Doug Loomis
Hey Amarillo
In this episode, Skylar visits with Doug Loomis, former superintendent of Amarillo ISD, just as Loomis enters retirement from a 39-year career, not only in education - but all 39 of those years were in Amarillo ISD. They discuss what is best about the district and the challenges it faces but they also dive into what our schools need to succeed, and what it’s like to be the person making some really, really tough decisions.
info_outline
Sharon Miner
Hey Amarillo
In this episode, Skylar visits with Sharon Miner. Sharon is the Executive Director of Martha’s Home, a women and children’s shelter in Amarillo. Sharon has also held some really interesting previous titles and roles, and brings all of that experience, those stories, and her relentless tenacity and pragmatism to her work and to this episode.
info_outline
Surprise: We're Passing the Mic!
Hey Amarillo
In this episode, Jason is back to announce Skylar Gallop will pick up the podcast and continue telling the stories of our neighbors and community. Hear her background, approach to this new-to-her project, and what you can expect as a listener moving forward.
info_outline
Jason's Final Episode (Episode 400)
Hey Amarillo
From host Jason Boyett: After seven amazing years and more than 400 conversations, I’ve decided to bring my time on Hey Amarillo to a close. As a writer, I believe in the value of a well-timed ending. Some stories deserve to go out on a high note—before the fire fades and while the gratitude is still fresh. So this is my attempt to end the show with purpose and intention. To do so, I'm joined by my adult daughter, Ellie Boyett, who asks me a series of questions submitted by a few former guests. I also bring in long-time podcast editor Angelina Marie to talk about making Hey...
info_outline
Holly Ridings
Hey Amarillo
A conversation with Holly Ridings, an Amarillo native and the . Prior to that relatively new position, her career includes becoming the first woman to serve as NASA's Chief Flight Director in 2018. In this episode, Ridings shares with host Jason Boyett about her path from Tascosa High School to Mission Control. From leading teams supporting the International Space Station to the ongoing Artemis program—with sights set on Mars—Ridings credits the grounding of her Amarillo upbringing and education with her pursuit of the stars. This episode is supported by on behalf of .
info_outline
Marcus Snead
Hey Amarillo
A conversation with Marcus Snead, the executive chef at and the three-time winner of the "Top Chef Amarillo" competition at Restaurant Roundup. Snead grew up in Canyon before leaving the area for a culinary education, which took him from New York City to the East Coast to Santa Fe to a Michelin-rated restaurant in Chicago. After returning to the Panhandle, he helped launch and operate Canyon's late, great Barrel & Pie until its closure in 2020. Snead shares with host Jason Boyett about his restaurant history, what it's like to oversee dining at Amarillo's most famous hotel, and how the...
info_outline
Lauren Hough
Hey Amarillo
A conversation with , the New York Times bestselling author and essayist. Her critically acclaimed 2021 book, , details her upbringing in a doomsday cult, her eventual Air Force stint and other careers, and includes several mentions of the years she spent in Amarillo as a child and then a teenager. Hough shares with host Jason Boyett about the role Amarillo played—and continues to play—in the story of her life, how she has become the Panhandle correspondent for Texas Highways, and why being from West Texas carries a lot of currency in the world. This episode is supported by...
info_outline
Sheila Sims
Hey Amarillo
A conversation with , a long-time local architect and the president of . Her firm has designed many prominent local buildings, from the new Amarillo City Hall to the FirstBank Southwest Center at AC to the Harrington Cancer and Health Foundation building near the Medical Center. After earning a degree from Texas A&M, Sims returned to Amarillo to work for Lavin Architects as an intern—and never looked back. She shares with host Jason Boyett about taking over leadership of Lavin right before the pandemic, why she loves being an architect in Amarillo rather than the Metroplex, and what it's...
info_outline
Steve Burton
Hey Amarillo
A conversation with Steve Burton, the executive director of of Amarillo, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in April. A Colorado native, Burton arrived in Amarillo after having launched Boys & Girls Clubs in rural towns in both Colorado and Texas. He spent six years leading the Maverick Club before moving to Children's Learning Centers, which provides quality, low-cost childcare to the people of this area. Burton shares with host Jason Boyett about the history of his nonprofit, his ongoing career as an ice hockey official, and why 2025 Amarillo feels like the Colorado Springs of the...
info_outline
Shilee Pearson
Hey Amarillo
A conversation with Shilee Pearson of . A former horse trainer who grew up in Nebraska, Pearson pivoted to establish an award-winning dog-training business in Omaha. But two years ago, she moved to Amarillo in pursuit of a relationship. (They ended up getting married.) Pearson shares with host Jason Boyett—who happens to be a client—what it's like to uproot your business and start over in a new place, why her approach to dog training tends to stand out in the Panhandle, and why dog culture in Amarillo is different from anywhere else she's worked. This episode is supported by and .
info_outlineA conversation with Lora Brown, a long-time Amarillo stylist and the owner/operator of The Salon by Lora Brown. Brown grew up in Amarillo, started her career at 17, and opened her first salon in 1996. With nearly four decades in the industry, she has built a reputation as one of the city's best luxury salons. In this conversation with host Jason Boyett, Brown shares about her early entrepreneurism, how her industry has changed over the years, and why helping educate and coach her stylists is so critical to what she does. This episode is supported by Amarillo Angels, Amarillo Habitat for Humanity and Panhandle Plains Historical Museum.