Let's Talk Elephants Destiny Farley

Ameer Abdullah has played in the NFL for the last 9 years, having played for the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and currently plays for the Las Vegas Raiders. Some major topics covered:- common stereotypes of pro athletes (unintelligent, superficial, bad with money, cheaters)- the demanding nature of the job, both mentally and physically- if race plays a role in choosing pro sports

Rachel Macias has experienced two different instances of sexual assault: once when she was 7 and again when she was 16. Some major topics covered:-how experiences of sexual assault/harassment affect sexuality-the way trauma is non-linear & some days are more triggering than others-the difficulty in trusting others after being assaulted-losing faith in the legal system to handle sexual assault cases appropriately

When Michael Richter was just 15 years old, his mom Wendy was killed by her husband. Since then, Michael has turned to music as both a creative outlet and coping mechanism to share his story and connect with others. Some major topics covered:- warning signs of an abusive relationship- how substances exacerbate domestic violence- coping after a traumatic event/death- how his mom inspires him as a musician to this day

Valeria Gurr is senior fellow for the American Federation for Children nonprofit organization, and she graduates this year with her PhD in Public Affairs. She is incredibly passionate about education, and we discuss why it is important for families to be able to choose schools that meet the unique needs of their children. Some major topics covered:-how Nevada's education system continues to fail children across the state-the importance of school choice particularly for kids from low-inco...

Madisen Silva is a teacher at a public charter high school in Las Vegas, and she shares some of the challenges of teaching controversial topics such as sexual education & gender studies in the classroom.Some major topics covered:- teaching about STI's, gender pronouns, and sexuality- how much influence a teacher should have over a student in comparison to their parent-if there is a place for opinion/value-based learning in the classroom- the perks of having the flexibility to create your ...

Stacy Thaxton worked for the Las Vegas Metro Police Department for 20 years, with the majority of her career being mental health-focused. She helped educate officers on mental health disorders and how to appropriately recognize and respond to these types of calls. Some major topics covered:- how to respond to calls dealing with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, suicide attempts, etc.- how the 2020 George Floyd killing affected law enforcement officers & their training- PTSD, depressio...