"I'm just very proud to be part of Amarillo ISD right now." With Gov. Greg Abbott having announced that Texas schools won't reopen this spring, we look at how the school district has adapted to meet needs during the crisis. Julie Huntley (South Georgia Elementary) and Kisaundra Harris (Tascosa High School) share teachers' perspectives on distance learning. Director of Child Nutrition Matt Buck explains how AISD continues to feed vulnerable kids. And Director of Counseling Tracey Morman details e...
Apr 20, 2020•53 min•Season 4Ep. 22
"Everything shifted when we started staying home." First, Jason Boyett checks in with Angelina Marie. Then the show features three conversations about opportunity in the midst of trials. Homeschooling veteran Careese Wood advises parents who suddenly find themselves managing a "classroom." Crossfit 806 owner Kyle Cato shares how his gym and community have gone virtual. And WTAMU marketing professor Dr. Nick Gerlich speculates what business might look like on the other side of the pandemic. These...
Apr 16, 2020•48 min•Season 4Ep. 21
"We've had to make adjustments to everything we do." A tale of two cities: In this episode, the city managers of Amarillo and Canyon discuss their actions in response to the pandemic. What is each city doing to minimize risk for employees and residents? What's happening behind the scenes of the public communication? Are citizens following the stay-at-home orders? Guests are Jared Miller (Amarillo) and Joe Price (Canyon). These interviews were recorded prior to April 13, 2020. Things may have cha...
Apr 13, 2020•36 min•Season 4Ep. 20
"Everyone is taking it seriously." Recent episodes have detailed the pandemic's impact in Amarillo, but what about Amarillo people who live elsewhere? This episode tells the stories of COVID-19 in other cities as we check in with former locals who now live across the country. Guests are Micha Boyett-Hohorst (San Francisco), Tom Patterson (New York City), Natalie Schlabs (Nashville) and Jonathan Baker (Portland, Maine). These interviews were recorded on April 8, 2020. Things may have changed by t...
Apr 09, 2020•50 min•Season 4Ep. 19
"The local banks have been wonderful." COVID-19 cases are rising slowly in Amarillo as business seek a safety net and families deal with financial uncertainty. These interviews were recorded prior to April 6, 2020. Things may have changed by the time you listen. Guests are Vicki Wilmarth ( Wright Wilmarth Byrd PLLC ), Matt Morgan ( Amarillo Area Foundation ), Paige Jones ( Fresh Paige Counseling ) and Chris Seals ( Still Austin ). This episode is sponsored by Dr. Eddy Sauer ( Shemen Dental )....
Apr 06, 2020•47 min•Season 4Ep. 18
"It's a patchwork-quilt effort." As Amarillo stays at home, the City has opened up drive-through COVID-19 testing. Local businesses continue shifting to meet needs and manage a public health crisis. These interviews were recorded on April 1, 2020. Things may have changed by the time you listen. Guests are Casie Stoughton ( Amarillo Public Health ), David Prescott ( Talon/LPE ), Dr. Kristina Drumheller ( WTAMU ) and Cullen Lutz ( Panhandle PBS ). This episode is sponsored by Bivins Pointe ....
Apr 02, 2020•40 min•Season 4Ep. 17
"We have to be ready to help them." Local families are feeling the impact of job losses and a transformed economy as the nation battles Coronavirus outbreaks. These interviews were recorded on or prior to March 29. Things may have changed by the time you listen. Guests are Zack Wilson ( High Plains Food Bank ), Dr. Kirk Coury ( Amarillo Endodontics ), Benton Allen & Trent Kelly ( BTG Products/WTAMU ), and Bobby Lee ( The Big Texan ). Complete the podcast demographic survey here ....
Mar 30, 2020•34 min•Season 4Ep. 16
"We are prepared for it." As Coronavirus infections begin to increase in Amarillo, local people discuss the impact on hospitals, grocery stores, churches and education. These interviews were recorded on or prior to March 25. Things may have changed by the time you listen. Guests are Dr. Brian Weis ( Northwest Texas Hospital ), Ken and Jarrett Copheranham ( Fiesta Foods ), Pastor Manny de los Santos ( Power Church ) and Anna Kay Reeves. This episode is sponsored by SKP Creative ....
Mar 26, 2020•42 min•Season 4Ep. 15
"If you can, you do." This episode features short interviews with Amarillo people about what things look like right now in the city due to the spread of the Coronavirus. Interviews were recorded the afternoon of Sunday, March 22. Things may have changed by the time you listen. Guests are Charles D'Amico ( Jimmy John's ), Lytton St. Stephen ( Panhandle COVID-19 Home Help ), Katie & Seth Wieck ( Wieck Realty , Boys Ranch ), and Robin Brewton ( Carson Wealth ). This episode is sponsored by Wiec...
