Move the Needle

This week on the podcast we recorded from the lobby of the Donor Network of Arizona.  Why? To promote the idea of becoming an organ donor. It’s a sensitive conversation for some, and a no-brainer for others and today we talk about the importance of signing up to become a donor.  First, we sit down with former PHX PD dispatcher and Director of Tissue Services Rhiannon Knueven, feel free to reach ou...

Today we sit down to podcast at a bistro in Chandler with a dog and 4 humans. While the humans were better at the interview portion, the dog crushed the eating part. Who let the dogs out?  We did - let's go.   Welcome to another episode buddy! Today we have Barb Savoy on the podcast to chat up Friends for Life Animal Shelter.   This no-kill shelter in Gilbert has dogs/cats and all kinds of communi...

If you live in the East Valley, the first twenty minutes of today’s podcast are going to be a pure history lesson from none other than Chandler Local Legend Bill Ryan. His family history dates back to the OG days of Arizona, and the stories about those people are fascinating. We also chat about his new restaurant adventure in Apache Junction, the Rusty Buckle.    The next segment gets a lot more s...

Welcome to another snappy episode of the Move the Needle podcast. Today, we have unexplained ’90s vibes. The truth is that we’re live from Rock Lobster, which makes us think of the song "The B52s," so there’s that.  Today, we have a full plate of sushi and two of Arizona’s gems stopping by. First, those familiar with PHX Business Radio X will know Karen Nowicki. She’s recently sold that business a...

The following episode was recorded live from the YMCA on November 21st. Mathew and Steve got caught up on Steve’s dating life, which perfectly paved the way for our first guest. Thanks for stopping by; please follow along using the links below.  Shelly Albetta, ALONE NO MORE (DIRECTOR OF FUNDRAISING & EVENTS) This was such a fun interview because we had dogs in the house! Yes, Alone No More le...

Today’s episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the Hair of Dog in Gilbert.  First we sat down with Kelly Giesler from Cultivate Goodness. Kelly is a native Arizonan whose parents became foster parents when she was just 6 years old. Over 25 years, she was a foster sibling to 125 foster kids. She founded Cultivate Goodness in 2019 and hopes to inspire others to join her in serving those...

What a fantastic show for you today! We recorded this episode from the Homesmart headquarters in Scottsdale, where the 100+ Women Who Care meeting occurred. Today, we welcome Jennifer Kiernan, Pam Stelzer, and the beneficiary of the 100 + Woman Who Cares award winner, Angie Ramirez. First things first, we sit down with Jennifer Kiernan from Saving Amy . Mathew leads a statistics-based conversation...

We kicked things into high gear today with Fitness extraordinaire Sunny Settles . She trains our very own Steve Petz at F45 in South Tempe . We hashed out the latest fitness trends and discussed the workouts at F45, and she broke the news that she’s about to add a third furry friend to her mix.  Today, our local legend is Laura Hertzler , Head of School at Keystone Montessori . They are celebratin...

This week, we were live from Sea & Smoke in Octillio, and    WHAT.  A. SHOW.  We have it for you today. We’ve got the police chief, the Fire Chief, and the CEO of the 100 Club of Arizona.  Police Chief Bryan Chapman is a 28-year law enforcement veteran who brought his wealth of experience in policing to Chandler in 2024. Chief Chapman served as an Assistant Chief of Police in Phoenix, Arizona,...

We’re live today from an unbelievable new workspace called Kiln—33,000 square feet of awesomeness. Speaking of awesome, today, we learn about three resources serving the Valley. We kick things off with Annette Sellers from A New Leaf, which is dedicated to helping end homelessness, domestic violence, poverty, and other community challenges in Arizona. We encourage you to visit their site to learn...

This week, birthday boy Steve Petz and Mathew Blades were “forced” to try the homemade strawberry cheesecake because…who cares? It’s cheesecake.    The podcast was recorded at Brooklyn V’s in Gilbert, and today, we sat down to settle a bet. Does this cheesecake recipe belong to the owner, Vito, or is it a family recipe passed down?   In this episode, we tackle these and other “hard-hitting” issues...

In today’s episode, recorded live at Craft 64 in Downtown Chandler, we get a lesson in networking. From there, we learn of an incredible organization for first responders called Compassion Alliance, and then we get the most incredible story from USA Olympian Lyndsey Fry. How she told her family she’d been selected to the team brought a happy tear to our eyes.    Now, the links: Connect with Boston...

The following episode was recorded in front of a live studio audience at The Living Room in Ahwatukee.   In this episode, we sit down with Tom Dougherty, Jennifer Armer, and Sarah Kumar, our local legend and owner of Water and Ice. In this episode, you’ll learn how much Sarah Kumar and her family love the kids who come to her business. Mathew thought it was a nuisance, but she quickly corrected hi...

MTN This episode was recorded live in front of a studio audience at the Protein House in Scottsdale. We sat down with the franchise owner/operator of ProteinHouse, Eric Greenwald , Communications Manager, Public & Media Relations at Vitalant , Sue Thew. And our broadcasting local legend, Kaley O’Kelley . Eric talked about his love of healthy food and supporting schools to eat better.  Sue help...

This week's episode was recorded in front of a live studio audience at the Bottle and Bean in Ocotillo.   On this episode, we sit down with brothers Jovanni and Danny, the East Valley Dream Center creators, to talk about their foundation, which started with sandwiches and chips and grew to a staff of 40 plus. This group is dedicated to helping the homeless and houseless community, among other thin...

We’re back with another episode recorded live at the D’Vine Gourmet in Chandler.  Today, we sit down with Executive Director of Elementary Education Heather Anguiano from Chandler Unified Schools, LaShay Marks, Co-Founder of Operation Thrive, and realtor of the year Darwin Wall . First, we sit down with Lashay Marks, a philanthropist in the Veteran's space. His organization is doing everything it...

Welcome to the third episode of the Move the Needle podcast! This week, we're coming to you from Foothills Golf Club in Ahwatukee with some fantastic guests. First, we welcome Kim Tarnopolski   of 100+ Women Who Care Valley of the Sun. She explains their giving circles and how they're able to give $10K to local charities four times a year. Then we sit down with two of the women whose charities wer...

Today we sat down with Jeremy Strauss , the General Manager of the Foothills Golf Club which will be opening back up October 18th. Since it was taken over by Troon it's been closed for renovations. We talk about the work they have done to every single hole on the course as well as the updated practice facility.  To watch our podcasts, visit our YouTube channel.

Mathew and Steve sit down with two former Major League Baseball players, Shea Hillenbrand and Mike Butcher. Their new adventure, The Pizza Butcher, is a real home run. Plus, they chat with Off 87 owner Tami Butcher and D'vine Gourmet founder Denise McCreery. In this episode, you’ll hear about Shea’s rise to the top of the MLB ranks and the rock bottom moment that changed his life forever. It’s one...

Welcome to our inaugural episode of Move the Needle, recorded in front of a live studio audience at Vero Chicago Pizza in Ahwatukee. We sat down with Alex Mejia, the restaurant's owner and operator, to discuss culture, how they deal with staffing issues, and their delicious cauliflower crust pizza.  Then, we had a great conversation with Jim Prueter, an automotive and travel writer, about our firs...

The mission of our podcast is to spotlight remarkable individuals through engaging interviews and inspiring stories. We aim to celebrate unsung heroes, showcase their contributions, and inspire others to join in the collective effort of building a brighter, more compassionate world. Oh, and it's gonna be fun!