWRD) make it their business to ensure our wastewater is treated and returned to Lake Mead. Southern Nevada recycles 100 percent of the water that goes down the drain or toilet. For every gallon of water returned to the lake, Southern Nevada can withdraw another gallon, helping stretch our limited water supply. CCWRD's Bud Cranor talks about the CCWRD's important-albeit smelly-job of ensuring they squeeze and clean every drop of water they collect from the valley's sanitary sewer on the Water Smarts Podcast, “SUSTAINABLE WATER RECYCLING: Don't be a Pain in the Drain.”Hosts: Bronson Mack and Crystal Zuelkehttps://www.snwa.com/https://www.snwa.com/

Want more MTM Vegas? Check out our Patreon for access to our exclusive weekly aftershow! patreon.com/mtmvegas Want to work with us? Reach out! inquiries at mtmvegas dot com Episode Description This week VICI properties bought yet another huge Vegas Strip casino. This time they purchased Strat from Golden Entertainment along with 6 other Southern Nevada properties. With VICI now owning the land under 5 different Strip operators' casinos, is it time to call them the landlord of Las Vegas and what does this mean for the future? In other news Durango has officially opened their modest phase 2 expansion of their casino as they ramp up for the much bigger phase 3. We also discuss: Penn's debacle with ESPN Bet, how Caesars is adding slots to busy walkways, what is happening at Mayfair Supper Club, why more giant screens coming to the Strip, FAA cutting flights to Vegas, Golden Steer NYC and an F1 car made out of whiskey barrels. Episode Guide 0:00 Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrel F1 car 0:30 Durango's phase 2 expansion is now open 1:29 Mayfair Supper Club shakeup - Entertainment is out 3:15 Bally's funding issues & pumpkin A's stadium 4:55 Another giant screen coming to the Strip 5:25 Bojangles coming close to the Vegas Strip 6:10 Golden Steer exported to NYC 7:23 Is Golden Steer worthy of its lofty reputation? 8:36 New poll - Park MGM vs. Planet Hollywood 10:24 Caesars Palace poker room returns home 11:07 Flamingo adds slots to busy walkway 12:22 Caesars CEO - Most insane quote ever? 13:27 FAA cutting flights to Vegas by 10% 15:04 Penn loses huge ESPN Bet partnership 16:57 Strat land sold to "The Landlord of Vegas" 18:35 How VICI is taking over Strip land ownership Each week tens of thousands of people tune into our MtM Vegas news shows at http://www.YouTube.com/milestomemories. We do two news shows weekly on YouTube with this being the audio version. Never miss out on the latest happenings in and around Las Vegas! Enjoying the podcast? Please consider leaving us a positive review on your favorite podcast platform! You can also connect with us anytime at podcast@milestomemories.com.  You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or by searching "MtM Vegas" or "Miles to Memories" in your favorite podcast app. Don't forget to check out our travel/miles/points podcast as well!

The shutdown has put Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding in peril — but that's just the latest hit to the growing population of hundreds of thousands of food insecure people in our state. Southern Nevada already has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, new work requirements for SNAP benefits go into place in January, and Nevada households pay some of the nation's highest grocery bills. And that's on top of the 1.3 million pounds of canceled food aid earlier this year. Perfect storm, much? Co-host Dayvid Figler talks with Three Square Food Bank CEO Beth Martino about how their organization is pivoting, how the state might step in, and the surprising stats and stories she's hearing on the front lines of hunger. Learn more about the sponsors of this November 4th episode: Southern Nevada Water Authority Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, Hey Las Vegas. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.

8:30 - Followup to the bad professor at College of Southern Nevada. / 17:27 - Is it better to give than to receive? / 25:36 - Does the Bible say you have to be baptized to receive communion? / 34:12 - What can we do about doctors overcharging Medicare patients? / 47:26 - Revelation 11:7-10, what is the city where Jesus was crucified?

Three Square Food Bank is here to help. Families across Southern Nevada are experiencing food insecurity, many for the first time, as the government shutdown continues. In response to the growing need, Three Square Food Bank is expanding emergency relief efforts to ensure no neighbor goes hungry. If you are in a position to give help, every dollar, can of food, and volunteer hour makes a difference. To give help or get help go to threesquare.org

We are broadcasting live for the final day of our Four Corners Food Drive benefitting Three Square Food Bank! We are at Durango Casino for our final day and we had an amazing donation from Station Casinos! PLUS we also had Nevada State High School with their donation and so many of you contributed to fight hunger here in Southern Nevada. Las Vegas, we could not have done this without you!!

My special guest is author and paranormal historian Heather Leigh, here to delve into the chilling tales behind her book Haunted Southern Nevada Ghost Towns—available now on Amazon.Explore the eerie ruins and lingering spirits of Nevada's forgotten frontier, where the promise of gold and silver once drew thousands—and where many met a tragic, untimely end. In this haunting journey through the desert, Heather reveals the spine-tingling ghost stories, abandoned mines, and supernatural legends that still echo through the ghost towns of the Silver State.Uncover the haunted past of:Boomtowns that vanished almost overnight, leaving only whispers and broken buildings behindA drowned village reappearing beneath the receding waters of Lake MeadAn abandoned pet cemetery cloaked in sorrow and spectral sightingsBerlin, Nevada, where prehistoric fossils share ground with spectral minersGoodsprings, where locals report ghostly visits from long-gone celebritiesFrom paranormal hotspots to forgotten cemeteries, this book is a must-read for anyone fascinated by:Haunted ghost towns and Wild West historySouthern Nevada legends and supernatural loreAbandoned places, cursed land, and frontier spiritsIf you love stories of desert hauntings, mining town mysteries, and the restless souls of the Old West, then don't miss this compelling conversation with Heather Leigh. These ghost towns may be silent—but they're far from empty.