Hey Amarillo

A conversation with Toby Giddens, the president and co-founder of Run Business Solutions (RunBiz), which provides technology services for local companies. He tells host Jason Boyett how RunBiz grew from a small team in a local accounting firm into a firm that offers IT support for small to mid-size business across the High Plains. Giddens grew up in Canyon as the son of the Canyon football coach Ted Giddens and WT's Terri Giddens, Ph.D., who introduced Toby to computer science. They also discuss the Ted Giddens Foundation, which formed after Coach Giddens' passing and assists families who have a loved one impacted by dementia. This episode is supported by Wieck Realty and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Kristin Key, a nationally headlining musical comedian who performs in sold-out shows across North America, appeared in Last Comic Standing and Bring the Funny, and got her start in Amarillo. She's bringing her Lesbian Army Tour back home to Amarillo on June 27 at the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts. In this episode, Kristin tells host Jason Boyett about her upbringing as the daughter of a Church of Christ preacher, how she came out in high school only to "take it back," and how an open mic night at the Amarillo Comedy Club changed her life. This episode is supported by Amarillo Habitat for Humanity and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Jamie Fleck, the travel photographer, writer and custom fine art baker behind Flecks of Love. While living in Oklahoma, Fleck spent a weekend in Amarillo, stayed in a charming Airbnb, loved the local vibe, saved the house on Zillow and then—after getting an alert that it was on the market—decided to buy it and move here. Her baked items have since become a fixture at local markets and pop-up events. She's also been researching and writing her newest book, Best Lake Hikes Texas, with a cover photo featuring Lake Meredith. She tells host Jason Boyett how her accounting career turned into a creative one, why she sees so much potential in Amarillo, and what it's like to hike all over the Lone Star State. This episode is supported by Shemen Dental, Storybridge, Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Chris Israel, the executive director of Homeless Heroes, an organization serving homeless veterans in Amarillo. Chris is a formerly homeless veteran himself. He grew up in New York City and Florida before joining the U.S. Navy. After serving as a submarine sailor, he spent several years traveling across the United States for work, but never put down roots. Israel shares with host Jason Boyett how a crisis of homelessness in New Mexico brought him to Amarillo and the VA, where the support he found helped put his life back on track. Now he's guiding Homeless Heroes in renovating the 20-room Astro Motel into a place to help homeless veterans rebuild their lives. This episode is supported by Blue Handle Publishing, Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Kashion Smith, the executive director of the Amarillo Convention & Visitors Bureau. After several years in the hotel industry—including a stint as wedding specialist at the old Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo—Smith has spent the past decade with the CVB. She took over leadership of that organization in 2020. In this role, she is responsible for promoting and supporting tourism, conventions and events in Amarillo. The CVB "sells" Amarillo as a destination for people who don't live here. Smith shares with host Jason Boyett about her former hotel career in Taos and Amarillo, how the CVB works to bring conventions to Amarillo, and what unique local characteristics are helping Amarillo compete with larger cities like San Antonio. This episode is supported by La-Z-Boy Furniture Stores, Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Dirk van Reenen, the founder of Merus Adventure Park in the Texas Panhandle. Born and raised in South Africa, Dirk moved to Texas during his teen years. While attending WTAMU, he became the owner/manager of the former Lifts West ski shop at Western Plaza, launched Caprock Auctions in Amarillo, and worked in real estate before moving away in 2014. He tells host Jason Boyett about his Amarillo career, his subsequent move to the Houston area—followed by a stint in Columbia, Maryland— and his return to the Texas Panhandle. At Merus, now the largest private outdoor adventure park in Texas, Dirk provides family-friendly activities and access to Palo Duro Canyon separate from the state park. This episode is supported by Amarillo Habitat for Humanity, Wieck Realty, Wolflin Square and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Vanessa Fiaud, Ph.D., an associate professor of sports and exercise science at the WTAMU College of Nursing & Health Sciences. Fiaud was born in France, where she studied business law, and continued her education in Oklahoma and Texas. She arrived in the Texas Panhandle and at WT in 2009, and tells host Jason Boyett about her work on sports biomechanics, as well as her recent approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to serve as an official volunteer at this year's Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in Paris. This episode is supported by The Amarillo Tribune, The Shops at Wolflin Square, and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Devin Barnett, owner of Renu Painting, which recently was awarded the 2024 Torch Award for Ethics (Medium Business) by the Better Business Bureau of Amarillo. Barnett grew up in Abilene and has worked in a variety of industries, from petroleum to nursing to self-employed retailing. Despite that meandering career path, he's found success with Renu Painting. He and host Jason Boyett discuss Devin's various career stops before coming to Amarillo, why he chose not to go to college, and why he has become so passionate about creating jobs in the skilled trades. This episode is sponsored by Shemen Dental and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Megan Reed, the communications and public affairs manager at Bell, and a former communications manager for Make-a-Wish North Texas. Reed, an Amarillo native who played Division II soccer for WTAMU, tells host Jason Boyett how she found her way into a career at the manufacturer's Amarillo Assembly Plant, what Bell's new U.S. Army assault aircraft contract means for the area, and how she and her employer are already looking 10 years into the future as they prepare a workforce to fulfill that contract. This episode is sponsored by Pinnacle by Rockrose, Storybridge and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.

A return conversation with Jason Crespin for Hey Amarillo's 350th episode. Crespin was the guest in this podcast's second episode ever (October 9, 2017) and returns to share about his role as Managing/Artistic Director at Amarillo Little Theatre and the legacy of the late Allen Shankles, who passed away March 20, 2024. Crespin also turns the tables on host Jason Boyett to ask about Boyett's upcoming ALT debut in the cast of the musical Spamalot, which opens May 2. Tickets are on sale now for Spamalot. This episode is sponsored by Pinnacle by Rockrose, Jimmy John's, Wieck Realty and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.