Jaime's Local Love Podcast

Stephanie Vasquez is a proud Arizona native. She grew up Maryvale, went to ASU and was a middle school teacher in the West Valley. She loved it! Then she went on vacation to Costa Rica and learned how tough the coffee industry can be on the people it employs and on Mother Earth herself.  She had to do something .  Vasquez opened Fair Trade Coffee in 2007 on Roosevelt Row-- carefully sourcing fair...

We meet Joey Lucidi of Westside Concepts. He grew up in the restaurant business and loves creating a welcoming dining experience, a neighborhood place where you can come to hang. Lucidi started with the original Haymaker restaurant in 2013 and now has nine locations, with more coming this year. Joey tells us what it takes to be  an restauranteur with multiple locations and concepts.   https://west...

A husband-and-wife team with three kids and two businesses. That's what you'll find behind the brand of Naked Rebellion. Owners Jessica Wenger McPhaul and Jay McPhaul started the clothing brand after Jessica was fired from her costume job in L.A. because she couldn't find inclusive bras. So she and Jay started their own underwear line and now the two want to help other people—and other couples—sta...

In this week's Jaime's Local Love, we mixed it up a little. Instead of interviewing a local business owner, we invited Ian Schwartz on, calling him the Arizona Insider. It's a name he gave himself around the Super Bowl last year as he highlighted events happening around the big game. Ian grew up in Mesa, and when not working at Arizona's Family, he's often exploring new attractions. Ian tells us w...

We talk to the founder of Local First Arizona, Kimber Lanning. The Arizona native started her own record store as a teenager. That's when she realized small businesses had minimal support in our state. She would spend the following decades working to change that through her foundation, Local First Arizona, which provides businesses with education, grants, an incubator kitchen and so more. https://...

A former banker turned BBQ pitmaster joins us in the podcast studio. Sterling Smith—AKA Smitty—is Jaime's brother-in-law. Smitty and Jaime's sister Molly met when Molly was in high school and Smitty was in the Navy. We talk about building a business and a family while smoking meat, creating rubs and sauces, and winning a lot of trophies and checks.

A New York style deli where freshness comes first That's what you'll get at Rinaldi's in north Scottsdale. Owner John Sayegh is celebrating 30 years in the Valley where you can always count on—breakfast burritos filled with just-cracked eggs topped with his wife Bolivia's homemade salsa, amazing deli sandwiches, and Italian dishes like chicken parmesan and baked ziti. John talks about his longevit...

A Phoenix native bears the nickname "The Fry Guy". In this episode, we learn how Flip Isard of Frites Street—a graduate of Shadow Mountain High School—launched a potato company, making the fries you'll find in Phoenix's fine restaurants. His journey took him around the world as a roadie for Jared Leto's band, eating from late night frites shop in Europe. When he came back to Arizona, his dad told...

Wally's American Pub 'n Grille is a neighborhood bar and grille where you can take the family or meet a friend for a drink. It has a cozy environment offering comfort food like meatloaf and pot roast. Wally's has been family owned for 22 years and much of the staff has been there for decades too. We talk to owner/operator Matt Collins about running an institution as the neighborhood around him cha...

Divya Yoder works full time and is a dedicated mom trying to keep her husband and two young boys healthy. She says when one person in the house got sick, the illness ran through the whole family. To stop the colds, she found the healing power of the elderberry. Her continued research revealed many elderberry products on store shelves contained ingredients that she didn't want to feed to her family...

If you are looking to explore what Arizona has to offer, learn, and laugh, ya gotta try Rydables! These are motorized large stuffed animals that roam Scottsdale, Mesa and Wildlife World Zoo on guided tours. On this episode, the creator of Rydables said he thought it would be something fun to do to entertain people. But he soon learned that these stuffed animals on wheels offered something more.  

The holidays can be filled with indulgence. Food and drinks flow with every celebration. And that's why The Nixer wants to provide an inclusive experience whether you're drinking alcohol or not. On this episode, we talk to Kristine Abrams-Petersman of The Nixer, a pop-up cocktail bar slinging non-alcoholic drinks. She says she saw major life changes when she nixed alcohol and she wants to support...

