Hey Amarillo
350 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 121 ratingsHey Amarillo is a weekly, one-on-one interview podcast hosted by Jason Boyett, and featuring the people and stories of Amarillo, Texas.
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Episodes
Patrick Freeman
September 10, 2018 21:00 - 39 minutes - 36.6 MBA conversation with Patrick Freeman, a professional voiceover artist who narrates audio books and voices video game characters from his home studio in Amarillo. He and host Jason Boyett talk about Patrick's career change—he used to work in financial services in Houston—and why he's chosen to live and work in Amarillo. We also discuss his upcoming work in China and the techniques he uses to perform different voices. This episode is sponsored by TalonLPE.
Eight Straight: Vol. 3
September 03, 2018 21:03 - 44 minutes - 41.1 MBIn another series of three shorter, "Eight Straight"-only conversations, host Jason Boyett asks the standard, Amarillo-focused questions of photographer/concert promoter Bahareh Ritter, marketing advisor Cale Hawley, and workforce specialist Sabrina Meck. This episode is sponsored by Bivins Pointe.
Abhishek Sonkkar
August 27, 2018 21:31 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBA conversation with Abhishek Sonkkar, general manager of the Amarillo Club, a prestigious dining club located at the top of the city's tallest building. "Abhi" is a native of northern India who arrived in Amarillo expecting it to be a temporary stop in his hospitality career. He and host Jason Boyett talk about Abhi's background, why he chose to stay here, and how the Amarillo Club is moving forward despite its financial struggles earlier this year. This episode is sponsored by Bivins Pointe.
Beth Duke
August 20, 2018 21:00 - 38 minutes - 35 MBA conversation with Beth Duke, executive director of Center City Amarillo, a nonprofit involved in the revitalization and historic preservation of downtown Amarillo. At its helm, Beth has been the driving force behind countless efforts to restore the vibrancy of this part of town, from the signage on Polk Street to the Amarillo Community Market. With host Jason Boyett, she explains why a strong core is so important to the city and how her journalism background prepared her for the job. This ...
Dr. Ryan Pennington
August 13, 2018 21:00 - 50 minutes - 46.6 MBA conversation with Dr. Ryan Pennington, the founder and director of the Refugee Language Project (refugeelanguage.org). Pennington, a linguist by profession, moved to Amarillo after several years as a Bible translator in Papua New Guinea. Here he discovered an extraordinary refugee population—and set about trying to remove the barriers that kept these residents from success. He and host Jason Boyett talk about Pennington's culture shock, how West Texans and Somalis are alike, and why relati...
Jon Mark Beilue
August 06, 2018 21:00 - 44 minutes - 41.2 MBA conversation with Jon Mark Beilue, the recently retired columnist at the Amarillo Globe-News. Jon Mark's decades-long career in Amarillo has covered high school sports, unlikely championships, local heroes and the unique residents of the area. Just a few days after his official retirement, Jon Mark sits down with host Jason Boyett to discuss how he got into the business and why he loves telling Amarillo's stories. They also discuss the current state of journalism amid claims of "fake news."
Eight Straight: Vol. 2
July 30, 2018 21:00 - 42 minutes - 38.8 MBIn a series of three shorter, "Eight Straight"-only conversations, host Jason Boyett asks the usual questions of insurance agent (and food blogger) Jason Burr, artist and shop owner Stacy Lavon, and credit card manager Jennifer Callahan. This episode is sponsored by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation.
Michael Rowley
July 23, 2018 21:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MBA conversation with Michael Rowley, director of the upcoming documentary feature film Hurdle. With host Jason Boyett, Michael talks about growing up in Amarillo, his background in art and theology, and how he settled upon the idea for his new film. Central to his story is how the city's creative community 10 years ago helped launch Rowley into what he's doing now. This episode is sponsored by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation.
David Prescott
July 16, 2018 21:00 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBA conversation with David Prescott, the President of Talon/LPE, a multi-state environmental services company headquartered in Amarillo. With multiple locations and Fortune 500 clients, why make Amarillo the center of Talon's operations? Host Jason Boyett asks David that question as they discuss the company's humble beginnings and the secret that makes the local workforce so valuable. This episode is sponsored by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation.
Eight Straight: Vol. 1
July 09, 2018 21:00 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBIn a series of three shorter, "Eight Straight"-only conversations, host Jason Boyett asks the usual questions of entrepreneur Andrew Brandt, photographer Angelina Medina, and author/investment advisor John Early. This episode is sponsored by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation.