Mar 23, 2020•41 min•Season 4Ep. 14
A new podcast format going forward: This episode features short interviews with Amarillo people about what things look like right now in the city due to the spread of the Coronavirus. Interviews were recorded the afternoon of Wednesday, March 18. Things may have changed by the time you listen. Guests are Wes Reeves ( Xcel Energy ), Bekah McWhorter ( Bivins Pointe ), Jason Burr ( NCW ), Kyla Frye ( WT Enterprise Center ), Patrick & Krystal Burns ( Palace Coffee ) and Jackie Kingston ( KAMR Lo...
Mar 19, 2020•48 min•Season 4Ep. 13
A conversation with Neal Nossaman , an Amarillo eye doctor. Neal grew up in Amarillo and, after schooling, returned here to join his father's practice. Today he's a partner at Broome Optical, which started in 1929. With host Jason Boyett, Neal shares about serving in north Amarillo early in his career, what it meant to finally marry his husband Greg, and how they found a church home at St. Andrews Episcopal. This episode is sponsored by Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum ....
Mar 16, 2020•49 min•Season 4Ep. 12
A conversation with Shilpa Shah , an Amarillo immigration attorney who serves clients around the world. Shilpa grew up in Amarillo—her father was the first Indian-born physician in the city—and speaks with host Jason Boyett about her career, her multicultural upbringing, her Hindu faith and how Amarillo's community of Indian families works to maintain its heritage and traditions in the Texas Panhandle. This episode is sponsored by Bivins Pointe and Jimmy John's ....
Mar 09, 2020•48 min•Season 4Ep. 11
A conversation with Jim Livingston , a fine arts photographer known for his Texas Panhandle landscapes as well as his " I Am Rt 66 " portrait series. Jim has spent the last decade pursuing photography but has a deep, intriguing resume. He's been a Jesuit priest, spent years as a social worker, and was once technically homeless after being forced to uproot rapidly from his life in Wichita Falls. He and host Jason Boyett discuss these things and more in this episode, sponsored by Dr. Eddy Sauer of...
Mar 02, 2020•42 min•Season 4Ep. 10
A conversation with Laci Scott, who has spent the last decade working in public health with a focus on refugee resettlement. With host Jason Boyett, she explains her early involvement with the Emergent Village movement in Evangelical Christianity, how she ended up "breaking up with church," the friendliness difference between Amarillo and Kansas City, and what it's like for refugee families when they finally make it to America. This is a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation, sponsored by SK...
Feb 24, 2020•55 min•Season 4Ep. 9
A conversation with Chandra Perkins, founder/director of Storybridge , an Amarillo nonprofit that gives free, age-appropriate books to at-risk children. A longtime educator, Chandra saw that early introduction to books at home was the #1 predictor of academic success for a child. Her kids had dozens of books. Some kids had zero books. With host Jason Boyett, she explains how she set out to rebalance that inequality for Amarillo kids. This episode is sponsored by Panhandle Plains Historical Museu...
Feb 17, 2020•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 8
A conversation with Kaleb West, co-owner of Pondaseta Brewing Co. , a brewery and taproom on 45th Street in southwest Amarillo. With his friend Trever Martin, Kaleb opened Pondaseta in 2018 after a career installing equipment in other breweries across the country. Having grown up in Canyon, Kaleb explains to host Jason Boyett why he moved back from Austin and Orlando, what makes Amarillo the perfect location for Pondaseta, and how he and Trever turned an old tire shop into a taproom. This episod...
Feb 10, 2020•51 min•Season 4Ep. 7
A conversation with Nicole Fleetwood, co-owner of Scratch Made Bakery . Nicole arrived in Amarillo on the heels of winning a Season 7 episode of Cupcake Wars on the Food Network. She had been living in North Carolina, but moved after the show aired and found herself having to build a new life—and business—in a new place. With host Jason Boyett, she explains how she ended up on TV, her culture shock upon arriving here, and why she located her bakery downtown. This episode is sponsored by Pesttex ...
Feb 03, 2020•55 min•Season 4Ep. 6
A conversation with Jeff Justus, community liaison for the Amarillo Fire Department . Despite a long career as a firefighter, Justus also spent several years as a traveling stand-up comic before finally trading that life for one with more stability—a decision that brought him to Amarillo. Today he serves as the public face of AFD in a position he helped create. With host Jason Boyett, Jeff describes the difficulties of performing comedy as well as the unique challenges of firefighting on the Hig...
Jan 27, 2020•47 min•Season 4Ep. 5
A conversation with Ruby Moreno, executive director of the Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce . Ruby immigrated to the U.S. when she was very young, grew up in rural Kansas and Wyoming, and made her way to Amarillo by way of West Texas A&M University. In college, a stint interning for the Hispanic Chamber led to her current position. With host Jason Boyett, Ruby talks about local entrepreneurship and the importance of Hispanic- and minority-owned business in Amarillo. This episode is spon...
Jan 20, 2020•39 min•Season 4Ep. 4
A conversation with Steve Brown , founder of ROI Online and author of the new book The Golden Toilet . With host Jason Boyett, Steve shares how a former "chicken fried steak guy" and lifelong Amarillo kid had his eyes opened while living in Japan. He finally returned to Amarillo, attended AC as a nontraditional student, found his way into the world of website design and ended up launching a local marketing agency with a national footprint. This episode is sponsored by Jimmy John's and the ManiCa...
