Podcast appearances and mentions of jason boyett

A conversation with Holly Ridings, an Amarillo native and the Director of the Exploration Operations Office at NASA. Prior to that relatively new position, her career includes becoming the first woman to serve as NASA's Chief Flight Director in 2018. In this episode, Ridings shares with host Jason Boyett about her path from Tascosa High School to Mission Control. From leading teams supporting the International Space Station to the ongoing Artemis program—with sights set on Mars—Ridings credits the grounding of her Amarillo upbringing and education with her pursuit of the stars. This episode is supported by SKP Creative on behalf of The Amarillo Tribune. 

A conversation with Marcus Snead, the executive chef at The Barfield and the three-time winner of the "Top Chef Amarillo" competition at Restaurant Roundup. Snead grew up in Canyon before leaving the area for a culinary education, which took him from New York City to the East Coast to Santa Fe to a Michelen-rated restaurant in Chicago. After returning to the Panhandle, he helped launch and operate Canyon's late, great Barrel & Pie until its closure in 2020. Snead shares with host Jason Boyett about his restaurant history, what it's like to oversee dining at Amarillo's most famous hotel, and how the local food culture has changed over the past two decades. This episode is supported by SKP Creative on behalf of The Amarillo Tribune. 

A conversation with Lauren Hough, the New York Times bestselling author and essayist. Her critically acclaimed 2021 book, Leaving Isn't the Hardest Thing, details her upbringing in a doomsday cult, her eventual Air Force stint and other careers, and includes several mentions of the years she spent in Amarillo as a child and then a teenager. Hough shares with host Jason Boyett about the role Amarillo played—and continues to play—in the story of her life, how she has become the Panhandle correspondent for Texas Highways, and why being from West Texas carries a lot of currency in the world. This episode is supported by Storybridge and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Sheila Sims, a long-time local architect and the president of Sims + Architects. Her firm has designed many prominent local buildings, from the new Amarillo City Hall to the FirstBank Southwest Center at AC to the Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation building near the Medical Center. After earning a degree from Texas A&M, Sims returned to Amarillo to work for Lavin Architects as an intern—and never looked back. She shares with host Jason Boyett about taking over leadership of Lavin right before the pandemic, why she loves being an architect in Amarillo rather than the Metroplex, and what it's like for her work product to be visible to everyone in the community. This episode is supported by Sheman Dental and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Steve Burton, the executive director of Children's Learning Centers of Amarillo, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in April. A Colorado native, Burton arrived in Amarillo after having launched Boys & Girls Clubs in rural towns in both Colorado and Texas. He spent six years leading the Maverick Club before moving to Children's Learning Centers, which provides quality, low-cost childcare to the people of this area. Burton shares with host Jason Boyett about the history of his nonprofit, his ongoing career as an ice hockey official, and why 2025 Amarillo feels like the Colorado Springs of the 1990s. This episode is supported by Amarillo Habitat for Humanity and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Shilee Pearson of RuffLife K9 Training. A former horse trainer who grew up in Nebraska, Pearson pivoted to establish an award-winning dog-training business in Omaha. But two years ago, she moved to Amarillo in pursuit of a relationship. (They ended up getting married.) Pearson shares with host Jason Boyett—who happens to be a client—what it's like to uproot your business and start over in a new place, why her approach to dog training tends to stand out in the Panhandle, and why dog culture in Amarillo is different from anywhere else she's worked. This episode is supported by PestTex Pest Control and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Meaghan Collier, the communications and marketing manager for the Amarillo campus of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Collier was recently named 2025 Volunteer of the Year at the Brickly Awards. A native of Canyon, she spent several years as a local television journalist with KAMR 4 Local News. Locals recognize her from that career, but may not know that she spent a year in post-Katrina New Orleans with Teach for America. Collier shares with host Jason Boyett why journalism became her passion, why her year in New Orleans was the most transformative of her life, and why volunteering in this community is so central to her identity. This episode is supported by La-Z-Boy of Amarillo and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Greg Lusk, the executive director of Amarillo