Brent Epps
Hey Amarillo
There are certain places in Amarillo that feel like more than just a restaurant—they feel like part of the fabric of growing up here. Sharky’s Burrito Company is one of those places. I this episode, we sit down with Brent Epps, the longtime owner of Sharky’s, to talk about the restaurant’s 20+ year run and the life he’s built in the food industry. Brent didn’t just land here—he came up through some of Amarillo’s most beloved spots, learning the business from the ground up and carrying those lessons with him. But what stands out most about Brent isn’t just the longevity or the...
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David Prescott
Hey Amarillo
Amarillo City Councilman David Prescott is a business owner, doctoral candidate, and someone who brings both expertise and candor to public service. David owns Talon LPE, an environmental cleanup company that operates across several states, and that real-world experience shapes how he thinks about the city’s biggest challenges. But as he shares in this conversation, serving on council has come with its share of new challenges to address. We talk honestly about what that’s looked like — the pressure, the criticism, and the reality of making decisions when there isn’t an easy answer....
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Chad Johnson
Hey Amarillo
Chad Johnson is the new reverend at Amarillo United Methodist Church. We talk about what it’s like to step into a new community and a new role at the same time. Chad shares his early impressions of Amarillo, how those first expectations compare to the reality of living here, and what has stood out to him as he gets to know the city. We also spend time talking about his path to becoming a pastor, a journey he describes with a great deal of joy, honesty, and thoughtfulness. Our conversation explores the role of the church today, the broader societal trends shaping faith communities, and the...
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Clara Sneed
Hey Amarillo
This week on Hey Amarillo, I talk with author Clara Sneed about a wild chapter of Amarillo history that sounds almost too dramatic to be true. Clara wrote a book about a bitter feud between two Amarillo families in the early 1900s. What began with relationships and eventually spiraled into affairs, accusations, violence, and murder. Along the way, the story touches on questions of justice, the role of women at the time, and how a rapidly growing Panhandle town handled conflict when emotions — and reputations — were on the line. What makes the story even more compelling is that Clara...
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Dr. Benton Allen
Hey Amarillo
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Sonja Clark
Hey Amarillo
This week on Hey Amarillo, I sit down with Sonja Clark, site leader at Bell Helicopter’s Amarillo facility. Sonja oversees a large workforce responsible for developing and building some of the military’s most critical frontline aircraft — work that requires precision, trust, and extraordinary leadership. We talk about what it means to carry that kind of responsibility, and how pride in the work translates into pride in community. Sonja shares the impact of Bell’s history in Amarillo, the weight of leading at that scale, and the importance of the mission behind the machines. We also...
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Seth Wieck
Hey Amarillo
What happens to a place when its stories aren’t told? This week on Hey Amarillo!, I sit down with local poet Seth Wieck, whose work captures the beauty, tension, and quiet power of life in the Texas Panhandle. Seth grew up on his family’s farm in Umbarger — land his family worked for three generations. He shares what it meant to be shaped by that place and why he ultimately chose not to continue farming as the changing economics of agriculture reshaped life on the High Plains. For Seth, poetry isn’t just art — it’s preservation. It’s a way to hold onto memory, to honor legacy,...
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Don Rhode
Hey Amarillo
What does it really take to deliver excellence — over and over again? This week on Hey Amarillo, I sit down with Don Rhode, a seasoned restaurant leader who has built his career around creating exceptional guest experiences. Don currently serves as General Manager at one of Amarillo’s consistently top-rated fine dining establishments, Cask & Cork, as well as the newer breakfast and brunch favorite, OVR EZE. Before Amarillo, Don honed his craft in major food cities like Chicago and Austin — places where the bar is high and the standards are relentless. In this conversation, we talk...
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Nick Gerlich
Hey Amarillo
This week on Hey Amarillo, we’re joined by Dr. Nick Gerlich — longtime marketing professor at West Texas A&M University, writer, and passionate chronicler of regional travel and Route 66. Nick shares his journey through academia, what it’s like teaching marketing in a constantly evolving digital landscape, and how he works to keep students grounded in both fundamentals and emerging trends. We also hit the open road, talking Route 66 — its beginnings, heyday, decline, and the very real possibility of a rebirth as America’s Mother Road. Smart, curious, and endlessly adventurous,...
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Adrian Meander
Hey Amarillo
This week on Hey Amarillo, we sit down with Adrian Meander, a powerful example of what it looks like to grow where you’re planted. Adrian is Amarillo through and through. He grew up here, chose to stay, raised his family here, and built a career rooted in service. He started at Amarillo National Bank as a bank teller and has worked his way up to Vice President—proof that steady work, integrity, and commitment still matter. Beyond his professional path, Adrian quietly invests his time and energy into our community, with a special focus on North Amarillo and reinvesting in a part of our...
info_outlineThis week, Skylar sits down with Kyle Groves, a second-generation magician who grew up traveling the country with his parents’ magic show. Kyle shares what it’s really like to live life behind the curtain, from the craft and discipline it takes to become a magician, to the wonder that keeps audiences spellbound.
Now preparing to open a one-of-a-kind magic venue in Amarillo, Kyle reflects on his journey, the traditions of the art form, and how magic invites us to step away from the everyday and rediscover that sense of whimsy and childlike wonder.