America is one of the greatest ideas the world has ever had. Founded on incredible values. However, our history is much more complicated than many people would like to admit. In this episode I take a look at the idea that dissent really is patriotic. And we should all be working towards a more perfect union where every person is respected and treat…

In 2019 Rhiannon Giddens put together a group of all women Black banjo players and made an amazing album. The group was called Our Native Daughters and the album reflects on the history of the influence of Black musicians on American folk/roots music.By Will Houk

All 5 of these artists have recent releases that are really incredible. Enjoy!By Will Houk

A new battleground is forming in the state of Nevada, where an influx of federal funding and state-level tax incentives are seeking to kickstart a critical mineral economy necessary to support the renewable energy transition. But while critical minerals provide foundational components to all of our electronic devices - from everyday technologies li…

Celebrating Black History month again with this weeks episode. Gangstagrass is a totally original group blending Hip Hop and Bluegrass in a way that stops you in your tracks. They have graced the stages of America's Got Talent, the Glastonbury Festival (right after Paul McCartney) and many other roots/rap festivals. We had a genuinely fun conversat…

Hip Hop rarely gets described as Folk music, but the history of this musical genre is the story of working class people making music with the tools they have. They turned things like turntables, drum machines, and samplers into musical instruments that defined musical and cultural style. Folk music is music of the people, and Hip Hop/Rap are just t…

By Will Houk

By Will Houk

By Will Houk

By Will Houk

Amy Ray of Indigo Girls has been penning songs for decades now. The duo had a major hit with the song Closer to Fine in the late 1980s and have continued to write and tour in the years since. Amy has also established herself as a solo artist releasing seven studio albums and three live records on her own. Her musical style is best described as folk…

By Will Houk

By Will Houk

By Will Houk

I wanted to make sure and give some attention to some other artists who made incredibly music this year! Brent Cobb, Zach Bryan, Nick Shoulders, Hiss Golden Messenger, Molly Tuttle, Margo Price, Van Plating, Lukas Nelson, Colter Wall, Marty Stuart, Joy Olodakun, Cinder Wells, Dom Flemons, Blind Boys, Matt Andersen, and the Shootouts!…

By Will Houk

By Will Houk

By Will Houk

For nearly 80 years, six friends from the Alabama Institute for the Negro Deaf and Blind have been singing together, starting from their first performance at WSGN, a radio station in Birmingham, Ala. The group, now known as the Blind Boys of Alabama, has traveled around the world, performing at Carnegie Hall, the White House and this month, the Nas…

By Will Houk

By Will Houk

On this week's Ally Radio, we learn about heat islands: what they are, and how they can impact health. Our contributor Richard Bednarski brings us an interview with Nevada's state climatologist. Then, we head into our personal archives and take an international audio trip to the Republic of Molossia, a micronation located in northern Nevada, and me…

In March of last year, a group of friends decided to start a new business together, a bookstore. But they didn't want to make just any bookstore, they wanted it to be more community focused. The Radical Cat is a feminist bookstore, cat adoption center, and community space. Ilya is in charge of events for the store, which covers the gamut from arts …

On this week's Ally Radio, we’re exploring how the lack of decorum and dignity in public discourse spells trouble for democracy - one possible path forward. Then, we’ll head to eastern Nevada to learn more about a proposed mine that is hoping to extract vanadium. Vanadium is a critical mineral, like lithium, but this one could hold the answer to mo…

A perennial challenge for renewable energy development has been and continues to be long-duration, grid-scale storage. But one proposed mine in Eureka County could be the first primary ground source in the United States of a mineral called vanadium. Science and technology reporter Scott King chats about vanadium and it's potential for rural countie…

By Will Houk

By Will Houk

By Will Houk

On this week’s Ally Radio, we look at an event this weekend commemorating the 160th anniversary of the Treaty of the Ruby Valley. This agreement from 1863 was between the Western Shoshone people and the U.S. government, and it allowed colonial settlers to travel through and use the land of the Western Shoshone. What it didn’t do was cede land. A co…

