Good Job New Mexico!

As season 2 comes to a close, hosts Stacy Johnston, Leonardo Castañeda, and Raquel Gomez sit down to look back on their favorite moments, guests, and surprising stories from this season of Good Job, New Mexico. From unique career paths to inspiring local voices, the crew reflects on what they’ve learned about the incredible ways New Mexicans get to work — and what makes the Land of Enchantment suc...

In this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, hosts Stacy Johnston, Leonardo Castaneda, and Raquel Gomez talk with filmmaker and Director Mykel Salazar, whose path to the film industry took shape in an unexpected way. On her way to becoming a lawyer, Mykel moved back home when her father became ill. During that time, she began exploring a different creative outlet — filmmaking. What started as curiosit...

This week on Good Job New Mexico, hosts Stacy Johnston and Leonardo Castaneda sit down with Marc Schmallen, CEO of Choice Recovery Path — an outpatient program supporting individuals facing substance use and mental health challenges. Marc opens up about his own journey through addiction and how those experiences now fuel his passion for helping others find hope, healing, and lasting recovery. It’s...

In this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, hosts Stacy Johnston and Leonardo Castaneda sit down with Matthew Narvaiz, Business Editor at the Albuquerque Journal, to talk all things journalism. Matthew shares his journey from being a student reporter to landing a top editorial role at New Mexico’s largest newspaper. Tune in to hear practical advice on how to break into the field of journalism, the sk...

This week, hosts Stacy Johnston and Leonardo Castaneda sit down with Linnea Mae, the Theatre Production Coordinator at Musical Theater Southwest. Linnea shares her journey from childhood dance classes to the center of Albuquerque’s local theater scene—where she now manages everything from lights and sound to costumes and cast schedules. It’s a story of passion, persistence, and the behind-the-scen...

In this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, hosts Stacy Johnston and Leonardo Castaneda talk with Julie Cherian, a pharmacist with over 20 years of service at the Raymond G. Murphy Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Julie shares how her original dream of becoming an archaeologist shifted toward pharmacy, and how that unexpected turn led to a long and fulfilling career. Julie’s story is a p...

In this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, hosts Stacy Johnston and Anthony Jenks sit down with Tommy Long, Ski Operations Manager at Ski Santa Fe, for an inspiring and insightful conversation about finding your path—even if it’s on a snowy mountain. Tommy shares how a lifelong love of skiing eventually led him to a fulfilling career in the ski industry after years of working jobs that never quite f...

In this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, hosts Stacy Johnston and Angelica Raygoza sit down with New Mexico State Police Officer Greg Ramirez to explore what it really takes to pursue a career in law enforcement. From his early motivations to the rigorous training process, Greg walks us through the steps to becoming a state police officer—and what it means to serve the people of New Mexico. Whethe...

On this episode of Good Job New Mexico, Stacy and John sit down with Game Animator and Designer Quinn Steagall to explore the distinct worlds of AAA and indie game development. Quinn reflects on their career in high-budget movie environments, AAA game studios and finally their move into the indie gaming scene. They emphasize how the entire team's collective vision shapes projects in both arenas—sh...

Vanessa Baca, Manager of Albuquerque’s Office of Neighborhood Coordination, joins us to talk about her unique career in city government and community outreach. Formerly the Head of Marketing for Albuquerque’s Transit Department, she spent five years building campaigns that connected residents to public services. Now, she leads a small team focused on strengthening neighborhood relationships across...

In this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, host Stacy Johnston and guest host Veronica Robledo-Morris sit down with Rose Lopez, a Human Resource Generalist (HR) with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. Rose shares her journey from early service industry jobs to a career in state government, shaped by a willingness to adapt. Rose offers insight into the path that led her to human resour...

How do you become an Aircraft Pilot? Is being an Aircraft Pilot a Good Job? In this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, we chat with Brad Hoy — a recently promoted airline Captain whose journey to the skies started in some pretty down-to-earth places. Born in Ohio, Brad worked in factories, ran forklifts, and did construction before deciding, on a whim, to become a pilot. Now living in Austin and wor...