Botanical Gardens, a four-acre oasis near Medi-Park. Lusk is a trained horticulturalist, and right out of college he worked as the private gardener for legendary local businessman T. Boone Pickens. More recently, Lusk has spent the past decade with the Botanical Gardens, leading that organization through a period of growth thanks to seasonal attractions like Christmas in the Gardens and its position as a premier event venue for the community. Lusk shares with host Jason Boyett about the important role his organization plays in the region, and what it's like to make a career out of cultivating beauty in a hostile environment. This episode is supported by SKP Creative and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Marcee Mangiameli, who owns and operates the new Lesson Lounge in Amarillo along with her husband Taylor. This music education co-working space allows multiple music teachers to give lessons on a variety of instruments, offering a relatively new concept in Amarillo. Most of the instructors are local performers in the live music scene. A pianist herself, Marcee shares with host Jason Boyett how she and Taylor came up with the idea, why they returned to the Panhandle after living in other big cities, and why the Lesson Lounge concept may already be heading elsewhere in the state. This episode is supported by Shemen Dental, Storybridge, and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Lindsay London Baker, a registered nurse and one of the founders of the Amarillo Reproductive Freedom Alliance (ARFA), a local nonprofit formed, in part, to oppose the City of Amarillo's sanctuary city ordinance in 2024. When voters voted against Prop A last November, Amarillo became the first city in the United States to reject an abortion travel ban proposition. Lindsay shares about her nursing career, her early activism, and how she ended up the voice of ARFA in national news stories about Amarillo's opposition to the ordinance. She also shares with host Jason Boyett what her activism has taught her about the people of the Texas Panhandle. This episode is supported by Amarillo Habitat for Humanity and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Chris Griffin, who owns Blue Crane Bakery with his wife, Donna. The Griffin family recently were named Entrepreneurs of the Year in the Brickly Awards, and have built a reputation at Blue Crane not just for unique Keto-friendly, vegan and gluten-free baked goods, but for community involvement. In this episode, Chris tells host Jason Boyett about his transition from the Fort Worth nightclub scene to motorcycle mechanic to baker, how meeting Donna online brought him to Amarillo, and how the need for open-heart surgery transformed his mindset and career. This episode is supported by La-Z-Boy of Amarillo and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Keralee Clay, the Interim President and CEO of the Amarillo Area Foundation. She's been part of the AAF team for years, but stepped into her new role after the passing of Clay Stribling in December 2024. Keralee has a deep background in operations and management, but her career has also been broad. She spent several years working for Amarillo Little Theatre and the Amarillo Civic Center. She lived and performed in New York City for a decade. She was a human resources consultant. Keralee shares with host Jason Boyett how those roles prepared her for this new one, what it's like to guide a large organization during a tragic leadership change, and what she learned from Stribling as a colleague. This episode is supported by SKP Creative and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Tony Ensor, the President and General Manager of the Amarillo Sod Poodles, the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks and baseball's 2023 Minor League Organization of the Year. Before Amarillo, Ensor led the front office of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and the Birmingham Barons. The first time he appeared on Hey Amarillo (via phone) was in 2019 at the height of the local controversy about the team name. Six years later, he shares with host Jason Boyett how his own career developed, how that moment of drama made the organization stronger, and why Amarillo is the key to the Sod Poodles' overwhelming success. This episode is supported by Storybridge and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Stephani Serna, who lives in Amarillo but works for Porsche Financial Services. Stephani grew up in Amarillo but was born in Mexico, which means she spent most of her childhood in the High Plains without legal immigration status. A DACA recipient, Stephani grew up in extreme poverty and spent her childhood navigating the anxiety of deportation while also serving as a language interpreter for her mother and grandparents. She eventually became a U.S. citizen, graduated from high school and college, landed at Porsche, and has even given a TedX talk. She shares her story with host Jason Boyett, including the impact of local organizations like Mission 2540. This episode is supported by Shemen Dental and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Jim