Hey Amarillo

A new podcast format going forward: This episode features short interviews with Amarillo people about what things look like right now in the city due to the spread of the Coronavirus. Interviews were recorded the afternoon of Wednesday, March 18. Things may have changed by the time you listen. Guests are Wes Reeves (Xcel Energy), Bekah McWhorter (Bivins Pointe), Jason Burr (NCW), Kyla Frye (WT Enterprise Center), Patrick & Krystal Burns (Palace Coffee) and Jackie Kingston (KAMR Local 4 News). This episode is sponsored by Amarillo La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries.

A conversation with Neal Nossaman, an Amarillo eye doctor. Neal grew up in Amarillo and, after schooling, returned here to join his father's practice. Today he's a partner at Broome Optical, which started in 1929. With host Jason Boyett, Neal shares about serving in north Amarillo early in his career, what it meant to finally marry his husband Greg, and how they found a church home at St. Andrews Episcopal. This episode is sponsored by Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Shilpa Shah, an Amarillo immigration attorney who serves clients around the world. Shilpa grew up in Amarillo—her father was the first Indian-born physician in the city—and speaks with host Jason Boyett about her career, her multicultural upbringing, her Hindu faith and how Amarillo's community of Indian families works to maintain its heritage and traditions in the Texas Panhandle. This episode is sponsored by Bivins Pointe and Jimmy John's.

A conversation with Jim Livingston, a fine arts photographer known for his Texas Panhandle landscapes as well as his "I Am Rt 66" portrait series. Jim has spent the last decade pursuing photography but has a deep, intriguing resume. He's been a Jesuit priest, spent years as a social worker, and was once technically homeless after being forced to uproot rapidly from his life in Wichita Falls. He and host Jason Boyett discuss these things and more in this episode, sponsored by Dr. Eddy Sauer of Shemen Dental.

A conversation with Laci Scott, who has spent the last decade working in public health with a focus on refugee resettlement. With host Jason Boyett, she explains her early involvement with the Emergent Village movement in Evangelical Christianity, how she ended up "breaking up with church," the friendliness difference between Amarillo and Kansas City, and what it's like for refugee families when they finally make it to America. This is a wide-ranging and fascinating conversation, sponsored by SKP Creative and the Mani-Camper.

A conversation with Chandra Perkins, founder/director of Storybridge, an Amarillo nonprofit that gives free, age-appropriate books to at-risk children. A longtime educator, Chandra saw that early introduction to books at home was the #1 predictor of academic success for a child. Her kids had dozens of books. Some kids had zero books. With host Jason Boyett, she explains how she set out to rebalance that inequality for Amarillo kids. This episode is sponsored by Panhandle Plains Historical Museum and Wieck Realty.

A conversation with Kaleb West, co-owner of Pondaseta Brewing Co., a brewery and taproom on 45th Street in southwest Amarillo. With his friend Trever Martin, Kaleb opened Pondaseta in 2018 after a career installing equipment in other breweries across the country. Having grown up in Canyon, Kaleb explains to host Jason Boyett why he moved back from Austin and Orlando, what makes Amarillo the perfect location for Pondaseta, and how he and Trever turned an old tire shop into a taproom. This episode is sponsored by Bivins Pointe and Jimmy John's.

A conversation with Nicole Fleetwood, co-owner of Scratch Made Bakery. Nicole arrived in Amarillo on the heels of winning a Season 7 episode of Cupcake Wars on the Food Network. She had been living in North Carolina, but moved after the show aired and found herself having to build a new life—and business—in a new place. With host Jason Boyett, she explains how she ended up on TV, her culture shock upon arriving here, and why she located her bakery downtown. This episode is sponsored by Pesttex and Dr. Eddy Sauer.

A conversation with Jeff Justus, community liaison for the Amarillo Fire Department. Despite a long career as a firefighter, Justus also spent several years as a traveling stand-up comic before finally trading that life for one with more stability—a decision that brought him to Amarillo. Today he serves as the public face of AFD in a position he helped create. With host Jason Boyett, Jeff describes the difficulties of performing comedy as well as the unique challenges of firefighting on the High Plains. This episode is sponsored by SKP Creative and Wieck Realty.

A conversation with Ruby Moreno, executive director of the Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Ruby immigrated to the U.S. when she was very young, grew up in rural Kansas and Wyoming, and made her way to Amarillo by way of West Texas A&M University. In college, a stint interning for the Hispanic Chamber led to her current position. With host Jason Boyett, Ruby talks about local entrepreneurship and the importance of Hispanic- and minority-owned business in Amarillo. This episode is sponsored by Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.