How do you become a Play-by-Play Announcer or a Sports Journalist? From Bay Area newsrooms to ballparks across the country, Josh Suchon’s career has been shaped by a deep connection to the game of baseball. In this episode, we walk through his full journey—working in sports media, hosting radio shows, calling games at every level, and becoming the longtime voice of the Albuquerque Isotopes. Josh a...

How do you become a Business Banker? In this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, host Stacy Johnston talks with her husband, Brad Johnston, a Business Banker whose career has taken him from working at a pool in Los Alamos to managing the largest Wells Fargo branch in Phoenix, Arizona to becoming a VP Business Relationship Manager at New Mexico Bank & Trust in Albuquerque. Co-host Veronica Robledo...

How do you become a Cosmetologist?  In this inspiring episode, we chat with Joni Ochoa, Director of Cosmetology at New Mexico Junior College. Joni opens up about the her journey from cleaning nail polish bottles in her friend's beauty salon to the hustle of entrepreneurship and owning her own business. Whether you're dreaming of your own chair in a salon or just love a good story of perseverance a...

On this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, we sit down with Briana Santilli, a professional aquarist whose journey into the world of aquarium science is anything but ordinary. Briana talks about how her passion for animals that led her into a hands-on, purpose-driven career caring for aquatic life. From the challenges of the job to the quiet, awe-inspiring moments behind the scenes, she shares a rea...

How did Maria Vianco become one of the few female aviation mechanics in New Mexico? In this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, host Stacy Johnston dives into Maria's incredible career path—from leaving college to follow her passion for mechanics to becoming a successful aviation technician and business owner. What you'll learn in this episode: How Maria transitioned from mechanical engineering to av...

In this episode of Good Job, New Mexico, host Stacy Johnston and guest host Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair speak with Joseph M. Maestas, PE CFE, the State Auditor of New Mexico. Maestas shares his journey from growing up on a rural farm to studying civil engineering and later transitioning into public service. He opens up about the dedication to his studies through college, the federal government,...

Join us as we sit down with Mary-Charlotte Domandi, a seasoned radio and podcasting expert, to explore her experiences in the industry. From her early inspirations to the insights she’s gained over the years, we dive into the world of audio storytelling, creativity, and connection. Tune in for an engaging conversation filled with wisdom, humor, and behind-the-scenes stories from a true broadcastin...

Welcome to Season 2! In this episode, we sit down with Sarita Nair, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions, to explore the twists and turns of career paths, the impact of mentorship, and the future of workforce development. Sarita shares her journey—from studying African-American studies to working in international development, earning a law degree, and finding unexp...

Welcome to the season finale of Good Job, New Mexico! Join hosts Stacy and Karla as they reflect on their favorite moments and the insightful guests of season one. As Karla bids farewell to the podcast to pursue new opportunities, Stacy looks forward to future seasons filled with more inspiring stories and career insights. Tune in for a heartfelt discussion, fun anecdotes, and a promise of more to...

How Do You Become an Apprentice? Is Apprenticeship worth it?   In this episode, Frank Lopez and Skyler Romero from Local Union 412 explore the transformative power of apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, celebrating the 10th National Apprenticeship Week.   Whether you're contemplating a career change or just starting to explore your options, this conversation dives into how apprenticeships off...

How do you become an Industrial Engineer?  Join hosts Stacy Johnston and Karla Meléndez as they delve into the inspiring journey of Marissa Bowman, the Director of Manufacturing Engineering at Blue Halo. Growing up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, surrounded by family and pecan trees, Marissa's path was far from clear. But through the guidance of mentors and a passion for problem-solving, she found hers...

How do you become a Librarian? What's the difference between public and academic libraries?  In this episode, Nadia shares her experiences of balancing a busy family life with her love for literature, the differences between public and academic libraries, and the vital role libraries play in communities. Explore the diverse resources libraries offer and their adaptability in an ever-evolving digit...

How do you become a School Resource Counselor? In this episode of Good Job New Mexico, we dive into the inspiring journey of Lorraine Chavez, also known as Ms. College Career, a college and career readiness resource counselor with Albuquerque Public Schools. Hear her story on how she found her passion for helping students, and her journey to become the person she needed when she was younger.