A Healthier Tomorrow

About A Healthier Tomorrow

Health is about more than doctor visits and diagnoses. It's about the neighborhoods we live in, the relationships we build, the opportunities we have, and the choices we make every day. Welcome to A Healthier Tomorrow, the weekly radio show and podcast exploring the people, programs, and ideas shaping health across Southern Nevada. Broadcast from the heart of Las Vegas on KCEP 88.1 FM, hosts Will Rucker and Ciara Owens bring together physicians, public health leaders, researchers, advocates, and community changemakers for conversations that are informative, practical, and deeply human. Through a partnership with the Southern Nevada Health District, each episode connects listeners to trusted information and local resources while exploring the issues that matter most—from mental health, chronic disease, and injury prevention to health equity, community wellness, and the social factors that influence how long and how well we live. Whether we're discussing diabetes prevention, youth mental health, maternal health, suicide prevention, brain health, leadership in healthcare, or the latest public health initiatives, our goal is simple: help people understand not only what affects health, but why it matters and what they can do about it. Every conversation is grounded in evidence, driven by compassion, and focused on building healthier communities. What You'll Find Here: Real Conversations Honest discussions with local experts, community leaders, and people making a difference. Real Solutions Practical resources, prevention strategies, and tools you can use in everyday life. Real Community Stories and perspectives that reflect the unique strengths and challenges of Southern Nevada. Because a healthier tomorrow isn't built by healthcare alone. It's built by all of us. About the Hosts: Will Rucker is a public health leader, community builder, speaker, and coach dedicated to helping people focus on what matters, care for others well, and build healthier communities through connection and compassion. Ciara Owens is a trusted community voice and advocate for health education and wellness who brings warmth, insight, and a deep commitment to empowering Southern Nevadans with the information they need to thrive. Join us each week as we explore what it means to live healthier lives and create a healthier tomorrow, together. Listen on your favorite platform - https://pod.link/1687031374

Publisher

Will Rucker & Ciara Owens

Category

education · health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Mar 2023

Latest episode

23 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

49 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Sept 2026

   What If Healthcare Came to YOU? | The Future of Community Health

   What if the healthcare you need isn't at a hospital—but right around the corner at your neighborhood church? Imagine walking into a church on a Saturday morning and leaving with something that could change your life: a health screening, a mammogram, a connection to a doctor, or simply the information you need to take control of your health. No expensive appointment. No complicated process. Just a community coming together to make health accessible to everyone. But here's the bigger question: Why are we waiting for people to get sick before bringing healthcare to where they already are? In this episode of A Healthier Tomorrow, host Will Rucker sits down with Michael Vinton, Manager of Outreach for Health Plan of Nevada Medicaid, to explore how faith, community, and healthcare are coming together to remove barriers, save lives, and build a healthier Southern Nevada. At the center of the conversation is the Second Annual Faith-Based Community Health Fair, happening October 10 at Second Baptist Church in Las Vegas. But this episode is about much more than a health fair. It's about reimagining where healthcare happens—and who gets access to it. 🏥 What if your next health screening could save your life? Discover why knowing your numbers and identifying health concerns early can make all the difference. ⛪ Why are churches becoming powerful partners in public health? Explore how trusted community institutions can connect people with healthcare services they might otherwise never receive. ❤️ Can community connection actually improve your health? Learn why relationships, culture, faith, and belonging are essential parts of community well-being. 🩺 Who helps people navigate a healthcare system that can feel impossible to understand? Meet the community health workers bridging the gap between doctors, resources, and the people who need them. 🤝 What happens when healthcare comes to the community instead of waiting for the community to come to healthcare? Discover how partnerships are breaking down barriers related to cost, transportation, trust, and access. 🌎 Why is health about more than medicine? From Suicide Prevention Month and National Recovery Month to Hispanic Heritage Month, we explore how our experiences, identities, and communities shape our health. As Michael reminds us: "The church is still a pillar in the community; let's also add the element of healthcare there." And as Will shares: "Health is human, interwoven with culture, the foods we grow up eating, the language we speak, and the traditions that get passed down." 🩺 FREE COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR — OCTOBER 10 The Second Annual Faith-Based Community Health Fair brings healthcare professionals, community organizations, and local families together for a day focused on prevention, education, and access. 📍 Location: Second Baptist Church, Las Vegas 📅 Date: October 10, 2026 💚 Cost: FREE and open to the community Attendees can connect with health resources and services, including: ✅ Health and wellness screenings ✅ Mammogram services ✅ Preventive health information ✅ Community health resources ✅ Connections to healthcare professionals and support services Contact the organizers to confirm specific services, eligibility requirements, and availability. Whether you have health insurance or not, whether you attend church or not, this event is about making health resources available to the community. 💚 THE BIGGER CONVERSATION We often talk about healthcare as something that happens inside a hospital, clinic, or doctor's office. But health happens long before we ever see a doctor. It happens in our homes. In our neighborhoods. Around our dinner tables. In our schools. And yes, in our faith communities. And sometimes, the difference between someone getting the care they need and going without isn't a lack of motivation. It's a lack of connection. That's why community health workers, trusted institutions, and partnerships like this matter. Because awareness alone doesn't improve health. Awareness leads to conversation. Conversation leads to connection. Connection leads to resources. And resources can change lives. 🎙️ Watch the full episode of A Healthier Tomorrow, originally broadcast on KCEP Power 88.1 FM, and discover why the future of healthcare might depend on something we've had all along: the power of community. 📲 SHARE THIS EPISODE with someone in Las Vegas who could benefit from free health resources—or someone who believes healthcare should meet people where they are. Because a healthier tomorrow isn't built by healthcare alone. It's built by all of us. 🔗 RESOURCES 💚 Southern Nevada Health District: https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/ (https://www.southernnevadahealthdistrict.org/) ⛪ Faith-Based Community Health Fair: October 10, 2026, at Second Baptist Church, Las Vegas. #AHealthierTomorrow #FreeHealthScreenings #LasVegas #CommunityHealth #HealthEquity #PreventiveCare #FaithBasedHealth #PublicHealth #SouthernNevada #HealthcareAccess

