Hey Amarillo

A conversation with Lori Crofford, a longtime local radio personality and now the Resource Development Director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Texas Panhandle (panhandlebigs.org). Originally a Hereford native, Crofford shares with host Jason Boyett about the past two decades of change she's seen in the radio industry, how she transitioned out of radio into the nonprofit world, and why mentorship can be so influential in the life of a child. This episode is sponsored by NCW and the WT Enterprise Center.

A conversation with Gus Trujillo, the former office manager of the Amarillo Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the 2020 Democratic congressional candidate for Texas District 13. In this conversation with host Jason Boyett, Trujillo describes growing up in Amarillo's Barrio neighborhood, his work interning for former U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry in Washington, and what he learned about this area while running for Congress himself. This episode is sponsored by NCW, SKP Creative, and Pesttex Pest Control.

A conversation with Traci Mahannah of the Acupuncture and Holistic Medicine Clinic in Amarillo. One of the first state-licensed acupuncturists in the Panhandle, Traci has been providing pain relief and alternative therapy to locals for more than 15 years. In this conversation with host Jason Boyett, Traci describes how she encountered Chinese medicine after moving to Austin, and why she decided to bring the practice to Amarillo. This episode is sponsored by the WT Enterprise Center and Brick & Elm Magazine.

A conversation with Zivorad Filipovic, director of marketing & communications for High Plains Food Bank. Z came to the U.S. as a Serbian refugee during the 1990s Balkans crisis. He learned English at Sam Houston Middle School and became the first in his family to graduate from college. In this conversation with Jason Boyett, Z describes his intense upbringing and the Amarillo teachers who invested in him. This episode is sponsored by Little Texas for TEXAS, Shemen Dental and La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries.

A conversation with Jimmy Lackey, President and CEO of Kids, Incorporated (kidsinc.org), the nonprofit youth sports organization that celebrated its 75th anniversary last year. In this conversation with host Jason Boyett, Lackey tells how he arrived at the organization in the 1990s, how he helped bring Kids Inc online in the early days of the internet, and how Cal Farley and a few friends originally founded the program in the 1940s. This episode is sponsored by the WT Enterprise Center and Wieck Realty.

A conversation with Abi Rivera, owner of The Society Barbershop. The first of her family to graduate from high school, Rivera has found success with her upscale shop, which specializes in men's cuts and beard services. She only opened a year ago but is already launching a second Amarillo location. In this conversation with host Jason Boyett, Rivera reveals why Amarillo was the perfect place to start her business. This episode is sponsored by the TEXAS Outdoor Musical, SKP Creative and Jimmy John's.

RERELEASE: A conversation with R. Taylor Moore, a former CIA operative and the author of the thriller Down Range, set in the Panhandle. Taylor grew up in South Texas, traveled the world, and found his way into a decade-long career in intelligence. With host Jason Boyett, he shares how he arrived in Amarillo "kicking and screaming" but saw that decision launch his writing career—and change the direction of his life. This episode is sponsored by the TEXAS Outdoor Musical and the WT Enterprise Center.

A conversation with Julian Reese, head coach of the Amarillo Venom and a co-owner of Golden Gate Mortuary. Reese arrived in Amarillo as a football prospect, hoping the Arena League would offer a path to the pros. He ended up staying, getting married, and coaching the local indoor football team. In this conversation with Jason Boyett, Reese details his unconventional careers and why he's chosen to stay in Amarillo. This episode is sponsored by the TEXAS Outdoor Musical, Shemen Dental and Wieck Realty.

A conversation with Shawn Kennedy, executive director of Blank Spaces Murals. Kennedy teaches art at Caprock and helps guide this local high school mural group, which is responsible for 20-plus public murals in and around Amarillo. He tells host Jason Boyett about his temporarily itinerant life after high school, the deep educational value of Blank Spaces, and how art is a form of storytelling. This episode's sponsored by the TEXAS Outdoor Musical, the WT Enterprise Center, and La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallerie

A conversation with Ryan Culwell, a Panhandle native and former Amarillo resident now working in Nashville as a singer-songwriter. Culwell's acclaimed Flatlands was inspired by this area, and his recent work has won further accolades. Returning to Amarillo for a show at the Golden Light, he tells host Jason Boyett about his career, his influences, and why he kept returning to a Nine Inch Nails song during the pandemic. This episode is sponsored by the TEXAS Musical, SKP Creative and Blue Handle Publishing.

A conversation with Viv Salomon, the Amarillo-based host of the podcast How to Liv with Viv. Originally from Borger, Salomon came to Amarillo after college and works in the world of physical therapy. But she's passionate about mental health and helping others, like her, navigate successfully through their 20s. She tells host Jason Boyett about her upbringing, career, and the friendships that sparked her inspirational podcast. This episode is sponsored by the TEXAS Outdoor Musical and WT Enterprise Center.

A conversation with Doug Lill, a local pharmacist, nutritionist and supplements expert at Drug Emporium. A local TV fixture as "Pharmacist Doug," Lill spent his career traveling the world as a relief pharmacist before returning to Amarillo a decade ago. After having grown up in this area, his travels helped him come to terms with who he is—and gave him a more positive perspective on the city as a result. This episode is sponsored by the TEXAS Outdoor Musical, Shemen Dental and Wieck Realty.

In this special 200th episode, host Jason Boyett takes a seat on the other side of the mic, interviewed by KAMR Local 4 News anchor Jackie Kingston. They discuss his early career, the books he's written, how he chooses guests for the podcast, his new print magazine Brick & Elm, and the overall media landscape in Amarillo. Plus, Jason offers his answers to the typical Eight Straight questions. This episode is sponsored by the TEXAS Outdoor Musical, the WT Enterprise Center, and La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries.

A conversation with Hayden Baca, an IT specialist and the owner of UnSavvy Strategy (haydenbaca.com), a company that provides one-on-one technology assistance for senior adults. After 10-year career providing customer support for tech corporations, including Apple and AT&T, Baca returned to Amarillo to launch her small business. She tells host Jason Boyett why Amarillo was the perfect place to introduce this unique concept. This episode is sponsored by Blue Handle Publishing and TEXAS Outdoor Musical.

A conversation with chef Ronnie Granger, the owner of Sunday's Kitchen, a downtown cajun and creole restaurant. Granger isn't from here and didn't always dream of opening a restaurant, but something special happened after he arrived in Amarillo. With deep gratitude, he tells host Jason Boyett how Sunday's Kitchen started, how he weathered the pandemic, and why a city far from the Gulf Coast has become his home. This episode is sponsored by SKP Creative, the WT Enterprise Center and TEXAS Outdoor Musical.