Hey Amarillo

"It was the toughest decision I've ever had to make." Businesses are beginning to reopen around Amarillo. But taking this step is not as simple as unlocking doors or posting a sign. In this episode, local business owners and experts reveal the discussions they're having about moving forward. How do they balance the economy with public health? How do they protect their bottom line while also protec...

"You have to take every day as a blessing." The pandemic and shutdown have devastated high school seniors, who had the final weeks of their school careers taken away from them. In this episode, a graduating senior from each Amarillo ISD high school shares what it's been like, what they regret, and what they'll remember from this moment. Guests are Shandra Ahsan (Amarillo High), Jared Arellano (Cap...

"When people are afraid, they'll believe lies." How are the economic shutdown and pandemic impacting Amarillo's most vulnerable residents? Ryan Pennington tells host Jason Boyett how Amarillo's immigrants and refugees are coping. Junie Wagner explains how Guyon Saunders Resource Center helps the homeless stay safe. Kristi Greenway shares what this moment looks like at Park Central , Amarillo's lar...

"It's an ugly death. It is NOT like the flu." Few Amarillo residents know as much about the devastating physical and emotional impact of COVID-19 than local nurses who have been serving in New York City area ICUs. These healthcare workers have seen it up close. In this episode, Monica Blucher, Chuey Hernandez and Amber Lea Edwards tell host Jason Boyett about their experiences. Hernandez just retu...

"I have to do something. How can I help?" As residents feel the impact of the economic shutdown due to COVID-19, Amarillo people are finding ways to help. Alex Fairly of The Fairly Group explains the company's " Stay Home and Sing " contest, as voting begins with a generous giveaway. Kelsey Forsberg has sewn around 500 cloth masks. Tremaine Brown of Shi-Lee's Barbecue & Soul Food Cafe has given ou...

Rachael Edwards, a prolific and deeply respected Amarillo artist, passed away on April 15, 2020 . She originally appeared as a guest on this podcast in June 2019. In this new episode, host Jason Boyett interviews Amarillo residents Karen Welch, Colin Cummings and Nannette Pilcher about Rachael's life and legacy, followed by a re-release of part of Rachael's original interview from last year. Learn...

"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 exp...

"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 professo...

"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)...

"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 Ba...

"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 )...

"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 Drumhe...

"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/WTAM...

"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 Santo...

"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 ( Wie...

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 (...

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...

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 Panha...

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...

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 t...

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 rebalan...

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 perfe...

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 shoc...

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 describ...

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 entrepreneursh...