Dewitz, the local owner/operator (along with his wife, Candy) of Big Jim's Pizza, the iconic KN Root Beer, and the Tascosa Drive-In Theater. Originally from the Chicago area, Dewitz came to Amarillo in his late teens, then built a career in construction and apartment management before ending up an owner of the La Bella Pizza on Olsen. He rebranded it as Big Jim's—and soon added the other two businesses to his portfolio. Dewitz shares with host Jason Boyett why he stayed in Amarillo, his rocky path to entrepreneurship and what he loves about this community. This episode is supported by Amarillo Habitat for Humanity and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Carter Estes, the executive director (and first full-time staff member) of Elevate Amarillo, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting young professionals through networking, professional development, and community service. Estes is also a City of Amarillo employee, having served in multiple positions since earning a Masters of Public Policy at the prestigious Harvard Kennedy School—formerly the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Estes tells host Jason Boyett about his path from growing up in White Deer to attending Harvard, and how that journey ultimately brought him to Amarillo. This episode is supported by La-Z-Boy of Amarillo and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Elizabeth Pakravan, the founder and executive director of Martha Root Community Building, a nonprofit that equips children and their parents in underserved communities. Originally from Paraguay, Pakravan spent several years in Oregon before moving to Amarillo two years ago. She is a member of the Bahá'í faith, and her work reflects the promotion of unity and betterment of society that are central to this fast-growing global religion. Pakravan tells host Jason Boyett about her work, her appreciation for Amarillo as her family's new home, and how locals respond to her religious tradition—especially given the pervasive Christian beliefs of the Texas Panhandle. This episode is supported by SKP Creative, Storybridge, and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Matthew Wright, an Amarillo-based Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Texas. This past summer, Wright argued a landmark case before the U.S. Supreme Court, United States vs. Rahimi, related to firearm possession by individuals who are subject to domestic violence restraining orders. And though the Court decided against his client, the outcome made headlines across the United States. In this episode, Wright tells host Jason Boyett why he became a public defender, how the work brought him to Amarillo, and how it ended up taking him all the way to the Supreme Court. This episode is supported by Shemen Dental and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Ben Parks, the founder and "sound wrangler" of American Cowboy Radio and a former locomotive engineer for BNSF Railway. American Cowboy Radio streams worldwide from West Texas, with the goal of preserving and promoting what Parks calls "the authentic American cowboy way of life." Prior to this career and his locomotive career, Parks spent part of two decades managing the legendary Amarillo restaurant Char-Kel. He shares with host Jason Boyett about Char-Kel's heyday, why the business ended in the 1990s, how his cowboy radio idea developed and why Amarillo remains his home base. This episode is supported by PestTex Pest Control, Wolflin Square, and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Lora Brown, a long-time Amarillo stylist and the owner/operator of The Salon by Lora Brown. Brown grew up in Amarillo, started her career at 17, and opened her first salon in 1996. With nearly four decades in the industry, she has built a reputation as one of the city's best luxury salons. In this conversation with host Jason Boyett, Brown shares about her early entrepreneurism, how her industry has changed over the years, and why helping educate and coach her stylists is so critical to what she does. This episode is supported by Amarillo Angels, Amarillo Habitat for Humanity and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Jeff Jarnagin, a veteran performer at Amarillo Little Theatre and the social media manager for Brick & Elm Magazine. Jarnagin grew up in Wildorado and spend 17 years on staff at ALT before moving to Los Angeles at the age of 40 to pursue an acting career. After two years in Hollywood, he began feeling "off," and returned to Amarillo to a cancer diagnosis. Since then, Jeff has endured testicular cancer, kidney failure and dialysis, and finally, a successful kidney transplant that stemmed from a local tragedy. He tells his story to host Jason Boyett, and explains how the memory of Emerson—his kidney donor—continues to shape his life. This episode is supported by Storybridge, SKP Creative, the Amarillo Tribune, and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Abby Moldenhauer, a former circus performer and the founder of Flying Fitness in Amarillo, a fitness studio which teaches aerial