When the chill fills the air.. when the leaves crunch under your feet.. when the pumpkins peak and the jack-o-lanterns glow.. when the ghouls and goblins lurk and the ghosts rise.. you will ALWAYS find us there, in that autumn chill, to deliver you an entire list of incredible horror to keep your entire month of October as spooky as it could possib…

Hispanic Heritage Month is underway, with community celebrations of Latin culture, people and traditions through Oct. 15. But, educational opportunities remain harder to obtain for many Latino residents. What can be done to increase equality? Dr. Jafeth Sanchez is an associate professor of educational leadership at the University of Nevada, Reno an…

By Will Houk

On this week’s Ally Radio, we look at the need of rural food pantries in our region, and the challenges facing these local, community (and mostly volunteer-run) organizations. We chat with Lisa Selmi from the Healthy Community Coalition of Lyon and Storey counties to learn more. Then, we chat about how proposed rules governing the nation’s public l…

By Will Houk

On this week's show, we look at the role psychedelics can play in treating mental health, with some studies showing the potential of psychedelics in treating serious mental conditions, including depression, addiction and PTSD. Then, we kick off Hispanic Heritage Month by chatting with Dr. Jafeth Sanchez, director of the Latino Research Center at th…

On this week's Ally Radio, the Sierra Nevada Ally's Scott King joins the show to talk about efforts to build green energy infrastructure and transmission throughout rural Nevada. While well intentioned, these projects have the potential to harm the communities they're meant to serve. Then, we chat with Dr. Sondra Cosgrove, history professor at the …

A new school year is underway for students, teachers and parents across northern Nevada. It's also the second year for Washoe County School District Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield. She and the district [recently] announced its three-year roadmap for the district. Executive Editor Noah Glick chatted with Dr. Enfield to learn more about what she's …

Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve was in Washington D.C. earlier this year, as part of the United States Conference of Mayors, to advocate for stronger federal support to address mental health in American cities. But, what can mayors really do to address the issue? Executive Editor Noah Glick recently caught up with Schieve to talk about how to increase a…

By Will Houk

On this week's Ally Radio, Sierra Nevada Ally contributor Richard Bednarski highlights a new local news outlet serving the rural residents of Plumas County, California. The Plumas Sun began this summer, after the area's only local news source closed. Then, Executive Editor Noah Glick chats with Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve about increasing access to …

By Will Houk

On this week’s show, we take a look at the legacy of mining in the West, particularly the industry’s legacy of waste and pollution. A new report from the Center for Western Priorities looks at the issue and what policies might help. We chat with the group to learn more. Then, we wrapped up our series on El Capitan this week, looking at the history …

A new testing facility in Oregon is researching how to bring wave energy from the shore to the grid. The Sierra Nevada Ally is supported by readers and listeners just like you. Show your support of independent journalism at sierranevadaally.org. And sign up for our FREE newsletter and get the latest reports from the Sierra Nevada Ally sent directly…

By Will Houk

School is back in session for kids, teachers and parents across northern Nevada. On this week's Ally Radio, we look at the upcoming school year with Washoe County School District Superintendent, Dr. Susan Enfield. Then, a look back at the Nevada legislative session with the Nevada Women's Lobby. The group released a report highlighting some of the …

On this week's Ally Radio, we head to Maui, where a wildfire has destroyed an historic town, killed dozens of people and destroyed homes and businesses. Our friends at KMUD Redwood Community Radio were able to connect with our radio friends in Maui to check in. Then, we look at the world-famous El Capitan. This granite wall has attracted climbers f…

By Will Houk

July was one of the hottest and driest in history for Reno this year. We break down what is going on with climatologist Kaitlyn Trudeau with Climate Central, who tells us temperatures are only going to continue to rise. Then, we visit the Radical Cat, a bookstore in Reno, to learn about how the owners are using the space to give voice to the commun…

By Will Houk

This week's Ally Radio is going international (sort of). But first, we start by going over the latest from the Douglas County School District with Rocío Hernández, education reporter with the Nevada Independent, and we get a civics refresher on constitutional amendments with Dr. Sondra Cosgrove from the College of Southern Nevada. Then, we chat wit…