Hey Amarillo

Leila Daraei grew up in Iran, moved to Amarillo in her 30s, and started her U.S. life working as a janitor at Amarillo College. Today, she’s a professor on the same campus. In this episode, Leila shares her remarkable story — from navigating cultural transitions to the mentors and instructors who believed in her along

This 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 pr

In this episode, I sit down with Sarena Carpenter, the new executive director of Amarillo Angels, a nonprofit dedicated to walking alongside families and children experiencing foster care. Sarena’s warmth and sense of calling shine through as she shares both the mission of Amarillo Angels and her deeply personal story.

This week Skylar sits down with her good friend Matt Le — entrepreneur, hustler, motivational speaker, and all-around community builder. Matt’s story is rooted in a unique cultural blend—his father immigrated from Vietnam, his mother is Hispanic—and that mix inspired his food truck, Saigon Señorita. We talk about how f

This week, Skylar sits down with Matt Garrison — an Amarillo native, seasoned police officer, and global security expert. From serving small-town Panhandle police forces to traveling the world providing personal protection for high-profile clients, Matt’s career reads like something out of Jack Ryan. Beneath the gruff

This week, Skylar sits down with Heather Manderson—an accomplished actor with a career full of unique and meaningful experiences. Heather is currently involved in a powerful stage production, The Blind, which centers on the 1997 death of Brian Deneke, a member of Amarillo’s punk community. His tragic killing shook the