arts. Moldenhauer grew up in Canyon before leaving to join the circus—literally—after having trained to become a performer specializing in aerial silks. She traveled for years with Ringling Bros. and other shows until injuries sustained in a carjacking forced her into a new career. She tells host Jason Boyett about her path into the aerial arts, life with a traveling circus, and why local fitness enthusiasts are drawn to her gym when they get tired of treadmill cardio. This episode is supported by The Shops at Wolflin Square, La-Z-Boy of Amarillo, and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Ruthie Landelius, a local chef, culinary educator, and the proprietor of Black Fig Food. She's also a food contributor to Brick & Elm Magazine and the Flavorillo email newsletter. A self-taught chef, Ruthie is known for her visual and artistic approach to food, for using food to build community, and for the elevated menus she creates for local events—from intimate weddings to enormous fundraising banquets. She shares with host Jason Boyett how her early failures helped make her the cook she is today and what it's like to plan, schedule and execute meals for enormous groups of local people. This episode is supported by Amarillo Angels and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Andy Justus, a long-time broadcast journalist and the co-anchor of Studio 4 and KAMR Local 4 News at 5, 6, and 10. A graduate of West Texas A&M, Andy has been in local news since he first joined KAMR in 1997. In this episode, he tells host Jason Boyett about growing up in poverty, moving constantly during childhood due to evictions, and how he convinced his single mother that he needed to go to Boys Ranch. In fact, if not for the structure he found at Boys Ranch, Andy says he would either "be in prison or be dead.” Along with those harrowing details, he also shares why he has such gratitude for the Panhandle area and its people. This episode is supported by Habitat for Humanity and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Naomi Vang, the owner/operator of S.E.A. Market Oriental Food in Amarillo. A refugee from Myanmar (Burma), Vang arrived in the area as a child after her family faced displacement due to political instability and oppression from the military regime that gained control over their country. Her family is part of the Chin ethnic group from the mountainous part of western Myanmar. She tells host Jason Boyett how she and her siblings made it to Texas, what it was like to grow up in an unfamiliar culture, and how the public has responded to her Asian market near 34th & Georgia. This episode is supported by Storybridge, Amarillo Angels and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Jason Mays, Fire Chief of the Amarillo Fire Department. An Amarillo native, Mays grew up in the River Road community and has been with AFD since 1999. He is the 10th fire chief in the history of the fire department, which dates back to 1897. He succeeded Fire Chief Jeff Greenlee in April 2020, and prior to this position had served as Deputy Chief of Operations. Mays shares with host Jason Boyett how he found his way into his career after struggling in high school, what most residents don't understand about the department today, and how AFD prioritizes the mental health of its firefighters. This episode is supported by Shemen Dental, the Shops at Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Maile Srader, the proprietor of Purposeful Play Busy Bags, an educational supply store near 34th & Georgia in Westhaven Village. This storefront offers sensory bins, learning binders and fidgets for families, teachers, therapists and more, based on materials Srader developed and used during her teaching career and then as a homeschooling parent. In this episode, she tells host Jason Boyett about her family's journey through foster care, how her business has introduced her to multiple communities within Amarillo, and why her customers have responded so strongly to these products. This episode is supported by SKP Creative / Amarillo Tribune, La-Z-Boy of Amarillo and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Tom Martin, the CEO of Milo Insulation of Texas. His company manufactures an innovative home insulation product called MILEX, made from grain sorghum grown in the Panhandle and produced at a facility in Tulia. In this episode, Martin explains to host Jason Boyett his journey from south Texas to Iowa to Amarillo, his shift from a career in education to one in farm exports, how he developed a sorghum-based packing peanut that's now used around the world, and how that product brought him to the world of insulation. This episode is supported by Amarillo Angels and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Tia Marie Hunt, a donor relations coordinator at West Texas A&M University and a singer-songwriter who'll be performing at this weekend's Hoodoo Mural Festival. Tia Marie shares with host Jason Boyett about her journey to the area after having grown up in Jasper, Texas, her transition from singing at church to performing for secular audiences, and what role