Manny De Los Santos
July 02, 2018 21:00 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBA conversation with Manny De Los Santos, the pastor of Power Church and organizer of the Barrio Bash on July 14, an outdoor community event in the historic neighborhood east of downtown Amarillo. With host Jason Boyett, Manny discusses his path from entrepreneurship into pastoring, as well as his unexpected decision to stop trying to grow his church and focus instead on serving his neighborhood. This episode is sponsored by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation.
John Hintz
June 25, 2018 21:00 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBA conversation with John Hintz, an IT professional and prominent leader and activist in Amarillo's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. For years he represented the Panhandle on the board of Equality Texas. June is LGBT Pride Month, so John and host Jason Boyett discuss the local LGBT community and John's experiences—both positive and negative—living as an openly gay man in a conservative place like Amarillo. This episode is sponsored by the Amarillo Economic Development Corpora...
Stacy Sanning
June 18, 2018 21:00 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBA conversation with Stacy Sanning, a senior project manager at Golden Spread Electric Cooperative. Stacy works in a field that's typically dominated by men. For that reason, she's passionate about getting young girls interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers. We discuss her arrival in Amarillo as an 8th grader, the differences between Golden Spread and Xcel Energy, and why Stacy recently has been thinking so much about helium. This episode is sponsored by the Ama...
Steve Kersh
June 11, 2018 21:00 - 49 minutes - 44.9 MBA conversation with Steve Kersh, the chief meteorologist at ABC7. It's a big understatement to say the weather is always on the mind of locals. Panhandle people are obsessed with it. So with this being severe weather season, host Jason Boyett sits down with Steve to discuss how he got into the business, what he does on a daily basis, and how much his job reporting the weather on TV has changed during the last few decades. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online and Xcel Energy.
Special Episode: Tony Ensor and Baseball Team Names
June 04, 2018 14:34 - 43 minutes - 39.7 MBA conversation with Tony Ensor, President and General Manager of Amarillo Professional Baseball. Last week, the team's management unveiled the five finalist names (Boot Scooters, Bronc Busters, Long Haulers, Jerky and Sod Poodles) to widespread public consternation. Thousands signed a petition demanding new finalists. In this episode, he and host Jason Boyett discuss minor league naming conventions, why the team name is important, and whether the petition means anything. Jason asks him direc...
Matthew Garner
May 28, 2018 21:00 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBA conversation with Matthew Garner, PhD, a scientist and entrepreneur/CEO who manages New York businesses and microbiology labs from his home base of Amarillo. Matt is also trying to build, in his words, "a microbiology company of epic proportions" to serve the ag industry in Amarillo. He and host Jason Boyett discuss Matt's background and career, why he works remotely from Amarillo, and why he believes this area could become a technology haven. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Eric Miller
May 21, 2018 21:00 - 41 minutes - 37.5 MBA conversation with Eric Miller, the communications director for the Amarillo Convention & Visitor Council. Eric is as pro-Amarillo as anyone in the city—because promoting the city is literally his job. He spends his days working with writers, travelers and other groups to promote Amarillo as a tourism destination. In other words, he's a salesman, and the product he's selling is Amarillo. He and host Jason Boyett talk about how Eric ended up here in the 1990s, what he actually does, and how ...
Linda Hughes
May 14, 2018 20:57 - 38 minutes - 35 MBA conversation with Linda Hughes, a former Globe-News Woman of the Year and a pioneer of local children's theater. Linda was a professional ice skater who performed all over the U.S. in the 1960s before returning home to Amarillo, after which she helped launch children's theater programs at ALT and then Amarillo College. On the eve of her retirement, Linda tells host Jason Boyett about sharing the stage with Ann B. Davis ("Alice" on The Brady Bunch), teaching two generations of local perform...
Dyron Howell
May 07, 2018 20:42 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBA conversation with Dyron Howell, the founder of Snack Pak 4 Kids. A Clarendon native who had been living and working in the Metroplex, Dyron returned to this area in 2010. He started feeding hungry kids almost immediately. Today SP4K serves more than 10,000 children every year. Dyron tells host Jason Boyett the mostly unknown story of how his organization began, and how Dyron managed its growth while working full-time in the pharmaceutical industry. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online a...
Jake McWhorter
April 30, 2018 21:29 - 44 minutes - 40.8 MBA conversation with Jake McWhorter, the lead arborist for Arborlogical Inc. Jake is a long-time outdoorsman and the only International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board Certified Master Arborist in the region. A university-educated tree expert, Jake grew up in Amarillo—a place with very few trees. (While outsiders lament our lack of trees, locals learn to cherish every tree.) With host Jason Boyett, Jake talks about Amarillo's "urban forest" and the optimism it takes to plant, and care fo...
