With audio postcards from the streets, and inspiring interviews with community activists and heroes of Reno, we address issues of homelessness, the disappearance of public space, gentrification and the value of helping each other out from our base in Reno, Nevada. We do live reporting, micro storytelling and spoken word. As we face an affordable housing crisis, what happens to our most vulnerable? We also feature #keeprenorad musicians and artists. #Helpeachother is our motto.
The Challenges of Navigating Life with a Disability in Northern Nevada
“Growing up with a disability was hard. When you’re a kid, all the other kids want to know what’s wrong, why you walk like that, and why you do certain things,” Jenna said.
Jenna is a 28-year-old disabled woman living in Reno, Nevada. She’s been navigating her disability her entire life. When Jenna was an infant, she suffered a stroke, which resulted in severe deficiencies on the left side of her body. Jenna’s left hand often takes a hooked position due to the lack of strength in her wrist, and her left foot turns outwards, making it difficult to walk.
But Jenna is not alone; more than 1 in 4 adults live with some type of disability in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC.
“I didn’t start walking when everyone else my age did. I would walk on my tippy toes, I wore casts, and I would fall over places. I couldn’t be alone.” she said.
Jenna has come a long way since then. In early October Jenna got engaged to her fiancé, Jon. Now the couple lives together in a small townhouse in South Reno, along with Jon’s 6-year-old daughter. Jenna plays an active role in Jon’s daughter’s life, often being the main caretaker of her while Jon is working.
Audio minidoc by Sara Ewing-Garcia.
9 Nov 2025
Jp Avilla an Adventurer Surviving Cancer, Wildland Firefighting and Underwater Conservation
From the front lines of the Tallac Hotshots, battling California’s biggest wildfires like the Dixie and Caldor Fires, to the depths of the ocean helping restore coral reefs in Honduras.
Jp has built a life defined by resilience, service, and purpose. 🌊🔥
Between fire seasons, he’s taught diving, hunted invasive lionfish, and volunteered with @CleanUptheLake, helping preserve local alpine ecosystems. Now, he’s preparing for his next chapter — studying to take his next step toward municipal firefighting.
This is more than a comeback story, it’s a reminder that strength isn’t just surviving the fire, but learning to rise from the ashes. Hosted by his sister Amanda Avilla.
9 Nov 2025
A postcard from Fallon: Local Metal Shop to Self-Made Success
Machinist and small business owner Paul McCutcheon shares his journey from a junior high metal shop in Fontana, California, to running his own precision machining business in Fallon, Nevada. Through decades of hard work, Paul built a career for himself after being told he wouldn't be hired elsewhere. From aerospace manufacturing to entrepreneurship, he reflects on the challenges of starting out with little more than determination, a supportive partner, and a few savings bonds. His story is a testament to the enduring spirit of American manufacturing. Audio reporting by his daughter April McCutcheon.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 60 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
88
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
82
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