Amarillo might play in the rest of her musical career. Her single, "Love," is available on these platforms. Tia Marie performs on the ANB Stage at 3pm Saturday at Hoodoo. This episode is supported by Habitat for Humanity, Jimmy John's, and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Will Krause, the festival director for HOODOO Mural Festival (Sept. 28, 2024) and a long-time promoter and producer. Will was a partner in Austin's Euphoria Music Festival for several years and continues to work as a production manager for SXSW. As a promoter, he recently brought Hayden Pedigo, Kristen Key and Charley Crockett to Amarillo for shows at the Globe News Center. Krause shares with host Jason Boyett about moving back to Amarillo from Austin, how HOODOO has built an exciting national reputation, and what the musicians who come here think about this community. This episode is supported by Storybridge and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Jim Wilson, the legendary piano technician, award-winning recording artist and author of Tuned In: Memoirs of a Piano Man. Wilson grew up in 1970s Amarillo before heading to Southern California to pursue a music career. He ended up becoming a "piano tuner for the stars" before helping develop the highly influential MIDI-adapter for the acoustic piano, and then composing and recording chart-topping piano works. Wilson tells host Jason Boyett about the journey into his multiple careers, his friendships with celebrities like Paul McCartney and Elton John, and how growing up in Amarillo gave birth to a lifetime in music and entertainment. This episode is supported by La-Z-Boy of Amarillo, Wolflin Square, Shemen Dental and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Whitney Dowd, DNP, founder of Blumologie Health, Beauty & Wellness. A long-time nurse and now a nurse practitioner, this Amarillo native has worked in a variety of local healthcare settings, including a decade at the Northwest J.O. Wyatt Clinic. Now at Blumologie, Dowd combines direct primary care with women's health and hormone services—as well as aesthetics. She tells host Jason Boyett about her medical path, the challenges she has overcome, and why her presence as a woman of color in the healthcare world fosters trust and open communication among her patients. This episode is supported by SKP Creative, Wieck Realty and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with J. Pat Hickman, the founder of Happy State Bank. In 1990, Hickman led a group of investors to purchase a very small bank in Happy, Texas, that had just $10 million in deposits. He then served for 32 years as the Chairman, President and CEO of Happy State Bank. When it sold in 2022, Happy had become one of the largest banks in the state. Hickman shares that origin story with host Jason Boyett. He also explains why he used the first years of his retirement to return to Texas Tech to finish his undergraduate degree. This episode is supported by SKP Creative, PestTex Pest Control, Amarillo Habitat for Humanity and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Chris Jackson, neighborhood planner for the City of Amarillo. An Amarillo native who grew up in the foster care system, Jackson now works within the city's Neighborhood Planning Initiative to help older and underserved parts of town "catch up" in terms of infrastructure and services. These neighborhoods include the North Heights, the Barrio, San Jacinto and Eastridge. Jackson works directly with neighborhood resident associations guiding them to implement a variety of projects. He shares with host Jason Boyett about his background, the complicated nature of projects like the recent creative crosswalks, and why the city is working so hard to revitalize these neighborhoods in the first place. This episode is supported by SKP Creative, Storybridge and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Dr. Amy Von Lintel, a professor of art history at West Texas A&M University and the director of WT's Gender Studies Program. Von Lintel also co-owns Old Tascosa Brewing Company with her husband, Matt Welch. She is the preeminent local expert on the legendary artist Georgia O'Keeffe's time in Amarillo and Canyon and has written multiple books—including next year's Art at the Crossroads—about the influence of the Texas Panhandle in the larger art world. She shares with host Jason Boyett how she ended up in Amarillo, why this region is known for such creative output, what it's like to operate a taproom on Historic Sixth Street, and a lot more. This episode is supported by The Shops at Wolflin Square, Jimmy John's and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Laura Street, a nonprofit consultant who has spent the past 25 years intimately involved in local leadership. She is the past executive director of the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center in Amarillo, and served as the founding executive director of the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts—where she led a campaign to raise more than $33 million and supervised the construction of that landmark building. By her