Hey Amarillo

A conversation with Steve Brown, founder of ROI Online and author of the new book The Golden Toilet. With host Jason Boyett, Steve shares how a former "chicken fried steak guy" and lifelong Amarillo kid had his eyes opened while living in Japan. He finally returned to Amarillo, attended AC as a nontraditional student, found his way into the world of website design and ended up launching a local marketing agency with a national footprint. This episode is sponsored by Jimmy John's and the ManiCamper.

A conversation with Hilary Marie, a local musician and bookkeeper who lived in Borger and New Orleans before making a home in Amarillo. With host Jason Boyett, Hilary shares the details of her personal story, which involve finding healing—mentally, physically and emotionally—after multiple cycles of addiction and abuse. Their discussion covers plenty of unique territory, from Hilary's American Idol auditions to her discovery of eastern spirituality in Amarillo. This episode is sponsored by Bivins Pointe and Dr. Eddy Sauer.

A conversation with Fr. Scott Raef of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Canyon. A longtime Amarillo resident, Scott has served in a variety of positions within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Amarillo, including St. Thomas the Apostle Church and St. Mary's Cathedral. With host Jason Boyett, he shares about his career and calling, the Catholic history of Amarillo, and about time he spent during a recent sabbatical driving Lyft and Uber for local residents. This episode is sponsored by Wieck Realty.

A conversation with Phyllis Nickum, owner/operator of Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West, a tourism company on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon. Phyllis literally grew up in hotels, spent decades in hotel management and operations—including the Ambassador Hotel in Amarillo—and "retired" to a second career on horseback. She talks to host Jason Boyett about her career, the Ambassador's heyday, and why riding horses in the Panhandle is on so many travelers' bucket lists. This episode is sponsored by Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

A conversation with Jennifer Gallardo, a vice president at Amarillo National Bank. Jennifer manages the ANB branch at NE 24th & Grand, where she deals with a remarkably diverse customer base, and has worked at the bank since she was 17. In this episode, she tells host Jason Boyett about her career path, growing up in the Barrio, and her involvement on the Amarillo Civic Center Complex executive committee. In particular, they discuss its needs for the future. This episode is sponsored by the Mani-Camper and Bivins Pointe.

A conversation with Kent Harris, a working potter and the owner of Blue Sage Pottery. A Missouri native who got a fine arts degree from WTAMU, Kent is one of those unique Amarillo creatives who is making a living as an artist. His stoneware pottery sells online and has appeared in galleries across the United States. With host Jason Boyett, Kent discuses how he and his wife, Megan, built their business, why pottery is so addictive and therapeutic, and how the Texas Panhandle shapes his work. This episode is sponsored by Jimmy John's.

A conversation with Emmi Hilbish, an elite wheelchair athlete and graduate of River Road High School. Born with spina bifida, Emmi struggled to walk and was entirely wheelchair-bound by the age of 10. After getting her first sports wheelchair in high school, she discovered a talent for wheelchair basketball, got a full-ride scholarship to the University of Texas at Arlington, and won a national championship with the Lady Movin' Mavs. With host Jason Boyett, Emmi shares about her athletic career as well as the local impact of the organization One Chair at a Time. This episode is sponsored by Jimmy John's.

A conversation with Dr. Billy Graves of Amarillo Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (AOMS), one of the nation's largest oral surgery practices. A native of Kentucky, Dr. Graves intentionally picked Amarillo as the place to start his practice after he finished his schooling and residency. With host Jason Boyett, he reveals why Amarillo was his ideal choice, why the people here continue to surprise him, and how AOMS gains national attention through social media, its 4-Hour Smile giveaway and more. This episode is sponsored by Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and Wieck Realty.

A conversation with Dajana Johnson, the owner/operator of The Slay Station, a salon at 1st and Polk near downtown Amarillo. Only 22 years old, Dajana is a young entrepreneur who is carving out a career despite the challenges of her low-income upbringing. With host Jason Boyett, Dajana reveals her career path so far, why her salon is only "Level 3" in a multi-step career, and why it's so important for young women like her to see other females and minorities in ownership positions. This episode is sponsored by Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and Cara Hendricks/Edward Jones (806-358-8346).

A conversation with Chris Seals, cofounder and CEO at Still Austin Whiskey Co. An economist who spent the last 15 years in Amarillo, Chris now splits his time between here and Austin, where he runs the first whiskey distillery in the state capital since Prohibition. With host Jason Boyett, Chris reveals how his career developed, why a change in Texas law made Still Austin viable, and why this area is so important to the distillery's latest release. This episode is sponsored by the Mani Camper and SKP Creative.