Hey Amarillo

A conversation with R. Taylor Moore , a former CIA analyst and operative who now lives in Amarillo as a full-time writer of thriller novels. Taylor grew up in South Texas, traveled the world, and found his way into a decade-long career in intelligence. With host Jason Boyett, he shares how, a few years ago, he arrived in Amarillo "kicking and screaming" but saw that decision change the direction o...

A conversation with Lytton St. Stephen, a mental health case manager and relative newcomer to Amarillo. Lytton arrived less than a year ago from Albuquerque, and it gave them an opportunity to reinvent themselves—and embrace their true identity.  With host Jason Boyett, Lytton shares about being gender non-binary, finding community, standing out in a conservative place, and why the city has been s...

A conversation with Howard Smith , a member of the city council and longtime local Realtor. In the mid-20th century, Howard's family operated the historic Hub Clothiers and he was part owner. He also served aboard the USS Guadalcanal when the U.S. Navy ship was used to recover Apollo 9 astronauts after they landed in the Atlantic.  With host Jason Boyett, Howard shares about his career, how he's s...

A conversation with Julie Ballard, a recent graduate of the REZ program at Faith City Mission . Now a marketing consultant working on the administrative side of this organization, Julie arrived in Amarillo two years ago after decades of fighting addiction and even homelessness—and her struggles weren't over. With host Jason Boyett, she details her harrowing journey and explains how Faith City help...

A conversation with David Ritchie, pastor of Redeemer Christian Church . David comes from a family with deep West Texas roots, and his church community is also historic. Instead of planting a new church from scratch, he "replanted" Redeemer within a struggling, multi-generational church that dated back to the 1920s. With host Jason Boyett, he shares the Redeemer origin story and explains why it's...

A conversation with Becca White, owner and designer of M Street Studio , a jewelry and leather goods company based in Amarillo and shipping handmade products all over the world. Becca first learned jewelry-making at Amarillo High School, started her career in Austin and Dallas, and then returned to Amarillo. With host Jason Boyett, she reveals how M Street began, why it has exploded in popularity...

A conversation with Alex O'Brien , a retired professional tennis player, U.S. Open winner, and the former number-one doubles player in the world (2000). Now the President and CEO of BOC Bank , Alex grew up in Amarillo and decided to bring his family back here after retiring from pro tennis. He and host Jason Boyett discuss Alex's tennis career, the unusual history of his bank, and what advantages...

A conversation with Ashley Jourdan, who provides human trafficking prevention and outreach for Family Support Services . Ashley grew up in an itinerant family—spending her first 15 years on the road—and describes Amarillo as the only "home" she's ever had. She and host Jason Boyett discuss her unique upbringing, what human trafficking looks like in the Texas Panhandle, and why it's so vital that s...

EPISODE 100: First, a quick interview with Hey Amarillo editor Angelina Marie , who offers a behind-the-scenes look at the show. Then host Jason Boyett interviews Dexter Cearley, firefighter and host of the Panhandle Primate Podcast , another local interview show which launched around the same time as this one. Dexter opens up about the life and schedule of a local firefighter, the unique concept...

A conversation with Reagan Hales , Vice President of Business Development at the Amarillo EDC. Reagan has worked in a variety of positions—from high-pressure bond trading to the nonprofit and university worlds—and today works to strengthen local business and attract outside companies to the city. With host Jason Boyett, Reagan explains how she ended up here, why women in leadership need a supporti...

A conversation with Cori Burns , the CEO of Estacar Companies , this podcast's very first corporate sponsor. A former marketing director and current executive coach and entrepreneur, Cori has provided coaching and consulting services to clients ranging from Bar Z Wines locally to international brands like Kate Spade. With host Jason Boyett, she talks about why she chose to live here, why she's so...

A conversation with Wilson Lemieux , a young, Amarillo-based commercial filmmaker and director. In just a few years since graduating from West Texas A&M University, Lemieux has built a reputation for using local talent to create advertising that gets national attention. With host Jason Boyett, he talks about why Amarillo is central to his success and the value of cultivating (and retaining) the ci...