Lanitra Barringer
April 23, 2018 21:05 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBA conversation with Lanitra Barringer, the co-founder and executive director of the College Success Initiative, which grew out of an annual college bus tour for economically disadvantaged students in Amarillo. A former teacher, Lanitra talks with host Jason Boyett about reluctantly moving to Amarillo in 6th grade, about her own educational journey, and about the value of helping local students see themselves pursuing some form of education after high school. This episode is sponsored by ROI ...
Stephanie Tucker
April 16, 2018 21:09 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MBA conversation with Stephanie Tucker, the general manager and owner of two of Amarillo's professional sports franchises. She runs the Amarillo Venom—the local indoor football team—and is launching the brand-new US Arena Soccer League as owner of FC Amarillo. Stephanie and host Jason Boyett talk about the business of sports, her failures as a track athlete and farmer, and why so many pros want to play in Amarillo. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Ray Wilson
April 09, 2018 21:00 - 50 minutes - 45.9 MBA conversation with Ray Wilson, who dropped out of high school and worked for Domino's Pizza before building a successful local IT business (CatManDu). And then Ray stepped away from the business. Today he owns and operates High Fidelity Records on Sixth Street. He and host Jason Boyett discuss Ray's winding path from high school dropout to CEO to selling vintage vinyl—and how he found happiness in the process. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Amy Henderson
April 02, 2018 21:31 - 34 minutes - 47.6 MBA conversation with Amy Henderson, a commercial loan officer with Amarillo National Bank who specializes in small business. An Air Force veteran, Amy grew up in Wisconsin but moved here after her military service, deciding to raise her family in Amarillo. She and host Jason Boyett discuss the local climate for small businesses, her career at ANB, her prestigious position on Governor Abbott's Commission for Women, and why it's so hard to be a hockey mom in the Texas Panhandle. This episode is...
Stevi Larson
March 26, 2018 21:09 - 33 minutes - 45.6 MBA conversation with Stevi Larson, special events coordinator at Sharing Hope Ministry. After years of addiction to heroin, Stevi found herself in the state prison system. During her incarceration, she got in touch with the Amarillo-based Sharing Hope. That connection brought Stevi to Amarillo following her release. She spent time at Patsy’s Place Transitional Home, worked two jobs, beat her addiction and turned her life around. Stevi tells her story in this episode, which is sponsored by ROI...
Travis Tidmore
March 19, 2018 21:16 - 32 minutes - 45.3 MBA conversation with Travis Tidmore, a local attorney and one of the co-owners of Yellow City Comic Con, the largest annual fandom convention in the Texas Panhandle. With host Jason Boyett, Travis shares about his unique officeless law practice, the robust local "nerd culture," and why the celebrity guests who attend Yellow City Comic Con always want to come back to Amarillo. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Colin Cummings
March 12, 2018 21:00 - 40 minutes - 55.2 MBA conversation with Colin Cummings, one of the founders and co-owners of the new Six Car Pub & Brewery in downtown Amarillo. A U.S. Army veteran who lived in Oregon and Alaska before returning to his hometown, Colin is that rare combination of entrepreneur and free spirit. He is as passionate about composting and bike commuting as he is revitalizing downtown, and in the process has become one of the city's most thoughtful public advocates. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Julio Salazar
March 05, 2018 22:28 - 36 minutes - 49.6 MBA conversation with Julio Salazar, a local college student and a "Dreamer"—a beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). He works full-time, is pursuing a degree, and wants to invest his talents in this community. But Julio is one of 700,000 illegal immigrants in danger of deportation because of decisions their parents made. Julio tells their story, and his story, and explains why he loves Amarillo so much. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Patrick Miller
February 26, 2018 22:24 - 41 minutes - 56.5 MBA conversation with Patrick Miller, a local educator who became, at 25, the youngest person ever elected to the Amarillo College Board of Regents. Also a board member of the Amarillo chapter of the NAACP, Patrick joins host Jason Boyett to discuss how and why he got into local politics, his work with refugees at Whittier and Travis, and the huge role Amarillo College plays in the local economy. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online and Amarillo National Bank.
John Petty
February 19, 2018 22:00 - 35 minutes - 48.3 MBA conversation with John Petty, who left an engineering career in the 1990s to open The Bagel Place, now an extremely popular breakfast and lunch eatery. With host Jason Boyett, John talks about his dramatic career shift, how he introduced Amarillo to bagels in the first place, and how The Bagel Place actually benefited when a national bagel chain showed up. (The chain only lasted a year in Amarillo.) This episode is sponsored by ROI Online and Amarillo National Bank.