2. 

   9 Sept 2026

   Are We Teaching Kids to Be Healthy ALL WRONG? | Childhood Obesity & Healthy Habits

   What if we're teaching kids to be healthy in all the wrong ways? We tell children to eat their vegetables, put down their screens, and get outside. But what if the secret to raising healthier kids isn't about telling them what NOT to do—but helping them discover what makes healthy living fun? And here's an even bigger question: Are we so focused on what our children weigh that we're missing what they actually need to thrive? In this episode of A Healthier Tomorrow, hosts Will Rucker and Ciara Owens tackle childhood obesity, family wellness, and the everyday habits that can shape a child's health for a lifetime. Joining the conversation are Kylie Mansanas from University of Nevada, Reno Extension and Brittnee Aldea from the Southern Nevada Health District, who share practical strategies for helping families build healthier habits without shame, unrealistic expectations, or turning every meal into a battle. Because here's something every parent needs to hear: Healthy children come in all shapes and sizes. And raising healthy kids is about so much more than their weight. 🍎 Is your child eating enough colors? Discover why variety matters and how making fruits and vegetables fun can transform the way children experience food. 📱 How much screen time is too much? Learn about the 5-2-1-0 approach to building healthier daily routines. 🏃🏾 Are we making physical activity feel like punishment? Explore how movement, play, and family activities can make healthy habits enjoyable. 👨👩👧 Are your habits shaping your child's future? Find out why what parents MODEL may matter more than what they SAY. 🥕 Can a carrot actually be exciting? Discover how the Healthy Kids Festival is helping children explore food through hands-on experiences that encourage them to grow it, buy it, and try it! ❤️ What if the real issue isn't individual choices—but access? Explore how food availability, community resources, and family environments influence childhood health. You'll also discover 5-2-1-0, a simple framework for encouraging healthy habits: 5 — Aim for five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. 2 — Limit recreational screen time to two hours or less. 1 — Encourage at least one hour of physical activity. 0 — Choose water instead of sugary drinks. And we highlight the Healthy Kids Festival, a free community event that brings families, educators, and health professionals together to make healthy living an adventure rather than a chore. As Ciara reminds us: "Healthy bodies come in all shapes and sizes. Rather than focusing on weight, keep your focus on health." Whether you're a parent, grandparent, educator, caregiver, or simply someone who cares about the next generation, this conversation offers practical ideas you can start using today. Because the goal isn't to raise children who spend their lives worrying about their bodies. It's to raise children who feel good in their bodies, enjoy healthy living, and have every opportunity to thrive. 🎙️ Listen to the full episode of A Healthier Tomorrow, originally broadcast on KCEP Power 88.1 FM, and discover how small changes at home can create a healthier future for the entire family. 📲 SHARE THIS EPISODE with a parent, grandparent, teacher, or caregiver. Sometimes the most important thing we can give the next generation isn't another rule—it's a healthier example.

