Scottsdale’s Fall Season: Safety Tips, Insurance & Housing Market Trends
Scottsdale Vibes
On this episode of Scottsdale Vibes, Alicia Haygood chats with our sponsors Jeremy Mueller and Shawn Shackelton about staying safe, protecting your home, and navigating Scottsdale’s real estate market as the busy season kicks off. Jeremy Mueller of State Farm Insurance shares important tips for pedestrian safety, navigating busy streets, and making sure your auto insurance provides the coverage you need. He also discusses what parents should know about teen drivers, driver training discounts, and what first-time homebuyers need to consider when shopping for homeowners insurance. Then,...
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Scottsdale's Water, For Now and The Future with Thyra Ryden-Diaz
Scottsdale Vibes
On this episode of Scottsdale Vibes, we’re sitting down with Scottsdale’s Interim Senior Director of Water Resources, Thyra Ryden-Diaz, to break down where our water comes from, how secure our supply really is, and what Scottsdale is doing to protect its water future. Water is something most of us probably don't think about very often. We turn on the faucet, water our yards, take a shower, and expect that water to be there. But behind that simple act is an incredibly complex system, and water security has become one of the most important issues facing communities across the globe. We're...
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Scottsdale Fashion Week 2026
Scottsdale Vibes
Scottsdale Fashion Week is back October 4th–11th, bringing a week of runway shows, designers, models, style and plenty of glamour to the city. We’re going behind the scenes with Jamie LeVine and Sheree Hartwell to talk about what’s new this year, how Fashion Week has evolved, and why Scottsdale has become such a destination for fashion and luxury. What started as a showcase of fashion has grown into a week-long experience bringing together designers, models, stylists, buyers, celebrities, influencers, and fashion lovers from Scottsdale and beyond. And with shows and events taking...
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Turning Adversity Into Growth with Akshay Nanavati
Scottsdale Vibes
This week on Scottsdale Vibes, we’re talking with Akshay Nanavati, a Marine veteran, polar explorer, mental performance coach and author of Fearvana, about turning adversity into growth, pushing past our mental limits, and finding more peace and purpose along the way. He has built his life around understanding what happens when we push ourselves far beyond what we think is possible. Akshay Nanavatee is a U.S. Marine veteran, mental performance coach, polar explorer and the author of Fearvana. After facing addiction, PTSD, depression and alcoholism, Akshay rebuilt his life through the...
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George Frasher: 27 Years of Restaurants, Baseball & Scottsdale History
Scottsdale Vibes
his week on the Scottsdale Vibes Podcast, we chat with Scottsdale restaurant legend George Frasher, the founder of Frasher’s Tavern, as he takes us behind the scenes of Scottsdale’s evolving restaurant scene and shares the stories behind nearly three decades in the business. George has been part of Scottsdale’s restaurant community since 1999, giving him a unique perspective on how the city’s dining scene has changed, grown and evolved. Alicia Haygood and George talk about the rise of steakhouses in Scottsdale, the importance of locally owned restaurants, the challenges of staying...
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Scottsdale Parks and Rec Announces Fall Event Lineup
Scottsdale Vibes
Scottsdale knows how to throw a party, and the City's Special Events team is taking that to a whole new level with three events celebrating music, nostalgia, community, and fall fun. Today, we're getting a behind-the-scenes look at what's coming up, from a trip through Scottsdale's history to a pop-punk throwback and a bigger-than-ever Fall Festival. Alicia chats with Taylor DeAlba, a Recreation Leader with the City of Scottsdale's Special Events team. Taylor works behind the scenes on everything from vendor contracts and marketing to social media and creating the creative, immersive designs...
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What’s Next for WestWorld? Inside Scottsdale’s Premier Event Destination with Cassie Johnson
Scottsdale Vibes
WestWorld is one of Scottsdale’s biggest event destinations, hosting everything from Barrett-Jackson and equestrian competitions to major entertainment and community events. On this episode of Scottsdale Vibes, Alicia Haygood sits down with Cassie Johnson, Interim General Manager of WestWorld, to talk about the facility’s history, its role in Scottsdale, and what’s ahead as the city continues to invest in and reimagine the 400-acre property. Cassie shares her unique journey with the City of Scottsdale, from starting as an intern with the Scottsdale Police Department to returning to...
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George Frasher: 27 Years of Restaurants, Baseball & Scottsdale History
Scottsdale Vibes
This week on the Scottsdale Vibes Podcast, we chat with Scottsdale restaurant legend George Frasher, the founder of Frasher’s Tavern, as he takes us behind the scenes of Scottsdale’s evolving restaurant scene and shares the stories behind nearly three decades in the business. George has been part of Scottsdale’s restaurant community since 1999, giving him a unique perspective on how the city’s dining scene has changed, grown and evolved. Alicia Haygood and George talk about the rise of steakhouses in Scottsdale, the importance of locally owned restaurants, the challenges of staying...
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Scottsdale Unified School District: What’s Next for Our Schools? | Part 2 with Dr. Scott Menzel
Scottsdale Vibes
The conversation continues as Alicia Haygood sits down with Scottsdale Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel for Part 2 of their conversation about the future of SUSD. In this episode, Alicia and Dr. Menzel continue their discussion about what comes next following the district’s school closure discussions. Dr. Menzel explains what Phase Three could look like, the district’s plans to develop growth strategies for each learning community, and the goal of creating thriving schools that attract families back to Scottsdale Unified. They also take a closer look at the proposed...
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Small Business Saturday: Scottsdale Plastic Surgeons with Dr. Paul Holden
Scottsdale Vibes
Welcome to a special Small Business Saturday episode of the Scottsdale Vibes Podcast! Scottsdale has become a destination for health, wellness, innovation, and aesthetics, and in this episode, we’re talking with one of the experts helping shape that reputation. Host Alicia Haygood sits down with Dr. Paul Holden of Scottsdale Plastic Surgeons, a double board certified facial plastic surgeon who specializes exclusively in the face, nose, and neck. Dr. Holden is nationally recognized for his expertise in rhinoplasty, complex revision surgery, and innovative facial rejuvenation techniques...
info_outlineYouth sports can build confidence, teamwork, and lifelong memories, but they can also come with a hefty price tag. What if there was a way to help offset those costs while teaching young athletes valuable life skills at the same time?
In this episode of Scottsdale Vibes, we sit down with Scottsdale native Mandy Holmes, founder of Sponsor My Athlete, to discuss how families can turn their athlete's story into meaningful sponsorship opportunities. After successfully securing sponsorships for her own son, Mandy created a step-by-step system that helps parents build authentic partnerships with local businesses while teaching young athletes communication, leadership, and personal branding skills.
Drawing from her background in publishing and advertising, Mandy shares practical advice on finding sponsors, creating lasting business relationships, and helping kids become positive ambassadors in their communities.
Website: https://sponsormyathlete.com/
We also chat with Scottsdale Realtor and Scottsdale Vibes sponsor, Shawn Shackelton of The Shackelton Group, about the latest Scottsdale real estate market trends. Shawn explains why the market has shifted into a more balanced environment, what increased inventory means for buyers and sellers, why pricing is more important than ever, and why Scottsdale continues to be an attractive market for investors.
Whether you're a sports parent, coach, business owner, thinking about buying or selling a home, or simply love staying connected to what's happening in Scottsdale, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical advice.
Tune in to discover how sponsorships can help make youth sports more affordable, hear the latest on Scottsdale's evolving real estate market, and learn why both topics are creating new opportunities throughout our community.