Hey Amarillo

A conversation with Karah Gilbert, the founder of Solidarity Isn't Silent and an employee of Randall County's Youth Center of the High Plains. Karah shares with host Jason Boyett about her work with young people in the criminal justice system. They also discuss her multi-faceted organization, which began this summer as a way to stand up to the injustice faced by Black residents in Amarillo and acr...

A conversation with Devenie Graham, artistic director for the brand-new Sharpened Iron Studios , a newly launched company that is working to bring Hollywood-level film and TV production to the Texas Panhandle. An actor/model who worked in New York City and Los Angeles before returning to Amarillo, Devenie shares with host Jason Boyett why Amarillo is the perfect location for a major motion picture...

A conversation with Kishore Yalamanchili, MD , a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center assistant professor and local Division Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care. Having spent the pandemic treating COVID-19 critical care patients—and sharing about it on Facebook—Dr. Yalamanchili shares with host Jason Boyett about his career, his unlikely social media prominence, and why he has chosen to l...

A conversation with Kyla Frye , Executive Director of the WT Enterprise Center . The Enterprise Center is central to Amarillo's economic ecosystem, and Kyla shares with host Jason Boyett how the WTEC is helping local people launch new businesses and improve existing ones. They also discuss the Wire Accelerator program for early-stage tech startups, including why this area is building a reputation...

A conversation with Mugisha Aime, a mechanical engineer who recently graduated from Texas Tech. After Mugisha's family fled genocide in Rwanda, he grew up in a refugee camp in Tanzania. Eventually they resettled in the U.S. when Mugisha was in his early teens. He shares with host Jason Boyett about what it was like to enter American school with no English, and how one teacher at Palo Duro High Sch...

A conversation with Megan Eikner , a local agriculture and natural resource agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension . Her job is wide-ranging and complex, but it's largely educational in nature. She helps local farmers understand the latest ag science and research, sharing with them the techniques that work best for the Texas Panhandle. A native of southeast Colorado, Megan also explains why she d...

A conversation with Liz Rascon Alaniz, a doctoral candidate at WTAMU and executive director of the Wesley Community Center . The Wesley is located in the heart of the Hispanic Barrio and has a long history of serving that historic neighborhood. Born in the Texas Panhandle to parents who immigrated from Mexico, Liz shares about her family's search for opportunity, the unique gifts of the Barrio to...

A conversation with Michael Timcisko, executive director of the Panhandle AIDS Support Organization (PASO). As Pride month concludes, Michael tells host Jason Boyett about coming of age as a gay man during the height of the AIDS pandemic, and how that has informed PASO's efforts to serve HIV-positive individuals. (It also has interesting parallels with the current moment, as our society learns to...

A conversation with Melodie Graves, Associate Director of Advising at Amarillo College and member of the executive board of the Amarillo Branch of the NAACP . A long-time community activist, s he shares with host Jason Boyett about being bussed to south Amarillo from the North Heights, her experience with subtle racism in high school and explicit racism while pursuing her Masters, and what the las...

"What I'll remember most is..." In mid-May, while cases were still rising in Amarillo and before the worldwide protests following the death of George Floyd, host Jason Boyett asked local listeners to call in and record the events, experiences and feelings they would remember most from the Coronavirus pandemic and shutdown. This final COVID Chronicles episode features the voices and perspectives of...

"Value my life as a human being. Cry when you see harm done to a person that looks like me, and do your best to stand beside me." The murder of George Floyd has sparked national protests across the United States and an unprecedented conversation about race. Against this tragic backdrop, African-American residents of Amarillo share their experiences, their emotions, and their longing for change. Gu...

"As a nation, we are in a pain dance." As May ended, another crisis compounded the pandemic's disruption. Protests spurred by the pain and outrage around racism spilled onto American streets. In this episode, Mayor Ginger Nelson shares with host Jason Boyett about Amarillo's response to both crises, and the challenge of leading in times of uncertainty. Meanwhile, Jackie Kingston of KAMR Local 4 Ne...

"It was a nightmare. I can't think of a better word." In this episode, Amarillo residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 share their personal stories. Guests include a local Tyson plant employee still in quarantine, an 82-year-old woman whose husband spent several weeks in the hospital, and a single mom who got the virus from her teenage son. All presented a variety of symptoms and levels o...

"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...