3. 

   26 Aug 2026

   Beyond the Therapy Room: Embracing Lifelong Mental Health Journeys

   What if you're not “just tired”? What if your mind has been trying to tell you something? We celebrate pushing through. We praise people for being strong. We say, “I’m good,” even when we’re running on empty. But at what point does resilience become survival mode—and what is it costing us? In this episode of A Healthier Tomorrow, hosts Will Rucker and Ciara Owens sit down with Dinisha Mingo and Cherelle Williams of Mingo Health Solutions for a candid conversation about mental health, trauma, burnout, and why taking care of your mind shouldn't begin only when you're in crisis. Together, they unpack what mental health actually looks like in everyday life—including some of the struggles we may have learned to normalize. Could something be trauma even if you don't consider it “traumatic”? How do you know when everyday stress has crossed into burnout? Why do stigma and the pressure to “be strong” still keep people from asking for help? What happens when someone finally asks for help—but insurance, transportation, cost, or access gets in the way? Why might community and connection be just as important to our well-being as individual resilience? And perhaps most importantly: What would change if we treated our mental health as something worth protecting every day—not just repairing when something goes wrong? As Dinisha reminds us: “Mental health is not a destination. It is a journey.” About the Guest(s): Dinisha Mingo: Dinisha is the CEO and founder of Mingo Health Solutions (MHS) and Solutions of Change (SOC). She specializes in therapy and counseling, offering services across the lifespan. Her organization also provides Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) services for children with autism and conducts professional training sessions. Dinisha is known for her impactful programming and is actively involved in promoting mental health awareness and solutions through various symposiums and community events. Cherelle Williams: Cherelle serves as the Director of Operations at Mingo Health Solutions. Since joining in May of the previous year, she has played a critical role in developing the organization's processes and structures, particularly enhancing the ABA department. She is involved in integrated healthcare initiatives and focuses on creating a one-stop shop for families and communities seeking mental health services. Episode Summary: Join Will Rucker and co-host Ciara Owens as they explore the intricacies of mental health on a healthier tomorrow broadcasted on KCEP Power 88. This episode features Dinisha Mingo and Cherelle Williams, who share insights into their work at Mingo Health Solutions, emphasizing the importance of making mental health a priority in our lives. They discuss the challenges the community faces in accessing mental health services and highlight the organization's upcoming second annual mental health symposium focused on resilience and combating burnout. This in-depth discussion dives into the core of what mental health truly means and how trauma manifests in everyday life. Will Rucker and his guests explore the stigma surrounding mental health, the barriers families face, and the importance of integrated care. Dinisha and Cherelle discuss their strategies to overcome these obstacles, highlighting how their services are designed to be accessible and effective. They stress the need for continued conversation and education around mental health and encourage listeners to take actionable steps to nurture their well-being. Key Takeaways: Mental health is an ongoing journey, not a destination, requiring daily mental agility and flexibility. Trauma affects our perception of the world and can manifest differently in each person, depending on their experiences and personal histories. There are significant barriers to accessing mental health services, such as insurance issues, transportation difficulties, and social stigma. The Mingo Health Solutions annual symposium is an opportunity to engage with experts and gain valuable tools for promoting mental resilience. Integrated care and community support networks are vital in overcoming barriers to mental health services and sustaining well-being. Notable Quotes: "Mental health is not a destination. It is a journey." - Dinisha Mingo "You are important enough to take your mental health, your physical health, all of you, with the utmost priority." - Cherelle Williams "Trauma doesn't have to be something that is super severe – it's about the perceived harm." - Cherelle Williams "We're meant to be in community. And we're a piece of that community." - Dinisha Mingo "It's not just going to be another CEU. It's going to be engaging. It's going to be fun. There's a lot of energy in the room, and you will leave change." - Dinisha Mingo Tune in to this enlightening episode to gain deeper insights into mental health, the significance of community care, and how to overcome personal and societal barriers. Stay connected with "A Healthier Tomorrow" for more educational and empowering content on your journey toward mental wellness.

Who has been a guest on A Healthier Tomorrow

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mekale Holmes Floyd
• Zarina Washington
• Anna Bobb
• Dr Mason Turner
• Minjia Yan

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

63,552

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 49 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

44

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

60

Contact A Healthier Tomorrow

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about A Healthier Tomorrow