A conversation with Anette Carlisle, a certified poverty coach and member of the Amarillo College Board of Regents . Educated as a zoologist, Anette arrived in Amarillo more than two decades ago and immediately turned her leadership skills to public service. She founded Panhandle Twenty/20 , which has been instrumental in helping address some of the area's biggest needs. Now that it's almost 2020,...

A conversation with Keely Brown, one of the co-founders and directors of Colorful Closets , a nonprofit that provides mini-wardrobes to children in need. Keely tells her organization's origin story to host Jason Boyett, but also shares her personal story—and it's a surprising one. How does a young, vibrant family in a higher-income part of town suddenly end up on the skids, finding themselves with...

A conversation with Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart , the president of Amarillo College. Born in Slaton and educated at WTAMU, he succeeded Dr. Paul Matney at AC in 2014—and was almost immediately met with a funding crisis. With host  Jason Boyett, Lowery-Hart talks about navigating that crisis, learning hard lessons about leadership, and how AC came out stronger on the other side. The two dive deep into...

A conversation with Jenny Inzerillo , the music director at HPPR and host of High Plains Morning , weekdays from 9am to noon on High Plains Public Radio. In 2015, Jenny arrived here from Chicago and St. Louis, which brings her a unique perspective as a former outsider who has become a passionate insider. With host  Jason Boyett, she talks about public radio, the local music scene, and why the Texa...

A conversation with Koben Puckett , a local cowboy and Canyon resident who suffered a spinal cord injury while competing in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit. The 2008 injury left him a quadriplegic. Now he's a paraplegic and making enormous strides in his recovery. With host  Jason Boyett, Koben discusses his career, his injury, the role of stem-cell therapy, and the invitational bull-ri...

A conversation with Rachael Edwards , a longtime Amarillo artist known for a diverse body of work, including her annual Back Alley Gallery shows and the enormous mural at Six Car Pub & Brewery. With host Jason Boyett, Rachel describes her upbringing as the daughter of two local jazz musicians, how she has built an art career in a constantly shifting world, and how the idea for her next Back Alley...

A conversation with Jeff Wyrick, a production planner at Caviness Beef Packers and the founder of Shakehands Pong , a local table tennis circuit with an outsized influence and incredible story. With host Jason Boyett, Jeff discusses his wide-ranging career—which has included two stints at Hastings—as well as the Shakehands origin story and the importance of creating community among adults. This ep...

A conversation with Maria Garcia, program director for Uniting Parents , a nonprofit Coalition of Health Services program for parents of children with disabilities. Maria is the daughter of first-generation migrant workers and became the first member of her family to attend college. With host Jason Boyett, she discusses her upbringing, how she became an educator, and why it's so important to conne...

A conversation with Justin Howe, a local entrepreneur and the owner of  Texas Tea in Amarillo. After the success of these iced tea concepts, Howe has turned Texas Tea into a franchise model called HTeaO , with franchise locations from Texas to Florida. With host Jason Boyett, he details his entrepreneurial journey from aviation to construction to tea, and how Amarillo's community DNA became an int...

A conversation with Ryan Parnell, director of the 24 Hours in the Canyon Cancer Survivorship Center . This community center offers free programs and services for adults during and after cancer treatment. The center began with the nationally recognized  24 Hours in the Canyon event, which takes place June 1-2, 2019. With host Jason Boyett, Ryan explains the origins of 24 Hours and the vital role th...

A conversation with Lisa Blake, Executive Director of Leadership Amarillo & Canyon . After a career in banking, Lisa took the helm of this nonprofit leadership development program several years ago. Then in 2016, she stepped in to spend a year as a member of Amarillo's City Council. With host Jason Boyett, Lisa digs into the challenges of city government and what her behind-the-scenes access has t...

A conversation with Hayden Pedigo in front of a live audience at ArtsFest. Hayden is an experimental guitarist with a growing reputation who ran for City Council this most recent election cycle. He didn't get elected, but he got a generation of younger citizens interested in local politics—and gained plenty of outside attention in the process. With host Jason Boyett, Hayden details his upbringing,...

A conversation with Doshon Johnson, who founded a nonprofit working to build new apartment homes in the North Heights—the first new development in that community in decades. With host Jason Boyett, Doshon talks about growing up in poverty, how his compulsion to provide for his family got him in trouble, and how a stint in prison changed his life. Today Doshon strives to bring change and growth to...