Alex Hunt
February 12, 2018 22:06 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBA conversation with Alex Hunt, the director of the Center for the Study of the American West at West Texas A&M University. A student of Panhandle history, Dr. Hunt is fascinated by Amarillo's connection with the West and the American frontier. We discuss everything from ranching and local hiking trails to how Amarillo's refugee population today compares to the original pioneers in the 1800s. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online and Amarillo National Bank.
Amber Morgan
February 05, 2018 22:00 - 36 minutes - 50.6 MBA conversation with Amber Morgan, the creative young entrepreneur behind the Mani-Camper, an Amarillo-based mobile nail art studio that has been getting attention across the U.S. Like many young creatives, Amber moved away from Amarillo following high school. But after beginning to build a career in New York City, she came back home—and that's when things really started rolling. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Eric Barry
January 29, 2018 22:44 - 46 minutes - 21.1 MBA conversation with Eric Barry, an opera tenor whose career has taken him all over the world. A native of Sundown, Texas, who was trained at Yale University, Eric has recently returned to Amarillo after having been based on the East Coast. He and host Jason Boyett discuss how his WTAMU professors "discovered" his natural talent, the downside of a traveling career, and Eric's recent decision to return home to Amarillo. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Special Episode: Sheldon Chick on Bomb City and Brian Deneke
January 22, 2018 16:19 - 33 minutes - 45.5 MBA conversation with Sheldon Chick, an Amarillo native and the co-writer and producer of Bomb City. This award-winning film opens nationwide February 9 and chronicles the life and death of Amarillo's Brian Deneke. Recorded a few days before the film's Amarillo premiere, Sheldon and host Jason Boyett discuss the filmmaking process, how Amarillo has changed since 1997, and why the events of Bomb City are still relevant today. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Jessie Story
January 15, 2018 21:45 - 40 minutes - 55.6 MBA conversation with Jessie Story, a wildlife videographer and filmmaker based in Amarillo. While attending WTAMU, Jessie co-created the PBS program Texas Wild, and has since been working as an independent freelancer who specializes in wildlife. She and host Jason Boyett discuss how she stumbled into her career, why she loves snakes and bats more than cuddlier species, and how she gets such amazing photos of skittish animals. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Reagan Wilcox
January 08, 2018 22:57 - 34 minutes - 47.9 MBA conversation with Reagan Wilcox, former lead graphic designer at Hillside Christian Church and now owner-operator of The Union Hall Workspace. Reagan and host Jason Boyett discuss her career as a designer, why her work for a megachurch involved more than just "making the bulletin," and about launching her new endeavor—Amarillo's only coworking space. In "Eight Straight," Reagan endorses an entire Amarillo neighborhood. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Jonathan Baker
January 01, 2018 22:14 - 42 minutes - 58.4 MBA conversation with Jonathan Baker, novelist, essayist, publishing veteran, HPPR personality and former standup comedian. Baker and host Jason Boyett discuss his winding career path from Amarillo through Chicago and New York and back to West Texas, why NYC and the Panhandle are more alike than you'd think, and why we "flatlanders" need to rediscover our pioneer-maverick personalities. We discuss Baker's Colloquium article, "It's Hell, and I Like It." This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Dusty Green
December 26, 2017 01:00 - 37 minutes - 51.9 MBA conversation with Dusty Green, former Amarillo news anchor and current cohost (with his wife, Nikki) of Two for the Road, a travel and adventure show on PBS. Dusty and host Jason Boyett discuss Dusty's path into local journalism, how he and Nik quit their jobs and sold everything to pursue their travel dream, and why returning to the Panhandle always feels like coming home. This episode is sponsored by ROI Online.
Mary Emeny
December 18, 2017 22:21 - 35 minutes - 48.6 MBA conversation with Mary Emeny, the Amarillo philanthropist and activist whose resume includes everything from being an original founding board member for Habitat for Humanity to helping establish Wildcat Bluff and develop The Greenways. Mary and host Jason Boyett discuss the history of the Frying Pan Ranch, how Mary ended up chauffeuring Vietnamese Buddhist monks around Paris during the 1970s, and why the city needs more sustainable development. This episode is sponsored by Lemieux Company.
Mike Fuller
December 11, 2017 21:29 - 44 minutes - 61.7 MBA conversation with Mike Fuller, one of the sons of L.A. Fuller & Sons Construction, a multi-generational paving and utilities contractor in Amarillo. Mike and host Jason Boyett discuss how L.A. Fuller got started in Amarillo, how a small dirt-moving business ended up having such a huge impact on the area's streets and neighborhoods, and why Amarillo is suddenly seeing so much road construction. This episode is sponsored by Lemieux Company.