count, she has served as president on at least 18 local, regional and state boards. Laura Street shares with host Jason Boyett what originally brought her to Amarillo, her early career in nursing, and what drives her to stay involved with so many elements of this community. This episode is supported by Shemen Dental and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Angie Duncan, who describes herself as "The Amarillo Narcan Lady." She's the founder of the nonprofit Texas Panhandle Overdose Awareness. She has made it her mission to give out, as often as possible, the over-the-counter nasal spray Narcan®/naloxone, which can be used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose. In fact, she says several local people have been rapidly rescued from overdoses by this life-saving drug. Duncan shares her personal story with host Jason Boyett about how a fentanyl overdose impacted her family, and why conversations about Narcan can be uncomfortable in this area. This episode is supported by La-Z-Boy of Amarillo and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Tim Reid, the executive director of the Texas Panhandle War Memorial. The museum and memorial represent what he calls his "third career," following a stint in education at Ascension Academy and 30-plus years as an FBI agent. Reid shares with host Jason Boyett about growing up in the foster care system, his unsuccessful 2022 political campaign for Texas Senate 31, why he chose Amarillo for his "retirement," and why he believes the War Memorial to be one of the city's premier educational experiences. This episode is supported by Wieck Realty and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Jeff Whelchel, M.D., of the Healthy Hormones clinic in Amarillo and a financial advisor at Wood Financial. He's also the author of The New Thyroid Handbook. A native of Claude, Whelchel served as a family doctor in Amarillo for more than 23 years before pivoting to financial services, a transition triggered by a personal health crisis. Whelchel tells host Jason Boyett about the joys and frustrations of his medical career, why he made a midlife career change, and how helping people manage their money aligns with helping people improve their health. This episode is supported by Shemen Dental, The Shops at Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Sharla Valdez, president of the Crown of Texas Hospice Foundation. As a young hospice nurse and entrepreneur, she became one of the founders of Crown of Texas Hospice, which operated in Amarillo from 1991 to 2004. Then in 2000, she launched Valmed Home Health & Pharmacy and served as its CEO and founder before exiting that business last year. Valdez shares with host Jason Boyett about her passion for hospice care, how her family's farm-and-ranch background prepared her for entrepreneurship, and why she's not yet ready to retire. This episode is supported by Blue Handle Publishing, La-Z-Boy Furniture and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Toby Giddens, the president and co-founder of Run Business Solutions (RunBiz), which provides technology services for local companies. He tells host Jason Boyett how RunBiz grew from a small team in a local accounting firm into a firm that offers IT support for small to mid-size business across the High Plains. Giddens grew up in Canyon as the son of the Canyon football coach Ted Giddens and WT's Terri Giddens, Ph.D., who introduced Toby to computer science. They also discuss the Ted Giddens Foundation, which formed after Coach Giddens' passing and assists families who have a loved one impacted by dementia. This episode is supported by Wieck Realty and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Kristin Key, a nationally headlining musical comedian who performs in sold-out shows across North America, appeared in Last Comic Standing and Bring the Funny, and got her start in Amarillo. She's bringing her Lesbian Army Tour back home to Amarillo on June 27 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. In this episode, Kristin tells host Jason Boyett about her upbringing as the daughter of a Church of Christ preacher, how she came out in high school only to "take it back," and how an open mic night at the Amarillo Comedy Club changed her life. This episode is supported by Amarillo Habitat for Humanity and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Jamie Fleck, the travel photographer, writer and custom fine art baker behind Flecks of Love. While living in Oklahoma, Fleck spent a weekend in Amarillo, stayed in a charming Airbnb, loved the local vibe, saved the house on Zillow and then—after getting an alert that it was on the market—decided to buy it and move here. Her baked items have since become a fixture at local markets and pop-up events. She's also been researching and writing her newest book, Best Lake Hikes Texas, with a cover photo featuring Lake Meredith. She tells host Jason Boyett how her accounting career turned into a creative one, why she sees so much potential in Amarillo, and what it's like to hike all over the Lone Star State. This episode is supported by