In a year-and-a-half, two Arizona entrepreneurs went from one location to four. The business is called Retail Therapy AZ. It is a makers' market, supporting small business owners, with locations in downtown Glendale, Westgate, Scottsdale Fashion Square and coming soon to the Phoenix Convention Center. But first, the two owners, Jacqueline Thomas and Erica Jerido, worked in a restaurant together wh...

A former TV reporter takes what she learned in the field to create grapes and hops at Tatum and Greenway. Arizona native Jen Rogers took one of her first TV jobs in Washington wine country where she'd interview the farmers growing grapes and fell in love with the work behind the wine. Fast forward to today when she just opened a neighborhood bottle shop. She says she dreamed of created a space tha...

Showing people how to enjoy the beauty of the desert is the job Laurel Darren of Wild Bunch Desert Guides gave herself. She created her own hiking and mountain biking tour group and shows visitors and locals the best practices when it comes to taking on Mother Nature on two wheels or two feet. Hear how she works with many first timers and loves helps people overcome a fear, enjoy some wind therapy...

Paul Hoffman of Desert Rock Winery and Distillery has long worked in the world of wine. Founded in 2006, this is his 20th vintage making wine and 13th year in spirits. He gives back in many ways to our veterans and our animals and works with soldier's best friend. Hoffman's facility is by Kierland Commons and is the only one in the Valley where guests can have first-hand experiences to see and fee...

Words have power and handwriting artist Rachel Hudgens is committed to using her words to spread kindness, love, happiness, and faith. Hudgens started her hand lettering as a hobby, and when she started making shirts expressing her love of her new hometown of Phoenix, her business exploded. Hear how she went from trapped in a dumpster (it happened!!) to finding purpose in gratitude.  

Julian Wright's built bars along Mill Avenue since the 2000s. He says his key to success are blind confidence and scrappy ways. Pedal Haus Breweries is one of his most recent ventures. In Jaime's Local Love, we talk about when money was short but hope made a way.  

Terri Weisz started her own business in Scottsdale out of necessity. She was pregnant and left to raise her child alone. She thought running her own kitchen store would allow her the flexibility to work and raise a family. Thirty-four years later, her store "Two Plates Full" is still going strong. Hear how Terri bobbed and weaved to make it work. 

The best cocktail bar in the United States is right here in the Valley. The Tales of the   Cocktail Foundation announced   Century Grand in Phoenix the Best U.S. Cocktail Bar. The awards are like the Oscars for the beverage industry. Yet, Kailee Asher of Barter and Shake, says the award announcement generated more digital leads from LOCAL media, not the article in the big name magazine. She knows...

 Patrick and Mary Burch are fourth-generation Arizonans who met in seventh grade. The couple LOVES Arizona but realized we were missing something in the Valley—a men's boutique with casual yet stylish options for men. That "someday" finally came and the Burches opened Cave + Post. And in a nod to Arizona legacy, the shop is located in the same building as the former Easley's Fun Shop. Hear all abo...

Ned and Lisa Heath discovered the hard way that their young daughter has severe food allergies.  After two big scares, they decide to   take what she eats into their own hands. Using "Momma Lisa's"   food allergy research, "Chef Ned" went to work using key ingredients to create a restaurant in Mesa, Arizona where EVERYONE can eat safely and together as a family.

Debbie Hendricks grew up in Arizona and learned to enjoy our state's beauty at a very young age. Debbie and her husband Ray started an adventure company which then turned into an outdoor retail business, offering  everything you need from a backpacking trip to a day hike. Debbie gives us some "pro tips" on which hikes have the best sunrises and sunsets and which are the least traveled—yet a must d...

The Halpin family is one of entrepreneurs. Meet a son, Grey Halpin, and his mother, Peggy Halpin.  The family owns Porters Western Saloon and Old Town Gypsy Boutique in Scottsdale, Arizona. Learn how they create a tight-knit community among their customers. 

Host Jaime Cerreta introduces us to California born Sophia Martinez. She followed her in-laws to Buckeye, Arizona and developed a deep love of the city. Hear Sophia's intense passion to help others grow their businesses as she grows hers into a place for community and fellowship.