Maegan Seymour
December 04, 2017 22:00 - 37 minutes - 51.5 MBA conversation with Maegan Seymour, the marketing director for Underwood Law Firm. Maegan and host Jason Boyett discuss the advertising and marketing industries in Amarillo, how her parents' Jehovah's Witness traditions influenced her upbringing, and what it's like to be agnostic while living in a highly religious culture. This episode is sponsored by Wieck Realty.
Anthony Harris
November 27, 2017 19:46 - 50 minutes - 69.6 MBA conversation with Pastor Anthony B. Harris of St. John Baptist Church. Anthony and his family came to Amarillo in 2012 after having lived and ministered for decades in the Pacific Northwest. He and host Jason Boyett talk about how Amarillo's religious life differs from that region, about the realities of living in poverty, and about local issues related to race. This episode is sponsored by Wieck Realty.
Bobby Lee
November 20, 2017 22:00 - 36 minutes - 50.6 MBA conversation with Bobby Lee of The Big Texan Steak Ranch, Amarillo's legendary restaurant, which is known worldwide for its free 72-ounce steak challenge. Bobby and host Jason Boyett talk about the restaurant's history, how founder R. J. “Bob” Lee developed its attention-getting western concept, and why tourists seem to be more familiar with the landmark than locals. This episode is sponsored by Wieck Realty.
Chriselda Reyes
November 13, 2017 22:00 - 33 minutes - 45.9 MBA conversation with Chriselda Reyes, a local portrait photographer. Chriselda has traveled all over the world with her clients but calls Amarillo home. She and host Jason Boyett discuss how she got started in her career, why wedding photography is such a perilous occupation, and what makes Amarillo such a versatile photographic backdrop. Don't miss her surprising "Eight Straight" answer about The Big Texan. This episode is sponsored by the AEDC.
Wes Reeves
November 06, 2017 22:00 - 38 minutes - 56.2 MBA conversation with Wes Reeves, the senior media relations representative for Xcel Energy's Southwestern Public Service Company in Texas and New Mexico. Whenever there's a power outage, Wes is the guy who appears in the local media to explain why. He and host Jason Boyett discuss how Xcel deals with extreme weather, what electrical customers don't always understand about the grid, and why walking around is the absolute best way to discover downtown Amarillo. Wes also advocates for the joys o...
Suzi McKee
October 30, 2017 21:00 - 40 minutes - 57.9 MBA conversation with Suzi McKee, the owner of Live Well Fit, a local women's fitness and wellness studio. Suzi and host Jason Boyett discuss the opportunities she discovered upon moving to Amarillo from Lubbock, as well as the unique niche she has carved out in focusing on women's health. Don't miss "Eight Straight," when Suzi shares which local restaurants have the healthiest meals. This episode is sponsored by the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation.
Caroline Kneese
October 23, 2017 21:00 - 33 minutes - 50.2 MBA conversation with Caroline Kneese, the owner of Cerulean Gallery in downtown Amarillo and director of the Derrick Event Center. Located at 814 S. Taylor, Cerulean features the work of established and emerging artists. One of the artists Caroline represents is Denver Moore, the co-author of the book Same Kind of Different as Me and the subject of the new film of the same name. In "Eight Straight," she candidly reveals what Amarillo has way, way too much of. This episode is sponsored by Esta...
David Salas
October 16, 2017 21:00 - 30 minutes - 44.7 MBA conversation with David Salas, the managing partner of Altura Engineering & Design. Along with partners Chris Lopez and Jacob Moreno, David founded Altura in 2013. It recently ranked 434th on the Inc 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in the U.S. David and host Jason Boyett discuss his upbringing in Amarillo, the importance of Latino-owned local businesses, and why the WT Enterprise Center was so essential to Altura's success. Don't miss "Eight Straight," when David shares why he's not...
Jason Crespin
October 09, 2017 21:00 - 40 minutes - 40 MBA conversation with Jason Crespin, director of the award-winning Amarillo Little Theatre Academy and frequent ALT performer. He and host Jason Boyett discuss Crespin's local theater career, his opportunities representing Amarillo in New York City and Hollywood, and what it's like to be a gay man living in Amarillo. Don't miss "Eight Straight," when he confesses he only wears cowboy boots on stage. This episode is sponsored by Estacar Companies.
Ginger Nelson
September 29, 2017 20:28 - 32 minutes - 47 MBA conversation with Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson about her career as an attorney and entrepreneur, her decision to get into politics, and why she wants locals to embrace Amarillo as a tourism destination. Don't miss "Eight Straight," when she reveals her go-to order at Amarillo's best Tex-Mex restaurants. This episode is sponsored by Estacar Companies.