Shemen Dental, Storybridge, Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Chris Israel, the executive director of Homeless Heroes, an organization serving homeless veterans in Amarillo. Chris is a formerly homeless veteran himself. He grew up in New York City and Florida before joining the U.S. Navy. After serving as a submarine sailor, he spent several years traveling across the United States for work, but never put down roots. Israel shares with host Jason Boyett how a crisis of homelessness in New Mexico brought him to Amarillo and the VA, where the support he found helped put his life back on track. Now he's guiding Homeless Heroes in renovating the 20-room Astro Motel into a place to help homeless veterans rebuild their lives. This episode is supported by Blue Handle Publishing, Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Kashion Smith, the executive director of the Amarillo Convention & Visitors Bureau. After several years in the hotel industry—including a stint as wedding specialist at the old Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo—Smith has spent the past decade with the CVB. She took over leadership of that organization in 2020. In this role, she is responsible for promoting and supporting tourism, conventions and events in Amarillo. The CVB “sells” Amarillo as a destination for people who don't live here. Smith shares with host Jason Boyett about her former hotel career in Taos and Amarillo, how the CVB works to bring conventions to Amarillo, and what unique local characteristics are helping Amarillo compete with larger cities like San Antonio. This episode is supported by La-Z-Boy Furniture Stores, Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Dirk van Reenen, the founder of Merus Adventure Park in the Texas Panhandle. Born and raised in South Africa, Dirk moved to Texas during his teen years. While attending WTAMU, he became the owner/manager of the former Lifts West ski shop at Western Plaza, launched Caprock Auctions in Amarillo, and worked in real estate before moving away in 2014. He tells host Jason Boyett about his Amarillo career, his subsequent move to the Houston area—followed by a stint in Columbia, Maryland— and his return to the Texas Panhandle. At Merus, now the largest private outdoor adventure park in Texas, Dirk provides family-friendly activities and access to Palo Duro Canyon separate from the state park. This episode is supported by Amarillo Habitat for Humanity, Wieck Realty, Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Vanessa Fiaud, Ph.D., an associate professor of sports and exercise science at the WTAMU College of Nursing & Health Sciences. Fiaud was born in France, where she studied business law, and continued her education in Oklahoma and Texas. She arrived in the Texas Panhandle and at WT in 2009, and tells host Jason Boyett about her work on sports biomechanics, as well as her recent approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to serve as an official volunteer at this year's Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Paris. This episode is supported by The Amarillo Tribune, The Shops at Wolflin Square, and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Devin Barnett, owner of Renu Painting, which recently was awarded the 2024 Torch Award for Ethics (Medium Business) by the Better Business Bureau of Amarillo. Barnett grew up in Abilene and has worked in a variety of industries, from petroleum to nursing to self-employed retailing. Despite that meandering career path, he's found success with Renu Painting. He and host Jason Boyett discuss Devin's various career stops before coming to Amarillo, why he chose not to go to college, and why he has become so passionate about creating jobs in the skilled trades. This episode is sponsored by Shemen Dental and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Megan Reed, the communications and public affairs manager at Bell, and a former communications manager for Make-a-Wish North Texas. Reed, an Amarillo native who played Division II soccer for WTAMU, tells host Jason Boyett how she found her way into a career at the manufacturer's Amarillo Assembly Plant, what Bell's new U.S. Army assault aircraft contract means for the area, and how she and her employer are already looking 10 years into the future as they prepare a workforce to fulfill that contract. This episode is sponsored by Pinnacle by Rockrose, Storybridge and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A return conversation with Jason Crespin for Hey Amarillo's 350th episode. Crespin was the guest in this podcast's second episode ever (October 9, 2017) and returns to share about his role as Managing/Artistic Director at Amarillo Little Theatre and the legacy of the late Allen Shankles, who passed away March 20, 2024. Crespin also turns the tables on host Jason Boyett to ask about Boyett's upcoming ALT debut in the cast of the musical Spamalot, which opens May 2. Tickets are on sale now for Spamalot. This episode is sponsored by Pinnacle by Rockrose, Jimmy John's, Wieck Realty and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.