Jan 13, 2020•54 min•Season 4Ep. 3
A conversation with Hilary Marie , a local musician and bookkeeper who lived in Borger and New Orleans before making a home in Amarillo. With host Jason Boyett, Hilary shares the details of her personal story, which involve finding healing—mentally, physically and emotionally—after multiple cycles of addiction and abuse. Their discussion covers plenty of unique territory, from Hilary's American Idol auditions to her discovery of eastern spirituality in Amarillo. This episode is sponsored by Bivi...
Jan 06, 2020•52 min•Season 4Ep. 2
A conversation with Fr. Scott Raef of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Canyon. A longtime Amarillo resident, Scott has served in a variety of positions within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo, including St. Thomas the Apostle Church and St. Mary's Cathedral . With host Jason Boyett, he shares about his career and calling, the Catholic history of Amarillo, and about time he spent during a recent sabbatical driving Lyft and Uber for local residents. This episode is sponsored by Wieck Realty ....
Dec 30, 2019•52 min•Season 4Ep. 1
A conversation with Phyllis Nickum, owner/operator of Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West , a tourism company on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon. Phyllis literally grew up in hotels, spent decades in hotel management and operations—including the Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo—and "retired" to a second career on horseback. She talks to host Jason Boyett about her career, the Ambassador's heyday, and why riding horses in the Panhandle is on so many travelers' bucket lists. This episode is sponsored by Panh...
Dec 23, 2019•43 min•Season 3Ep. 52
A conversation with Jennifer Gallardo , a vice president at Amarillo National Bank. Jennifer manages the ANB branch at NE 24th & Grand, where she deals with a remarkably diverse customer base, and has worked at the bank since she was 17. In this episode, she tells host Jason Boyett about her career path, growing up in the Barrio, and her involvement on the Amarillo Civic Center Complex executive committee. In particular, they discuss its needs for the future. This episode is sponsored by the...
Dec 16, 2019•52 min•Season 3Ep. 51
A conversation with Kent Harris, a working potter and the owner of Blue Sage Pottery . A Missouri native who got a fine arts degree from WTAMU, Kent is one of those unique Amarillo creatives who is making a living as an artist. His stoneware pottery sells online and has appeared in galleries across the United States. With host Jason Boyett, Kent discuses how he and his wife, Megan, built their business, why pottery is so addictive and therapeutic, and how the Texas Panhandle shapes his work. Thi...
Dec 09, 2019•50 min•Season 3Ep. 50
A conversation with Emmi Hilbish, an elite wheelchair athlete and graduate of River Road High School. Born with spina bifida, Emmi struggled to walk and was entirely wheelchair-bound by the age of 10. After getting her first sports wheelchair in high school, she discovered a talent for wheelchair basketball, got a full-ride scholarship to the University of Texas at Arlington, and won a national championship with the Lady Movin' Mavs . With host Jason Boyett, Emmi shares about her athletic career...
Dec 02, 2019•44 min•Season 3Ep. 49
A conversation with Dr. Billy Graves of Amarillo Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AOMS), one of the nation's largest oral surgery practices. A native of Kentucky, Dr. Graves intentionally picked Amarillo as the place to start his practice after he finished his schooling and residency. With host Jason Boyett, he reveals why Amarillo was his ideal choice, why the people here continue to surprise him, and how AOMS gains national attention through social media, its 4-Hour Smile giveaway and more. T...
Nov 25, 2019•52 min•Season 3Ep. 48
A conversation with Dajana Johnson, the owner/operator of The Slay Station , a salon at 1st and Polk near downtown Amarillo. Only 22 years old, Dajana is a young entrepreneur who is carving out a career despite the challenges of her low-income upbringing. With host Jason Boyett, Dajana reveals her career path so far, why her salon is only "Level 3" in a multi-step career, and why it's so important for young women like her to see other females and minorities in ownership positions. This episode i...
Nov 18, 2019•45 min•Season 3Ep. 47
A conversation with Chris Seals, cofounder and CEO at Still Austin Whiskey Co . An economist who spent the last 15 years in Amarillo, Chris now splits his time between here and Austin, where he runs the first whiskey distillery in the state capital since Prohibition. With host Jason Boyett, Chris reveals how his career developed, why a change in Texas law made Still Austin viable, and why this area is so important to the distillery's latest release. This episode is sponsored by the Mani Camper a...
Nov 11, 2019•59 min•Season 3Ep. 46
A conversation with Libby Lane, owner and designer of Libby Lane leather handbags and accessories, an international business based in Amarillo. Libby grew up in Bushland, attended the Art Institute of Chicago, and now assembles each of her products by hand in Amarillo. With host Jason Boyett, she explains how her business began, why the Panhandle is so central to her products' story, and how she found balance and simplicity here after having lived in Chicago and New York. This episode is sponsor...
Nov 04, 2019•44 min•Season 3Ep. 45
